Missing My First Game in 3 years…

Yeah, I’ve been to just about every home game the Ironpigs have played here in the Lehigh Valley.

In 2008 I missed 3. 2 and a half really. There was a real early make up game for a rain out and I got there about the 6th inning of the first game. My employer requires me to give at least a days notice for time off and I could only get there when I could. (The myth that I am an employee of the Ironpigs is just that.. a myth)

The other two games I missed that year were to meet with John McCain and Sarah Palin. One game each respectively. I have this thing where I want to meet those people who are on the ballot each time voting comes around. Sadly enough, I did not receive an invitation from Barack Obama nor Joe Biden. Their loss. All politics aside, I only missed 2 1/2 games in 2008 and attended every game in 2009 to include exhibitions with the R-Phils and Philadelphia Phillies. Also, a couple “away” games when Scranton’s field was submerged last summer.

So tomorrow will be the first game I miss in close to 3 years. I may not miss all of it. I plan to get there if time allows.

Why you ask? Well, baseball isn’t everything in life. Even a lonely fool like myself has outside interests. My bowling league starts tomorrow and I can’t let my teammates down. I could always play the ole Turf Toe injury and skip out.. but that’s just not me. Bowling should end around 9:00pm and if this week’s trend stays the course, the game should be in about the 3rd or 4th inning by then. So I might not miss all of the game and could easily claim I was in attendance… but I will know.

I will miss the National Anthem, my favorite part of the experience.

I will miss the All Star game of the kid running balls out to the umpires and yelling “Play Ball!”

I will miss the 30 or 40 odd first pitches.

I will miss the pregame footage of David Newhan’s home run ball knocking a K off the old OINK sign.

I will miss giving a wave to the brat and italian sausage stand crew.

I will miss just about everything that happens before the game.

Heck, that turf toe is kinda sore….

Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow, maybe I won’t.

OinK