First Baseball Game

I'm a Detroit Tigers baseball fan since the 4th grade. When I was young I followed them religiously. I listened to WJR radio station from Detroit as it faded in and out on my transistor radio from my bedroom in Maine. I heard maybe 25% of the game back then, as reception was poor, but it was worth it.

When my grandson, Amos (I call Bubby), turned 4 a couple years ago, I took him to see his first baseball game. He and his younger sister are unseparable, but I knew I couldn't handle them both. I greatly feared our first plane ride together, but it turned out for nothing:

We flew first class. Bubby slept almost the whole way.

When we arrived at Comerica Park where the Tigers play, we were both excited. Picture taking time!

Bubby cuddled on his paw.

These were taken outside the stadium in anticipation of the game. Finally we entered and the excitement builds.

Bubby with "paws", the stuffed tiger mascot he wanted.

Everything is inflated at ballparks. I spent $25 for a silly stuffed "paws" tiger Bubby wanted. He had it 10 minutes. After this photo he needed to go to the bathroom and left it behind. Five minutes later we go back to find it. Gone. That's Bubby!

Bubby got his first baseball game certificate. He was proud of it. But I don't think he earned it. He begged me from the first inning to go back to the hotel. The game was too boring. I made him suffer until the 7th inning.

In the fountain behind him he threw a coin in and made a wish. I asked him what he wished for. He told me he wished his sister was there too. Way to make Grandpa feel guilty!

I tried to salvage what I could of the game after buying two tickets. But Bubby wore me down and we eventually left.

We did see a second game the next day in the afternoon. Again he wore me out after 7 innings. He just wanted to get an ice cream and go back to the hotel to watch Paw Patrol. But in the seventh they always sing the traditional baseball song which I made Bubby memorize. We sang it with the crowd. You can watch here:

We left the next day. Bubby packed his Tiger's suitcase and we were off to the airport.

Our first and only baseball trip. I think I'll wait until he's at least 10 before I try this again.