It must be that 'take me out to the ballgame' feeling that brings people together from all different walks of life when it comes to baseball games. People young and old all gather together under one stadium, wearing jerseys of their favorite team. Excitement fills their faces, the cheers echoing off the concrete walls of the crowded stadium, followed by chanting and arm waving - some clapping and a few boos here and there. But man, there's nothing like going to a summer game.
What a game I kept thinking to myself, as I was one of the spectators out of hundreds and hundreds of excited fans last night. Coors Stadium was packed; all seating levels that are usually sectioned off were filled with screaming fans waving their signs trying to yell louder than the person next to them. The stadium was at it's finest, a swing above any other stadium; beauty perfected by green grass, clean seats and a sunset that captured even the players off guard. I haven't been to many games, but this was by far luxury at its greatest moment.
My friend and I got there early to be one of the first 20,000 people to receive a camouflage Rockies hat, and then off to our seats to see batting practice. The Yankees were on the field with almost a celebrity kind-of feel persona that filled the air. It was as if the crowd couldn't get close enough to see them as they were practically crawling over the bleachers and the walls that blocked them from going onto the field. I sat in amazement as I too was fading into that memorizing state of mind of seeing the Yankees here on our turf. The fans would go wild, as team members of the Yankees would glance over at the crowd. It was as if they were all standing on the side of 'the red carpet' trying desperately to just get the attention of the players. It's pretty spectacular to see a game that only happens once every 5 years.
The New York Yankees go back to when baseball was first emerging; some say the Yankees made baseball what it is today and they will go down in history with having some of the worlds best baseball players know to man. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Roger Clemens, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Reggie Jackson and the list goes on.
The Yankees began playing in 1903, and they weren't considered the best team in the American League at first. At that time the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers were regarded as the leaders of the game. The Yankees came close to being in the spotlight in 1904, but then faded to the bottom of the league and remained there for 15 years. In 1920 one of the greatest players in history took his turn on the Yankee turf when he was traded from the Boston Red Sox. Babe became a legend with 714 home runs, 2,174 runs, and 2,056 walks.
Before there was Babe, there was Lou Gehrig a star Hall of Famer, the winner of 2 MVP awards and a player of 2,130 games for New York; a record at that time until ALS took his life. Some still call ALS the Lou Gehrig disease, as one of the greatest players went down in history and was never forgotten.
There were many more amazing players after that which led to one the greatest, most talented teams of ballplayers on Earth. And, to be there watching the Rockies play them last night was an experience of a lifetime. But of course, I will always no matter what be loyal to my Rockies, but I gotta' tell ya, the Yankees were pretty cool to see too.
I wore my rockies hat the whole time, and it was funny because I sat next to my friend who is a Yankee fan and on the other side of me sat a man who was also rooting for the Yankees. The row below me was filled with fans yelling for the Rockies. The ballpark was divided up pretty evenly; with a mixture of East coasters and rocky mountaineers there was plenty of cheering for both sides. Rockies fans embellished themselves with blankets of purple and white; girls wore purple pompoms in their ponytails, and the Rockies symbol was worn prouder last night than any other night. For these people were the symbol of our home, a supporting fan, never to sway even if it was a different kind of game. It seemed at every swing and every strike people would jump to their feet as though we were at a playoff game instead.
Beer spilling around the isles, the smell of hot dogs at every corner, and the sound of peanut shells crunching on the ground as hungry fans made it up the stairs for food was the theme of the night. With my icy in one hand and my lemonade in the other, I was ready to watch one of the greatest games to hit Denver.
The Rockies swept through the ball field and gracefully won for a second night in a row, beating the Yankees 6 to 1. I left feeling like a kid, seeing something for the first time - as I don't know if I'll ever get to see the Rockies play the Yankees again. Humming, 'take me out to the ball game,' I got into the car, and I realized I should have bought some peanuts and Crackerjacks...
(Hats off to the Rockies, congratulations on 3 straight wins in a row. Denver is proud of you, and so am I).