Sounds of Freedom!

With a mighty swing, crack of the bat, and roar of the crowd Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins hammers home run after home run before a sold out crowd at Petco Park, in San Diego California during the 2016 MLB Home Run Derby. Sounds of freedom! Stick with me you’ll see what I mean - read on.

Monday, July 11, 2016 Lori and I attended this years MLB Home Run Derby thanks to a generous gift from a colleague at Home Depot who for the first time became a season ticket holder for the Padres after retiring from his over 20 years of service.

“I’m taking my daughter to the All Star Game this year for the first time,” he said excitedly. “We’re not interested in the Derby and would love to share the tickets with you. I know you’re a big baseball fan. Would you be able to go?”

“Absolutely! We would love to go, thanks so very much . . . ”

Petco Park, decked out in all it’s glory is this year’s host of the 2016 All Star Game and it’s festivities. Downtown San Diego (Gaslamp District) a buzz with activity; police and security everywhere, local dinners, bars, hangouts, packed with people. We made our way past street fair vendors, barricaded streets, and entered the Park through the main gate on Tony Gwynn Drive. When you enter through this gate take a moment to check out the new Padres Hall of Fame exhibit honoring MLB players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame who at one time wore a Padres uniform.

The festivities began with the Fall Out Boy (Cubs fans) performing their music on an elaborate stage with flames, flashing lights, and fireworks, that appeared in the infield almost by magic.

Then the stadium announcer, “Please remove your caps for our National Anthem.”

Silence - then in unison, with reverence, and honor the entire stadium raises it’s voice to sing. In perfect synchronization and formation four Marine fighter jets ROAR over the stadium. At that moment, deep in your soul, you humbly realize it’s our Military might that provides citizens of the United States the Freedom to enjoy recreational activities like watching baseball players hit monster moon shots! CRACK - the sound of freedom!

Needless to say the night was magical. Local Los Angeles resident Giancarlo Stanton, using one of Barry Bonds bats (his hitting coach), put’s on a show that stunned the crowd. A record 61 home runs in three four minute rounds. Many of them over 440 feet!

Thank you Jim, it was an evening we will remember for a long time!

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