Ready for Wave Baseball

Todd Graffagnini has the best seat in the house, in the press box overlooking Greer Field at Turchin Stadium. Graffagnini enters his 19th year as the baseball play-by-play announcer during this weekend's opening of the 2010 Tulane baseball season.

Todd Graffagnini gets fired up as he covers the Green Wave play-by-play. (Photo by Paula Burch-Celentano)

The Green Wave will step up to the plate against Boston College in a three-game home series on the uptown campus, today (Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m.), Saturday (Feb. 20 at 1 p.m.), and Sunday (Feb. 21 at 1 p.m.).

Graffagnini describes baseball as his first love. His passion for the game, Green Wave players and their loyal fans radiates from his actions before he even enters the press box.

The announcer keeps a ritual of arriving at the stadium two hours before every game to fully prepare, and, for superstitious reasons, you can catch him in the outfield while the players warm up during batting practice.

Having called approximately 1,000 baseball games, Graffagnini is known as the Voice of the Green Wave and describes his position as "feeling like you're a part of the team even though you're not playing." He knows the team inside and out — "the stats get ingrained in your head after staying very close with coaches and being around the players every day."

Graffagnini appreciates Tulane fans, whose support plays a "huge part" in the team's success. He grew up in New Orleans, and says the same support that brought 3,000 fans to the Tulane ballpark during his childhood is still very much alive at Turchin Stadium.

"It's a great place to watch the game," says Graffagnini.

For additional information on game tickets, visit the ticket office in the Wilson Center beside the ballpark, check the athletics website, or call 504-861-9283.

Mary Cross is a senior majoring in communication at Tulane.