On Being Old--4 Minor League Baseball

Following sports teams has not been of interest to me for many years. My avidness goes back to the “Hey! Hey!” days of Jack Brickhouse while watching Ernie Banks and Ron Santo. Some of you may ask, “Who are they?” They are the Chicago Cubs of my youth.


Lately I have had the desire to see a minor league baseball game [no smart remarks, since the Cubs have been mimicking the minor leagues this year]. So, I called my cousin Stan about going to a Kane County Cougar’s game. We settled on a Sunday game on 22Aug10. Mikie, Stan’s wife, Stan, Rosemary, and our son Walt went to the game.

The day was brilliantly sunny. Not knowing what to expect, I entered the stadium and was immediately impressed with the professional look of the surroundings. We took our seats, which were alongside the third base dugout, two rows from the field. I reeled at the ticket price – not much more than a hot dog at Wrigley Field.

The game itself was most entertaining, and I enjoyed watching the enthusiasm of these truly “boys of summer”. As an additional perk, some event occurred between innings – someone tossed foam rubber baseballs to the fans; big wheel races for the kids were held from third to first base; singing contests; and of course Myron Noodleman. He cavorted with the ballplayers and roamed the stands carrying on with the crowd around him.

And so I accomplished one of my summer bucket-list activities. Fresh air, sun, family and friends, and entertainment all combined for a most enjoyable piece of candy.

Ciao