Taking in Fenway via the Cape Cod League All-Star Game

After almost 38 years I finally made my way to Fenway Park, and as you can guess it was well worth the wait. I am going to save you the boredom and monotony of praising this shrine to baseball, as it has already been done by members of the literary community who have communicated its beauty and place in American history much better than I could ever hope to. I recently went to a game there that transcended what I have come to experience at an average game, whether it be the majors, minors, a regular season tilt or an all-star game.

For the third year in a row the Cape Cod League held its annual all-star game at Fenway Park. To fill in those that are not familiar with the Cape League, it is the premier summer baseball league for the top college ball players in the country. Scouts go there in droves to see how the projected top talents in the game are able to handle hitting with wooden bats and not the aluminum ones used during the school year. On top of that you get some of the best arms in college there to see how they handle pitching to a strong top-to-bottom line up, and the whole season turns into a weeding out process of ability to either gain more leverage in your draft status or catch someone’s eye and possibly make it to the next level as a professional. Last year there were 236 former Cape League players playing in the Majors, here are just some of the top names; Todd Helton, Tim Lincecum, Mark Teixeira, Chase Utley, Kevin Youkilis, Lance Berkman, Ryan Braun, Jacoby Ellsbury, Buster Posey and Evan Longoria. Not a bad list, huh?

Now I have been following the Cape League on a near daily basis for the past three years. Being a huge fan of the minors, and looking to suck up even more time in following baseball, this just seemed like an extension of where the potential superstars of tomorrow are playing. All of a sudden things started to fall into place…the next wave of top draft prospects, an all-star game held at a legendary ball yard, my interest was definitely piqued.

Living right outside of Philly, Boston was always a realistic vacation destination but the right situation had to present itself. My wife, The First Lady of Baseball, has already had her limits tested with a husband in his late thirties who lives in throwback jerseys and baseball tees, and when she is not watching Disney and Sprout with the two mini-clones of myself, we watch the Phillies and the MLB Network. See now why I am not tossing out the “Hey, let’s drive 7 hours to watch college kids play baseball” idea right away? I needed help from the ghosts of Fenway past –Williams, Foxx, & Young to find a way to Boston and they answered. Two years ago for our anniversary my wife bought tickets for us to a “Renew your Vows” promotion that the Reading Phillies were putting on where you go on the field and well, renew your wedding vows during a pre-game ceremony, and we ended up winning the grand prize, a second honeymoon to Las Vegas. Winning that trip alone brought me at least five years of goodwill in going to games with her. A few months passed, and we decided because we had already both been to Vegas that we wanted to go someplace as a family…hmmmm, how about Boston? She was on board and the travel agency who was sponsoring the promotion agreed to it also, so the final piece fell into place.

The entire Cape all-star event is just a great deal. All tickets for the game at Fenway are $10 and it is general admission seating. There is also an autograph signing with the players from both squads and a home run hitting contest before the game. I think the whole home run hitting contest in baseball has run its course, but kids love it and I have to admit there is something about watching a slugger take aim at the fabled Monster. We got there when the gates opened at 4:30 and were sitting 4 rows from the field down the third base line. Unless you are loaded or have serious connections what are your chances of scoring seats four rows from the field at Fenway? To kill time before the game I brought each of my boys a baseball to get autographed (ok, I’ll admit I had the players sign my program to, but my boys were the perfect front for me) so as the various players rotated in signing at tables along the corridor on the third base side we would get our autos and jump back in line for the next wave. The boys loved it, and because we were not going to be watching the familiar names we see on TV, it gave them a rooting interest in the players who signed for us. We were only there in time to get the West players to sign so we knew right then the side we would be rooting for.

The game itself only drew a little over 7,000 fans which is a far cry from the 37,000 plus the place sees during Red Sox home games. But this was actually a good thing. By year’s end the Sox will have sold out over 700 straight games, so when was the last time a fan pretty much had the stadium to themselves to wander and roam during a game? I appreciate the Sox, and the atmosphere they generate at their games, but I was going to see Fenway. I sat in three different sections during the game and got some memorable pictures of my boys at the ballpark without battling the crowds. The most impressive thing I saw there, and found myself gazing out at it numerous times in right field, was the lone red seat. Section 42, row 37, seat 21 to be exact. Amongst the sea of green seats in right is one lone red seat approximately 502 feet from home plate marking the spot where Ted Williams hit the longest clout in the park’s history. There is something about being able to look up from your seat and clearly see the place where Williams parked one. It gives you an appreciation for the history of the game and also just how far 500 feet is. I knew going in that I wanted to see the legendary seat but I was still impressed by the distance from the plate.

The game itself was panned from what I read afterwards for its sloppiness at times and not having the level of talent that prior all-star games did. There was also criticism that the all star selection process itself should change because many of the players that the scouts wanted to see did not make the teams. Personally, I was fine with it. My boys made it through multiple autograph lines, a home run derby and three innings of the game and saw just about all of the scoring before my youngest son threw in the towel to his older brother’s dismay.

I did catch a potential first-round pick next year in Southern’s Victor Roache who is a 6’1″ 225-pound outfielder. This past season he was the first Division I collegiate player to reach the 30-home run mark since 2002 and finished his summer on the Cape in the top 10 in batting average and second in homers and ribbies. I was also happy to see 3rd baseman Colin Moran, Baseball America’s Freshman of the Year from North Carolina. One disappointment? Arizona State SS Deven Marrero was hit with a pitch earlier in the week and had to miss the game. Marrero played on the USA Baseball collegiate national team and is projected to be a top-10 pick in next Junes draft.

It was a memorable experience at a historical place with my family, so what could be better? Do yourself a favor if you are a fan and make it a point to see Fenway in this setting, it will give you a new perspective of the game and its roots.

Pickoffs:

– I picked up a box of 2011 Topps Pro Debut off of E-bay for less than $50. A bit of a disappointing box break–signature cards of Michael Choice (A’s) and Cody Scarpetta (Brewers) and game used relic jerseys from Nick Franklin (Mariners) and Zach Britton (O’s). The Michael Choice auto appears to be my best pull, I was hoping for a Bryce Harper base card at least or another quality insert. Next up is the 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League cards released on September, 14th.

– Just got done reading the James S. Hirsch book, Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend and highly recommend it. I have to warn you, though, it is a long read, but trust me it is well worth it. On the flip side I also read Mike Shalin’s Donnie Baseball: The Definitive Biography of Don Mattingly and I am telling you to save your time and money and skip it. My brother is a huge Mattingly fan and he even thought it was disappointing.

– Ron Gant on MLB Tonight as a studio analyst has been a solid addition. Barry Larkin’s move from the MLB Network to ESPN’s Baseball Tonight has made the show even more unwatchable than it already is. Someone please save Karl Ravech.

– My buddy Bistro showed me a picture that Erin Andrews posted on her Twitter account that showed her with Jordin Sparks, Kate Upton and wait for it..Jennie Finch in their uni’s before the Celebrity All-Star Softball Game in Arizona. Finch and Andrews on the same team has forced me to recalibrate my list of all-time great teammates: 1.Ruth & Gehrig 2.Finch and Andrews 3.Ted Williams and Jimmie Foxx 4.Ty Cobb and Sam Crawford.

Matt Aber is a baseball enthusiast who would never threaten to retire if he was still owed $24 million ala Carlos Zambrano. Matt is an advocate of the national organization called The Miracle League which allows special needs children to play baseball. He encourages you to support this worthy cause and learn more at www.miracleleague.com .

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