Take Me Out to the Ballgame...Please?



In the words of that wise man, Stevie Wonder, isn't she lovely?

For those who don't know their Great American Ballparks, this amazing (but damn near empty) place is Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles! Look at that glorious industrial skyline, lined with ominous clouds! Of course it's Baltimore! You saw The Wire. You know what's up.

(Side note: Favorite B'More story. Charm City has branded itself "the city that reads" an optimistic slogan which I saw inscribed on a public bench....riddled with bullet holes. I can laugh at these things though. I am a born Marylander. Everyone loves DC's Canada. Because it's not Virginia. Which is DC's Mexico.)

Anyways, I digress. I love baseball. Growing up a tomboy, Daddy's little sports fan, I was ALL ABOUT the Orioles. Looking back now, I see it was how we connected. There isn't much that a 40something Naval officer and a seven year old girl have in common, but we could share this. And maybe that's why I love it so much. Because it was really special for Dad and me. And though we will never get back there, just the two of us, it's a cherised memory. As an Oriole fan, I had the hat (autographed by my birthday twin, BJ Surhoff) and the jersey, and even a beach towel that was a game giveaway that I'm pretty sure is still at my mom's house. This was in the days before the Nationals, and I had to cheer for the other hometown worst team. But it was good to be a young O's fan in the 90s. There was so much to love!

The Bird:

(I love this picture, because the Bird has clearly been watching a lot of RuPaul's Drag Race, and is giving sass to ALL of the Nationals Mascots, including the glorious and terrifying giant-headed Presidents. Roosevelt looks gobsmacked.)

And of course, the Ripkens.

I know Cal is the big name for showing up to work every day for....well, forever, but I was totally taken with the idea that you could go to work at the coolest job in the world, with both your dad and brother. And they seemed nice. Like they really loved each other, even when Billy had an error, or Cal left men on base. I even have a Cal Ripken autographed baseball, a gift from my Dad. It was the culmination of us collecting baseball cards together.That seems like a million years ago. Another life.

Growing up and moving to different places, you find other teams. It's not quite your hometown heroes, but you adapt and adopt. Now living in NYC, I enjoy going to both Yankee Stadium and Citi Field for games. Though I don't carry a particular torch for either team (much to several friends dismay) I really love the experience. It's so much goddamn fun! If you can find a better summer activity that involves sitting in the sun with your friends, watching amazing athletes, whilst enjoying beer and hot dogs, I've yet to hear it!

I've been to baseball games for birthdays, with friends visiting New York, for date nights, and just for the fact that we wanted to! But this year....I am shamed and saddened to think I haven't been out to a single game this year. Between work and other commitments, there hasn't been a day that panned out. And that saddens me so much. The last time I went was with P. And while it was a perfect night (a very kind man thought we were a cute couple and handed off some $300 seats by the first base line) I'd like to make some new memories. Because the joy of being at a game is too precious to let go of, just because I've shared it with an ex-boyfriend.

So...let's go. I'm ready, you guys. I want a game under the lights. And fireworks. I want to bring a glove even though we're in the nosebleeds. I'll buy YOU the requisite peanuts and cracker jacks (even though I'd much prefer popcorn, I can be flexible). I want to root for the home team, and if they don't win it's a shame. Can we go? I feel like my summer has been incomplete without this. I need it. I crave it. Will you take me out? Please?