“Take me out to the ball game” is my blog on major-league ballparks and the wonders of witnessing America’s favorite pastime up close.
• • •
By Bobby Ross Jr.
DETROIT — Comerica Park did not disappoint.
On a reporting trip to the Motor City — timed to coincide with my beloved Texas Rangers playing the Detroit Tigers in a four-game series — I was able to see three games.
Comerica — No. 3 on my bucket list of ballparks I had yet to experience — definitely lived up to the rave reviews of diehard Tigers fans such as my friend Ron Hadfield.
The tiger statues out front, the postcard-perfect downtown skyline beyond the outfield walls, the raucous fans totally committed to (and occasionally, totally frustrated with) the hometown heroes with the Old English “D” on their caps — all of these things add to the ambience of this 15-year-old baseball shrine.
• • •
• • •
Sadly, my Rangers lost, 4-0, with me in the stands Thursday night. But I had a wonderful time with Doug and Janet Edwards, Julie Maher and Roger and Glenda Woods.
The company was equally fantastic Friday night as I joined Garth Pleasant and Randy Harris, and the score was much better: Texas defeated Detroit, 2-0.
• • •
• • •
During batting practice, I even got a ball when it landed in our row! (We’re staring straight into the sun in the picture, so please forgive me for looking even worse than usual.)
• • •
• • •
On Saturday, the Rangers won again, 5-3. That was the one game of the series that I missed.
But I returned Sunday — this time wearing not my Rangers attire but my reporter hat to interview Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris:
• • •
• • •
I interviewed Norris in the Tigers’ clubhouse before the game, then watched most of Texas’ 4-2 win from the press box. I slipped out in the eighth inning to beat the traffic and make it to the Sunday night service of the Sunset Church of Christ in Taylor, Mich.
• • •
• • •
Back in February, I ranked the major-league ballparks I had visited.
I have no doubt that Comerica — which makes 19 current MLB ballparks (out of 30 total) where I’ve seen games — will occupy a prominent place on the list when I update it.
Rangers and Tigers and baseball, oh my!
• • •
The Ross News 