What A Fan Sees

Are you a baseball fan? If you are keep reading, if not that’s OK football season has arrived. On August 24, 2019, for this year birthday celebration, we made our yearly sojourn to Dodger Stadium, home of the National League-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.

It was a blistering day in LA! (Sounds like one of Chandler’s Philip Marlowe novels.) Haha - after fighting LA traffic, we arrive at Chavez Ravine. Posted, in BIG letters, at the parking lot gate - GAME SOLD OUT. Undaunted, tickets in hand, or should I say iPhone, we’re directed to park our automobile. After slathering on sunscreen, we make our way to the upper deck, thinking, it’s going to be hot up there, ah - “love these seats we’re in the shade,” thank the baseball gods.

Tradition dictates, especially at Dodger Stadium, tune in with your transistor radio.

“It’s time for Dodger Baseball!” Who could forget the magical voice of Vin Scully all those years? So, we’re cozied into our seats listening to Charlie Steiner and Rick Monday, “Hey Charlie talk about Yankee history; in 1941 Joe DiMaggio struck out 14 times the entire season, however in last nights game both teams combined struck out 26 times - in one game.”

As a fan living in Southern California, there is a multitude of options to visit a major league park; Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres; Angel Stadium, Angels of Anaheim; and Dodger Stadium.

Dodger Stadium is currently the third-oldest ballpark after Fenway Park, and of course Wrigley Field. However seeing the New York Yankees play, in a National League Park, and being able to get tickets is a rarity. So we had to go. If nothing else to see Aaron Judge, who by-the-way did not disappoint his fans. A monster home run that left the park in center field, in a flash. When this kid connects with the ball its pure power.

What is it really that makes the Dodgers vs Yankees rivalry so special? Surely, it must be the players we remember behind these storied franchises. Jackie Robinson, Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio, Johnny Podres, Mickey Mantle, Red Barber, Mel Allen, Gil Hodges, Jerry Colman, Orel Hershiser, Reggie Jackson, Eric Karros, Derek Jeter, the list goes on . . .

So, just what does a baseball fan really see? Well, maybe in the mind's eye, it’s vivid images of history, maybe stats, maybe it's just a favorite player? Or just maybe, it's the thrill of a magical play that ignites a sold-out stadium of fans, cheering for their team to win another game.

And every baseball fan has a story to tell, a treasured experience.

What’s yours?

* Major League Ballparks visited to date; Fenway Park, *Shea Stadium, Yankee Stadium (original), Citizens Bank Park, Comerica Park, Wrigley Field, Bush Stadium, Kauffman Stadium, Ballpark at Arlington, Coors Field, *Safeco Field (now T-Mobile Park), *AT&T Park, *Candlestick Park, Oakland Coliseum, Dodger Stadium, Angel Stadium, *Qualcomm, and Petco Park.

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