One of my life goals is to visit every single Major League Baseball Stadium. It's not so much that I am a huge baseball fan. I do enjoy the game, but more from a distance. I will watch highlights on Sportscenter, check the standings periodically throughout the summer. But, I rarely sit down and watch a complete game on TV. I don't live and die with how a particular team is doing. Heck, I didn't even catch the All-Star game this year.
But, what I do love about the game is the idea and history behind baseball. There is a romance and leisurely pace to baseball that is so different from any other sport. Baseball and summer are connected. I love experiencing the ballpark. Whether is it Safeco Field or some random minor league park, going out to the ballpark is an exciting, yet relaxing experience. You can relax and take in the pace, but must be aware that any crack of the bat could be the difference in the game. And until the last out is recorded, there's always hope. I love the Ken Burns version of baseball.
Some of my favorite memories growing up were traveling to ballparks with my family. We attended M's games in the Kingdome regularly, usually sitting in the first row behind the home dugout with my dad's company tickets. Boy did this spoil me. My parents and I went to Fenway when I was in elementary school and saw the Mariners play the Red Sox. My brother and sister and I sat in the bleachers at Wrigley on a perfect warm summer day and watched the Cubs play and shirtless fans cheer for the lovable losers. We watched the Mariners play twice in County Stadium in Milwaukee a dump if there ever was one, but we saw a great pitching performance by Randy Johnson in his prime. I was able to take a road trip to the bay area in college with my dad and attend a game in Oakland (kinda scary) and San Francisco with my late uncle who was not a sports fan and arrived late and left early, despite a gorgeous view of the bay (Trailing by one in the 9th, both Jeff Kent and Barry Bonds struck out to end the game. It was great!). Just after college with a bunch of friends we hit both Chicago stadiums and Cincinnati on an epic trip that also included some college football. I went to the final game in the Kingdome.
I've since returned to Fenway with Erin, and gone to the Giants park a few more times. Jennifer and I went to the game that Ichiro set the single season hits record. When Nathan was just a few months old we took a trip to Arizona and decided to take in a Diamondbacks game. It was his first sporting event. Even before going to a Husky Football game (of which he attended the first one available in his lifetime to attend).
So this summer I had big plans, we were heading to Colorado for a reunion with Erin's family and I was set on getting to Coors Field and checking it off the list. We got close, but for budgetary reasons couldn't quite add the days drive and extra nights in a hotel room so we missed out on that opportunity. It had been at least a full year since I had been to Safeco and Nathan had never been, so I decided that was a must this summer. I wanted to hit a day game as that would be better for Nathan's schedule (maybe?). So after letting a few pass I finally decided we would head up to see the Twins play Sunday, July 28th.
We headed up that morning and took the light rail from the Seatac station. Nathan loved the train, he sat patiently on it observing how everyone else acted and then following suit, folding his hands politely as the train made its way to the stadium.
I didn't buy tickets thinking it would be easy to pick up cheap tickets either at the box office or on the street once we got there. Unfortunately, the M's seem to know what they are doing to maximize profits despite a terrible team. When we arrived all the cheap seats were sold, or covered by a tarp and there was hardly anyone selling on the street. We ended up with $30 tickets, but the box office lady was nice enough to get us close to the playground on an aisle with no one next to us. Good thing too that we didn't buy a ticket for Nathan as he did not like the folding stadium chairs.
It was just about a perfect day for a ballgame, partly sunny, not too warm, but just about right. As we walked into the ballpark, one of the ushers gave Nathan what would be his first baseball cards, one of the Mariner Moose and one of some random Milwaukee Brewer. He loved them, he kept looking at them the next two days. We got Nathan a certificate commemorating his first trip to Safeco. Took pictures with the Moose, tried to play in the playground made for 3 and up. I attempted to convince Erin that Nathan needed an M's hat (and that I should get a matching one).
Watching a baseball game with a two year old, is quite different than otherwise. Two year olds simply do not appreciate that leisurely pace or the anticipation of potential with every pitch. If fact Nathan may have caused us to miss just about every exciting play of the game. There was a home run robbing catch right in front of our seats that I viewed on a TV while getting him a piece of pizza. Then a home run by Nick Franklin landed directly two seats in front of where we would have been had we not been at the playground trying to convince Nathan to play with the older kids ( I could've tackled that older gentleman and got the ball had I been there).
All in all it was an enjoyable game, but the real fun came after the game. Unknown to us, this was one of five chances throughout the year that the Mariners allow kids to run the bases after the game, and since Nathan would not make it around on his own, he got a chaperone! I was so excited! We decided to line up during the 9th inning, as Nathan was already tired and we didn't want to wait too long. The line already stretched quite far, but ended up moving very fast once it started going. It was so much fun; we entered the outfield on the warning track in right field and walked over to first base where we got to go from first to home.
It was kids only for sure, but if you are luckily enough to have a youngster small enough they will let you help them around. I took full advantage of this loophole and accompanied Nathan around the bases. Most of the kids ran, but Nathan isn't quite ready to run on command and still is figuring out the whole baseball thing, so we pretended we just hit a towering shot and just trotted around the bases. Needless to say we were passed by several kids, and an entire group ended up catching us right at home plate, so I was not able to slide, not get any great pictures of us crossing home. It was a blast. I clearly enjoyed it more than Nathan, but I am sure we will do it again when he it older.
