windy city (Day 4), or "Take me out to the ball game (Game 1)"
Met up with my cousin and went to Wrigley Field with him and a co-worker today. It was a beautiful day outside, warm but not hot... the perfect day for a ball game. I love going to the ballpark. I don't know what it is... but there is just something about that transition from being inside the stadium and walking to the field entrance and seeing the grass for the first time... it is simply breathe-taking the way the grass just seems to glow in the sun. I don't know what it is? Perhaps it is because I grew up in Houston and all the games there are played in a dome, but once I was in colllege and walked into my first open air stadium I started loving baseball.
Wrigley field is the second baseball park in the United States (next to Fenway Park). As a result, the stadium has large iron pillars that obscure some of view of the ball field. One such pillar obscured some of our view of third base, but as you can see our seats were still pretty good. They were under the shade, which is regrettable since it was such a beautiful day, but Chicago in April, you never know what kind of weather you are going to get. And quite frankly I would rather be in the shade on a sunny day than exposed to the elements on a cold rainy day.
The match-up was Sheets v. Zambrano. I would have loved to have seen either Wood or Prior (both were on the DL), but I have to admit I was really impressed with Zambrano. He pitched 7 and a third shut out innings, striking out six and giving up only a single hit before being yanked by Baker to the dismay of Cubs fans. Even more impressive than his pitching, was Zambrano's bat: in three plate appearances Zambrano had 2 hits scoring a run and batting another run in. All and all it was a great first trip to the ball park this year.
While I am now a pretty devout cardinals fans, I have to admit there is a special place in my heart for the cubbies. Some of my earliest baseball memories are of the Cubs game being broadcast on WGN after the Bozo the Clown Show. I remember my how mom used to like Ryne Sandberg and how I used to love it when Harry Caray would sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh inning stretch. And while every ballpark in America sings it during the seventh inning stretch, I feel sorry for the kids who will never get to experience Caray's version. It just seemed so empassioned, so honet. It embodies everything that is great about baseball.
While I didn't get to enjoy my Chicago style hot dog, I have to admit going to Wrigley Field was a great way to open the baseball season. If you have a free weekend, I encourage you to go to Chicago and check it out, you won't be disappointed.
Current Music: [I'm a Terrible Person - Rooney]
Wrigley field is the second baseball park in the United States (next to Fenway Park). As a result, the stadium has large iron pillars that obscure some of view of the ball field. One such pillar obscured some of our view of third base, but as you can see our seats were still pretty good. They were under the shade, which is regrettable since it was such a beautiful day, but Chicago in April, you never know what kind of weather you are going to get. And quite frankly I would rather be in the shade on a sunny day than exposed to the elements on a cold rainy day.
The match-up was Sheets v. Zambrano. I would have loved to have seen either Wood or Prior (both were on the DL), but I have to admit I was really impressed with Zambrano. He pitched 7 and a third shut out innings, striking out six and giving up only a single hit before being yanked by Baker to the dismay of Cubs fans. Even more impressive than his pitching, was Zambrano's bat: in three plate appearances Zambrano had 2 hits scoring a run and batting another run in. All and all it was a great first trip to the ball park this year.
While I am now a pretty devout cardinals fans, I have to admit there is a special place in my heart for the cubbies. Some of my earliest baseball memories are of the Cubs game being broadcast on WGN after the Bozo the Clown Show. I remember my how mom used to like Ryne Sandberg and how I used to love it when Harry Caray would sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh inning stretch. And while every ballpark in America sings it during the seventh inning stretch, I feel sorry for the kids who will never get to experience Caray's version. It just seemed so empassioned, so honet. It embodies everything that is great about baseball.
While I didn't get to enjoy my Chicago style hot dog, I have to admit going to Wrigley Field was a great way to open the baseball season. If you have a free weekend, I encourage you to go to Chicago and check it out, you won't be disappointed.
Current Music: [I'm a Terrible Person - Rooney]
posted by the aging hipster @ 10:10 PM
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