Favorite things about (or memories of) minor league games

[Martyinnewyork]

Thought I’d start this for people like Mad who closely follow the affiliated teams. I’ll post as time allows. I’ll start by saying I enjoy seeing all the different ballparks, but there’s a ton more that I love about the minor league…

 

[NorthCoastBias]

I was a food service/concessions intern with the (formerly) Akron Aeros the summer between my freshman and sophomore years of college (2010). The hours were brutal and it was a lot of hard work but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Those weekend summer nights with a packed Canal Park were incredibly fun and made the whole experience worth it.

 

[B Mac]

As a 7 or 8 year old I distinctly remember watching Manny hit a ball further then I thought possible at Thurmon Munson Stadium as part of the Canton-Akron Indians.

 

[Alabuckeye]

Watching Manny play at Canton(before they moved to Akron)......he'd run till they tagged him out.

 

[Obscured By Clouds]

Jaret Wright acting like a king at Juliann's(spelling) that was a few blocks from Canal Park. My buddies girlfriend during college worked there, and he would act like everyone had to worship him, constantly 'do you know who I am?' to the wait staff.

 

[Criznit]

Completely unrelated to games/players but watching my friend stumble and fall flat on his face during a mid-inning "appliance race" and finish dead last to an older man and a 10 year old looking girl was one of the funniest things I ever saw. Next time pick the dryer..

 

[Peachtree]

Getting hammered drunk on quarter beer night at Captains games during summer vacations in college. They made you stay in a picnic area and stopped serving before first pitch, but I was a degenerate and would buy a couple of souvenir cups and fill them with beer. Then we would hit the classy establishments on Vine Street and pray we didn't get Hep C.

 

[TomD]

Jaret Wright acting like a king at Juliann's(spelling) that was a few blocks from Canal Park. My buddies girlfriend during college worked there, and he would act like everyone had to worship him, constantly 'do you know who I am?' to the wait staff.

I've heard Bruce Drennen say that as well. Said he was a real jerk.

 

[DJJOE]

Walking through Erie Cemetery on the way to and from Ainsworth Field to see the Class D Sailors. In 1957 Detroit loaded them up with Jake Wood and Dick McAuliffe. Gary Geiger and Richie Allen were impressive visitors. We made life hell for 'Joe the ball shagger'.

 

[Martyinnewyork]

I remember going to games in Batavia (20 minutes from my home) when they were in the PONY league when I was a kid, back in the ‘60’s. If a ball went into the stands, they asked you to give the ball back and they kept using it.

 

[xmasbuck]

going to clippers games as a kid we would get there early and hang out near the dugout and politely ask for autographs - one day we were down there trying autographs from bob tewksbury and henry cotto - a couple more kids came up next to us and said "hey tewks, can I have your mitt, hank man, can you get me a bat?' - we looked at each other and said, you can do that?
-
a few years back i took two of my kids down for dime a dog night - we got seated and my daughter asked about the hot dogs, so i told my son get one for me and asked how many do you guys want - son 2, daughter 1 - total 4 - gave my son a 20 - "dad, dont you just have 40 cents?" - - btw, they were awful

 

[Obscured By Clouds]

I've heard Bruce Drennen say that as well. Said he was a real jerk.

The funny thing was, everyone that worked there, or knew people that worked there and had the backstory, would just laugh at him.

 

[MattyFos.]

As a 7 or 8 year old I distinctly remember watching Manny hit a ball further then I thought possible at Thurmon Munson Stadium as part of the Canton-Akron Indians.

Watched him there as well

 

[Martyinnewyork]

Minor league games help me deal with 9-game losing streaks…

 

[MadThinker88]

Minor league games help me deal with 9-game losing streaks…

Assuming the minor league teams are playing decently..