In America, “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” is probably one of the most-sung songs in the summertime. Why? Because in Summer, America’s favorite passtime is baseball. One company even created a famous jingle, Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet. OK, maybe not everyone drives a Chevy, but most boys and girls play the sport and people pay to watch professionals do it very well.
Tropicana Field in St. Peterburg, home of the Tampa Rays baseball team
Linda and I recently took my dad to Tampa’s Tropicana Field to watch a baseball game. He’s a die-hard Pittsburgh fan, so since the Tampa Bay Rays were playing the Pirates, a ticket made a great Father’s Day gift.
It was apparent that some people don’t know what to expect at a baseball stadium, so here are my official preparation instructions for a day at the park.
Finding a stadium
No matter where you are in the US, just about anytime from April until September you will find a game in a major city near you. Tickets range from $8 (in what we Americans affectionately call the ‘Nose Bleed’ section) to over $300.Those expensive seats will put you right down next to the field where you can meet the pros and gather a few autographs.
Nose Bleed section – this is where you sit if you buy the cheapest tickets.
Preparing for the game
Don’t worry about what to wear. As long as you won’t get arrested for indecency, you can wear anything comfortable.
Now, pay careful attention … After finding your level and section and BEFORE actually taking your seat, there are a few rules to discuss. I will list them in order, starting with the most important item: Baseball game snacks.
You must get the ball park specialty … a foot-long hot dog. Don’t be shy here. Load up on all the fixings possible: ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut, jalapenos, onion, tomato, the works.
the ‘Fixings Station’ where you can load your footlong hot dog
Another required baseball game snack to buy is a package of another American ball park icon, Cracker Jack, a highly-addicting concoction of molasses-flavored popcorn and peanuts. It even comes with a prize in every box.
And of course you will also want to grab a brew to wash it all down.
Footlong hot dogs are a ball park standard all across the USA
There are regular restaurants in the stadium as well. Don’t worry about missing any action:food is packaged “To Go.”
Next, locate the bathroom nearest to your seat. This will come in especially handy after paying the drink vendors, as you will not want to miss any of the action down on the field. You might even want to do a practice run to ensure that you can get to that special location, do your duty, and return within the 4-minute gap between innings.
Pay special attention to the signs located around the stadium as many of them give very important advice. If you think this is not important, then you might want to explore all aspects of a facial reconstruction surgery after getting hit by a free-flying bat or a foul ball.
Balls and bats do end up in the nose bleed section!
Finally, look for someone decked out in the home team colors, carrying noise makers, and sporting a wild hat and facial paint. Ask them what the local favorite is for ballpark foods. Don’t question, just head on over and grab whatever they recommend that you must devour. Maybe get two because it probably is going to taste delicious.
Tampa Rays’ mascot, Raymond Ray, can recommend what to eat.
Moving to your seat
With necessities in hand, head towards your seat. First thing you will notice is the warmth and kindness of your fellow fans, who will thoughtfully get up to let you pass to your seat. (That is, if you did not wear anything resembling the colors of the opposing team.)
Sit down, settle in and get your food organized. Most parks have a drink holder, so you won’t need to worry about kicking it over. Store any excess food under your seat.
We attended a game on Parks and Rec Kids’ Day. Kids everywhere.
Take a look around the stadium, as it is a sight for sore eyes. The first thing you will probably notice is the array of monstrous screens in the stadium. They will keep you in touch with the action, up to date with the latest statistics of the players and provide audience participation instructions at certain points during the game.
One baseball player’s stat screen
How audiences participate
No, LOUDER!
As you continue to look around, it won’t take you long to see the food vendors. They are easy to spot because they wear outlandish colors to contrast against the sea of team colors. Get acquainted with their getup; you will need them later in the game.
Pre-game ceremonies
Presentation of the US flag during a ball game
In all parks, there is a pre-game ceremony that includes the presenting of the flag and singing the National Anthem. It is customary to stand up, remove your hat and sing along as badly as possible so you can blend in with the crowd.
