QOTD #10: Did you attend baseball games as a kid?

Did you attend baseball games as a kid?

The great American pastime is really fun for kids. We took our toddler to her first game last summer, to see the Cincinnati Reds play the Cardinals. It was a blast - and exceptionally family friendly. I hope to take our girls to more games. Baseball is pretty much the only pro sport I enjoy watching live. I enjoy going really early to watch the gRound crew prep the turf.

Yogi Berra passed away recently. Yankees Legend Yogi Berra Dies - WSJ

 

From where I lived until I was in my mid-teens it was almost a 3 hour drive to the nearest cities with MLB teams. So it was a pretty rare treat for my family to be able to go. I remember once when I was 7 or 8 my father and I being in St. Louis for another event for the weekend. It was pretty rare that we'd be traveling like that w/o my younger siblings. While we were there he suggested we try to go to the Cardinals game that evening (also against the Reds ). I remember standing in line waiting to buy tickets, and when we were just a few people from the window the box office announcing tickets were sold out. Little did he know that there was also some major event (an Old Timers' Game or something?) before the game, so tickets wouldn't be readily available as they usually are in an early summer game. I was so disappointed, but he still tells the story of how I didn't cry or throw a fit, I just said "I don't really feel like talking about it" when he asked if I was okay.

Soon after we attended our first MLB game, this time at Wrigley. It was against the Pirates, and our seats were way up in the very last row of the infield. Then we attended a game a couple of years later in St. Louis, and had pretty good box seats that my dad got through some connection at work. So, until I was maybe 16 or so, I think I only attended 2-3 MLB games, not including the one we missed out on the tickets for? But I loved baseball as a kid, played countless hours of it, and remember watching many Cubs and Braves games each summer (WGN and TBS were just about the only channels to carry several games a week in our area back then).

Once I moved closer to Chicago I started attending a lot of White Sox games, sometimes around a dozen in a year. I used to get a lot of free tickets (sometimes as good as front row next to 1st base) through various vendors and things at work. Now I still get a few tickets free through work, but they are usually for Cubs games. I end up attending a game, or a handful of games, per year most years.

I also enjoy visiting other MLB parks when I get the chance. In the last few years I've gone to games in St. Louis, Milwaukee, Boston, NYC (both parks), Pittsburgh, and of course both Chicago parks.

 

I went to a couple Mariners games growing up in the old Kingdome. What a terrible venue. Safeco is so much better.

If I'm going to spend my money, though, I'd rather go to a soccer game, football game, or a basketball game, collegiate or pro. I prefer all of the above over baseball.

 

I'd love to visit every stadium. If I am in a city with a team during the season I try to catch a game when I can.


I also agree somewhat on the minor league thing. It is amazing how cheap and fun a game can be. Last year we were in Indy and went to the Pirates' AAA team's game there. Beautiful park, easy walk from our hotel, and we sat something like 6-8 rows behind home plate for $16. I think lawn seats were $8-9. Concessions were also far cheaper. It's a great value for a family, or for a couple of hours' entertainment on a summer evening.

 

We have a summer college league team. They're fun to go see, and tickets are cheap.

 

Not really
I more played than watched...this is still my preference & pleasure.

 

I went all the time as a kid in a small town, (my dad coached American Legion Ball) running around, under the bleachers, shagging foul balls... (I was quite the tom-boy) so I kind of grew up with baseball. It's the only sport I have a real affinity for. When I lived in Boston I had a friend who had Red Sox tickets, and would invite me along when her husband couldn't go, for some reason. I loved Fenway.

I remember a great "Americana" moment watching Legion ball at some middle-sized town in Kentucky or Tennessee where they had this great, if somewhat shabby, old wooden grandstand ballpark. It was just a few blocks from the motel, so I walked over, paid my $4 admission, bought peanuts in a brown paper bag and had a great old time. That ballpark look like it hadn't changed much in the last 75 years. It was hot, with just enough breeze to take the edge off the heat. Went out afterwards for a few beers with the locals.

About a dozen of our family went to a couple of College World Series games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha when I was in high school one of my cousins played there for Wichita State.

Here in Lincoln they have a great little new ballpark where the minor league Lincoln Salt Dogs and the Huskers play. We go a few times every summer.

Baseball to me is just a good relaxing time, almost anyplace, Legion and small town teams included. And the museum in Cooperstown NY is great to visit.