Hitting It Out of The Park

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“How can you not be romantic about baseball?” – Michael Lewis in Moneyball

Sometimes when my kids and I are looking for something to do on a weekend, I’ll take them to ride the light rail. We ride from our Seattle neighborhood just north of downtown to the stop near the baseball stadium that is just south of downtown. Last year we lucked out with perfect timing on a day the Seattle Mariners were playing. We watched at all the people streaming towards the stadium, bought peanuts from a street vendor, and sat on a bench munching salty goodness as the first sounds of the game started drifting towards us.

This year I’m planning on actually taking my kids to a game but I’m always amazed at how fun just the atmosphere of baseball is. So when Vicki suggested we podcast with her friend and former colleague, Bruce Bohrer, about his post retirement stint as an usher for the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, I was game.

There is something perfectly poetic about Bruce, the former director of admissions at Harper College going on to be in “admissions” at Wrigley field as an usher. And then jotting notes about the marriage proposals, the vendor songs, and all the sights, sounds, and smells of a ball park to write a book about it.

As we recorded this episode, we swung for the fences and Bruce short-stopped a question or two. Ss we were waved on for home, we squeezed in some more of Bruce’s great stories. I could go on and on with the baseball puns because they are so baked in to our lexicon. But I’ll end here with an item on the gratitude list of playwright and author Jack Canfora, from his post Dear Lord, Not Another Post on this Blog About Gratitude:

“For the sound of a bat hitting a baseball and a fastball hitting a catcher’s mitt. Anytime, but especially in early spring.”

Jack Canfora

Doesn’t that crack open a memory or two? If you are up for listening to a podcast, I think you’ll find this one really fun and enjoyable. Search for Sharing the Heart of the Matter on Apple, Amazon, Spotify or Pocket Casts or click here to listen to the episode on Anchor:  Episode 13: The Best Seat in the House with Bruce Bohrer

And for links to Bruce’s book, here are the show notes and more info on Heart of the Matter: Episode 13 show notes

22 thoughts on “Hitting It Out of The Park”

  1. All of this was so much fun, Wynne. And this — you’re so witty — about being ‘game’:
    “So when Vicki suggested we podcast with her friend and former colleague, Bruce Bohrer, about his post retirement stint as an usher for the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, I was game.”
    Play ball! 🥰

    Liked by 3 people

  6. I’m not a baseball person but I enjoyed your puns! I think the concept of the book will definitely appeal to baseball fans!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. There is nothing like being outdoors and watching a baseball game on a sunny day. I love how each park has its own unique thing! Last year, I went to a game at American Family Field in Milwaukee. The sausage races were the most fun and entertaining thing I’ve seen in a while. I was cheering for bratwurst all the way and that delightful sausage rewarded me with a win. So much fun.

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  9. I remember the Light Rail post and I love that you open up these fun adventures in the city for your kids. These day trips pack so much adventure especially for the unexpected delights.

    Watching a ball game sounds fun and I agree with the quote about the crackling sound of a ball hitting a bat. I know your kids will enjoy that a lot.

    And how fun when people can enjoy a more fun and less stressful stint in their retirement years. Reminds me of this barista at Starbucks who worked there part time after retiring as a school teacher. He was always the happiest person working!

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    1. I love your story about the barista, Ab! Amazing how much more fun it must be when it’s a second career.

      Maybe when we go to the baseball game we’ll go when the Mariners are playing the Blue Jays! 🙂

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  10. I haven’t been to a baseball game in many, many years, but Tara and I want to see the Brewers this summer. I’ve sort of rekindled an old love for baseball this past year and would love to take advantage of the fact that we have a major league team just an hour away now!

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