Kids and Baseball

[Sammyjo]

My dad and I have one thing in common: Love of Sports. Hockey, baseball, football.

I remember going to all these baseball games with my daddy when I was little. I thought I was the coolest kid because my daddy would take me all the time. The first time we went to the Metrodome I was amazed at the size. I was in awe of the whole aspect. I got to have cokes and hotdogs, peanuts, whatever my heart desired. And he was all too willing to do anything to make his little girl happy....not much has changed, he still spoils me rotten....but he's got another little girl to spoil, too....his granddaughter.

On Saturday night, the Yankees were in town. We decided to get in the car and go down to the game. My daughter was wound up all day. She could barely wait until 4:00 when it was time to go. She was dressed and ready at 8 a.m. Finally, we got down there.

We got into our seats and I looked at my beautiful daughter. She had that same look on her face that I did my first time. All those people, the fun and excitement in the air. It was amazing. Not only did she sit through the whole game without causing too much trouble (with help from the cotton candy) she got to see the catcher hit his first homerun...an inside the park homerun...and she got to see the Twins win.

If you've gotten this far, thanks for reading. I think that we sometimes take for granted these little events. I don't think I'll ever forget the time Juan Berenguer (sp?) was throwing balls up to us...shit, that was a long time ago. I won't forget the time our pitcher walked a Toronto Bluejay and he tripped as he got to the base. And I definitely won't forget that look on my daughter's face.

Anyone else have a happy story to share?

 

[Jade]

AHHHHH
(that was one of those satiated sighs that people get when they have just finished an elegant dessert and are sitting around the fire place sharing secrets late at night)

 

[April]

Sammyjo, you are so lucky to have a nice dad.

 

[RonG]

I grew up watching bad baseball in Cleveland. My dad and I were at a game involving the Indians and the Oakland A's when Billy Martin was managing them. Well, in the first inning, the Indians score 7 runs against Rick Langford (the pitcher for Oakland) and held a 7-0 lead. We are sitting along the first base side and have our binoculars aimed on the Oakland dugout to watch the fireworks between manager and pitcher.

To our surprise, the two of them head over to the clubhouse runway, out of view to most but clearly in view to my dad and I. My dad looking through the binoculars tells me that for some reason the two of them are sharing a cigarette. I grab the binoculars from my dad and zero in on the action. My dad was right - they were sharing a cigarette but I did not see any smoke being exhaled. At that moment, a generation gap was bridged as I explained to my dumbstruck father that it appeared that they were sharing a joint.

Guess what? The A's came back and beat the Indians 10-7 and Langford went the distance and only gave up two hits in the next 8 innings. Truly America's Pasttime!

 

[Skibum]

I never was much of a baseball fan growing up, but my kids got me interested. My youngest son is an excellent High School player. I even help coach his HS team, as well as play in a softball league. It is a great sport.

But damn those Twins for beating the Yanks!

 

[Jonas]

Baseball is still America's game.

I to have beautiful childhood memories. Chicago 1965 Sox are playing the Washington Senators. We're sitting on the first baseside, good box seats, in the second section. Jerry Adair hit a foul pop up. All the men jumped up as the ball came down, but my father caught it. I'll treasure it always.

Last year I had my two young nephews at a Cubs game. We sat in the bleachers. Every inning Sammy Sosa would toss out a ball or 2 to the fans. My nephews each got one, and a story they'll tell for years.

Don't tell anyone I went to a Cubs game.

 

[Handy-Andy]

Been from england football the game here and i will never forget my 11th birthday present my dad bought me my first season ticket for huddersfield town the team had been struggling in the lower division's the 4th division in fact but that season we went on to win the championship we have yet to reach the great heights of the past but that year was so special we never missed a game home or away and to see my dad cry with joy when we won was awesome.

 

[Shintani]

Wacthing the 1986 World Series with dad, TV on, volume off and listening to the radio commentators...

"Mookie Wilson still trying to win it for New York. 3 and 2 the count. The pitch by Stanley...and it's a ground ball, trickling...IT GETS BY BUCKNER!!! ROUNDING THIRD IS KNIGHT!!! THE METS WILL WIN THE BALL GAME!!! THEY WIN!!! THEY WIN!!! UNBELIEVEABLE, THE RED SOX IN STUNNED DISBELIEF!!!"

 

[Sonora]

Sammyjo, have you haerd of the Women's National Basketball Aassociation? They have a team in Minneapolis, and the tickets can be pretty cheap. I'm not sure about the Minn. team, but most of the teams have activities for kids to take part in before the game and lots of things going on during the game. Little contests at timeouts, etc. If you're interested here's a website where you can check it out: http://www.wnba.com

 

[FlamingoBlue]

SJ

What a wonderful description of your feelings. Thanks for sharing it with us.

