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Baseball been very, very good...
Aug. 9th, 2013 10:26 amSo...on Sunday, the weather is supposed to be gorgeous, so we decided to do something outside. Mike suggested a baseball game, and that sounds lovely. Alas, the Lowell Spinners were not an option (they're the closest minor league team to us), but we could either go to see the New Hampshire Fisher Cats or the Portland Sea Dogs, both of which have home games.
Both teams play in the Double A (AA) Eastern League: the Fisher Cats are affiliates of the Toronto Blue Jays; the Portland Sea Dogs are connected to the Boston Red Sox. Our phone call went like this:
Mike: "The Portland Sea Dogs are playing the Bowie Bay Sox."
Me: "Bay Sox?"
Mike: "Affiliate of Baltimore Orioles. Don't ask."
Me: "Hokey dokey."
Mike: "And the New Hampshire Fisher Cats are playing the Richmond Flying Squirrels."
Me: "Flying Squirrels? Oh, we must."
Mike: "I knew you'd see it my way."
Got us 2 tickets, 3rd base line, third row. I love minor league ball: $12 each.
Minor league baseball is much more colorful, relaxed, and family-oriented than major league ball has become. In part, this is because minor league teams really *want* you to come out and cheer for their team...and, in part, the affordability of the whole thing makes it more of a family outing.
Apparently, Double A ball is pricier than short-season Single A ball...'about cuz my high-end tix for the Lowell Spinners are usually all of $10. Recently, that $10 meant we got Jack Kerouac bobble-head dolls, too. There *is* a promotion on Sunday at the Fisher Cats: tin lunch boxes...but they're just for kids. *pout*
So a family of four can get tickets in the good seats, pay for parking (usually $5), and get hot dogs or popcorn or peanuts and soft drinks ($5-7 for a dog and a beverage) for under $80. Sweet. That won't even buy two tickets to a Red Sox game these days. The actual *baseball* isn't as good...but the entire experience is a heck of a lot more fun. People don't tend to get drunk and mean at minor league games: they just have fun.
Here's the list of minor leagues and teams, so you can see if there's a team near you that you've just never thought about seeing. (Sorry for folks outside of the US and Mexico. Come visit!)
It's a wonderful way to spend a nice summer day or evening.
Both teams play in the Double A (AA) Eastern League: the Fisher Cats are affiliates of the Toronto Blue Jays; the Portland Sea Dogs are connected to the Boston Red Sox. Our phone call went like this:
Mike: "The Portland Sea Dogs are playing the Bowie Bay Sox."
Me: "Bay Sox?"
Mike: "Affiliate of Baltimore Orioles. Don't ask."
Me: "Hokey dokey."
Mike: "And the New Hampshire Fisher Cats are playing the Richmond Flying Squirrels."
Me: "Flying Squirrels? Oh, we must."
Mike: "I knew you'd see it my way."
Got us 2 tickets, 3rd base line, third row. I love minor league ball: $12 each.
Minor league baseball is much more colorful, relaxed, and family-oriented than major league ball has become. In part, this is because minor league teams really *want* you to come out and cheer for their team...and, in part, the affordability of the whole thing makes it more of a family outing.
Apparently, Double A ball is pricier than short-season Single A ball...'about cuz my high-end tix for the Lowell Spinners are usually all of $10. Recently, that $10 meant we got Jack Kerouac bobble-head dolls, too. There *is* a promotion on Sunday at the Fisher Cats: tin lunch boxes...but they're just for kids. *pout*
So a family of four can get tickets in the good seats, pay for parking (usually $5), and get hot dogs or popcorn or peanuts and soft drinks ($5-7 for a dog and a beverage) for under $80. Sweet. That won't even buy two tickets to a Red Sox game these days. The actual *baseball* isn't as good...but the entire experience is a heck of a lot more fun. People don't tend to get drunk and mean at minor league games: they just have fun.
Here's the list of minor leagues and teams, so you can see if there's a team near you that you've just never thought about seeing. (Sorry for folks outside of the US and Mexico. Come visit!)
It's a wonderful way to spend a nice summer day or evening.