Nothing beats a kid’s first baseball game
Every child needs to attend at least one baseball game, regardless of their interest or background in the sport.
My nephew, John, enjoyed his first game Wednesday night at PNC Park as the Pirates hosted NL Central Division rival Milwaukee.
John is seven but has never been to a live game and is not too familiar with the National Pastime. My sister, Amber, and her husband, JB, are not the fans that 鈥淯ncle Jonnie鈥� is.
I was thinking about taking him ever since the season started, and I decided to ask him about early May if he wanted to go. He said yes, and I decided to buy him a ticket.
I chose Wednesday蘑菇视频 date because the Brewers have struggled against the Pirates this year, and I felt that it would be best for a little boy to see the home team win.
I also bought my fiancee, Megan, a ticket so the three of us could go. I figured it would be good practice for the future when we have a family.
Taking John to the game reminded me of my first Bucs game. It was not at PNC Park, but at Three Rivers Stadium in 1999. I can鈥檛 remember the exact date, but I believe it was in July. It was against the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Pirates lost, 7-4.
I was 13 at the time but had some knowledge about the game. I remember a great deal about the game, but probably what sticks in my mind most is my grandpap being upset with Abraham Nu帽ez for making two costly errors. My grandpap simply referred to Nu帽ez as 鈥淣o. 10.鈥�
John, along with the other kids at the game, have the luxury of going through the early years of their life watching a competitive baseball team. It is much more exciting taking a kid to see a winning team than one that is struggling.
However, the ticket prices are much higher than they were when I went 16 years ago. I think the tickets were 18 dollars when I saw my first game, and we were along the first baseline.
On the drive down, John was very excited to see the city as we drove to the North Shore. He also said he would be scared to go to the top of Heinz Field. It was too tall. For the record, I am afraid of heights, too. I guess it runs in the family.
We parked and went into the stadium. After entering PNC Park, I asked John if he wanted to eat, and he said he wanted nachos and a hot dog. It sounded good to me. I figured traditional ballpark food would be best for a first game. Primanti Brothers is great, but this was more about the experience for the kid.
We also made a stop at the clubhouse store, and I told him he could have three things. I鈥檓 glad he is not greedy. He wanted a stuffed Pirate Parrot and two packages of player figurines.
Then, we got our food and found our seats. Megan and I tried to explain to him the rules of the game, but he was having some trouble seeing over everyone. Sometimes it stinks to be little.
We decided to switch seats and put him in between us so we both could explain the rules to him. He did seem to enjoy his food, as he asked for some popcorn, but was not really sure about the game.
That was until Pedro Alvarez launched a 438-foot homer run out of PNC Park to lead off the second inning and give the Bucs a 2-0 lead.
John蘑菇视频 face lit up as 鈥淓l Toro鈥� rounded first base on his home-run trot. He said he really liked the fireworks and said that the ball is probably in 鈥渙uter space.鈥� Maybe not that far, but still pretty long.
Greg Brown蘑菇视频 hyperbole is comparable to my seven-year-old nephew蘑菇视频.
John loved watching the great pierogi race and was excited as the racers walked through the aisles near our section. He waved at them and told the winner, 鈥淕ood job.鈥�
He kept asking for a baseball to be hit our way so he could get one. He told Megan and me we could catch it. Megan played softball in her youth, but I watch sports, I don鈥檛 play them.
I told him that sometimes it is tough to get a ball, but I was glad he was eager and into the game.
We introduced him to the seventh-inning stretch, and Megan helped him with the lyrics. I know the song, but I鈥檝e heard my voice, so I let her do the singing. I usually sing to myself.
The best part was seeing his face as Mark Melancon recorded the last out in the ninth for the save and a victory for the home team. He was so glad to see the Bucs raise the Jolly Roger.
He picked up on the Let蘑菇视频 Go Bucs chant and was getting high fives all the way around.
I was so glad to enjoy the moment with my nephew and my beautiful fiancee.
Nothing beats a child蘑菇视频 first baseball game. I will never forget it, and I don鈥檛 think he will either.
Sports writer Jonathan Guth can be reached via email at jguth@heraldstandard.com.