A family gathering brought my wife and me to Kansas City last weekend, and we got in early enough Friday evening that we were able to catch the Royals hosting the Minnesota Twins.
I’d been to Kauffman Stadium once a few years ago, and it didn’t make much of an impression on me. But I got a better look this time around, and I was definitely taken with the place.
Perhaps it was because we had great views from our seats a short way up the line past first base, where we could see all of the field except the deep right corner. I could even make out the breaking balls from the fast balls when I decided to pay attention to the pitching.
We were about 15 rows back from the field, in prime foul-ball territory. At the end of one inning, one of the players tossed a ball into the stands, and I suddenly realized it was arcing straight toward my wife’s head. I was just starting to raise my arms when a quick-reacting Twins fan in a Harmon Killebrew replica jersey leaned over and snatched the ball.
He had a souvenir, and my wife did not have a concussion. The grab triggered a lot of chatter among the friendly fans around us, reminding me how easygoing and gracious people of the Midwest can be.
The Royals prevailed 5-0, gaining an edge over the Twins in the American League Central wild card chase behind the first-place Guardians. The scoreboard lit up with fireworks when the game ended, and more were to come as a post-game show was scheduled. We didn’t stick around for that, but we were able to see and hear the rockets’ red glare as we made the long walk back to our car.
This has been a good year for ballgames for me. I went to two Phillies home games early in the season, and in August I caught three Astros-Orioles games in Baltimore. It was a treat to return to Camden Yards, one of the premier venues in the game.
We had seats in different parts of the park for each game, the last of which was a Friday afternoon affair where we baked in the sun down the first-base line. Part of the entertainment came from self-proclaimed Fired Up Guy, who rose repeatedly to encourage the Orioles fans to clap and cheer. How do I know his name? His personalized replica jersey said so, and I took that as proof.
I bought an Orioles baseball in the team store, and it now sits on my desk at work along with my souvenir beer cup from Kauffman in KC. Not that I need reminders. Baseball is never far from my thoughts. 🧢
The Ball Caps Blog 
Excellent baseball summer adventures at the parks Dan! That near catch of a foul ball highlights as you say the “easygoing and gracious” natures of midwesterners.
Thanks!
I’ve been to a Texas Rangers game at their current stadium, a Yankees game in the Bronx, and a Houston Astros game at the astrodome. At minor league games they put on more of a show with audience participation in between innings.