I am not much for sports but I love to hear about true love, especially when it has to do with family. I loved how you still call your father "daddy". I melt when I hear it from my 29 y/o daughter.

blue

 

[Sammyjo]

How Rude...

I KNEW I started this thread, and just never responded, so I wanted to now.

Jade...I know. I cherish every day.

April...yes, I am. He means the world to me. I am so lucky to have him in my life. I just wish he'd take care of himself better. He was diagnosed with diabetes a few years ago...and he doesn't care. I get so frustrated, but it's hard to make a 50 year old man do things they don't want to do.

RonG...don't you just love those games? You think one team has it clinched, and the other team does a complete take over...fabulous.

Skibum...It was the most fabulous game I've ever been to. I'm just happy that I got to call that bastard Knoblauch a wussy in front of a thousand people, they laughed, he wasn't thrilled.

Jonas...1965 was a bit before my time, but my dad was telling me about a game in that year just the other night. It means a lot when he shares memories of his father with me.

Handy-Andy...nice to make your acquaintance. By football, you mean soccer, right? Cuz the Vikes play in an hour and I'm psyched for American Football season to get started. Yes, it's only pre-season, so sue me...I love it!!! Never really got into soccer. We did have a team a long time ago..we might have one now. *shrugs* I'll have to look into that.

Shintani...I'll never forget the 1987 World Series. My boyfriend at the time told me he'd perform oral sex on me for every run the Twins made. Heehee...sorry, a little walk down memory lane.

Sonora...grrrr...the Girl Scouts had this outing planned, well, you could sign up for it...she didn't want anything to do with it...she "hates" basketball. Now, people are claiming that "it's one big lesbian orgy there, and that it's no place for children". LMAO...

Blue...you are really growing on me I think I'll adopt you.

 

[FlamingoBlue]

SammyJo...

You are starting to get it.

blue

 

[Sammyjo]

All thanks to you...*huge hugs*
Thanks!!!

 

[Sonora]

Sammyjo, yes there are lesbians at the games. There's also a lot of moms with daughters, dads with daughters, moms with sons, dads with sons, grandparents with grandchildren, etc. You name the combination and it's there. There was a guy that sat next to me last night that had his young son--7-8 years old--with him. I've seen what looked like 'guys-night-out'. You know, 3 or 4 guys from work out for a night at the ball game just like they would if it were guys playing.

"Lesbian orgy" is a little bit overboard. I go to the games all the time, I've never seen anything that I would consider inappropriate.

If your daughter "hates" basketball though, there is no use taking her to a game. She seems to like baseball, and that's a good thing that the three of you can all share and build wonderful memories on. Congratulations on fnding something that you can do together that will increase what seems to be an already strong bond.

 

[Budokan]

Thank you for posting that, Sammyjo. That's a truly treasurable memory and I envy you for having it as your own.

 

[FlamingoBlue]

I think that Bud gets it, too.
This thread ain't about sports.

blue

 

[Sammyjo]

No, it's definitely not about sports. Funny thing is, I had this whole thing mapped out in my head, and it turned into something other than what I expected.

My first comment was going to be something along the lines of...What age do you think it's appropriate to take kids out to the games? And then comment on how it seems like anyone under the age of 10 has ADD when you go there. None of them could sit still. Then, I was going to comment how the mother behind us, obviously on a date with this man had her 4 children with her. BUT she was more concerned about HIM and the GAME than her kids, and they ended up all going off in the corridors. *shrugs* I can't imagine allowing my kids to go off by themselves at that age, they couldn't have been older than 7. I freak out if my daughter isn't in the house at 7:30 p.m. I can't imagine allowing them to roam around where any one of 30,000 people could wander off with them. UGH!!!! There was so much more to comment on, but my mind sort of stumbled upon the sentimentality and family dynamics within my own household.

I'm glad that it did!!!

 

[Sammyjo]

Oh, and to Sonora:

I didn't figure that it was as bad as they say it is...some people :roll eyes:

Anyways...my daughter is the pickiest kid on earth...

Hockey: Maple Leafs or Gophers (university)

Football: Vikings

Baseball: Twins

That's it...she won't budge on any of them.
Aren't kids sweet?

 

[Handy-Andy]

Hi sammyjo nice to meet ya , it's nice to be able to look back at these fond times we spent with are parents .

Now though has i have my own views on H.T.F.C (SOCCER TEAM) my dad and i can have some very heated discussion on players and tactics after the game in the bar but thats the fun of it and i'm just glad to be able to take my dad to the games now he's knocking on abit(78) and to see how passionate he still his about the team he's loved, followed since a boy when his dad took him.

[Edited by Handy-Andy on 08-06-2000 at 07:10 AM]