Our “Boy-Blunder” County Mayor has once again challenged our “Nature-Boy” City Mayor to another cage-match on the pitching mound of Erlanger Field.
Westie Wamp is upset that the Lookouts have again shunned the Wamp name in favor of another. If you remember, before Weston Wamp decided to run for our Mayor, he wanted his daddy to get him a job as CEO with the Lookouts baseball team. After just one interview, the Lookouts leadership politely took a “pass”, forcing him to look for work elsewhere.
The rest is history.
Our County Mayor is consistent at one thing: holding a grudge.
As such, Westie never misses an opportunity to whine about the Chattanooga Lookouts, its new stadium and those who made it happen, always mentioning the City Mayor as the main instigator.
If you haven’t heard, the Chattanooga Lookouts have chosen the name of Erlanger Field instead of Wamp Landing.
I do have to admit that I agree with the County Mayor that there were probably better stadium names. The “Rick Davis Diamond” comes to mind. “Chik Fil A Field” would be a winner, but then they couldn’t play baseball on Sundays.
Although Wamp would rather denounce the partnership between Erlanger and the Lookouts, a true leader would embrace and celebrate the marriage of these two Chattanooga institutions.
As Chattanoogans, Erlanger and the Chattanooga Lookouts are encapsulated in our DNA. Heck, it wouldn’t surprise me if The Baroness and Joe Engel actually dated. I think The Baroness even rode on an elephant before one of the Lookouts baseball games.
The circus-like baseball atmosphere that was Engel Stadium was located across the street from Erlanger for decades. You could go from the circus at the ballpark to the circus in the Erlanger ER just by crossing the street.
Erlanger was founded in 1889. The Lookouts? 1909. Both have deep roots in our community. Both have survived two World Wars, the Great Depression and a Pandemic, not to mention having survived the first two years of Weston Wamp’s mayoral administration. Just ask Rheubin Taylor.
It’s time for Mayor Wamp to accept the fact that Erlanger Field is being built for the Lookouts 2026 season. It’s time for our County Mayor to get off the bench, pick up his glove and take the field, Erlanger Field.
We deserve more leadership and less “grudge-holding” from our County Mayor.
After all, he may still get to throw out the first pitch.
C. Mark Warren