Game 1 June 2, 2010 Fort Wayne Tincaps

"THE STAR"

The first and most anticipated game of our 2010 baseball vacation was the new stadium of the Fort Wayne Tincaps.  Not only were we excited about the new stadium, which we had heard great deal about (all good things true), we were going to use the game to celebrate our youngest son, Edan's, birthday.  With that being the plan, and Fort Wayne being Grandpa's home base, they set up the event. 


Like many minor league parks, they had a great birthday package.    We got tickets right behind the dugout, the kids got free passes to all the games, (Fort Wayne has a great area with a rock climbing wall), a cookie cake shaped like a baseball, free food, as well as a ball autographed by all the players in a nice plastic case.  If this wasn't enough, Edan got to run out and throw one of the ceremonial first pitches (Almost 2 years later, he still talks about this.)  I think this was dad's favorite part as well.   I have always dreamed about doing this, maybe one day! 

This game had additional significance as this was the first game we took my daughter Joelle.   Because this was near Grandma and Grandpa's we made a full family event to start the trip.   To add to the excitement for my daughter, I promised her that I would let her get a pink mini bat to go along with the bats she had seen her brothers bring home.  She was excited, the only problem was when we got to the park and couldn't find one anywhere.  We finally found a vendor walking who had 1 left.  It was horribly beat up, but she didn't care, it was her pink bat.   Outside of the bat, she found little interest in the game, but she loved the food and the games area.

A note, Fort Wayne has a beautiful new stadium.  I would rate it right up next to Dayton as the best minor league setting I have seen.  It has a great center field view of the city, convention center, and new Marriott attached to the convention center.   A must see park for any minor league fan.  I don't remember a great deal of the food as Grandma forced us to eat up all the free hot dog vouchers we were given with the birthday package!  Maybe next time!

Due to Edan's birthday, Joelle's first game, and the family setting of the game, with Grandma and Aunt Christy there, this might go down as one of the more memorable games we attend.