View Full Version : How old were you when you saw your 1st MLB in person?
Max Power
06-05-2002, 07:51 AM
Have always wondered about this - - I thought I got a late start. I was 10 years and 8 months. How about you?
moose
06-05-2002, 07:56 AM
On my fifth birthday, I met the Mets.
(aw darn. now i have that song in my head)
It was the summer I turned 8. All-Star Game at Riverfront. Didn't even appreciate it till two years later. And I have no memory at all of the Rose/Fosse thing - we may have even left before it happened! :(
Craig S.
06-05-2002, 08:29 AM
Nine years old - at horrible Exhibition Stadium in Toronto.
ChrisCary
06-05-2002, 08:59 AM
Six years old, a week or so before I turned seven met Thurman Munson.
WiredTiger
06-05-2002, 09:07 AM
I must have been about six. We went to see the Tigers play the Angels I think.
KCBOOMER
06-05-2002, 09:09 AM
I think I was nine. Old Municipal Stadium with the A's versus the Indians. Herb Score pitching and I got the autographs (long gone) of Vic Power, Ned Garver, and Harry "Suitcase" Simpson.
calexpat
06-05-2002, 09:21 AM
Last game of the 1984 season, Yankee Stadium, Mattingly gets three or four hits to pass Dave Winfield for the batting title. I was seven.
poorme
06-05-2002, 09:33 AM
Comiskey Park 1983, the day after they clinched their division. A full house at old Comiskey, couldn't ask for a better memory. Kittle hit a pinch hit homer down the right field line. They had called up some of the AAA guys which disappointed me. Guys like Tom O'Malley, and Joel Skinner I think. I guess I was like 11.
SmedIndy
06-05-2002, 09:40 AM
10 1/2. It was a doubleheader between St. Louis and Cincy in the ashtray known as Riverfront. I was in heaven.
I think I saw the last start Pat Darcy ever made. I do remember my Dad catching a foul liner from Bake McBride and saw Hrabosky and George Foster go into a stare-off.
johnny
06-05-2002, 10:42 AM
A few weeks before my 7th birthday. Had to spend the summer in Cleveland with my dad. Saw the Rangers at Cleveland (mistake on the lake). I remember Buddy Bell played. (A year later I got to see real MLB when we went to Yankee Stadium :p)
My biggest memory of that day was my dad telling me to go find the bathroom by myself, and I got lost trying to find our seats afterward. Horrifying experience...absolutely horrifying! :)
TGwynn19
06-05-2002, 10:47 AM
Probably 10 years old...when to Kansas City to see them play the Blue Jays. Don't remember much...we went to Worlds of Fun before the game and I still had motion sickness from the roller coasters.:(
TimmyB
06-05-2002, 10:59 AM
9yrs, 11mo -- Detriot vs. Boston at Fenway in '76. Went with the entire town's "Little Minor" League. I think we filled four school buses...
JamesI
06-05-2002, 12:55 PM
I went to my first game at 17, June 1991 in Toronto. The Orioles got beat 9-1.
Gosfgiants
06-05-2002, 01:06 PM
I saw my first game live in 1979 when I was 8. I saw the Yankees beat the Angels at Yankee Stadium.
satchel
06-05-2002, 03:10 PM
I was 4. My dad was taking my brothers to Shea to see a Mets/Expos doubleheader. I screamed and cried and carried on that I WANNA GO TOO! So they took me. I made it all the way through the first and partway through the second game before the temper tantrum hit again I WANNA GO HOME! I still feel bad about that - and still get teased - but it really does serve them right for bringing a four year old to a doubleheader.
spitball
06-05-2002, 04:16 PM
8 or 9 . Orioles at Senators at DC stadium.
It seems everyone including Dave McNally homered that day.
I think it was '66 or '67.
Frank Howard looked like a giant at 1st base.
pwdennis
06-05-2002, 09:13 PM
Ten - saw the Orioles at Memorial Stadium.
I couldn't tell you the exact date or opponent of my first MLB game (I think it was the Senators because I saw them several times that year, but I'm just guessing), but it was sometime in 1962 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.
The 1962 the Orioles weren't a very good team (I think Hitchcock was the manager) but they had some interesting characters on the team such as catcher Gus Triandos (who labored to catch Wilhelm's knuckler - usually unsuccessfully), Diamond Jim Gentile, Jerry Adair, Jackie Brandt, Brooks Robinson, Russ Snyder, Hoyt Wilhelm, Charlie Lau & Ron Hanson. If I recall correctly John "Boog" Powell played mostly in the outfield that season. Robin Roberts had his last good year on the mound, although either Chuck Estrada or Milt Pappas would have been regarded as the ace of the starting staff (Estrada went 9-17 but had terrible luck all year - he deserved to better).
sweaver
06-05-2002, 11:31 PM
I was 11. Summer 1975 at Riverfront Stadium.
