A Padre Baseball Game

I love baseball. And I love the Padres. I know, they are just an expansion team. They have been to the World series only twice since they were elevated to Major League Status back in 1969. And they have won only one World Series Game. I still remember it. I was there in October of 1984. It was Game 2 between the Tigers and Padres at Jack Murphy Stadium. Kurt Bevacqua, a character who wasn't that good most of the time, hit a 3 run homer to give us a come from behind victory. That was it. It's been since 1984, but I am still keeping the faith. That's how it is with Baseball. Sometimes the 2nd or 3rd string players end up being the hero. You just never know. So you never give up on a game.

I used to go to lots of games. That was back when the Padres played at then Jack Murphy, now Qualcomm Stadium. Tickets were cheap. Seats were easy to get. Even Good seats were easy to get. Then, after a winning season, the public was given a song and dance that the Padres needed their very own ballpark to play in. Smaller, cozier, more state of the art, and downtown, where the action is. So it was put on the ballot, voted on, and the ballpark was built.

Now the Padres play at Petco Park. It is a really nice ballpark across the street from the Convention Center, near the Trolley, surrounded by high rise fancy hotels. The ticket prices went through the roof, and any seats I could afford are so far out in left field, that I really can't follow the game. So, in the past 5 years, I've only been to 3 games. Which is kind of sad, for a person like myself, who is a rabid baseball fan. Thats how it goes. But, any time I get the opportunity, I'll jump at it. Like today: August 22, 2009



Craig bought a couple of tickets from the lady who owns the Video rental store in the neighborhood. She has season tickets down in the field level, just to the first base side of Home Plate. And just a few rows from the very front. He never had been to a Petco park Padres Game, and wanted to experience it from the best seats he could get. I was the lucky person who got to go along as his guest!


Here is Craig with his ticket. You can see the red uniforms of the St Louis Cardinals, taking batting practice in the background.



I asked the nice attendant to snap a photo of both of us. In the background you can see the Western Metal Supply Company building. That is a relic of the old structures that once inhabited this block. The planners incorporated it into the ball park, and Western Metal now is where you buy group Padres tickets and enjoy food and drinks in a room with a closed circuit TV. You can watch the game from inside the room, or go out to the seats and try to catch one of the rare home runs that sometimes end up in the Western Metal Building.



Here they go. The Padres are taking the field. Its 7:05 PM. Play Ball!



This is Tony Gwynn, Number 18, at bat. Tony is the son of Tony Gwynn, Number 19, now retired. Number 19 played his whole career as a Padre. Now, his son has come home to play for the Padres. Number 18 is a good disciplined hitter, and what I like about him is that he rarely swings at the first pitch.



This is Adrian Gonzalez. Our fantastic first baseman. This guy has 33 home runs, even though he is mired in a weak-hitting line up and is frequently walked. The thing that I hate about being a Padres fan is that I realize their role is to basically develop the great players who will end up on large market teams. We just can't afford to keep them once they get established. So, I am sure we won't have Adrian much longer. But, while he's here, I sure do enjoy watching his sure-handedness at first, and his sweet swing at the plate.




Just a photo of the message board with Tony Gwynn's photo.



One thing about Padre games. You usually need other entertainment to take your mind off of what's going on down on the field. I really don't understand this mascot. A fusion of Friar and Frankenstein.



Look how close our seats were to Friar-stein!



The excitement peaked with the Friar race. Friars from different eras raced each other. The 70s Friar (The dude with the big Afro) won.

We brought our gloves to the game. And we almost caught a foul ball too. It was so close. As in, hitting off the top of Craig's glove, and bouncing into the lap of the lady sitting in front of you kind of close.

I also want to mention that the Padres have this great food deal, called the Five for Five deal. For $5.00, you get a brown paper bag with a hotdog, popcorn, peanuts, and a chocolate chip cookie. Plus a Coke. Best deal in the ballpark.




Okay. You can see by the final summary that we were shut out, 7 to nothing, by the Cardinals, who happen to be a very good team. We were basically shut down in the first inning. Well, I've seen alot of games like this in the past several decades. But, like I have said. You should never give up. Because with baseball, anything can happen. I had a blast at the game. Great seats, great company, great deal on food. So we didn't win. There's always tomorrow.