007: Minor league baseball

I love minor league baseball. This Mud Hens game was the first Toledo baseball game I've been to in years. The pure novelty and love players have for playing, the local atmosphere, competition to be called up, and raw energy of the sport is amazing. Minor league ball may not have the Friday night lights awe that the MLB does, but it sure is one of most fun and local atmospheres in sports.

Two nights ago I went to a Toledo Mud Hens minor league baseball game. They play in downtown Toledo just next to the Walleye (Toledo hockey) stadium, and it was surprisingly nice since the area has been making leaps and bounds within the past couples years. The spoils of the MLB aren't found here ... just the pure goofy energy of a baseball team with a mud hen as a mascot. People talk to the players after the game, you can find an open seat in most parts of the park, and foul balls fly everywhere. The Mud Hens played the Minneapolis Indians in the second game of a series; the Indians won by a couple runs but no big deal. I'm learning I'm a fan of things that aren't too serious. Sitting in downtown Toledo at a beautiful field was relaxing and a good time. Minor league baseball may not be the whole cake and icing, but it can be the icing to a day filled with cake. If that makes any sense.

"Baseball is too much of a sport to be a business and too much of a business to be a sport." -Former MLB Exec. Phillip Wrigley