The Joy of Minor League Baseball

When it comes to finding some family entertainment, I suggest going to a baseball game. For those of you thinking that it is too expensive (as tickets have gone up quite a bit), I suggest it can be very economical. Instead of going to a major league baseball game, try a minor league one. A number of my friends argued that this was not true baseball and could not really be enjoyed. I grew up on Long Island and I was (and still am) a big New York Mets fan, so I bought into their philosophy. Finally, no longer living in an area that has a major league baseball team, a friend convinced me to try a minor league gave. I have now discovered the wonderful world of minor league baseball and urge any one who had the same feelings I did to at least try a minor league game.

A number of the players at this level are very good players, some even better than major leaguers, just waiting for their chance. This means that they are often more focused on the game and on performing well, because that can make the difference between being called up and spending the season in the minors. Also, the opportunity does occur to see some former major league players who are still good, but no longer able to make the major league roster. Sometimes they are in Triple A, in case of an injury, they can be called back up to the majors. This means you may have the opportunity to see players with star power.

For me, one of the nicest aspects of watching a minor league game is it is more relaxing. I route for the Rochester Redwings, the local Triple A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. Still, when I go to a game, I found myself cheering for all players and just enjoying watching the game being played. At the major league level I would be much more involved with the outcome of the game, thus actually reducing my ability to enjoy the game in its entirety.

One last aspect of a minor league game that is advantageous over a major league game is the price. The price of tickets is significantly cheaper. A premium ticket for a Redwings game is $10. A ticket to a Met game, even a cheap one, could go for more than double the $10. Also, you can be sure that the food prices at a major league park of more expensive than that of a minor league stadium. So, if you find you are looking for something to do this summer and you live in an area that has a minor league team, or you happen to be passing through such an area, I strongly recommend checking out a game.