My daughter and her husband gave my husband a neat gift for Father’s Day – tickets for him and me to attend a local minor league baseball game with them on July 4 with fireworks afterward. 
I was a little concerned about the heat, but I was game. Still, 96 is 96 and way, way, way out of my outdoor comfort range. I have a rule about the heat. If it’s over 90 degrees, my dog has sense enough not to go outside for more than three minutes, so why should I?
The sound of a band greeted us as we walked toward the gate and we had the opportunity to get free baseball caps by filling out an information card. I came prepared, wore sunscreen, brought a mini-battery-operated fan and put my hair up within three minutes of sitting down and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Although I do not understand how other women are able to wear their hair down and not appear as if they are sweltering. Enough of that, though.
Nutzy 
(I’m not kidding) is the official mascot for the Flying Squirrels, and he is very popular. There are also a few other mascots: Zinger, an acorn nut and Parker the Rally Pig. 
( I suppose this is not the time to confess that I prepared and ate baby back ribs on July 4.)Parker is a real pig who is driven around the stadium to drum up enthusiasm
Zinger organizes races with two other nuts in between innings. I haven’t been to a minor league baseball game in eons, so it felt new again to me. Great to hear the National Anthem sung by the Richmond Symphony Choir and “God Bless America” performed acappella by a very young junior pageant winner.
There was lots of beer and deep-fried food. I gave into sharing a soft pretzel with my husband. No wine for people in the cheap seats, so it was Sprite for me.
Oh, you want to know about the game and the players. The Squirrels won 9-4. It was fun listening to the music that played as the batters approached the plate. A Justin Bieber tune was played for one VERY promising player because he’s the same age as the Bieber –18! A Frank Sinatra tune is always played for another player.
Blonde moment: I remarked to my daughter that I thought the electronic numbers flashing on one of the screens had to be wrong. I thought the numbers were giving the temperature. I said, “It can’t be 81 degrees.” She said, “It’s not. That’s the speed the pitcher is throwing the ball.”
After the game, the fireworks began and they were spectacular. I can’t recall a finale so amazing because we were so close to them. I joined along with most of the rest of the crowd singing “I’m proud to be an American.”
All in all, a great night. Lots of fun and entertainment. If we go again, we will need to get insider secrets on how to get out faster. We sat in the parking lot for forty-five minutes before our car moved an inch.
All this has me thinking it might be fun to let my royal country of Chantaine start up a minor league baseball team. That could be fun. In the meantime, my current book THE PRINCESS AND THE OUTLAW, is out right now! I hope you’ll give it a try and let me know what you think!
When is the last time you went to any ballgame at all? What did you like best about it? I will give one commenter a copy from my backlist!
Xo,
Leanne
Riding With The Top Down 
Glad you enjoyed the Squirrels 🙂 I remember going to games there when it was the Richmond Braves playing. My husband has been to several Squirrel games. His Irish dance class sometimes performs during the games, so he has fun then, too. I can’t handle the heat at all, so I don’t go 😦
Susan, the heat almost got me too, but I did enjoy it. Cool that your husband dances a jig at the games!:)
Leanne, I do not remember the year it was but my husband got tickets from the hospital he worked at and so of course he got me one too………..I AM NOT A FAN OF BASEBALL> (sorry) It was the red sox and they were playing at Fenway Park. OK so good sport that I am I said ok I will go . Well it was rather a disaster . Being a larger lady my butt did not fit in the little seats, they even have the nerve to call seats.! My husband and oldest son were larger too , my youngest son was not large but really rather normal sized and he even had problems sitting down………..this was after we had run a foot race to even get in the park………..HOT HOT DAY>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.:( then we went back on the bus ……………it broke down……………wait an two hours for another bus it broke down en route …………………….we waited for four hours in muggy hot heat………………got back to the hospital where our car was from meeting the bus in the am……………….at 8:00 am …………………….home at 3:00am ……………………..lolol impressed NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sweetcindal, oh, no, what an ordeal. That’s you ended up experiencing! Well, you did the good deed for your husband. Mine was easy compared to yours! Ack!
It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been to a baseball game. We saw the Mets play. It was hot and my scalp burned. I wished I remembered to wear a cap.
Jane, the game didn’t start until 6:30pm, so we were spared the worst of the sun… but the heat was still awful.
It’s been years since I’ve been to a baseball game. Finnish baseball, that is. I always went to see a baseball game with a friend of mine, who really liked it.
Minna, it’s been years for me too! I think the added draw of spending time with my daughter and son-in-law along with the fireworks helped!:)
I went to a baseball game while in high school attending a camp for the deaf. Unfortunately we didn’t see the whole game instead left before it was over. The baseball game was in Rochester, New York and I think the team was a local team playing another local team. I don’t think it was a major league team anyway.
Stonehawk, I’m sorry you didn’t get to see the whole game, but I hope they did some entertaining things!:)
I love baseball almost as most as much as books. I am truly a baseball junkie (spring training, minor and major league). My children say I have a mascot addiction. The house has pictures of family and the various mascots I’ve tracked down.
