Rain fails to dampen family's quest to cover all the bases at block party

08:13 AM EDT on Wednesday, July 14, 2004

BY CATHLEEN F. CROWLEY
Journal Staff Writer

Journal photo / Steve Szydlowski Vistors look at uniforms of past Triple-A players at yesterday's baseball block party. The event, featuring exhibits, games and concerts, is part of the Triple-A All-Star Week.

PROVIDENCE -- The rain scared away many baseball fans last night, but that was fine by the Cartwrights.

It meant more free trinkets for the family and a few thousand fans that braved the on-again, off-again drizzle to visit the outdoor "Baseball Block Party." The event was part of the Triple-A All-Star Game three-day celebration.

Gary Cartwright, an Amtrak worker from Seekonk, leads his crew of four children through the exhibitions, games and concert venues around Waterplace Park and Stadium Park.

The event offers something for everyone, even across the spectrum of ages represented by the Cartwrights: Hillary, 14, Jillian, 7, Mallory, 5, and the lone boy, Dillon, 12.

Dillon scores the autographs of former Red Sox players Bill Lee, Luis Tiant and Dave Stapleton. The line for autographs is only 10 minutes.

"This thing would be insane if it weren't for the rain," says Gary Cartwright.

Mallory, who is wearing a blue jacket from her Seekonk softball league and a red Phillies hat, walks up to a person wearing a pink pig costume and puts her hand out to shake. The pig can't see the small 5-year-old girl and walks by.

Undaunted, Mallory searches for something else and finds it at a booth where people are handing out free shoulder bags.

The family moves toward the stage where an a cappella group is singing. They pick up a free ice cream from Brigham's on the way.

Gary Cartwright, a large man with graying hair, points his arm toward Waterplace Park like a football referee. His wife, Jane, a secretary, had to work and couldn't come.

"We haven't been there yet," he says, and the family moves in the direction he indicated. Mallory spies a balloon in a trash can and wants to pull it out. Hillary tells her to leave it. They'll find her another one, she says.

As they crest the hill behind the train station, Jillian lets out a "Wow."

Down the hill, they see children jumping and running inside large inflated cages.

They stop into a booth sponsored by Central Falls Credit Union, and pick up a bag filled with goodies including a baseball, miniature baseball bat, toy car, and note pad. The woman at the booth is the Cartwrights' bank teller.

A worker hands Mallory a balloon and she gets one for Dillon, too.

Moments later, Mallory announces she doesn't want the balloon and gives it to her brother. Dillon ties them both to his hat.

They pick up cotton candy at the Coastway Credit Union booth and an inflatable baseball, glow stick and Cracker Jack from a Citizens Bank booth. At Supercuts' exhibit, they receive pencils, emery boards, and packets of hair gel. Even Hillary throws a few things into her bag here.

Their bags are overflowing. Mallory hangs hers over her shoulder and leans to the opposite side to balance herself.

Dillon's balloons are getting tangled with everything and everyone he passes. He unties them and sets them free.

They tiptoe through puddles of mud that are forming and move toward the Fleet Skating Rink, where several teenybopper bands are performing.

"Who's playing first?" Gary asks.

"Evan & Jaron," Hillary says.

"Who?"

"It doesn't matter. You don't know them anyway," she says.

They settle on a patch of grass about 50 yards from the stage. Hillary wants to get closer. She's wearing a school jacket and carries a blue purse with figure skating pins attached to it. She turns and heads toward the crowd of about 300 people standing in front of the stage.

The three younger children sort their free gifts, and start to get restless after 30 minutes. Even the teen group Hanson barely gets their attention. Dillon takes out the miniature baseball bat and hits a spongy baseball into his dad's belly.

On stage, Hanson sings "Where's the Love." The crowd is clapping to the beat. Jillian and Mallory join in, clapping their hands over their heads.

"Where's the love? Give it up. It makes the world go 'round and 'round and 'round," the song ends.

Mallory's hands fall to her sides, "Can we go now?" she says.

They search for Hillary, and then head home with goodies in their bags, sugar in their stomachs and music in their ears.

A little something for everyone.