What else would you do? Enter?
Where does a sign like the one pictured here generate the greatest level of enjoyment? That’s easy. On a Ballpark Tours (BPT) trek. The bigger question might be – “What else would you do when you leave? Enter?”
On June 16, I began my annual baseball trek with Ballpark Tours – 9 days of fun (thank you, Julian) with a busload (about 35) of baseball fanatics. The trip, as noted in the previous post, was headed for Kane County, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Chicago. We’ve got Kane County and Louisville under our belts (or wheels – thanks, Dick) so far and, as usual, all is going well. The “exit” sign, by the way, was outside Fifth Third Bank Park– the tour’s first stop and home of the Kane County Cougars. In the next two or three posts, I’ll try to give you a flavor for what a BRT Trek is like.
We left St. Paul, MN, for Kane County (outside Chicago) at 9:00 a.m., our hands filled with a BPT 30th Anniversary T-Shirt, a special 30th Anniversary Windbreaker, the annual Baseball Triva “Kwiz” and a new twist – a competition to predict (guess) how many runs major leaguers would score during our five weekdays of baseball nirvana.
Our first game was in Kane County (Class A ball), where we were treated to a pregame picnic (brats, hot dogs, burgers, chicken, potato salad, fruit and ice cream.) The game was typical A-Ball, a 7-4 Kane County Cougars loss to the Cedar Rapid Kernels that featured a few too many hit batsmen, missed cut-off men, bases on balls and strikeouts – but just the right amount of drama and fun.
As is usual in lower-level minor league ball, lots of crazy entertainment in between half-innings. “Mackerel Jordan” – a large fish in a basketball uniform who devoured everything in sight (including the bat boy) to the “Eat It!” parody of MJ’s beat it – seemed to be the tour favorite. There was a vote or two for “Harry Canary,” prompted, apparently, by the trademark black-rimmed glasses. In addition to filling up at the picnic, the group also fill up on souvenirs and beverages (probably in reverse order).
Day two, featured a stop at the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum (after the Illinois-to-Kentucky bus ride), where we all got free (we love free on BPT) mini-bats and, in honor of Fathers’ Day, all the dads got special “Happy Fathers’ Day” versions.
That night’s game was Triple A, and much more crisply played (a 7-4 Rochester Red Wings win over the Louisville Bats.) Rochester is a Twins farm club, so all of us Minnesotans saw a host of familiar faces (Valencia, Nishioka, Thomas, Rivera, Waldrop). Among minor league stops, AAA games are especially interesting. You get to see young “risers” on their way up, current major leaguers rehabbing and waiting to come off the major league Disabled List, former productive major leaguers who have seen better times and are looking for one last shot, and players who love the game, have had a taste of the show and are giving it their best to get back.
A particular favorite in our section of the stands was 36-year-old Corky Miller (Louisville catcher) – in his 15th professional season. Going into the 2012 season, Corky had gotten a taste of the major leagues in parts of ten separate seasons – totaling 199 games with five teams (Cincinnati, Minnesota, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago/AL). He also had chalked up more than 900 minor league games with 9 teams including parts of 8 seasons (including 2012) with Louisville. His numbers? Doesn’t matter, he was there to play. He’s puting his heart into the game. And, we appreciate it. By the way, on this particular night, Miller had two walks, a single, a fly out and an RBI.
Now, while BPT tours are about baseball, they are not all about baseball. We stay in nice hotels, close the the local culture and night life. We are seeing not just the ball teams, but the people and the cities. As I awaited tonight’second game in Louisville, I also took in the Louisville Science Museum, The Frazier History Museum (saw at least 7 other “tour-ees” there) and lunch at Kentucky’s only urban winery (River Bend Winery) – a great Buffalo Chicken sandwich, homemade potato chips, a nice Meritage and a pleasing atmosphere of well-balanced “rustic elegance.”
Breakfast AND a show.
Oh yes, our first hotel featured the pictured pancake machine – looked like a copy machine, but turned out two pancakes in sixty seconds, at the push of a button. Breakfast AND a show, gotta love that.
So much is happening, I almost forgot, we’ve also been treated to a spectacular fireworks show.
More to come. (This blog falls into the “rave” category.)
