Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Game 29 - Chicago Cubs


On a beautiful, but chilly Saturday in Chicago, we made our way over to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs battle the Cardinals. We were fortunate enough to have a friend, Andrea Burke, who works for the Cubs. She was very good to us, getting us field access, and seats to the game. Also, Jeanette's friend from college, and life long Cubs fan, Katie, was gracious enough to let us sit in her season tickets for the game. It was a lot of fun to spend some time with Katie and her husband. Katie loves baseball as much as we do, and I hope someday she gets to experience a competitive team in Chicago.

My family and I had been to Wrigley Field several times, but this was the first time my good friend Mike Harth had stepped inside the friendly confines. We had a great weekend spent with friends and family watching Cardinal baseball in the windy city.

Mike, Jeanette, Dave and me on the field before the game 

It's always a lot of fun watching baseball at Wrigley. I used to live right by the Stadium when I first moved to Chicago, and there is a certain energy around the ballpark. There is also a lot of binge drinking, but Cubs fans in general are very passionate about their team and want nothing more than to win like the Cardinals. As a Cardinals fan traveling to every ballpark, you realize how fortunate we are that nearly every year our team is competitive, and many teams the best in baseball. 

This weekend was actually my 30th birthday, so it was a special time for my family and me to be able to enjoy all the things that I enjoy in one place: baseball, and spending time with the people you care about. Plus, I got to see three Cardinals games that weekend!

Pros: Yes, the team is terrible, but there are very few places on earth like Wrigley Field. I am in favor of making some aesthetic changes and bringing in better food options, but there is something special about having major league baseball in the heart of a great city.

Cons: Falling concrete and AAA team playing for the Cubs. I'm torn on whether to include the men's urinal troughs as a pro or a con...

Jeanette and me on the field prior to the start of the game



My Dad and I walking down the right field line

Mike, Bitter, Moore and me enjoying the action

-JJS

Monday, October 8, 2012

Game 28 - Minnesota Twins



My parents, Dave, and I decided at the last minute to head to Minneapolis for the Twins / White Sox game. Dave and I had been in Green Bay for the Bears / Packers game on Thursday night, so we drove from Green Bay and I met my parents near Madison, Wisconsin and finished the rest of the drive in one car. I had been to Minneapolis once before, but this was the first time to the new Target Field for all of us. We stayed downtown at the Westin, just a short walk to the stadium. 

True to fashion, we arrived at the ballpark just minutes before first pitch. We walked up to the ticket office and purchased pretty good seats in left field. Once we made our way into the expansive outfield at Target Field, I knew it was going to be a special park. Aesthetically  this was one of our favorite parks, and ultimately, the only drawback to Target Field would be the food options. 
 

After traveling nearly 15,000 miles and seeing 28 ballparks, I think we found our favorite super fan. 'Truck Stop,' a rather large man comfortable enough to embrace his stature, manned the left field bleachers at Target Field. True to his name, 'Truck Stop' wore a Twins jersey the size of a queen down comforter and hung on every pitch. We were fortunate that our seats were a section away and not obstructed by this fella.

 Truck stop celebrating a Twins hit, I think.

View from the left field bleachers towards downtown Minneapolis. The stadium is connected to the center part of the city via pedway, allowing pedestrians easy access to and from the park.

Big Jim, Mom and Dave enjoying the game.

Big Jim and the rest of us really enjoyed Target Field. The stadium is beautiful, and downtown Minneapolis is a lot of fun. I will definitely be back for more games.

Pros: Beautiful, new park with great, expansive layout right in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. I was surprised there wasn't a retractable dome.

Cons: Local food options were disappointing. I hope they make changes to this in the coming years and bring in more local vendors,  much like they have with local beer options.

-JJS

Game 27 - Chicago White Sox

Although a few weeks late, I wanted to get our blog up to date now that we've completed our tour of all 30 MLB parks! On Saturday night, August 7th, a large group of us headed over to the south side of Chicago to watch the White Sox. The Shea family was joined by my girlfriend Jeanette, our friends Bobby and Candace, and most of the Moore family. Since the renovation of Comiskey Park in five phases, over five years, starting in 2001, baseball has been much more enjoyable to watch on the south side. Plus, the White Sox have had some very good teams, including the World Championship team in 2005. The food, ballpark views, and on field product are on par with most teams in baseball.

It was a beautiful night for baseball, and we all settled into a large section in left field. It was great to have both Mackenzie and Courtney and their kids join us for a game and a nice weekend in Chicago.


 Miss Mia taking in her first Sox game

 Addison, Sam and Reese getting in on the action!

 Mia acting like she likes me.
Bobby, Candace, Jeanette, Addison and Reese.

Mia and her Momma.

Barb and Sam enjoying the game. 

Pop Up letting Mia lay it all out at the game. Most Sox fans go shirtless at home games.

Pros: Great team, much improved ballpark and spotted cow on draft in the Friday's Front Row grill. Also, Kenny Williams didn't trade Gio Gonzalez again during the game. 

Cons: A large fight broke out in front of us near the end of the game. 5-6 people were involved and it went on longer than it should. I don't know what it was about, nor do I think the people involved know what they were fighting about. Sad. 

-JJS