Rosemary, I think you have a fun addiction. So keep doing it!:) People really loved Nutzy! The way the crowd reacted to him made me smile.:)
Hi, Leanne,
Although we haven’t gone this year, in the past few years we have gone to several minor league games. Here in NJ, we have two new minor league ballparks within striking distance (no pun intended). Usually, we go to the Lakewood Blue Claws (Philadelphia Phillies Class A affiliate). A couple of years ago, the company my husband works for sponsored a family outing to the Somerset Patriots. They recently sent a player to the Red Sox. The Patriots have several Bark in the Park nights, which you would love, Leanne, because you could bring Bijou! Our dog rescue often brings foster dogs to Bark in the Park.
Glad you had fun at the game! It’s a great family outing!
Hugs,
Jaye
Jaye, BARK IN THE PARK! That would be SO fun!:) I really enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I guess it’s good for me to get out sometimes even when I’m on deadline!:)
My daughter and son-in-law took their bassett to a Bark in the Park at a Potomac Nationals game in Woodbridge VA a few weeks ago. They had a great time and Snickers had fun with some of the other dogs.
Bev and I were there on the 4th also. Sorry we missed you!
Richard, I’m sorry we missed you and Bev too! Tell her I said hello!:)
A ballgame. Hmm… Does watching my kids when they were little toss a ball about in the yard count? 😉 Not into sports all that much (unless Shaun White snowboards past my house; then I’m all in!).
Michele, I’m not really a fan, but it was a lot of fan. I’m sure I won’t be going to every game, but I’d consider going to another if we could find out how to get out faster!:)
I haven’t been to a game in years, though I grew up on baseball. When I was very little, I remember hearing the Milwaukee Braves being on the radio a lot – not that I was interested at the time. Then, they moved to Atlanta, and I could actually listen to music for a few years! When I was in high school, we got the old Seattle Pilots, who became the Milwaukee Brewers. I spent a lot of time at the ball park, then. (There were a lot of cute, young players!) However, I married a man who DID NOT like baseball, so I resorted back to listening (this time intentionally) on the radio. Now, my kids are older and my DAUGHTER likes baseball, so she and I listen to the radio or watch on TV as often as we are able. She now goes to the games for me. We have Bernie Brewer, who is a kind of dorky mascot; the fans enjoy the sausage races more. Milwaukee = beer (Brewers) and brats, thus the sausage races were born! 🙂
C-Jay, I LOVE the dorky mascots! And haha on the sausage races! Too fun!:) I bet it’s fun going to the games with your daughter.:) Thanks for popping in!:)
Your sausage races sound like the presidents races that the Washington Nationals do. We have Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt. In all the years they’ve been doing the races, Teddy has never won…
We use to try and go a few times every year but it’s truly gotten expensive. Our team is the Pittisburgh, Pirates – have had some good years but many bad ones too lol. But our best experience was years ago when our two girls were young and my husband got box seats that got passed down from the bigwigs at work. Apparently it wasn’t a game they wanted to watch. An air-conditioned box with a fridge full of beer, soda and wine and snacks. My girls were in 7th heaven – they pretened to be waiters lol. We all felt like big shots hahaha. The game definitely played second fiddle to the accommodations.
Oh, catslady, I would have LOVED an air-conditioned box seat! That must have been heaven. The cheap seats at our stadium are only $7.00, so going to the game doesn’t break the bank account…. however, the lack of AC could give me pause! THANKS for commenting!:)
I so enjoyed your post about the ballgame. What fun! Felt as if I’d been there, but didn’t have to swelter through that heat. 🙂 We have a –I think–an AA farm team here for –I think–the Cardinals and go once every few years at the most. It’s fun being closer to the action, and there’s a lot more of it, with much higher scores, at the farm team games than at the major leagues.
Just from the title of your new book, I know I’m going to love it. The next time I get to town, I’ll be sure to buy it!
Roxanne, thank you so much! You’re so sweet! And I’m very glad that I could save you from the heat!:) xo
I remember seeing the Red Sox play at Fenway when I was a kid. Best ballpark in the country, hands down. I hear great things about the new Twins ballpark, but haven’t been there yet. The ST Paul Saits have an avid fan base here, and from what I understand, that’s the game to take the kids to.
Kathleen, I didn’t expect much in terms of comfort for the seating. That’s probably a good thing. I think the fans make a huge difference in everyone’s enjoyment.
Congratulations on the book! It’s been years since I went to a game.
Thanks bn100!:)
Our new AAA team (farm team for the KC Royals) is now named the Storm Chasers. We are going Saturday night to see them play the Iowa Cubs. Its a brand new stadium and as much as the city loved Rosenblatt, I have to say the new park is very comfortable. I’ll have an Omaha Steaks hot dog for you!
s andresen, I’m glad you be comfy. Probably much more comfy than I was. Enjoy that hot dog for me!:)
Last month my company sponsored a night out at a Padres’ game for our visiting salesmen. It was all you can eat and drink. I can’t tell you a thing about the game other than we were an arms length away from where the guys were warming up and let’s just say they were very limber and had some tight butts!
Tracie, I like the way you enjoy a baseball game!!!:) I couldn’t tell you a lot about the game either. Why? Because I kept talking during the BIG plays instead of watching!!!:) Sounds like you had a good time!!:) Good for you!;0