Palmer's Prattle....Edition #1....March 27, 2010
In my quest to attend every significant sporting event in the twin cities, your roving reporter was jonny on the spot when the first pitch was thrown at the very first baseball game ever to be played at Target Field in downtown Minneapolis. This historic game pitted the the hometown University of Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. the hated Bulldogs from Louisiana Tech.
Note: Click on enclosed photo to enlarge it.
In my quest to attend every significant sporting event in the twin cities, your roving reporter was jonny on the spot when the first pitch was thrown at the very first baseball game ever to be played at Target Field in downtown Minneapolis. This historic game pitted the the hometown University of Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. the hated Bulldogs from Louisiana Tech.
Note: Click on enclosed photo to enlarge it.
Highlights of this historic day in Minnesota baseball history....
-Tickets went on sale at Target Field for this game at 7:00 am on Saturday morning (day of the game).....no advanced ticket sales....no on-line options......the only way to get tickets was to buy them at Target Field when the ticket windows opened early Saturday morning....they were also going to sell only 25,000 tickets to the game....tickets price was only $2.00.
-Arrived at Target Field at 6:15 am....couldn't take a chance on not getting a ticket...there was already people lined up waiting for the ticket windows to open.
-Met a couple of die hard baseball fans waiting in line.....kind of sad in a way....these guys said this would be their only chance to see Target Field because they could never afford to pay for tickets to a Twins game....they didn't own cars.....learned all about how they used the bus system to get there from St. Paul.....makes a man appreciate what he's got....
-Ticket windows open 20 minutes early.....I have my ticket by 7:05...back home in Maple Grove by 7:30.....limit was 10 tickets per person..... I bought 4 tickets......had a plan in mind for later.....
-Arrive at Target Field around noon for the 1:10 game.....people are excited...seeing the place for the first time....everyone loves the place......giddiness prevails....feels like I'm on vacation....this beautiful ball park can't actually be in Minneapolis, can it?
-Ticket windows are still open and tickets are available.....guess I didn't need to be down there early..... there are very long lines to get tickets.....
-Put my Good Samaritan plan into place....scout out people at the end of the long lines who appear deserving of getting free tickets from me.....select an old couple decked out on Gopher apparel....give them 2 free tickets....tell them "pay it forward"....they are thrilled....see an old guy who appears to be by himself (kind of like me)...give him a free ticket....pay it forward my friend....he's shocked.
-I give the place the complete tour....it's perfect....they did it right....it lived up to all the hype.....not a bad seat in the house....great view of the Minneapolis skyline...
-I have my first beer and hot dog (not cheap)....ummmm....sooo good....how come a hot dog tastes is so delicious at a ball game?.....when I have one at home it just tastes like a bland wiener in a bun.
Cool cloudy day...50's...comfortable.....hey, it's March 27th and I watching outdoor baseball.... in a brand new major league ball park.....in Minnesota....how good is that?
-The photo below shows the very first pitch thrown at Target Field....it's official....outdoor baseball is back!
-For you historians out there, the following information can be used someday when you want to talk about Target Field trivia.....
First baseball game ever played....March 27, 2010
First teams to play....U of M vs Louisiana Tech
First pitch thrown...Ball 1..Pitcher -TJ Oakes - Gophers - from Jordan, MN
First pitch caught.Catcher - Kyle Knudson - Gophers - from Maple Grove, MN
First hit - Mark Threlkeld - LA Tech - double - right field - 1st - 1:11pm
First home run - Clint Ewing - LA Tech - 358 ft to left field - 4th inning
Final Score - LA Tech 9...Gophers 1
My list is is growing.... I have been in attendance to see the following historic baseball events in Minneapolis:
1. Last pitch at Met Stadium - Sept 1981 - Twins vs Kansas City
(last regular season game)
2. First pitch at the Dome - April 1982 - Twins vs Phillies
(exhibition game)
3. Last pitch at the Dome - October 2009 - Twins vs Yankees
(playoff game)
4. First pitch at Target Field - March 2010 - U of M vs LA Tech
(college game)
