When we were in Phoenix a couple weeks ago we did more then just WrestleMania. We went to some Cactus League baseball games. The Cactus League is a collection of teams from the MLB whom make Phoenix their winter home. They get together and play preseason games to prepare for the regular season. Between Phoenix and Tucson, there are 12 stadiums for the different teams. The Phoenix metro area has 10 alone. This town is definitely a baseball town.
We had a couple friends come down with us on this trip. Brian and Rachel are some good friends and they both are, unfortunately, Cubs fans. But luckily for them, the Cubs call Mesa, Arizona their winter home. So logically we had to go see the Cubs play. We went to
Hohokam Stadium to see the Cubs take on the Padres. The game was fun and ended in the 10th inning in a tie. We learned that day that they don't keep playing to win in just a practice game. The stadium was nice, but a bit older as our seats were just bleachers. The best part of the game was that there were MLB legends there signing autographs for charity. Among the ball players was Bill Buckner. For those who don't follow baseball, Mr. Buckner is a hero to all of us Mets fans, and was a villain in Boston, whom he played for, for quite sometime. But instead of me describing it,
just watch this clip. So anyhow, I walked right up to Bill Buckner, I was dressed in my David Wright Mets jersey and asked for his autograph. The look on his face was worth the $20 alone.
The next game we made it to was a clash between the Cleveland Indians and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jill selected this game as she grew up rooting for the Dodgers as her father is a die hard fan. The stadium was in a newer area of Phoenix called Goodyear. The stadium,
Goodyear Park, is only a year old and is the joint home of the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds. The stadium was much smaller then Hohokam, but was so much nicer. Every employee was beyond nice and really made you feel welcome there. One gentleman at the hotdog stand of all places asked if he could hear about how Jill and I found each other. He said he could really tell we loved each other. The weather was perfect that evening and made for a special night. There is just something about the smell of cut grass, warm evening weather, the sounds of the crowd, the crack of the baseball bat, and being with friends that is hard to describe. There is just something about baseball that makes me relaxed and happy. People who get baseball know what I mean.
Luckily for us, this summer we are going to LA to see my father in laws Los Angeles Dodgers take the field against my New York Mets. In the meantime you will probably find me on my nights off from work at
Spring Mobil Ballpark, to watch my Salt Lake Bees, and to enjoy everything that makes baseball, baseball.
