Tuesday (July 10, 2018), my brother and I are headed up to ATT Park for a Giants and Cubs baseball game. We are taking his two grandsons, who are big sports fans. I reminds me of our childhood, when our Dad took us to old Candlestick Park in San Francisco, or to Dodger Stadium down in LA. What great memories!
As I recall, it was a big deal, though we rarely stayed overnight. Generally, we went to Sunday day games, and drove each way from our home. We often stopped for a nice dinner on the way home. In particular, we enjoyed stopping at Fisherman’s Wharf in the City. The weather was always cooler than the Valley, and we were always excited to go somewhere with our Dad.
I tried to carry on the tradition with my children, mostly my son, who was an excellent baseball player, though golf became his primary sport in high school. We went to Giants and A’s games all summer long. We even went to Spring Training in Arizona about half a dozen times as well.
Growing up here in the Valley, baseball was a big deal. We all loved the Giants, and the greatest player of all time, Willie Mays. We listened to the games on the radio every day. It was part of our childhood, as much as swimming, working on our Uncle’s farm, and playing Little League baseball.
Fast forward to Tuesday, and the Giants game in the City. We get to sit in perhaps the best ballpark in baseball, in cool weather, and watch the local heroes play the Cubs. Our favorite players are Buster Posey, and Madison Bumgarner. And we will have a crab sandwich or “Cha Cha Bowl” before the game. And it will remind us of some great times in our childhood thanks to our Dad.