Sound2TheBay
06-06-2002, 01:45 AM
I was 7 years old, saw A's vs. Mariners (1991). The first player whose name I learned was Dennis Eckersley, because I was fascinated by his sidearm delivery lol.
gyb13
06-06-2002, 11:54 AM
I think I have everyone beat, at age 22:
http://www.netshrine.com/vbulletin2/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4187
Craig S.
06-06-2002, 12:00 PM
Originally posted by gyb13
I think I have everyone beat, at age 22:
http://www.netshrine.com/vbulletin2/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4187
Older, but I'm sure you had much more of an appreciation for your first game than most of us.
Originally posted by sweaver
I was 11. Summer 1975 at Riverfront Stadium. A pretty darned good age, place, and time to see that first game! I might have been there too on the Enquirer Honor Roll tickets plan.
Pilgrim
06-06-2002, 06:02 PM
Someday I'm going to tell the longer, more poetic version of this story, something I've told out loud numerous times over the years but have never put down on paper.
My parents tell me I went to a Padres game as a toddler, but that, of course, I don't remember. The first game I do remember took place in 1976 at the Big A, where the Angels were playing the A's. I was six years old at the time, and had fallen in love with baseball through collecting Topps cards. My dad -- who is a great guy but not what I would consider a baseball fan -- surprised me by taking me to the game.
I think we arrived late, and had seats pretty far up in the sky, and the place seemed pretty crowded (it was a weekend day game). The only player I remember specifically is Bill Melton, because I had the Topps "T" card saying he had been traded from the White Sox to the Angels the previous offseason.
Late in the game, around the 8th inning or so, the Angels were two or three runs down, and my dad told me that it was time to leave. "But it's not over yet," I said. My dad reasoned with me that it was unlikely the Angels would come back, and wouldn't it be nice to beat the traffic (yes, my dad was raised in L.A.) Being respectful of my dad, and, well, six, I agreed to leave as the A's were coming up to bat.
We wound our way down all of the ramps and stairways and by the time we exited the stadium, the Angels had retired the A's and were coming up to bat.
Our car was parked in the farthest regions of the parking lot. Every fifty steps or so, a huge roar would come from out of the stadium, and I would turn back and look as if I could see inside to see what was going on. In the five-minute walk to the car, the Angels came back and took the lead. I think they ended up losing the game -- I'm not sure -- but that wasn't the point, obviously.
Since then, I have left only ONE game early -- the second game of a Mets-Cards doubleheader at Shea. The first game had been delayed by rain, the second started two hours late, I was wearing a Cardinals jacket and had to get the subway home, so I forced myself to leave in the 7th.
But whenever one of my friends says something about leaving, I tell them the story about the time my dad made me leave early...
calexpat
06-06-2002, 06:53 PM
I know this is a bit off-topic, but doesn't this discussion remind you of the inevitable dorm room conversation about how old you were when you lost your virginity?
PS: Don't mean to offend those who are against premarital sex.
PPS: With different ages of course :devil:
LeGrandOrange
06-06-2002, 08:28 PM
I was on the backside of 7 when I saw the Mariners host the Orioles at the Dome. I only learned recently that Harold Reynolds won it driving in pinch runner Brian J. Giles in the 8th inning of Mark Williamson to give Bill Swift the 5-4 victory, which Mike Schooler saved. Junior was 4-4, and Edgar showed why 5 years later, he would be a designated hitter, as he made 4 errors.
Originally posted by calexpat
I know this is a bit off-topic, but doesn't this discussion remind you of the inevitable dorm room conversation about how old you were when you lost your virginity? I've been married almost 18 years and can honestly say I dont know what you are talking about as (a) I never had that conversation, and (b) I never lost my virginity. I know exactly where my virginity is/was and if I care to regain it I'm sure my wife will be happy to give it back over my dead body. :D
Ok - this was totally off topic. Sorry.
I have been surprised at how young the average age of first time attendees has been. Reading Steve's original post, I figured he'd be about average, not "old".
Max Power
06-07-2002, 10:24 AM
Originally posted by Skip
I have been surprised at how young the average age of first time attendees has been. Reading Steve's original post, I figured he'd be about average, not "old".
Well, we've had 23 answer (unless I counted wrong?) and the average age is about 9.
About a year and a half younger than me at my first. That made me old?
OK Max, a mean of about 9 and std dev of about 4 means you weren't old. I'm sure you are relieved. (Although Gyb and JamesI skew things quite a bit)
gyb13
06-07-2002, 11:37 AM
Originally posted by Skip
OK Max, a mean of about 9 and std dev of about 4 means you weren't old. I'm sure you are relieved. (Although Gyb and JamesI skew things quite a bit)
remove the two outliers and what do you have?
moose
06-07-2002, 12:27 PM
Originally posted by gyb13
remove the two outliers and what do you have?
suspicion confirmed: gyb = outlier :D
Originally posted by gyb13
remove the two outliers and what do you have? Std Dev drops to about three. Steve is still off the hook, though I'd be happy to vote him old anyway just for grins and giggles :p
Originally posted by moose
suspicion confirmed: gyb = outlier :D I think you made a typo moose. It should have been gyb = out and out liar :D
moose
06-07-2002, 04:11 PM
Originally posted by Skip
I think you made a typo moose. It should have been gyb = out and out liar :D
:ashamed: I always mess that one up!
