Who Watches a Baseball Game?

Recently, I attended a Colorado Rockies game.  My friend drove block after block looking for a parking place with exorbitant prices. I found out that on game day, parking prices may triple! It was challenging to squeeze the car in a small space and stuff money into a slot. Amazing to see people on the crowded streets selling peanuts, water and tickets. It seemed as if the world had turned purple. I tolerated hands going through my purse. The lines to buy food and drink were long.  Picnic tables were crowded and strangers became friends.  When a strong wind toppled a purple umbrella it knocked over a plastic glass full of Blue Moon beer sporting a slice of orange. That called for a free beer!

To find our assigned seats, we had to walk half way around the stadium.  Many persons milled around while others purchased souvenirs. Fresh strawberry shish-kabobs, ice cream, popcorn, beef and cheese sandwiches, churros, hot dogs, water, beer, and nachos were carried by the fans as they sauntered to find their seats. No one seemed in a hurry.

The stands were not quite filled, the field was lit up, music blared, and the game began.  My three friends and I found our seats to watch the Rockies play the Astros.  Already the Rockies had lost two games to the Texas team and tonight everyone hoped for a win.


I found it interesting that no one seemed to watch the game.  People to the right of us were having a picnic. Folks in front of us were arguing about a seat.  A lady with a camera was taking pictures of  group. There was constant movement up and down the aisle by vendors shouting their goods or spectators going up or coming down! When something happened on the field, music swelled and a large picture would show up on a huge screen.  A cheer would go up and then it was back to talking, eating or walking!

Favorite players were cheered and I am sure some fans were actually watching the game, but my friends and I chatted about everything under the sun.  We gossiped and ate Red Vines. I learned the name of Horton and Gonzalez but other than those two players, I still do not know who is on the team. I did ask about Guillermo Moscoso.  No one around me had ever heard of him. Later I found out he was a Venezuelan relief pitcher for the Rockies in 2012 but was no longer on the team.

It was exciting to see home-runs hit and go flying into the stands. Too bad it was not the Rockies hitting the home-runs! When we all stood up I was told it was the seventh inning stretch. At one point we all sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." I was learning a lot about traditions at a live game! In the eighth inning, it looked as if the Rockies would not catch up to the Astros and a mass movement began finding its way toward the exits. I felt bad for the players.  What would they think if they looked up to see the stands emptying.

Coors Field opened in 1995 and this was my third live baseball game. It was a fun evening to spend with friends and to be among others who profess a love for baseball!

"A hot dog at the ballgame

beats roast beef at the Ritz."

Humphrey Bogart