Overall, we had a great time at the ballpark. Nathan even got so good at saying, "Yeah Baseball!" that when we arrived home and one morning he came downstairs to see some Sportscenter highlights on he pointed to the TV and said, "Yeah Baseball!" He might have even improved his batting form a bit on his Little Tikes tee-ball set. As with most of these cheesy first time father son type experiences I am likely to look back on it much more fondly that he will. But, hopefully many years from now he will be able to look back at the good times he had with his family at the ballpark while looking with anticipation to new memories he can make with his own. "Baseball, the one constant throughout all the years. . . . "
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| Erin and I on the Green Monster at Fenway Park, Boston |
But, what I do love about the game is the idea and history behind baseball. There is a romance and leisurely pace to baseball that is so different from any other sport. Baseball and summer are connected. I love experiencing the ballpark. Whether is it Safeco Field or some random minor league park, going out to the ballpark is an exciting, yet relaxing experience. You can relax and take in the pace, but must be aware that any crack of the bat could be the difference in the game. And until the last out is recorded, there's always hope. I love the Ken Burns version of baseball.
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| Nathan's first Ballpark in Phoenix. |
Some of my favorite memories growing up were traveling to ballparks with my family. We attended M's games in the Kingdome regularly, usually sitting in the first row behind the home dugout with my dad's company tickets. Boy did this spoil me. My parents and I went to Fenway when I was in elementary school and saw the Mariners play the Red Sox. My brother and sister and I sat in the bleachers at Wrigley on a perfect warm summer day and watched the Cubs play and shirtless fans cheer for the lovable losers. We watched the Mariners play twice in County Stadium in Milwaukee a dump if there ever was one, but we saw a great pitching performance by Randy Johnson in his prime. I was able to take a road trip to the bay area in college with my dad and attend a game in Oakland (kinda scary) and San Francisco with my late uncle who was not a sports fan and arrived late and left early, despite a gorgeous view of the bay (Trailing by one in the 9th, both Jeff Kent and Barry Bonds struck out to end the game. It was great!). Just after college with a bunch of friends we hit both Chicago stadiums and Cincinnati on an epic trip that also included some college football. I went to the final game in the Kingdome.
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| At Safeco in Center Field |
So this summer I had big plans, we were heading to Colorado for a reunion with Erin's family and I was set on getting to Coors Field and checking it off the list. We got close, but for budgetary reasons couldn't quite add the days drive and extra nights in a hotel room so we missed out on that opportunity. It had been at least a full year since I had been to Safeco and Nathan had never been, so I decided that was a must this summer. I wanted to hit a day game as that would be better for Nathan's schedule (maybe?). So after letting a few pass I finally decided we would head up to see the Twins play Sunday, July 28th.
 |
| With the Moose, who Nathan, is indifferent about |
We headed up that morning and took the light rail from the Seatac station. Nathan loved the train, he sat patiently on it observing how everyone else acted and then following suit, folding his hands politely as the train made its way to the stadium.
I didn't buy tickets thinking it would be easy to pick up cheap tickets either at the box office or on the street once we got there. Unfortunately, the M's seem to know what they are doing to maximize profits despite a terrible team. When we arrived all the cheap seats were sold, or covered by a tarp and there was hardly anyone selling on the street. We ended up with $30 tickets, but the box office lady was nice enough to get us close to the playground on an aisle with no one next to us. Good thing too that we didn't buy a ticket for Nathan as he did not like the folding stadium chairs.
It was just about a perfect day for a ballgame, partly sunny, not too warm, but just about right. As we walked into the ballpark, one of the ushers gave Nathan what would be his first baseball cards, one of the Mariner Moose and one of some random Milwaukee Brewer. He loved them, he kept looking at them the next two days. We got Nathan a certificate commemorating his first trip to Safeco. Took pictures with the Moose, tried to play in the playground made for 3 and up. I attempted to convince Erin that Nathan needed an M's hat (and that I should get a matching one).
Watching a baseball game with a two year old, is quite different than otherwise. Two year olds simply do not appreciate that leisurely pace or the anticipation of potential with every pitch. If fact Nathan may have caused us to miss just about every exciting play of the game. There was a home run robbing catch right in front of our seats that I viewed on a TV while getting him a piece of pizza. Then a home run by Nick Franklin landed directly two seats in front of where we would have been had we not been at the playground trying to convince Nathan to play with the older kids ( I could've tackled that older gentleman and got the ball had I been there).
All in all it was an enjoyable game, but the real fun came after the game. Unknown to us, this was one of five chances throughout the year that the Mariners allow kids to run the bases after the game, and since Nathan would not make it around on his own, he got a chaperone! I was so excited! We decided to line up during the 9th inning, as Nathan was already tired and we didn't want to wait too long. The line already stretched quite far, but ended up moving very fast once it started going. It was so much fun; we entered the outfield on the warning track in right field and walked over to first base where we got to go from first to home.
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| Stealing Second! |
It was kids only for sure, but if you are luckily enough to have a youngster small enough they will let you help them around. I took full advantage of this loophole and accompanied Nathan around the bases. Most of the kids ran, but Nathan isn't quite ready to run on command and still is figuring out the whole baseball thing, so we pretended we just hit a towering shot and just trotted around the bases. Needless to say we were passed by several kids, and an entire group ended up catching us right at home plate, so I was not able to slide, not get any great pictures of us crossing home. It was a blast. I clearly enjoyed it more than Nathan, but I am sure we will do it again when he it older.
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| Erin and Nathan on the Field |
Overall, we had a great time at the ballpark. Nathan even got so good at saying, "Yeah Baseball!" that when we arrived home and one morning he came downstairs to see some Sportscenter highlights on he pointed to the TV and said, "Yeah Baseball!" He might have even improved his batting form a bit on his Little Tikes tee-ball set. As with most of these cheesy first time father son type experiences I am likely to look back on it much more fondly that he will. But, hopefully many years from now he will be able to look back at the good times he had with his family at the ballpark while looking with anticipation to new memories he can make with his own. "Baseball, the one constant throughout all the years. . . . "
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