Scenes from the Nationals World Series Parade

Washington DC shut down yesterday for the Washington Nationals’ World Series parade down Constitution Avenue. One month ago I was in the hospital, in the Intensive care ward. I thought there was a real chance I was going to be mostly blind for the rest of my life. Yesterday, I was at the a WorldContinue reading “Scenes from the Nationals World Series Parade”

Washington’s Other Baseball Team, the Grays

Last night, the Washington Nationals played in the franchise’s first World Series game — and Washington, DC’s first World Series game since 1933. The Nationals lost to the Astros, 4-1, and now have a 2-1 lead in the best of 7 series. In the last few days, Washington media outlets have taken pains to noteContinue reading “Washington’s Other Baseball Team, the Grays”

Finish the Fight

The World Series begins tonight — the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros. On Friday, Game 3, the World Series returns to the nation’s capital for the first time in eighty-six years. Charlie Brown and Sally know what’s up. So does my collection of plush Doctors. And, despite the presence of three Doctors, none ofContinue reading “Finish the Fight”

Saving Minor League Baseball: A Manifesto and a Crusade

Last week Baseball America broke the news that MLB is proposing a radical reconfiguration of the minor leagues, eliminating the lower levels of the minors (Short Season and down), replacing them with a quasi-independent league for undrafted players or encouraging contracted teams to reform as college summer wooden bat teams, and realigning the leagues, classifications (ie,Continue reading “Saving Minor League Baseball: A Manifesto and a Crusade”

Lightning Strikes in Bowie

Yesterday afternoon, I left work early and drove down to Bowie to see game 4 of the Eastern League Championship Series between the Bowie Baysox and the Trenton Thunder. Wednesday I toyed with the idea of attending, if there were a game four. Thursday I went back and forth a few times, choosing a seat,Continue reading “Lightning Strikes in Bowie”

Summer’s End in Harrisburg

It was one of those Septembers when it seemed that the summer would never end. Ian Fleming, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service   For the first time since 2013, the Harrisburg Senators were in the Eastern League postseason. In 2013, I attended two postseason games in Harrisburg — the clinching game of the first round,Continue reading “Summer’s End in Harrisburg”

Baseball Night in Lynchburg

My brother’s company was a sponsor of tonight’s Lynchburg Hillcats baseball game, so this morning I made the long drive down from Pennsylvania. Really, I could not have had a nicer day. The view from the luxury suites, with the mountains in the distance, was lovely. Lynchburg lost to Winston-Salem 5-1. At least there wereContinue reading “Baseball Night in Lynchburg”

Sunday Afternoon Baseball

For no particular reason, I decided to go to a baseball game in York today. I’d just been to a game in Aberdeen last week, it wasn’t like I needed to go, a game in York was my best option (and despite its closeness it’s also sort of my last choice), and I couldn’t sayContinue reading “Sunday Afternoon Baseball”

Baseball Night in Aberdeen

Yesterday morning I decided I wanted to go to a baseball game. I’d not been to one in three weeks, work had been overwhelming, and my soul was missing green fields, blue skies, the crack of the bat, the smell of grilling meats. But Harrisburg (first choice) was out of town, York (second choice) wasContinue reading “Baseball Night in Aberdeen”

One Night at Camden Yards

Meet Dave. Dave is an usher at Camden Yards. Dave was not the usher for my section when I attended Saturday night’s Orioles/Indians game — that was John, of whom I have no pictures — but I saw Dave several times during the game, as he left his water bottle near the handicapped seating inContinue reading “One Night at Camden Yards”