Summer Vacation: Royals Baseball Edition
Well, of course, once we got to Kansas City we met our destination- the very thing that started this trip- Kaufman Stadium and the Kansas City Royals.
In fact, it was the first ground we stepped onto in Missouri. We hurried to the stadium to go on the last ballpark tour of the day. It was so cool to see the behind the scenes and all the renovations up close. We’d seen all the renovations on TV and they looked even better in person. We got to hear some of the Royals history. Jack and I really enjoyed going into the dugout and stepping onto the field. (Jack’s eyes were so big when we stepped into the dugout and onto the field. . . he loved it.) We even got to see John Buck, Coco Crisp, and Brayan Pena arriving at the ballpark.
We then made our first shopping trip at the Team Store. I got a jersey and T-shirt. Jack got a jersey, a foam finger, and souvenirs. More on that jersey and the foam finger coming your way soon!
Wednesday’s Game: Royals and Diamondbacks
For our first game, we had unlimited use of the new outfield experience. So, the guys tried their hand at running to first base, and Jack pitched and batted.
Zack was on the mound and we were excited to see him pitch in person. That also meant the crowd was out. . . and it was college night. If I’d known where our seats were- right above a railing- I would have brought Z’s with me to put out like K’s. He pitched well striking out 9 batters.
We had one ball come our way. . . Cody didn’t see it coming and didn’t catch it. It bounced and hit him in the butt just on the other side of Jack and I. Jack and I were just glad he was ok and that it hadn’t hit the camera bag like we thought it had. Cody on the other hand still beats himself up about not catching it.
Unfortunately, the game got ugly as it progressed further. Everyone of course started leaving early. Jack stayed in the game but, for a while, gave up hope and wanted to leave. We explained that going back to the hotel was not an option- you always stay because you never know what might happen. At least in the bottom of the 9th, the Royals started to show him exactly why that is.
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After the game, we headed out to the parking lot. Jack wanted to play catch. So we waited for it to clear out and found a spot free from landmines (AKA broken beer bottles) and the boys played catch for an hour and half in the parking lot. We watched the Diamondbacks bus driving back to the hotel.
The Jersey
Every night, when we got back to the hotel, I washed Jack’s Zack jersey in the sink of the hotel and hang drying it in the bathroom. It was a nightly ritual because he wanted to wear it the next day. All I can say is that I love that kid.
Thursday’s Game: Royals and Diamondbacks, Round 2 (or 3 for the Series)
Each day we would arrive the customary 1.5 hours before the game started. Thursday’s seats were much closer and we really enjoyed them.
Unfortunately, the game didn’t go any better. Perhaps worse- the score was the same but the game got uglier faster. But we endured- We were in Kansas City and we were watching the game. Jack helped me keep up with my scorecard. Despite the way the game went, we were all in the game to the very end.
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It was in the 9th that we saw David DeJesus get a triple. Jack and I talked about how the team, and David, hadn’t given up. The foam finger that Jack got was waving high!
After the game, we waited in the concourse for a while until it cleared out a bit, then headed outside.
We went over to the player parking area where Jack got autographs. Jack got the autographs of Brayan Pena, John Bale, Tony Pena, Jr, Mike Jacobs, Billy Butler, and David DeJesus. It was really pretty cool that even after watching two disappointing losses and the players enduring those games, he was able to get their signature. Mike Jacobs walked his wife and twins to the car then came back out to give autographs. David and Billy pulled out of the parking area about the same time and both pulled over to the side so that the kids (and a few adults) could get autographs. That left a permanent impression on Jack- especially because DeJesus had his trademark smile. We know had a Billy Butler and David DeJesus fan. . . with a Zack Jersey.
And we again saw the Diamondback’s bus leave.
Friday Night’s Game: The Cardinals came to Town.
OK, so from our personal knowledge, they arrived early Friday morning. . . And who knows when all their fans arrived. It was the I-70 series and all three games were packed. We were sitting in the outfield and rain was a slight possibility. I didn’t bring my camera.
Before the game, we searched every team store on the premises that we could get to. . . to find a DeJesus T-Shirt for Jack. We finally found one. And, I got a hat.
But, the Cardinals, as we would see over and over, proved too much for the Royals. We watched them lose again. The Cardinals had brought fireworks of their own- didn’t they know the Royals had the fireworks following the game under control? The Royals starting pitcher was sent to Triple A after this game. . .
And Billy and David, the ones who had made such an impression on Jack the night before- they both homered!
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After the game, the boys threw the ball for another few hours. This time on the sidewalk outside the stadium. We could see players leaving (we know knew their vehicle) and we again watched the visitor’s bus head back to our hotel long before we ever left.
I did get Jack’s camera out and snapped a few pictures- of course, his camera doesn’t deal with low light very well. But the shots still capture the moments in time.
Saturday’s “Day” Game: Cardinals and Royals and the Weather
Saturday, the chance of rain was even greater. And this time, it really did rain. We sat in the stands until the rains were just to hard retreating to the concourse. Of course, this was the game we were on the upper level. We thought perhaps we’d be eligible for the seat upgrades they did nightly from the upper level. One of the Royals crew even asked us how many (Cody and I are guessing we needed 4 instead of 3- should have lied.) It was the first time I got to see them mess with a tarp in person. . . I after all grew up going to games in the Astrodome. It was a first for all of us really and it was just after one gal got stuck in one at someone else’s game- the video was plastered all over ESPN.
(Jack did have his camera with him.)
So this game got started later. Billy Butler and Zack Grienke were honored as Players of the Month.
It looked like we might actually have a shot. . . but then it was another blowout.
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Afterwards, the boys would play catch outside in the same area we had previously. I took out Jack’s little camera again. They played catch for hours- literally. It was nearly dark and about 9:00 before we even left the ball park (And consequently, we wound up being those parents who we tend to judge- we had Jack out eating at 11 at night.)
The rain had brought cooler temps and it was a perfect evening. I sat there just enjoying being in KC and at the beautiful ball park. We all hated to see the evening end.
Sunday: The Royals and Cardinals and A Different Kind of Weather
So, we had one more chance in KC to see the Royals win. The second day game this one was much hotter. And so were the Royals, initially. David DeJesus had hit a home run and it looked like we somehow had a chance.
It was hot and we were melting. We’d been through three or four waters but we were in the game tight game- For three innings. . .
Then it broke lose. By the bottom of the fifth we’d taken reprieve from our seats in the hot sunshine first in the concourse, then in the Team Store where the AC was trying to keep up. We left the game early. Something I’ve never done. . . part of me- my heart- regrets it but my brain knows there’s just no way we could have withstood the heat any longer.
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Ironically, the score was the same as the first two games. But, by now, we’d already bought our tickets just 7 rows up from the field in Houston to see the Royals next game- in Houston.
Related posts:
- Summer Vacation: Houston Way
- Baseball: Around the Bases
- Summer Vacation: More Coming I Promise
- Summer Vacation: Kansas City Sights
- Summer Vacation: Northbound Oklahoma Edition