(:loud: :loud: :loud: )
satchel
06-07-2002, 11:18 PM
veering this wild old hoss back on topic ... it seems like I am amongst the youngest at 4 years old. This is, I think, a benefit of being the youngest of three - I went because my dad was taking my brothers.
Those of you who have told us your age at first game - who took you? Was it your special first ballgame day, or were you tagging along like I was?
LeGrandOrange
06-08-2002, 12:47 AM
I actually do not remember the details of mine, I just know my dad brought me. I'm very forgetful of these things, I just remember that Brad Komminsk made his first start for the Orioles and that really is just all I remember from it. I'm really discouraged about this, because I don't know if there was a precedent or a reason for going. My dad remembers his a little better, I obviously didn't get his memory. (there's a lot of things I didn't inherit from him...I hate the Yankees and I like Mays over Mantle, which proves it)
All I know is that I didn't go to another game for 5 years, I wish I knew more...
LGO - you said a lot of things there but none answered the basic question. How old were you that first game? And why five years till the next?
Fenway Frank
06-08-2002, 07:40 AM
I saw my first MLB game at Fenway Park in the summer of 1964 when I had just turned 5. It was Felix Mantilla's birthday. He was the Sox 2B at the time. I'm probably the only person who remembers him these days.
I was in awe of the colors, the smells and the difference between how it looked in person from TV. I will never forget it.
LeGrandOrange
06-08-2002, 01:20 PM
I knew I should've mentioned that the M's-O's game I went to was my first. :)
There were reasons it took 5 years to go to another one...the Mariners sucked for one and I prefered going to Cheney Stadium to watch the Tigers/Rainiers play, I thought it was more better. Didn't return until the 1995 home opener, which I wanted to see even if it had replacement players.
Sound2TheBay
06-08-2002, 09:19 PM
Originally posted by satchel
Those of you who have told us your age at first game - who took you? Was it your special first ballgame day, or were you tagging along like I was?
I went w/my grandpa & aunt on my mom's side. I remember sitting on the first base side in the 100 level, I remember just about all the players in the Mariners' starting lineup, and I remember wondering why the P.A. announcer would announce Ken Griffey, Jr.'s name so enthusiastically. I learned quickly, of course. :D
Originally posted by satchel
Those of you who have told us your age at first game - who took you? Was it your special first ballgame day, or were you tagging along like I was? It was my grandpa. He was a big Red's fan, but I really think he'd have much rather stay'd home and watched it on TV (or even better listened on radio). I think one of his great pleasures was falling asleep listening to the Reds on WLW and getting up the next morning to the same.
Gosfgiants
06-08-2002, 10:05 PM
Originally posted by satchel
Those of you who have told us your age at first game - who took you? Was it your special first ballgame day, or were you tagging along like I was?
I was taken to the game as a reward for learning how to swim. I had a fear of deep water that my parents tried for years to get me to conquor. My father finally smartened up and realized that bribes work. I passed the swimming test and got to go to see the Yankees. This was huge deal for me.
We had a good trip out of the whole thing. We took the train down from Utica the previous day and stayed with my mother's parents. We went to the game with my paternal grandfather and my father's brother. The coolest thing for me was that my uncle gave me a radio to listen to the game while we there. I cannot remember the score for the life of me, but I remember that the Yanks won. Ron Guidry pitched a complete game. A great first game.
Fenway Frank
06-09-2002, 03:27 PM
My big brother, who's almost 20 years older than I, took me to my first game. I was his surrogate kid. I remember when I asked how long we would be at the game, that he pointed out the mechanical scoreboard on the left field Wall and said that when they had filled out the numbers through 9, then it would be time to go.
Good story FF. My kids judge the game length by the snacks.
1st inning - popcorn
3rd inning - pretzels or peanuts
5th inning - hot dogs
7th inning - peanuts or Cracker Jack
9th inning - ice cream (but only if they've been good...)
No, they haven't started the sushi concession yet here in Louavull.
SmedIndy
06-09-2002, 11:06 PM
Originally posted by Skip
Good story FF. My kids judge the game length by the snacks.
1st inning - popcorn
3rd inning - pretzels or peanuts
5th inning - hot dogs
7th inning - peanuts or Cracker Jack
9th inning - ice cream (but only if they've been good...)
No, they haven't started the sushi concession yet here in Louavull.
What they call sushi we call bait!
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