Baseball has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’m a fan of baseball, but admit that my team loyalties have varied.  In my youth, my hometown’s proximity to Cincinnati led me to become a Red’s fan. In those days, we rooted for Vada Pinson and Cookie Rojas. I knew everyone’s batting average and listened to most games on the radio.  I never saw a game at Crosley Field (home for the Reds from 1912 to 1970), but was able to attend a couple at Riverfront Stadium. (The Cincinnati Reds now play at The Great American Ballpark.)  I have two strong memories from those days, one of seeing someone injured by a fly ball (they still scare me) and the second was trying to get Johnny Bench’s or Pete Rose's autograph.  (I was unsuccessful.) 

When I married, I switched loyalties – and coasts – and became a Dodger fan.  My husband and I went to Los Angeles and attended games when the air was so polluted that day games seemed liked they were in twilight.  My favorite activity at Dodger Stadium was looking around to see if I could find Cary Grant (he was a huge fan and rumor had it that he was at every home game. (He was in his late 70’s then, but still a fox.)  We also went to a couple of Dodger games at San Diego Stadium (now Qualcomm Stadium).  We saw Gaylord Perry win his 300th game. One time, on a fan appreciation day, we won tickets to the Ruben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park, home of the world’s first IMAX theater. 

Later, I moved to Chicago and adopted the Cub’s as my team. The fact is I could watch and enjoy any team.  I prefer attending a game at a park to sitting in front of a TV.  Going to Wrigley Field was special.  When I lived there, they were still only playing day games.  If you went during the week, you would see a lot of men dressed in shirts and ties (I assumed their bosses didn’t know they were at the game).   I remember one game in particular.  When I left my home in the suburbs, it was in the low 80’s.  We sat down in our seats (first base side) and saw the person in front of us in a winter jacket.  I thought something was wrong with that fan until the wind really started coming in and I am now a proud owner of a Chicago Cubs sweatshirt – and the certain knowledge that you need to dress warmly to attend a Cub game.  Despite the temperature issues, Wrigley Field remains my favorite field.  It’s in a neighborhood setting, most seats have great views and you feel more like you are part of the game. 

The last game I attended was during a business trip to Los Angeles. When someone suggested we get a group together to go to a game I quickly said yes.  I’ve been to four or five games in L.A. to see the Dodgers, but this was my first Angels game.

Traffic in L.A. can be overwhelming at times, but on Saturday night, it was light. The parking lot was huge with plenty of spaces within a reasonable walking distance. The front of Angel Stadium has the trademark giant Angel ball cap. Once through the gate I made the climb to the upper deck - our seats were on the first base side, high and with a great view of the game.  We got the tickets online, which was easy and they were priced reasonably well for a night on the town.  We paid $35 plus tax and if we wanted to find cheaper seats we could have.  The view would not have been as good, but you get what you pay for.
 
In addition to the baseball on the field, there was the sport of people watching. There was a camera in the next section (426) that occasionally turned towards the fans.  Fans were standing by for that opportunity dressed in their Angels finest.  Someone in the next section over threw something over the railing (a strictly forbidden activity) and was thrown out of the game.  And, there is always the joy of seeing children holding their gloves out hoping for a foul ball. 
 
The park was clean and filled with the wonderful smells of hotdogs and peanuts that bring baseball to mind. A slight breeze cooled the stadium and helped make the evening enjoyable.  Watching baseball in LA is a lot different from the late 70’s.  The air is clean and crisp.  At least it was that night. From the first crack of the bat to the 10th inning, it was an exciting evening.  

The Angels beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 and the home crowd was happy.  Food, friendship, good weather and a hometown win make this an enjoyable evening. As we left the stadium, I could see the fireworks over Disneyland. This was the end to a perfect all-American night.

My favorite field will always be Wrigley Field.  It is more intimate and I guess I’ve never lost my love of the Cubs.  I’ve attended games in Cincinnati, San Diego, Baltimore, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles. I suspect my next opportunity to see a game will be in Chicago.  My son lives a couple of blocks away from Wrigley Field and I’ll be visiting this summer.  What’s your favorite field?  And why? 

- Nancy Jones