I got thinking about going to my major league game this weekend because my uncle who took me just passed away. He took me and my cousins to old Connie Mack Stadium in Philly in April 1964. The Phils were playing the Cubs and it was a night game. I had never been to such a huge place (I was 9 years old) and was in awe of how green the field was and that big right field wall. The Phils were leading 2-1 but in the top of the ninth, someone on the Cubs hit a three-run homer and the Phils lost 4-2. We were crushed, but nothing like the feeling in September when they lost 10 straight games and blew a 6 game lead with 12 to go(but that's another story). Anyway, with spring traing upon us, I thought now would be the time for us to share our first ballgame stories and bring back some memories.

Thanks Uncle Al and rest in peace.

Athletics vs. M's, I was still a little one back then 1st year of the Kingdome and the M's in 77

My first game, 7 years old, was in "old" Yankee Stadium in 1972. I went with the cub scouts and with my father and older brother. I don't remember too much about the game except that it was weird seeing the monuments actually in the field of play, and that the Yankees lost. It was about that time that I first became a Yankee fan despite the fact that the Yankees sucked back then.

My second game was a little more memorable. It was at Shea Stadium, Mets and Braves, also in 1972, I think. The Mets lost 10-9. The big play was when two of the Mets outfielders collided into each other on a fly ball and both had to be carried off the field.

July 1976 at Busch Stadium--the Cards vs. San Francisco. I was 9 yrs old and don't remember much about the game other than St. Louis won. Our seats seemed to be WAY up, and we were able to look out at the top of the Gateway Arch.

Summer of 1991 at HHH Metrodome. I was 11 at the time. Twins vs Angels. Twins lost, but ended up winning the World Series.

Summer of 1968. Yankee Stadium. I was six years old and my mom had just had another baby and I was suddenly not the baby anymore. My dad said "just us men" were going to a ballgame. I remember sitting down the rightfield line and asking questions non-stop. I loved having my dad all to myself, and I was fascinated by the fact the players all had on the same clothes. Hard to believe I turned out gay, huh?

Father's Day, 1989... Mariners vs. Tigers at the Kingdome... my dad and my two brothers.

It was July 4, 1965 at Dodger Stadium against the Cubs. My father despised baseball but took me and two of my friends because one of their father's, who was going to take us, was hospitalized with a bad back. Dad never went to another baseball game, but he and I went to tons of soccer games, track meets, and LA Kings games.

~Adam

My 1st game (& only one) was in 1995 the Cubs v Marlins at Wrigley Field. It was a magic day. We drank beer & ate hotdogs & the cubs won. Even my partner who normally hates sport loved it. Wrigley Field is a great Stadium.

In 1972 my oldest brother took me to a Phils-Expos game at the Vet. Steve Carlton pitched and won, part of his 15-game winning streak that year (on the way to 27 total). I was 10 and I was hooked.

My first MLB game was the Atlanta Braves vs. Cincinnati Reds at the old Launching Pad (i.e. Atlanta Fulton County Stadium) in 1969. I was only six years old so the stadium and the field looked very huge. My dad and I had tickets in the picnic area off the 3rd base side. I wore my Braves uniform (white cotton button uniform and baggy pants just like the pros) to the game. My biggest thrill was getting my picture taken with Chief Noc-a-Homa at his tepee in left field. The Braves won the game 4-1 with Hammerin Hank hitting a single HR in the 6th inning. I have been a big Braves fan ever since! However, my other favorite team is my new home town team, the Cubbies, which I cheered for them during their penant run in 77. I loved the classic style of Wrigley Field and the feeling of real baseball.
Also, I followed the Marlins when I lived in Miami. I lost interest in the team when Wayne brought the penant then trashed the team after the World Series. I was always against Wayne's philosophy of buying the rings. The Marlins abandoned their original game plan of building with youth and the farm system.

[quote]Originally posted by Aussie Bomber:
My 1st game (& only one) was in 1995 the Cubs v Marlins at Wrigley Field. It was a magic day. We drank beer & ate hotdogs & the cubs won. Even my partner who normally hates sport loved it. Wrigley Field is a great Stadium.

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Thats 7 yrs ago - why not go back and be an athletic supporter??

My first MLB game was in junior high with my brother at the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium - The newspaper would give you one free ticket each if you sent in a filled-out questionaire.That was 68 or 69. Good memories!

Hey Edfan - Sorry about your uncle - I hope he's peaceful and resting in a place without hunger and without hate.

I went to a few games at Dodger Stadium when I was five or six years old but moved to the midwest when I was eight. Once I hit eleven or twelve yrs old, early on summer mornings, my brothers and our friends would catch the train downtown to try and get the first row of the bleachers at Wrigley Field. We succeeded often..
My parents have had season tickets (seventh row, first base side) forever so there's been a few Wrigley experiences (the playoffs!) as an adult but none will replace those teenage summer days in the Wrigley Field bleachers way before I'd ever tried a beer. I even lived a block from Wrigley for a few years at the end of the 80's which was pretty special except for the parking headaches.

[ February 19, 2002: Message edited by: Bryan ]

[ February 19, 2002: Message edited by: Bryan ]

[ February 19, 2002: Message edited by: Bryan ]

Long Island lad that i was, my first National League game was Mets v. Phillies.
I was a Cub Scout and I went with my troop of scouts and we sat high high high in the stands and loved every minute of it. That was in 1977.

First American League game was the at Fenway at the every end of the season. I was a freshman in college in Rhode Island and we went to Boston for the weekend and went to a Sunday game. That was 1984.

