Good Night, and Good Luck

A few days ago, while I was getting my dinner prepared, I cast a cursory look at my previous season blogs and began to reminisce. While slaving over a pot of spaghetti and meat sauce, I had flashes of images run through my mind about those summers that are now becoming more and more distant in the past. Trips to North Carolina, Chicago, Seattle, Tacoma; they all resonated within my conscious as something I take great happiness in. I then refocused on my cooking and immediately the realization of my current position, embarking on a career and a new life, may not have happened without Baseball being a part of my life. As I pen this final entry, especially for this season, my respect for the game and the experiences I've gained in seven seasons brings everything full-circle.

This season started with the promise of adventure. That cold and rainy January afternoon at Safeco Field for Fan Fest set a high bar of expectations for the season. The Edgar Martinez q&a with regards to PEDs and the Hall of Fame and catching fly balls in the outfield stick out in my mind. I think that trip was significant in establishing the Mariners as my "team" for the future. In the back of my mind, however, I had the sneaking suspicion that they would fail to impress and get victories. It's interesting how that played out at the end of the season.

Throw in a Duck game or two, then it was down to San Francisco for the World Baseball Classic. I'm sure some baseball enthusiasts will go crazy, but I'd like to refer to it as the "Olympics of Baseball." Seeing two teams, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, and the nationalistic fervor that came about because of it was really exciting. I put my stamp on an experience that really may have been once-in-a-lifetime. Add to that my journey to San Jose to see the Ducks play the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, aka March Madness, made for a treat like no other. 

When some crazy things in my life happened requiring me to postpone and move some planned trips, it opened up a few unique experiences. The Baseball Movie Marathon, Softball Spring Training and the midnight showing of 42 made for some great baseball-themed experiences that I was able to share with others. The best part about those were that they were cheap and extremely easy to plan for. For the future, I'll definitely try to look outside-the-box again.

After a Memorial Day trip to Seattle, I came back with my yearly Puget Sound trip. It's a real shame that I won't be able to do this trip again due to my relocation, but, let's face it folks, that trip is, and always will be, the quintessential Baseball Road Trip. It incorporates everything, from train travel to public transportation to sightseeing, that make Baseball Road Trips exciting. Going to Seattle and Tacoma really got the summer going and continued to up the ante for the season. 

Then, in July, was the SoCal trip. Who would've thought that the trip would actually serve as an intended scouting trip for my new life? At the time, games in Rancho Cucamonga, Lake Elsinore and Whittier were just that. But, now in hindsight, those experiences allowed me to gain comfort with this area and familiarity with some of the communities I'm working in. Also, the Newport Beach swim and the paddleboard debacle always brings a smile to my face and an interesting story to tell others.

Shortly after SoCal, I visited the new ballpark in Hillsboro. If you recall, I was a little disappointed with what I saw there in regards to the park itself, but I was happy to see baseball return to the Portland area. What really sticks out for me was how that trip was supposed to include Old Time Baseball at Fort Vancouver, but it was cancelled because of the Sequester. Even Baseball Road Trips aren't immune from politics in Washington DC.

In mid-August, I finally added some spontaneity to Baseball Road Trips with the King Felix Day. On a whim, I jumped in the train, went to Seattle, saw Felix Hernandez pitch a gem, and hang out just for sake of hanging out. I will definitely try and do something like that again.

A few weeks later was the trip to Albuquerque. Two days on the train to see a Minor League team may have seemed crazy to some, but how many people can say they did something like that in their life? And, heck, the ballpark in Albuquerque was certainly worth it as it took the cake as one of my favorite parks in all of the Minors. But outside the game, you can't overlook the Rattlesnake Museum and the Titanic exhibit.

I think the month of September was the keystone for the entire season. In the middle of the month, I flew down here for my job interview. I caught an Angels game, which was definitely fun. However, I had to delicately balance the information I gave all of you without divulging too much about the purpose. You all know that I sometimes overkill my travel plans, so that was difficult. For that, I must apologize, but I hope you all understand why I did what I did. 

Then, at the end of September, I saw the Mariners play for the final time. The showing I saw from that team on that final day of the MLB regular season was atrocious. Who would've thought that back in January?

Finally, what a finale. A baseball game in November in a foreign country? You couldn't have scripted that. The incredible last day of Baseball Extravaganza 2013 in Mexico summed up what was an incredible season. Just read through that last post and see why it had such an effect on me. It is what Baseball Roa Trips are all about. 

Defining and significant can best describe my feelings right now. Of all my seasons of doing this, I am firm in my belief that this season bested all others. I went to games in ten separate cities all over the country, including Mexico. I utilized all forms of travel conceivable be it planes, trains, automobiles, boats and simple walking. However, in the midst of the thousands of miles traveled, I found myself and came to be a better person in all of it.

What was my favorite trip? Gosh, I don't know to be honest. Every single one of these adventures had their own unique spin on this season. It would be impossible to determine what was my favorite.

What would I improve? I would defnitely keep trying to go on more trips with others. Being able to share these adventures with others is a great way to really delve into the cities and parks I visit. This is why I write this blog. However, I think it would be awesome to go on a Baseball Road Trip with a bunch of people. Think of those adventures we could have!

So many of you read this blog and followed my travels on social media, and I thank all of you. I'm truly blessed to be able to share all of this with you. While there were times I was lonely on trips, I always took comfort that your insight and interest would always be there. 

What's for the future? Well, I'm going to become a season ticket holder for the Inland Empire 66ers next year as their ballpark is only about ten minutes from me. I'll definitely hit up the parks in the SoCal area, but I will make a specific effort to hit up Adelanto and Lancaster. For more extended travel, I do not know yet. Salt Lake City and the Pioneer League teams in Orem and Ogden have been on my radar for a few years, so I might try and make a trip out there. One of the beauties about being down here is that there is literally no place you cannot fly, drive or take the train to, so really the possibilities are infinite. 

More immediately, I'm focused on starting my new life, learning a new city, and doing well at my new job. The past two weeks have been all about getting my new apartment set up, saving up to see my family over the holidays. I've grown-up a lot, and when I talk to you all next season, I will definitely be a changed person. 

So, for the final time in 2013...

Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)