The sun is shining, temperatures are rising, baseball has started and I canít think of a better way to spend an afternoon than watching baseball in the sun. Unless youíre a Twins fan, then you have to go indoors to a climate controlled environment and not see the sun until you leave the Metrodome.I grew up watching baseball outdoors. I went to very few games at Wrigley Field, but I went to plenty at both the old and new Comisky Park to watch the White Sox.
There was nothing better than spending the day at the ballpark when the weather was nice. For a day game you simply had to remember sun glasses, and for night games you had to remember to take a nap before you left for the game because you knew you werenít going to be home till late.
It was great to go to games at those open air parks. You could smell the hotdogs cooking from a few blocks away, hear the crowdís reactions if you were late getting to a game.
Being in an open air ballpark has its so called hazards of dealing with Mother Nature though. I remember sitting at the new Comisky Park when rain just started to pour down. Luckily the tickets we had were in the lower deck and also happened to be in the first row of seats that stayed dry because of the club level overhang. The game got quite wet as the boys of summer played on, but we stayed dry.
Then there was opening day last season at Wrigley Field that was snowed out. I have watched many April games at Wrigley that had snow flakes flying around and the players bundled up like Eskimos.
There are those days that weather ruins a day at the ball park, but if it werenít for those days, there would be no double headers, and how I love double headers.
I have never been to a double header in person, but I have spent a few afternoons and evenings watching them. Last yearís most important double header was one I didnít attend or even watch on TV, I had to get updates from my cousin who kept checking the score on his cell phone.
The Cubs needed to win both games of their double header and the Astros needed to lose their one game of the day for the Cubs to win the division title, but one of my cousins here in Minnesota was getting married that same day. If it werenít for my cousinís cell phone that was able to receive up-to-date scores, I wouldnít have known the Cubs won the division probably until the next day.
The other great thing about open air ballparks is the grass. The grass just looks so green and perfect. The groundskeepers have gotten creative the past few years with their mowing patterns too which makes the experience of going to a ballpark all the more enjoyable.
I still remember my first Twins game. We walked up to the Dome, not a pleasant smell to be had unless you were close to the Famous Daveís stand outside the park. Once inside the park I felt like I was walking into a really big basement that someone was playing baseball in. It was dark, dreary, and cold to look at.
Sure we were lucky the Twins were playing in a dome that night because it started to rain, but I have been to a few games since and it was hard to tell if it was a day or night game unless you look at your watch. When the game is over and youíre leaving the Dome you almost get knocked over by the blast of wind that pushes you out the doors.
Now I suppose Iíll still go to Twins games to watch baseball, but Iíll be longing for outdoor baseball and all its greatness. Maybe Iíll take a trip or two down to Wrigley this summer, that is if I can get tickets.
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