This one isn’t easy for me.
Baseball, for me, is like a religious experience. I’m a baseball nerd. When I go to games, I go to watch. I rarely have a beer. I eat hot dogs. I usually only spend an inning taking a walk around the park. I get there early. Oh, and I’m one of those people who keep a scorebook.
Yes, that’s me.
For six years, I covered professional baseball as well as the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It was by far my best baseball experience. I had the chance to cover future major leaguers, including Brennan Boesch.
Every. Single. Game.
And ask me to leave a game? Very rare. Ask those who went me to a Phillies game (against the Mets) and sticking it out through a three-hour rain delay. It was totally worth it, though, as Jayson Werth homered off Billy Wagner to send it to extras. The Phils lost… but still.
So baseball memories are plenty. Trying to figure out the best one? It’s really tough. I wish I could say it was the 2008 Phillies playoff run and being there as I was selected for tickets in the first round. Alas, when I saw the e-mail an hour later and tried to buy tickets (without knowing if I’d actually be able to pull it off), the ones offered were sold out. So while the Phillies winning the World Series was an amazing memory, I wasn’t there during any of the run. Same with the 1993 Phils and that amazing run they had.
There’s a lot of minor league memories, from excellent parks to cool experiences (covering the first New York-Penn League All-Star Game in Brooklyn was awesome)
So where can I go with this?
I thought about talking about the opening of Citizens Bank Park in 2004 as I was there. But, honestly, the Phillies lost that game and it was miserable out.
So my favorite baseball memory? Getting paid to watch the game.
I grew up working at newspapers. When I was in college to get the degree to help get to the next level, my goal was simple — cover professional baseball. It didn’t have to be the major leagues — but I wanted to cover pro ball.
My first full-time daily newspaper was my “hometown” paper. When I was hired, I was told that the job included the beat of the Oneonta Tigers, the short-season Single A team for Detroit. Apparently, others didn’t enjoy it as much.
One of the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies I covered.
I. Loved. It.
For six seasons, it was my beat. It also included many things at the Hall of Fame (inductions, induction tours, other events etc.), so I was in heaven. Over the years, I covered many future major leaguers (including future All-Star Matt Joyce), some great players on other teams (Hunter Pence for one), and had the chance to see local kids do well at the pro level and also cover some colorful coaches. Tom Brookens managed Oneonta for two years and I really enjoyed covering him. For a few years, former major leaguer Bill Monbouquette was the pitching coach. Apparently he didn’t like many reporters (his words), but I was OK by him.
With Hall of Fame things, I had some great one-on-one interviews with legends such as Bob Feller, Phil Niekro, Mike Schmidt, and Ozzie Smith, among others.
I got to live a dream for six years.
I’m no longer in newspapers, but those six years are hard to top. Even when I go to games now, I think about how amazing those years covering the game was. I didn’t get to travel much (twice — inaugural NY-Penn All-Star Game, and one opener in Troy), so it was a home game beat. I didn’t cover every game, but when I was there — it was magical.
And easily my best baseball memory.
How about you? What’s your best baseball memory? You have time to link up, so get a post and come back and link here and visit the others who link up! Baseball season is here!
I look forward to seeing other people’s favorite baseball memories and for the rest of this year’s Can of Corn Challenge! If you participated this month, please link up below! Please remember to try and check out other people’s posts and leave them some baseball love, too!
If you want more information on the season-long Can of Corn Challenge, please visit this page. I am co-hosting this challenge with Kasey at Kasey at the Bat, so go visit her, too! The more the merrier, so please feel free to visit all the others and join up! Also, feel free to grab the button below!
Can of Corn 2016 – Dates
- March 17: Your favorite baseballism (saying, quote, jargon etc.)
- April 14: Best baseball memory
- May 12: Favorite ballpark (minor or major)
- June 16: The best promotion you’ve ever been to
- July 14: Dream baseball road trip
- August 18: A current rule you’d change
- September 15: Favorite player of all time
- October 20: Favorite tradition/superstitions
Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please Like HooHaa Blog on Facebook!
Love your post. This is definetally my favorite time of year! Both my boys play baseball and to pick just one memory is hard but the 2 that stand out is when my oldest hit his first home run and then during his allstar season, he hit grandslams in back to back games as a 12 year old.I was one proud momma. I love the game and the lessons it has taught my boys!
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Those are two great memories. You should totally be stoked about them. You should totally join us for this challenge! I am hoping it grows and we get some more people involved!
you got to covered hall of fame inductions?! that’s so cool! I’m a little jealous….
Should I tell you about the one-on-one interview I had with Chipper when the Braves played in the Hall of Fame Game the one year??
For a brief time, I wanted to pursue sportswriting and getting a regular beat, but I think the idea of all the travel scared me off. Still sounds so cool, though, especially those interviews! Man, I’m jealous.
Allison recently posted..Can of Corn: Favorite Baseball Memory
I enjoyed it for my time in it. I was lucky enough to win a few awards (another goal I had), and I covered pro baseball. I’m not sure if I could have covered an MLB team because it’s so cut-throat and such, but I enjoyed the level I did. It was a lot of fun, without a doubt.