My interest in baseball dates back to my Grandpa Denny's Civil War Diary. The entry dated July 1st (1861) states, "Left Downsville for Williamsport 10 A.M. Camped by Doubleday's Battery on the river." In my mind, I picture him playing ball with Abner.

My father played pick up sand lot games with Ken Keltner in Milwaukee. Keltner, playing 3B for the Cleveland Indians, made plays on two hard hit grounders to stop Joe DiMaggio's 56 - game hitting streak on July 17 th, 1941. Incidentally, DiMaggio and I share the same birthday, November 25th.

On April 14th, 1953, I was one of the 34, 357 who attended the home opener of the Milwaukee Braves after their move from Boston. The Braves won 3-2 on a Billy Bruton home run in the tenth inning. It was the only HR he hit all year.

I also attended the All Star Game at Milwaukee County Stadium on July 12th, 1955. The National League won in the twelfth inning on a Stan Musial home run.

Me and my girlfriend, now my wife of over 50 years, enjoyed many games at County Stadium. It was an ideal date with bleacher seats at 75 cents and seeing Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, and Warren Spahn.

I made it a point to see the Braves play every other team in the NL every year. Of course there were only seven teams then.

After college and marriage we lived near Cincinnati, Chicago, and then New York City for 30 years. So I enjoyed many different baseball venues.

We retired and moved to Lakeland, Florida, in 1995. That is the Spring Training site for the Detroit Tigers, so I would get a season ticket for their fifteen home games. And, I would see 20 to 30 games per season of the A League Lakeland Tigers.

I was at a Lakeland Tigers - Tampa Yankees Game when George Steinbrenner and his entourage arrived. Tim Raines was on rehab assignment with Tampa at the time. After he hit a home run, I thought it was a good time to approach George. He autographed my scorecard, and I told him an anecdote about our son, Jeff. Jeff was about 5 at the time.

We attended Cap Day at Yankee Stadium, arriving early because of parking considerations and to watch batting practice. When we stood for the National Anthem, Jeff asked, "Is it time to go home?" George had a hearty laugh over that.

We moved to Castle Rock, Colorado, to be close to our son, his wife, and their three children. The youngest, Caden, was just four and received a T-ball set. So the family baseball experience continues from Grandpa Denny to his Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Grandson.

I would prefer the suite for the Milwaukee Brewers Game, but any baseball game would be enjoyable.