Thursday Thirteen (baseball)

[jmc_bks]

Thirteen Things about jmc Thirteen things that I love about baseball I intended to post these last week, but was sidetracked after reading Beth’s post about her mom’s house. So here they are, late. 1. 40,000+ people dancing to YMCA. This is sort of a subset of the people-watching, which is fabulous. What other places do that many uncoordinated people dance around to The Village People? 2. The diamond and check patterns cut into the grass. That stuff is planned. Coming from a family that was glad just to have the grass cut regularly, the idea of cutting for effect boggled my mind the first time I saw it. 3. The eternal optimism of Opening Day. Everyone has a chance that day. No one has lost a game yet, no one has fallen under .500. 4. The infinite possibilities – there are so many possible out outcomes for each at bat, and the game is a statistician’s dream. Or a bookie’s, maybe. 5. The combination of talent and practice and random chance that all combine into a single player and then into a single game. 6. The lemonade guy in the sections around home plate. He looks like he’s having convulsions, but it’s all for effect. Haven’t seen him in a while, so he’s probably gone on the other things, but he was a fixture for a couple of seasons. 7. Sunday afternoon games, sitting in left field in the sunshine. 8. Fit men in tight, white pants. You had to know that was coming, right? 9. The perfect 6-4-3 double play, and the way the second baseman spins and extends his arm with the throw. It looks so simple, but it takes hundreds, maybe thousands of repetitions to make those moves so smoothly. 10. Ball park kosher hot dogs. It’s the only time other than July 4th that hot dogs are acceptable. But you shouldn’t get one until after the end of the 2nd inning, I’ve been warned. 11. The choreographed work of the groundscrew between innings and during the seventh inning stretch. Those are some cool-looking rakes. Secret dream: be on the groundscrew one day, and watch the game from their space out in right field. 12. The Bird dancing and brandishing the broom. Hasn't happened much in the past few years. 13. The view of the bowl of the stadium during a night game as I drive out of the city on Howard St./395. Haven’t done it in awhile, since I live downtown now, but when I was in school and when I lived outside the city, I loved leaving late and seeing the full bowl, the lights, etc. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! Doug's guilty pleasures Jen's booklist Mama Kelly's Easter baskets (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Hello!

I'm not a big sports fan, but I can appreciate your list!

My 13 is up! http://jenanddavin.blogspot.com/

Hi!

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

I checked out your 13 -- great book list! What do you think of Maguire's books? I've only read Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. The others are in my TBR pile.

take me out to the ballgame

[(Anonymous)]

almost makes me wish i liked watching baseball

LOL

my 13 are up
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http://mamakellysmusings.blogspot.com/

Re: take me out to the ballgame

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

It's an acquired taste...best acquired at the ballpark. TV baseball is as boring as watching grass grow.

Loved your Easter basket 13!

-jmc