The Albuquerque Isotopes were down 7-0 going into the bottom of the 6th against the Memphis Redbirds Monday night but rallied to win 9-7. I was one of 4,954 in attendance on a beautiful night at the new Albuquerque ballpark, a guest in a corporate suite (free tickets, free food, free Isotopes Amber Ale).
The Isotopes get their name from the Simpsons. According to the Simpsons Episode Guide, in “Hungry, Hungry, Homer”:
Homer becomes a Good Samaritan after seeing the benefit of helping people. When he attempts to get Lenny a refund on his Springfield Isotopes season tickets, Homer discovers that the baseball team’s new owner, Duff Beer, plans to move the team to Albuquerque. Homer tries to rally the town in protest, however, no one believes his allegation. To expose Duff’s plan, he stages a hunger strike by chaining himself to a light pole near the stadium. Days later, the Duff Corporation deems Homer their ballpark attraction. They unchain him and tempt his cravings with an Isotope Dog Supreme. Before eating it, Homer realizes that the Southwestern ingredients on the hot dog prove that the team is moving to Albuquerque.
Actually the Isotopes moved here from Calgary, where they were the Cannons.