CenTex GuyTake me out to the ball game
May 27th 2008 06:26
There’s not much like an exciting finish to a good game. That was the case Monday night in Fort Worth at the Cats game against the Shreveport Sports. The Cats were down 5-3 in the eighth and came back to win 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth.
But this isn’t so much about sports as it is about the thrill of the ball park. Initially this summer I had planned to take a tour across Texas and visit all the Minor League ballparks. I’ve been to several, and while the talent may not be as strong as it is at the Majors, usually the experience is much better.
But two issues have come up. The first has always been there: actually planning the trip. In the American Association of Independent Baseball (where the Cats play) there is also a team in Grand Prairie and a team in El Paso.
Then the Pacific Coast League has the Round Rock Express while the Texas League has the Corpus Christi Hooks, Frisco Rough Riders, Midland RockHounds and San Antonio Missions.
In other independent leagues there’s also the Bay Area Toros (Texas City), Corpus Christi Beach Dawgs, McKinney Blue Thunder, Texarkana Gunslingers, Amarillo Dillas, Edinburg Coyotes, Laredo Broncos, Harlingen White Wings and San Angelo Colts.
It wouldn’t be hard to group some together like McKinney, Frisco, Fort Worth and Grand Prairie all in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the two Corpus teams followed by Harlingen, Edinburg and Laredo, and then possibly San Antonio followed by Round Rock going back north. But there’s still a team in El Paso and Texarkana, which are on opposite ends of the state and several west Texas teams. So planning this could be well over a month.
But the second issue recently, of course, is gas. I love road trips but a month-long (at best) road trip all over the state would easily rack up a few thousand miles and a few tanks of gas.
But the whole general point isn’t another message about how big Texas is, but just a note that there’s plenty of baseball to be seen. In a day and age where the big guys want $15 to park, then $15 for a cheap ticket, if you have a family of four you’ve already spent $75 just to get in the gate. Then with the cost of food and drinks, it’s darn near impossible to keep a major league game under $100.
That’s where minor leagues win. Some stadiums do charge to park as well and the $15 you spend for upper deck seats at the big game can sometimes get you behind home plate with the minors. There’s always plenty to see and do especially with future big leaguers often available for autographs, and if you don’t have several hundred to take the family to the big game, a trip to the minor league ball park is often worth the money.
But this isn’t so much about sports as it is about the thrill of the ball park. Initially this summer I had planned to take a tour across Texas and visit all the Minor League ballparks. I’ve been to several, and while the talent may not be as strong as it is at the Majors, usually the experience is much better.
Frisco's Dr Pepper Ballpark is one of the many minor league facilities focused on family entertainment
Then the Pacific Coast League has the Round Rock Express while the Texas League has the Corpus Christi Hooks, Frisco Rough Riders, Midland RockHounds and San Antonio Missions.
In other independent leagues there’s also the Bay Area Toros (Texas City), Corpus Christi Beach Dawgs, McKinney Blue Thunder, Texarkana Gunslingers, Amarillo Dillas, Edinburg Coyotes, Laredo Broncos, Harlingen White Wings and San Angelo Colts.
It wouldn’t be hard to group some together like McKinney, Frisco, Fort Worth and Grand Prairie all in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the two Corpus teams followed by Harlingen, Edinburg and Laredo, and then possibly San Antonio followed by Round Rock going back north. But there’s still a team in El Paso and Texarkana, which are on opposite ends of the state and several west Texas teams. So planning this could be well over a month.
But the second issue recently, of course, is gas. I love road trips but a month-long (at best) road trip all over the state would easily rack up a few thousand miles and a few tanks of gas.
Houston Astros star Hunter Pence is one of several stars who played in Corpus Christi
But the whole general point isn’t another message about how big Texas is, but just a note that there’s plenty of baseball to be seen. In a day and age where the big guys want $15 to park, then $15 for a cheap ticket, if you have a family of four you’ve already spent $75 just to get in the gate. Then with the cost of food and drinks, it’s darn near impossible to keep a major league game under $100.
That’s where minor leagues win. Some stadiums do charge to park as well and the $15 you spend for upper deck seats at the big game can sometimes get you behind home plate with the minors. There’s always plenty to see and do especially with future big leaguers often available for autographs, and if you don’t have several hundred to take the family to the big game, a trip to the minor league ball park is often worth the money.
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