My visit to AT&T Park

My journey to AT&T Park was a very ordinary one. My mother and I decided to bike across the golden gate bridge starting around 2 o'clock. After taking in breathtaking views on the golden gate bridge we arrived in Sausalito and had lunch. We then checked to see when the ferry left. At this point it was 4:00 and the next ferry from Sausalito left at 5:35, and nearby Tiburon had a ferry leaving at 5:10. Tiburon was about 10 miles away from where we were, but my mom wanted to try to bike there to make that ferry thinking we'd get back faster. In reality the 5:10 from Tiburon and the 5:35 from Sausalito were the same ferry. If we missed the 5:10 in Tiburon the next ferry wasn’t until 5:55 and would have dropped us off a mile farther away from the bike shop. I didn't think it was worth the risk of missing the ferry and some of the ball game, but my mom convinced me we could make it so we took off heading for Tiburon. 

I was on a rental bike where as my mom was on her own racing bike. She flew past me a mile down the road after I got a little head start as she finished lunch. Four miles down the road the trail turned right. My mom being in the zone and not looking missed the turn, luckily I called her and told her to turn around but at that point she was so far away she wasn't going to catch up with me anytime soon. It was a difficult trail to follow and she would end up going the wrong way again. I raced up and down hills and along the shore, it was 5 o'clock and I was still not in the city. Finally, five minutes later I enter Tiburon still confused as to where the ferry is. Racing through the beautiful town I find the ferry 5:07; I made it on time. I talked to my mom who was lost in the hills, and decide to take the ferry alone and make it to the game. 

At this point I didn’t have the tickets (or the keys to my mom’s car to get them) so I decided to call my cousin Brett's fiancé Lisa.  We were planning on meeting with her before the game so I simply asked her to print out the tickets and bring them to the stadium. Now that the tickets were taken care of I had to find my way to the stadium. 

After figuring out which rail car I had to take on San Francisco’s subway system I got off the boat at 6:05 took the bike back to the rental place and raced to a rail car. This car took me one block to another rail car which was stopped. I had no clue when it would take off so I sprinted a mile to the next stop where I was picked up by the next rail car. It turned out to be the one I ran from. Finally getting to the end of the road on the rail car, I raced to the subway and got on. The car was crammed in like sardines. Three stops later at 6:55 I arrive to AT&T Park exhausted after 18 miles on bike, a ferry, two rail cars, and one subway. I meet the lovely and amazing Lisa who was waiting in front of the main entrance with my tickets. We had a nice 15 minute conversation, hugged and then I was on my way to the outfield entrance. 

I enter the stadium at 7:15 after being wowed by the beauty of the ball park and the view of the bay bridge. I took my seat on the wall in right field where Barry Bonds would hit home runs and occasionally hit over and into McCovey Cove. Half an hour later my mom showed up and we walked around to find food. I was shocked by the variety of food they sell which includes Chinese food and sushi. They also sold wine at the game! We grabbed a couple of San Francisco dogs (Swiss cheese, a pickle slice, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing) oh my goodness was it good! 

We walked around the ball park and discovered a mini ball field where kids can play wiffle ball, which I think might be the coolest thing ever to have at a stadium. Back at our seats the game heated up as the Rockies took the lead 1-0 on a home run from Wilin Rosario. The giants tied it up in the 6th when outfielder Gregor Blanco came to the plate and hit a bomb that looked like I'd have a chance to catch. Not thinking about how bad it would hurt, I got my hands ready. Sadly, the ball carried three rows over my head. Watching that home run and preparing to try to catch it was one of the most thrilling moments I've ever had at a baseball game. You can see me on the replay wearing a grey hoodie with yellow and blue stripes on the elbows! In the 8th Posey and Pill both drove in runs to give the giants the 3-1 lead. Giants closer Santiago Casilla got the save, but it wasn't pretty. He gave up one run and loaded the bases before recording the final out. When the game was over the huge crowd of over 41 thousand people, went nuts. In our section mist was sprayed on us. 

At the end of the day AT&T Park was an amazing place to see a game. Sitting in the outfield I got to hear the Giants’ fans heckle the opposing team’s outfielder with the chant “What’s wrong with (outfielders name)? He’s! A!! Bum!!!”

AT&T Park: Great food, great fans, great views and a great place to watch baseball.