As I don't think i'll ever get to Fenway again (and Yankee fan that I am), I cherish having gone to that Red Sox game and experiencing Fenway.

Copman

The only resaon I haven't been back to see the Cubs is I live in Australia & have not been back to the States since.
If I lived there I woulg go as much as I can

[quote]Originally posted by Aussie Bomber:
Copman

The only resaon I haven't been back to see the Cubs is I live in Australia & have not been back to the States since.
If I lived there I woulg go as much as I can

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Ooops - I guess I should have read your read it in your post. Well at least you have Aussie Football - right?

Copman
I do have Aussie Rules. I am a member of Essendon & go to as many games as possible. It a great game to see live

My first game was in the summer of '83. I was 8 years old. We went to St. Louis to see the Cards take on the Cubs. I think the Cards beat my beloved Cubs 3-2. I also think that I was in love with Bill Buckner. That black stuff he put under his eyes made him so manly to me!

I remember being in awe at EVERYTHING and thinking that I'd be back. And I have! And to several other stadiums as well. There is nothing like the experience of seeing a baseball game in-person, especially if it is a stadium that you have never visited!

[ February 20, 2002: Message edited by: GoMonica ]

Pat125 wrote:

[quote] Mets and Braves, also in 1972, I think...two of the Mets outfielders collided into each other on a fly ball and both had to be carried off the field

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Pat, I was at that game!! It was '73, because Hank Aaron was in hot pursuit of the Ruth record, but he wasn't in the lineup. And the two injured outfielders were Don Hahn and George "Stork" Theodore.

My first, however, was Mets-Cubs, summer of 1970, at age 8. i didn't really appreciate the nuances of the game til the following season.

It must have been Sept. of 1965 -- the last month the Braves played in Milwaukee -- I was too young to remember a thing! My dad wanted to take me and my brothers to see their hero, Eddie Mathews, play one last time. The only thing I remember was that it rained all day long -- and we were fearful of a postponement. We anxiously sat around the radio at home waiting for word before heading into the city -- and were very excited when the rain ended and the game was played.

My first baseball games were in the old Metropolitan Stadium where I saw the Minnesota Twins play the Oakland A's. These were in the early 1970's. I was with a group of kids that were our school patrol crossing guards. I didn't know the game very well, but I loved it.

My connection to baseball is not from my dad or my brother, but from my maternal grandmother and great grandmother. They listened to all the Twin's games on the radio.

I think my best memory of the games I had attended was that I was able to see Harmon Kellebrew and Tony Oliva play. One friend from Minnesota has a foul ball that was signed by nearly the entire 1969 Minnesota Twins!

The first game I remember (probably went to more before with my dad and grandpa because they were season tickets holders) was the last game of the 87 season in Tiger Stadium. It was the game between the Blue Jays and Tigers for the pennate. Watched Frankie Tanana and his eifice pitch win the game with a great pitching performance and the final out being a groundout to the mound – one of those great moments when I was happy because my dad was so happy.

My first Major League game was a double header at Candlestick, Giants & Pirates. 1971 - Steve Stone in his big league debut pitched a complete game shutout. Then Ron Bryant threw ANOTHER shut out in the nitecap. Back-to-back shutouts against Stargell, Clemente, Oliver, and the rest of the Bucs - Incredible! I was 11 and hooked from then on. It was vintage Candlestick -
The hot dogs were lukewarm, Wind swirling everywhere, and the public address announcer (Who sounded just like Ted Baxter:-) singing the National Anthem - I loved it.

Darryl in S.F.

[ February 22, 2002: Message edited by: dwtsf ]

Hi. New to the board and thought this would be a good place for my first post.

My first game was a doubleheader between the Pirates and Giants, too...only in Pittsburgh at (AHEM) Forbes Field, which tells you (almost) how long ago that was. I was maybe 6 or 7. My dad and I sat in the outfield, but in the close confines of Forbes, I was sure I had gotten Roberto Clemente's attention at the plate to hit a home run out our way. He did hit a homer that day, but that's all I remember...that, and the fact that there was only mustard available for the hot dogs. Eeeewwwww.

That's the only baseball game dad and I ever went to. He was one of those people that quit following baseball when the Pirates started fielding too many non-white players. His loss.

The old launching pad...Atlanta Fulton County stadium. Forget who they played. Think it was the Expos or Pirates.
It was 1979, as I recollect. The Braves were miserable, but I was hooked. I was playing little league at the time. So I suffered through a couple of crappy years, then they became decent in '82 and '83.
I remember becoming a real fan in the early 80's. Which made it harder to suffer from 84-90. And that's why Atlanta folks at the beginning of this current "run" were so elated and dedicated. People there had not become accustomed to winning.

Now things are different in my former city, as success has bred complacency. Winning the division is no big deal anymore.

I think the Braves would have to fall into 5 years of drought for the fans to return with new vigor once they became good again.

I remember the 1st game I saw live was at Shea Stadium, it was either '74 or '75 it was the day Patty Hearst and the SLA robbed a bank! It was all the radio's covered, and all the fans talked about! I was just a kid but remember yelling out "I scream, You scream, We all scream for Ice Cream" along with my older brother. We heard it on Fat Albert earlier that day! I grew up in South Jersey but my first Phillies game wasn't until 1980 on my birthday when Omar Moreno of the Pirates hit a home run to start the game! He was my favorite player at the time, even though I was a Red Sox fan!