Are you ready for some baseball?
I enjoy Major League Baseball. I’ve followed the Texas Rangers since around the time the franchise began in the spring of 1972. I was five. So many memories surround outings to games—from my younger years sweating in the bleachers with our cooler of food and drinks brought from home (you could do that then!) to listening to games on the radio during elementary school to celebrating my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary in a suite with our whole family nearly three years ago.
I like baseball—but my husband loves it! He loved playing it. He loves watching it—in person or on TV. He loves listening to a game on the radio. He enjoys scoring the game when he watches in person on a paper program, although many ballparks have quit doing these. He loves spring training and the postseason. The All-Star Game. And the World Series. He even loves minor-league baseball games!
As a child, he was a Dodgers fan. No real reason why. He lived in central Pennsylvania and didn’t want to root for the Pittsburgh Pirates like his dad. But once he moved to Texas–almost 38 years ago now!–he became a Rangers fan. He’s softened toward the PIrates as well. And he will root for the Red Sox when they aren’t playing the Rangers because he loves his daughter. (More on that below!)
He also loves visiting other ballparks—especially the historic ones. I love when baseball and history collide! We’ve enjoyed games at the old Yankee Stadium in New York, Dodger Stadium in LA, and, of course, Fenway Park in Boston. In May. we plan to attend our first-ever game at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Being at the old ballparks is kind of like hanging out in a historic home for a few hours!
All that to say, this past weekend was opening weekend for Major League Baseball. We don’t always attend on opening day or opening weekend, but we did this year, courtesy of our daughter! She bought family tickets for her dad for Christmas and then flew down for us all to go together! (All except the grandgirls, who would have been up too late, and their mom, my sweet daughter-in-law, who stayed home with them.) This was a special series, too, because our Rangers played the Boston Red Sox. Over her five years in Boston, our daughter has switched her loyalty to the Red Sox, even though the Rangers come in a close second.
Now we’ll settle in for most of the rest of the season on TV. Which is fine by me. One of the reasons I enjoy baseball is that it is a slower game and allows for lots of reading time between major happenings. At least when it’s on TV. When I’m at a game in person I’m too afraid of foul balls to not pay attention throughout!
Are you a baseball fan? Who do you root for?
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We do enjoy watching baseball; however, we are not diehard fans. My husband and I have never actually attended a ballgame. Since we live in rural Missouri, our loyalties lie with the KC Royals. Go Royals!
We support the Royals on occasion because our daughter-in-law is one of Bobby Witt Jr.’s strength and conditioning coaches in the offseason! You should make a trip and go to a game. The atmosphere is fun.
I love this, D’Ann! What wonderful memories you are making for many generations!
Yes, definitely a multi-generational pastime in our family!
I enjoy baseball, but mostly prefer to watch in person. It doesn’t tend to hold my attention when it’s on TV (I usually get sucked into my book and miss most of it LOL). But my niece LOVES it. She used to play softball in school so I think that plays into it. She lives in Philadelphia and I’m not too far from there so we have two games that we’ll attend together this season. The company I work for has partnered with the Phillies and so we get some discounted tickets which is a great perk! There’s quite a few of us in the family though who like to go watch the Reading Phils as well. I have to admit… I grew up in NE PA and the Pirates weren’t even someone we thought to cheer for. LOL
LOL! Yes, the two sides of PA are very adamant about supporting either Philly teams or Pittsburgh teams! Being from the center of the state, my husband’s family identified more with PIttsburgh, but my mother-in-law is a lifelong Phillies fan.
I’m not a big baseball fan, but have have attended a few major league games. Took a stadium tour of Wrigley a few years ago and it was very interesting to learn all the history and getting to see ‘behind the scenes’ of such an iconic place.
It is! Stadium tours of the old stadiums are the best! So much history. We’ve done the tour at Fenway.
I root for the Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, and the Colorado Rockies. My family growing up loved baseball too!
Love it! Although here in North Texas—and especially after the 2023 playoffs—Rangers fans can’t abide the Astros! But our connection to KC (our dil is one of Bobby Witt’s off season coaches) means we will think kindly of them on occasion. 😉
Of all the major sports, baseball is the one I like most. No major league team near me, but Boise has a minor league team. I haven’t attended a game in years and years. Loved reading your post. Maybe I’ll have to grab a friend and go to a game this summer. Season opens in late May.
You should go. We go at least once to our local minor league team’s game. We love the smaller stadium.
Married a Jersey boy whose father grew up in the Bronx! So I give you one guess as to who we root for in this Illinois house, and it ain’t the Cubs. Hoping to finally see a game in August when the White Sox host the Yankees. Enjoy your trip to Wrigley! Please connect if you need suggestions for what to see while you’re in my neck of the woods.
Thank you! Unfortunately, our trip is going to be super quick! But I will keep you in mind should we get up that way with more time on our hands. Even if you are a Yankees fan. 😉
I like annoying my Cubs fan friends with my Yankee attire. Someday we’ll get down to spring training, but March vacations are not do-able until hubby retires. Have fun in Chicago! If you haven’t already, enjoy some deep dish or an Italian beef or a Chicago-style hot dog.
We live in Texas but root for the St. Louis Cardinals. I married a diehard Cardinals fan. We love to attend games. We have also attended the preseason grapefruit league in Florida. That’s a blast!
Spring training games are so fun! We’ve been to AZ, where the Rangers play in the Cactus League several times. If you have a die hard fan in the house, then that’s who you root for! Thankfully I was more diehard than Jeff when we married, so he switched. 😁
Loved this newsletter, D’Ann! We’re Rangers fans, too, but mostly because our daughter works for them on their broadcast team. She even received a replica of their championship ring! I’d show you a pic but I don’t think I can attach it here. Anyway, go Rangers! I hope this season is better than last! 🙂