It is customary to remove hats during the National Anthem
The two teams’ managers will meet at home plate (that five-sided rubber thing at the base of the diamond), to exchange player line-ups and rules about the particular ball park. Next, there will be a First Pitch ceremony where someone of distinction will attempt to throw a ball 66 feet 6 inches – and most of the time can’t come close.
Don’t worry, the real players will put on a spectacular show.
Rules…Rules… Rules
The basic rules of the game are easy: One player (the pitcher) will throw a ball at speeds in excess of 95 MPH to a teammate (the catcher) while a player on the opposing team (the batter) will attempt to hit this tiny ball with a wooden stick so it lands somewhere that a player can’t catch it.
When he hits it, the batter will then try to run to the white square on his right (“first base”) before being either tagged by the ball or the ball arrives at the base. If he’s lucky, he’ll be able to run around the entire dirt circle and return to where he started (“home”). This is called a “home run.” If he gets tagged or the ball beats him to the plate, he’s “out.”
David Price pitches for the Tampa Rays
Pirates’ Gregory Polanco at bat
Complicated? Well not too bad, but theft is also a part of the game. Americans seem to enjoy a good “stolen base,” when a runner manages to run to the next base when the pitcher isn’t looking. Although we Americans don’t condone theft, in baseball it is admired and exciting, so don’t be offended if one of the very fast players steals a base or two during the game.
Josh Harrison stole a base during this play, running from first to second base
How long does a baseball game last?
Good question. A typical game will last 9 innings, and each inning is made up of both sides getting time at bat. They switch sides when the batting team gets three outs.
There is no time limit to a baseball game. It will end after 9 innings, unless both teams are tied. In that case they will keep playing until a team wins an inning. So your normal $16 ticket could buy you 2-3 hours of entertainment or 2 days’ worth.
Tip: Inclement weather can shorten a game or postpone it altogether so – unless you’ll be in a stadium with a roof, like Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg – be sure to check the weather forecast before you buy your ticket.
It rains a lot in Florida, so this is the roof at Tropicana Field.
What to do during the baseball game
Right about the third inning, you’ll probably be out of food and drink and ready for more. You won’t want to miss any action, so scout out one of the vendors walking through the stands. Buy a bag of roasted peanuts – because, after all, the song from the 7th inning says, “buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack…” And of course another beer to wash it down.
If you’re sitting in the middle, you will use hand signals to get what you want. Wave like a maniac to get noticed by the vendor. Shrug to ask, how much does it cost? He will hold up maybe 4 fingers meaning $4. You give a ‘thumbs up’ and the vendor will pass your purchase down the row, from one fan to another, until it reaches you. If you have been a good fan, none of them will take a sip as it passes by. Simply pass your money back down the row direction to complete the transaction. And hope nobody pilfers a dollar or two because you were a naughty fan.
Cotton candy vendor in the stands
By the time the seventh inning arrives, your rear end may be tired. Fortunately, halfway through that inning, they’ll have the famous “Seventh Inning Stretch.” This is when some celebrity guest (or it could be a guy in the stands) leads everyone in a rousing rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”
The routine is to stand with all the other fans, lock arms and sway back and forth as he butchers a great ball park song.
More importantly, this is the unspoken last call for beer. Grab your final one and sing along.
This guy just finished filming the Seventh Inning Stretch
The home run
HOME RUN! Andrew McCutchen knocks it out over the wall in left center field
The single most favorite event in baseball is when a batter hits the 95 mph pitch so hard that it clears the fence beyond the outfield. Home Run! When this happens the batter gets to jog, instead of run, around the bases, and so does anyone else on base. Teammates celebrate this monumental effort with high fives at the end.
Andrew McCutchen jogs past second base after hitting a home run
When we went we were able to see last year’s most valuable player, Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates, hit a home run and circle the bases. Although the Pirates lost the game, they won two out of three and I still saw the home run. It was the best way for me to spend time with my dad at a ball game.
Nice finish to a home run by Andrew McCutchen
Final word of advice
On a final note… If you are driving, it will take a while to get out of the parking lot due to traffic. Plan for it: It is best to just hang around the ball park and watch the post game activities.