I've been going to a lot of baseball games lately. My college roommate, Alison, is visiting, and one of Al's life goals is to attend at least one game in every major-league park in North America (awww, Toronto!). So far, this means that I may also be attending at least one game in every major-league park in North America. We visited my "hometown" Nationals on the Fourth of July and the Phillies last Wednesday, and we're hoping to work some magic, just by virtue of our presence, at the Orioles' game today. Also, to not exacerbate the sunburn situation.
One of my favorite things about major league baseball is the seventh-inning stretch. My muscles are a fan, of course, but mostly I just like that somebody took a look at baseball and said, "You know what this sport needs? More public singing!" And what do we do? Forty-five thousand, fifty thousand, sixty thousand people stand up in an enclosed space and sing a song about baseball. Loudly. In a not-very-convenient key.
I also approve of the 00s retro-modern trend in baseball: all these old-fashioned logos and fonts and multi-million-dollar (billion-dollar?) stadiums are killing me with how cute they are. To wit: Am I a Phillies fan? Not really. Do I see myself attending more Phillies games in the future? Barring some totally unexpected life change and my very own rowhouse in the Old City, the chances don't look good. Do I want one of those adorable, girly Phillies t-shirts with the little stars over the Is? LIKE YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE. (And any team that does not wish to inspire this kind of association should probably stop dotting their Is with tiny stars, don't you think? It makes me think the guys on the team also pass notes in class, braid each other's hair, and use the term "MFEO" a lot.)
On the other hand, I would like to offer a short PSA to baseball players and those who dress them. Are you ready? Here we go: The new(-ish) long pants in baseball are appalling. Do not wear them. So baggy! So messy-looking! So unflattering! Why look like Barry Bonds in long pants when you can look like Curtis Granderson, my Detroit Tigers baseball boyfriend, with your socks up? I will never understand the shift. Please redress.
And also I like the game. With all the hitting and catching and and throwing. For reals.
12 comments:
Fun fact: The man who wrote "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" had never been to a game in his life.
I, too, prefer the shorter pants.
Me out to the ball game take,
me out to the park buy...
Is it me, or are you and Alison, like, twin sisters?
Her obsession is the same as my aunt's! They should team up!
My favorite part about going to Orioles games is that everyone shouts "OH!"during the Star Spangled Banner. Fun fact: I always do this, at least in my head, whenever I hear the national anthem. It's like a Pavlovian response at this point.
I never knew - Liz - a baseball fan - go figure
Minerva (whom I assume is KE-P?),
That *is* a fun fact. Maybe that's why the song doesn't make total sense?
Mom,
me some peanuts and crack-ER jacks I, don't care if I never get back so it's root root...
Heh.
H,
Oddly, you are not the only person to have brought this up this week, but I seriously had never heard anybody comment on it before, or even really thought about it. I don't think we actually look alike. But from the picture, I see what you mean. Maybe we're just morphing together over the years (which is funny, as I think we are more different in personality than ever).
Sarah,
This scared the CRAP out of me! It was really loud. But now, if we go to another game, I'll know.
R.A. (can I call you R.A.?),
I am indeed. My passion lies with the A's, of course, but I'm having fun doing baseball tourism this summer. And cheering for former A's who've moved on.
Liz,
You need to go see a Cubs game in Wrigley field. It's kind of a dump but it has the feel of an old time ball park.
Of course the men get the full effect of Wrigley, we get to pee into a trough!
I like Al's shorter (compared to last summer) hair! Cute!
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