The Adventures of Peg, Girl Adventurer Story and pictures by Peg, Girl Adventurer This is the gal I went to the game with. Cleveland Indians played KC Royals. It was a game that we were destined to see. Cleveland has a player, Casey Blake, who played for Wichita State when he was in college. Cleveland won 5 to 3. Cleveland had 3 home runs to our 2. Also we were hitting more balls but weren't getting the runs in, just not taking care of business. These were taken while we were waiting on the game to start. It was a big place. 2021-2027 They are getting ready to play. The different teams came out and jogged around, did some stretching exercises, and threw the ball around. 2029-2031 (top left and both right)It was so far away, so it was hard to see, but the trainers and other players were helping the others stretch their muscles. One player would lay down flat on the ground and the other would grab a leg and lift it up until the other cried Uncle...so whatever. 2035 (bottom left) These people sat in front of us and drank beer and talked on the phone. I'll bet the beer tab was over $100 alone.

2006-2037 This is Slider. He is the mascot. A vision in Fuchsia and yellow fur. I hope he was well paid to be in that hot outfit on a hot day. I think behind all of that funny outfit is an 18 year old boy who is working on college money. The crowd loves him. Instead of a build a bear in the ball park they have a build a Slider and for $20 you can get a little Slider to cuddle all the way home.

2046 The umps are all out talking about the rules and how they are going to be great calls today in the hot sun.

2052 to 2064 PLAY BALL! They are all hitting the ball but it is so small I couldn't get it to show up in any of the pictures. The fielders were great. When it was hit their way they almost always caught it and threw it on to the next base to get the out.

2065 This one was hit into the crowd and this was snapped just before half of the row jumped up to fight over it.

2066 to 2069 These guys work the crowds: buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks…all for a price of course. I didn't see anything less than $3. The hot dogs were mouth watering, swimming in onions, mustard, catsup, and pickles. The peanuts hot and some of those guys could spit a shell 6 foot. Beer ran about $7 a 12 ounce can. Soda was of the Pepsi style and it was $4 a pop. Large matinee type of candy was also $3-4 bucks a package. It was expensive. And they wouldn't let me carry in my own good bubbly Coke--one of those liquid rules for large gatherings and air flights. I don't know what those guys get paid, but they sweat heavily for their wages. Those carrying cases ladened with 24 beers have to weigh a bunch let alone carrying them up and down the stairs.

2070 to 2077 We're playing hard. About the time someone hits it someone else catches it or they get the ball to the base before the player does. We were hitting the ball twice as much as the Cleveland gang was, but they were making it around the bases and we weren't. So did that make them better catchers?

2078 (left) I snapped too soon and couldn't quite capture the scuffle for the ball as it comes hurdling into a crowd of people all desperate to catch it.

2079 and 2080 Our pitcher was tired or something because he was walking all of them so the manager came out and asked him to let the other pitcher in for awhile. The other guy warmed up a bit and he did a little better. Not so wild pitching, but no great strike outs after strike out. (Webmaster's note: Peggy wrote this commentary, not me!)

2081 to 2086 Sometimes they threw the ball and sometimes they talked about throwing it.

2087 Again I missed getting the right picture at the right time. This one was high and hit the boxed in people, bouncing off of the heavy glass, and falling into the crowd below into some lucky patron's hands.

2088 Every time some one would head toward the home plate all the people in front of us would stand up and block our vision, hence we had to stand up and block the folks behind us and then more people had to stand up and next thing you knew the whole stadium was on its feet with one of those wave things going around. We had to raise and drop our arms in secession. It requires some team work and precision. No one told me I would have to participate in the event. But I did--every time it came around I watched for my turn to raise my arms up too with bated breath.

2089 and 2090 Again we throw the ball and then they all have to meet on the pitchers mound to talk about it. I could have told them from where I sat--we needed another pitcher. Ours weren't that great that day.

2091 to 2094 We throw the ball, we talk about it, then everyone stands up. It's a ritual that you rise and fall with the tide.

2097 Since we paid $140 a seat to set there, we didn't appreciate it when people who didn't pay it just came up and sat down there. They had these people in the green shirts asking to see a ticket and if you couldn't produce on you were asked to leave. I think that was only fair. They also had a couple of them stationed in front of someone of great importance to keep spectators from walking in front of them. How privileged is that?

2098 to 2101 This is the running of the hotdogs. Exactly why we were treated to large floppy hotdogs running the bases I am not sure, but everyone cheered on their favorite one just like at the horse track. I understand this is something that they do every home game.

2103 There is something so American about ballparks and cracker jacks.

2107 This was the Royals player with the poochy butt who hit the home run as he came across the home plate. No one lit off the fireworks like they did when the Cleveland guys came across the home plate. Cheryl and I jumped up and yelled yea! But all of those Cleveland people looked at us like we were losing it. I think we were a baseball minority that day. If it had been in KC…

2109 Game over…we lost…every one up to finish off the beer and go get in their cars and into the traffic. I wonder how far Dead Man's Curve is from the stadium, and yes, Cleveland actually has a freeway with Dead Man's Curve on it. Self explanatory.

2112 After the game they have to lay all of these tarps on the grass to protect it while they finish the care. If you aren't a player you aren't suppose to walk on it--but they do let the guys that mow it on it.

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