What a great Ballpark

Our family recently took a trip to Washington D.C. While we of course took in all the sights of D.C. we also took in a game at the Nationals Stadium. Every summer trip usually means a stop in a MLB stadium or a Minor League park somewhere.

We were totally impressed with the game experience at the Nationals Stadium. From the minute we ordered tickets on-line to the game to the post game email asking us about our experience this was customer service as it should be. If all sports venue treated their fans like this we would all go to more events.

The staff at the stadium was attentive and all the stuff going on before the game on their center field plaza from bands playing, having the four Presidents from Mount Rushmore in costume and dancing on the party plaza - it was a party atmosphere. The Philadelphia Phillies were in town and they brought a lot of fans with which created almost a play-off like atmosphere.

Our kids got their pictures taken with all the Presidents and Screech the Nationals mascot and we even got a free bobble head of Nyjer Morgan as the game giveaway.

I had a "Half-Smoke" from Ben's Chili Bowl a D.C. legendary eatery and it was tasty.

The stadium is laid out perfectly with a huge entry point in center field and this is only one block from the Metro (their subway). Easy to get to and love the accessibility.

Oh yes and it was a great game as the Nationals won 7-5 with a 3 run walk off home run by Ryan Zimmerman. A perfect summer night watching baseball at the perfect baseball park. Great job by the Nationals. If you're a baseball fan you will love this park.

Saint Paul Saints Still Doing it Right

My wife called late on Wednesday afternoon and said I just got four free tickets to the Saint Paul Saints game tonight - do you want to go?

Not hard to answer that question - it's baseball, it's summer and it's beautiful weather - you can count me in. I had to pick up my son and then meet my wife and daughter at the game.

Given that this is the first season where the Minnesota Twins are playing outdoors I thought what will it be like at the Saints game? The crowd? The extra stuff? What will they do different?

After parking in a lot nearby Midway Stadium my son and I saunter up to the main parking lot and see the smoke from all the tailgating - check that hasn't changed. We get closer to the stadium there is a band playing outside - apparently it is Walser Wednesday. They are also serving free hot dogs and bottled water so we make a stop to get some free stuff before we enter the gates of Midway. Nice touch by the Saints of course.

As we enter the ticket entrance area at the stadium we look up and look who is our ticket taker - Mike Veeck the owner of the Saint Paul Saints. He warmly greets us and asks how we are doing and most importantly utters the words - "Thanks for coming out tonight".

That is customer service. The owner telling us thanks for coming out tonight. Right then we knew that the Saint Paul Saints are still doing it right. It was a well played game (Saints win 3-2) with some decent baseball. Some really nice catches by the Saints left fielder and a long home run by the Saints first baseman. And of course all the great in between innings promotions.

Our customer experience at the Saint Paul Saints was terrific last night. Great baseball, great promotions, great weather, great seats (FREE) and a greeting from the owner. So yes in our opinion the Saint Paul Saints are still doing it right. And we hope for many years to come.

My first MLB Game

On this date in 1968 I saw my first Major League Baseball game at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, MN. It was between the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins.

My dad and a friend of his John Salwei and I were sitting up in the third deck between home and first base. A pretty high view but for me it was magical. I will never forget the first time we came out of the ramp and I saw the perfectly manicured green grass of the old Met.

In the fourth inning of that game Harmon Killebrew hit a foul ball and we caught it. What a thrill for me. My first MLB game and we got a foul ball from Harmon.

Here it is 42 years later and I've still got that ball. I held onto it for 21 years before I got it signed by Harmon at a card collectors show at the Met Center. He was amazed that I had keep the ball that long. I've still got that ball in a little trophy case (picture above) and it is something I cherish and I will pass along to my kids. It is more for sentimental value than any genuine worth.

Baseball is a game that I'm passionate about it. Whether it was playing the game while growing up to collecting baseball cards and now being an ardent fan. I love all the intricacies of the game, the strategy and the wonderful execution by such talented athletes.

I'm enjoying passing along my passion to my kids as we attend several Twins games a year and we usually see one spring training game in Florida and venture to a different major or minor league park every summer. Baseball is a wonderful game for memories and I enjoy reading about players that played before I was born.

Baseball is a great game and I'm glad that I caught the bug for the game early in my life. And I thank my Dad for taking me to that first game. He helped instill in me the passion for the wonderful game of baseball. 42 years later that passion still burns for the game.