Baseball’s Fashion Police

So I’m not one to really talk much about fashion, especially when it comes to going to a ballgame.  Jeans and a tee shirt are my usual attire, sometimes shorts, or if it is directly after work, I am wearing a shirt and tie.  I really don’t pay much attention to what other people wear – I’m there for the game – at least most of the time.

However, sometimes a person’s outfit just stands out making me wonder if they own a mirror or have any self respect.  Here are my favorites so far this year:

The Ugly Christmas Sweater Guy – Citifield, April 20, 2011

Who knew the Mets had an Ugly Christmas Sweater Day in April?  Too bad this is the only guy that got the memo.  We spotted this outfit in the will-call ticket office at Citifield.  My wife requested his photo and he happily obliged.  Here is my salute to you Ugly Sweater Guy at a Baseball Game in April!

The Yankee Amazon – Camden Yards, April 23, 2011

In my quest to find an interestingly dressed fan on a visit to Camden Yards, my friend Kathryn happened to come across this female Yankee fan at the Oriole game.  Since I am not an expert at women’s fashion, I will quote Kathryn on this photo.  “This girl has paired the cutoff jean skirt, silver glitter tights and jersey look with a matching silver belt AND gladiator sandals...I need the number to her stylist...ASAP please...”  I also would like to add that she tucked the Yankee jersey into her skirt.  That’s hot.

Pants on the Ground –Yankee Stadium, April 15, 2011

It was a nasty, wet 40 degree evening, and my wife and I were walking from the train station to the Yankee game when we came across this guy.  “Pants on the Ground,” who obviously doesn’t own a belt, was changing his shirt as he walked to the game.  As we walked behind him, we sang the “Pants on the Ground” song, but he was too cool to pull them up.  So here he is in all his glory: grey underwear with his entire right cheek exposed.

So folks, when you go to a ballgame, wear a belt, check yourself in the mirror and leave your ugly Christmas sweater at home.  Unless, of course, you too wish to be featured in a future blog!  

A Day with the Babe

Today, April 27^th, is Babe Ruth Day.  No, it isn’t his birthday, and it’s not the anniversary of his death.  It is the second to last time that the Bambino visited the House that Ruth Built.  On this day in 1947, Babe Ruth was honored by the Yankees, less than a year after he was diagnosed with throat cancer.  He addressed the crowd, many of whom were members of youth baseball leagues.

This past weekend, I was able to go to the Babe Ruth Museum, just a few blocks from Camden Yards.  Seeing the small accommodations of where this giant personality began was humbling.  His famous words highlighted one wall of the Sports Legends Museum, also in Baltimore outside of Camden Yards.  He said, “I swing big, with everything I got.  I hit big or I miss big.  I like to live as big as I can.”

I visited the Babe’s gravesite on my lunch hour today.  It is a beautiful spring day in Westchester, New York – sunny, warm and breezy.  I expected to see other fans there, but I found myself alone.

As I stood there looking at the monument that marked his grave, I wondered if anyone else realized that today was Babe Ruth Day.  Why didn’t I see any other fans while I was there?

I would have liked to have met the Babe.  I would have liked to have known who he was as a player and as a person.  I guess I came as close as I ever could by spending some time with him today.

Calling the Shots

Baltimore – Camden Yards, Saturday, April 23, 2011

I had the pleasure of attending an Orioles game last Saturday night.  Camden Yards is a great place to catch a ballgame – the stadium is laid out well, the staff is friendly and there is a neat Sports Legends Museum right across the street.  For east coast baseball fans, such as Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies, Camden Yards offers ample opportunity to see your team from great seats for a fair price.  We were able to buy tickets right behind home plate in the 27^th row for $95.  The equivalent seats in Yankee Stadium would be $325.

Getting to Camden Yards early allows you to see the opposing team’s batting practice, which in this case, was the Yankees.  We settled into our seats, and noticed we were joined by quite a number of Yankee fans.  In fact, about 60% of the stadium was filled with Yankee paraphernalia.  Except for one guy two rows behind us.  He was in a Red Sox shirt.

Why this guy was at the game was clear.  He was not there to root for the Orioles; he came to heckle the Yankees.  Normally, most fans would find this quite agitating.  But every time this guy opened his mouth, the Yankees scored, as if on command.  It became comical.

“Teixeira is ugly!”  That may be, but he went 2 for 3 that day.

Some of my favorite comments included, “Jorge Posada has big ears.  Look at this guy.  Big ears.”  Posada must have heard him.  He hit one out.

“Brett Gardner is arguably the worst player in baseball.”  Not after that comment.  Another one left the stadium.

“Russell Martin is so injury prone.  He was a horrific choice for the Yankees.”  Martin must have really taken that to heart because he hit two out that night.

I really loved his comment about A-Rod.  “Hamburger helper hands,” the Red Sox fan taunted.  Not the best idea.  Grand slam.

The Yankees went on to win the game 15-3, and I give a lot of the credit to our favorite Red Sox fan that day.  Before the game ended, I asked him, “Could you talk some smack about the Mets?  I think they could really use your help.”  Here’s hoping he does!