Kansas high school senior calls life-saving transplant “an absolute gift from God.” By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle GODDARD, Kan. — It’s a picture-perfect afternoon for baseball as Josh Oakley steps to the mound: blue sky, soft breeze and 71 degrees. Fifteen family members — two parents, four grandparents, three of Oakley’s five older sisters and six nieces and nephews — cheer as … Continue reading He pitches with heart — a brand new one
One of the major leagues’ top young prospects, Norris seeks to give all the glory to God. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle DETROIT — The 16-year-old pitching phenom stepped into the baptistery wearing his high school baseball uniform. Fresh dirt stains splotched his white uniform pants as Daniel Norris crept barefoot into the water to confess his faith in Jesus Christ and be … Continue reading Why Detroit Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris was baptized in his baseball uniform
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“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.
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By Bobby Ross Jr.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — I was wrong.
Back in February, I ranked the 18 major-league ballparks I’ve visited:
I reveal my “starting nine” of favorite #MLB ballparks. No. 1 may surprise you. Or not: http://t.co/PJTfsfUJyv #J7700 pic.twitter.com/hjmsyA5m2r
— Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) February 19, 2015
“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.
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By Bobby Ross Jr.
ARLINGTON, Texas — “Who let the dogs out?”
The crowd of 32,000-plus at the Rangers’ game May 2 included an estimated 600 to 700 four-legged fans.
The team’s 10th annual “Bark at the Park” event touted pet adoption and awareness of the powerful bonds between pets and people. At least that’s how organizers described the special promotion at Globe Life Park.
“Hey, there’s a dog wearing goggles!” was my Christian Chronicle colleague Erik Tryggestad’s reaction.
Sure enough …
“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.
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By Bobby Ross Jr.
In my post on enjoying baseball in a nearly empty stadium, I hope I didn’t give the wrong impression.
Some critics like to make the case that baseball is dying (example here if you enjoy Chicken Little).
In the 2014 season, major-league baseball drew 73.7 million fans — the seventh highest total of all time.
Just for fun, here’s a quiz to assess your knowledge of the most popular — and least popular — teams:
Continue reading “Time for a quiz: Which major-league teams draw the most — and least — fans?”
“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.
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By Bobby Ross Jr.
So you want to be a true major-league baseball fan.
Understanding the unwritten rules for supporting your team will help.
For instance, a new fan might ask: “Is it ever appropriate to leave a game early?”
The quick, easy answer, of course, would be: “No!”
But at some point, you may find yourself in a real-life game situation that prompts you to inquire — even as play continues on the field — “Should I stay or should I go?”
Let’s circle the bases with some hypothetical examples:
“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.
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By Bobby Ross Jr.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Rangers’ game last night apparently wasn’t the hottest ticket in town.
Texas’ 6-3 loss to Los Angeles occurred before the smallest home crowd in nearly five years, reported Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News.
There were Angels in the outfield but not too many fans in the bleachers, as the Monday night game drew 18,401 fans to Ghost Town Park — er, Globe Life Park — in Arlington.
Why the small crowd? Weather probably played a role, with rain in the forecast and temperatures in the low 60s. The Rangers’ injury situation — including the loss of key pitchers Yu Darvish and Derek Holland— has hurt confidence in the team’s chances. Moreover, even if the weather were perfect and the team on a winning streak, weeknight games during the school year tend to draw fewer fans than usual.
But for the baseball faithful who made it to the ballpark — including a group of friends and me — last night’s game was a wonderful experience.
Here are five tips for enjoying major-league baseball in a nearly empty stadium:
“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.
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By Bobby Ross Jr.
Ray. People will come, Ray.
They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past.
“Of course, we won’t mind if you look around,” you’ll say. “It’s only $20 per person.”
They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it — for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they’ll walk out to the bleachers, sit in their shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon.
And they’ll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they’ll watch the game. And it’ll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters.
The memories will be so thick, they’ll have to brush them away from their faces.
People will come, Ray.
The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball.
America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time.
This field, this game, it’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good and that could be again.
Ohhhhh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.
— James Earl Jones (“Field of Dreams,” 1989)
Opening Day is Monday.
It’s New Year’s, Christmas and the Fourth of July wrapped into one.
All will be right with the world again, Ray. All will be most definitely right.
Continue reading “Opening Day 2015: ‘People will come, Ray. People will most definitely come’”
“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.
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By Bobby Ross Jr.
Hey baseball fans, how cool would this be?
Sports on Earth senior writer Will Leitch has devised the “ultimate baseball trip.”
https://twitter.com/williamfleitch/status/575367701763350528
Leitch writes:
Every fan dreams of this. We look at Spring Training now, and we know the season is coming. It would only be appropriate that once baseball truly begins again, we celebrate with the ultimate indulgent celebrations. Imagine it: 30 stadiums in (roughly) 30 days. What a way to live! People would write novels about you.
Sounds terrific, but I must take issue with one point: I’d write my own novel.
Continue reading “Best month of baseball ever: hit all 30 MLB ballparks in roughly 30 days”
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 