I had taken August to a Mariners game last summer, and he wanted desperately to go again this year. While I was able to take him, his younger sister was beginning to feel left out, especially as I had been able to Ciárán to his first game (even though it was “only” the minor league Everett Aquasox). When August and I were at our game, there was a major promotion for the upcoming Boston Red Sox game that was coming up in just over a week. Much of this centered around the Ichiro shirt giveaway that night. August really wanted one of the shirts, as well as to be able to go to another game. This seemed like a god opportunity, especially with Kyle home, to take not only August, and Kyle to a baseball game, but Déla getting her first “big league” baseball game.
Cost was an issue. We needed tickets that would enable a decent view of the field, but also were affordable. Because this was a premium game, a surcharge on tickets was happening. Basically, because they know they could do it, the Mariners management was charging more. After some searching I found some alright seats through a reseller for less than what I would have paid had I gotten them at the Mariners box office.
I should probably come up with a list of things to keep in mind when taking a young child to a baseball game. Déla is about to turn 6, and is about as familiar with the rules of the game as you are with the name of your postal delivery person. I mean, really, do you know the name of the person that delivers your mail? She was just excited to be going. I didn’t worry about teaching her the intricate rules, many of which I don’t honestly know myself, but there are some basics that we talked about as they came up.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Earlier in the day we had an outing to Seattle’s waterfront to see the Russian sailing ship Pallada. This was followed by traversing the short distance to Pike Place Market and a chance to sit and have an ice cream cone. Eventually we had to leave, and we were going to think about getting a large snack before heading into the stadium. As we approached the stadium, we saw a mass of people already assembled well in advance of the opening time. This complicated things, as not only was parking beginning to be a bit of a challenge, but we also wanted to ensure we got our Ichiro shirts. After all, that was a big part of why we were going this evening.
Kyle got out of the van and got a place in line while I parked. I was still hping to find some food before the game, but couldn’t readily find anything for the kids. There are a lot of bars, which I don’t have a problem with, but no quick take out places, which I would have appreciated. Such is life. I arrived at the stadium about a half hour before the gates opened with Déla and August. There’s a large baseball mitt sculpture by one set of gates, which is where we were, and it’s become a bit of a landmark. August and Déla played around it and climbed on it while waiting for the gates to open.
Déla was on my shoulder when we were let in. A line of ushers (or other stadium workers) were handing out the shirts just inside the gates. Kyle got his, August got his, I got mine, and it was almost as if the guy didn’t see Déla on my shoulders as she didn’t get one. After me he handed shirts to the two people behind me. I stood there and asked for hers, because there was absolutely no way August was getting a shirt and not Déla. I got a dirty look, but she got her shirt. We then made a beeline to the dugout area to watch batting practice. We missed watching the Mariners, but Boston’s players put on a show by hitting balls into the stands over and over and over again.
While watching batting practice Déla was showing off her baseball card. What? Where did she get this? Apparently while I was concerning myself with obtaining her Ichiro shirt, a different usher asked Déla if she would like a baseball card and handed her one. On it was some player from the San Francisco Giants in the 90s, but it was hers, and she was enjoying having it. Déla was full of energy, with her very own baseball card, an Ichiro shirt, and all at her very first baseball game. I think August was feeling a bit perturbed his sister was encroaching on something that he perhaps viewed as his.