Day 294, 24 April 2013, Chicago White Sox Game - U.S. Cellular Field - Take us down to the Ball Game... Play Ball!
Big excursion today - cabbed out to U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox and settled in around 10 rows behind home plate for our very first ever game of baseball. Much easier to understand than cricket that's for sure! Home runs, stolen bases, foul balls by the truck load - and two were caught in the seats immediately behind us. In fact the terms and conditions of the tickets included the exclusion of liability for any and all injuries caused by balls, bats (only one of those went into the crowd) parts of bats... etc etc. We thought they were exaggerating the risks until the balls started flying. We truly felt in the heart of something quintessentially American - they had organ music (live), daytime fireworks, a hero's welcome to a returned Navy officer (in full ceremonial uniform, awarded a standing ovation). The Star Spangled Banner was played and sung, the hot dogs smelled incredible (though looked inedible). We initially thought we'd overdressed as it was around 50 degrees and hot in the sun (10 C degrees). But the wind came up and the temperature dropped and the sun hid behind a grandstand... we think it was around 6 degrees in the end - brrrrr. Awesome experience - just remember to keep your eye on the ball (so you don't get a ball in the eye!)
PS - The Sox won! (Shame on the Cleaveland Indians.)