Observations, recollections, and occasional bursts of radical common sense about places that matter, books worth reading, roots music to nourish the soul, the times we live in, and whatever else tickles my fancy
Next week will be my first in-person baseball game since October of 2019 and Game 3 of the World Series. The Nats lost that contest and the following two home games to the Astros, but won all four games in Houston to become World Series Champions.
Much has happened between that October and July of 2021. While working to fill the hole in my baseball heart, I am more than ready to experience live baseball again with family and friends.
Friends celebrating the return of baseball to Washington at old RFK Stadium in 2007.
With several work colleagues and the Orioles Bird at a 2008 game at Camden Yards.
View from the Citizens Bank box in Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia (guests of my National Trust Travel friends Donald and Nancy Resnick) in September 2008, on the night the Phillies clinched the NL East title.
Joe McGill, John Hildreth, Daniel Carey, DJB, and Dolores McDonagh (l to r) at the ballpark (date unknown)
At Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City (the best modernist-style stadium in baseball) in 2009 with big-time baseball fan and long-time friend Dolores McDonagh.
Kansas City symphony and chorus with “Take me out to the ball game” during the Royals’ World Series run.
At Seattle’s Safeco Field on a cold night in 2010 with National Trust colleagues, including Dr. Anthea Hartig (l), now the head of the National Museum of American History.
Bleacher Bums (also known as NTHP staff) in the outfield at Chicago’s Wrigley Field in 2012. My friend and fellow sports fan John Hildreth is standing at the far end.
Busch Stadium, St. Louis in 2012 with Trust Chairman Emeritus Jonathan Kemper on a perfect day for afternoon baseball.
By the Willie Mays statue at AT&T Park on August 1, 2012, for a game with colleagues from the Trust’s San Francisco office.
Tropicana Field in Tampa in 2012. David Price was pitching for the Rays in the middle of a pennant race and there were maybe 5,000 people in attendance. Sad. Oh, and Andrew and I were almost were decapitated by a screaming line drive that just cleared both the net behind home plate and our heads.
View of sunset over the Rockies from Coors Field on a 2013 visit with colleagues from the Trust Denver office.
A tour of Boston’s Fenway Park in 2013 with colleagues Tabitha Almquist (l) and Monica Miller.*
Tigers vs. White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago in 2013
With Candice at PNC Park in Pittsburgh in 2013.
A packed PNC Park on a visit in 2013 – one of the best stadiums, with a great view, in all of baseball.
Section 313, where our season ticket seats are located, is the place where the cheer N-A-T-S Nats, Nats, Nats, Woo! originates after every run scored by the Nationals. It is great fun to lead the entire stadium in celebrating the home nine.
Connecting with Claire over a baseball game at Angels Stadium in Anaheim in 2016. Mike Trout and Albert Pujols hit back-to-back jacks (or homers, taters, four baggers, dingers, you name it) in the first inning, setting off an impressive fire display in the waterfall just beyond the center field fence.
Angels Stadium (photo credit: Claire Brown)The Racing Presidents bobbleheads (the Mount Rushmore 4) on my office desk in 2015Candice with her “Half Smoke all the way” from Ben’s Chili Bowl at Nats Park in 2016.
Minute Maid Park in 2016. Just a week after Claire and I saw the Angels and Astros in Anaheim, I caught the same two teams on a visit to Houston.
Old Glory at my first ever Opening Day in 2017
Family week at Nationals Park in 2017 — first with Andrew on Tuesday and then with Claire the following Sunday.
Panorama of beautiful Petco Park in San Diego in 2018 while attending an ESRI conference with our GIS team.
2018 All Star Game at Nationals Park with Andrew. Dad has his All Star game hat, and Andrew shows the Nats Pride!
Outside the rotunda at New York’s Citi Field in September 2019 on a visit with a NTCIC colleague, the last regular season game I saw before the pandemic closed things down.
If you live near one of the ballparks I’ve yet to visit and want to invite me to go to a game, the answer will — undoubtedly — be yes!
Arizona Diamondbacks — Chase Field
Cincinnati Reds — Great American Ball Park
Detroit Tigers — Comerica Park
Los Angeles Dodgers — Dodger Stadium
Miami Marlins — Marlins Park
New York Yankees — Yankee Stadium
Texas Rangers — Texas Stadium
Toronto Blue Jays — Rogers Centre
Put me in coach! Let’s play ball!
More to come…
DJB
Image: DJB at Nats Park on October 25th for Game 3 of the 2019 World Series.
*Full disclosure: This picture was taken in front of a backdrop during a behind-the-scenes tour with NTHP trustees. But I have seen a game in Fenway.
One of my friends who shows up in a couple of these pictures sent me an email saying, “That unseasonably warm day seems like yesterday. And thanks for the RFK memory. And I have a photo on my desk of an O’s game — me and ‘the guys.’ That would be Joe McGill, John Hildreth, Daniel Carey and you. Year unknown (but you would probably know). Another super hot night. I think Andrew was also there — pretty sure it was the one where the O’s pitcher gave up a hit while trying to intentionally walk a guy.”
More to Come... 
One of my friends who shows up in a couple of these pictures sent me an email saying, “That unseasonably warm day seems like yesterday. And thanks for the RFK memory. And I have a photo on my desk of an O’s game — me and ‘the guys.’ That would be Joe McGill, John Hildreth, Daniel Carey and you. Year unknown (but you would probably know). Another super hot night. I think Andrew was also there — pretty sure it was the one where the O’s pitcher gave up a hit while trying to intentionally walk a guy.”