Opening Day at the Ballpark

As most of you regular readers of this column know, I am a huge sports fan.

I mean huge. I love Georgia Bulldogs football in the fall-along with other football, and hate to see it go.

But spring sports, Braves baseball, high school sports, soccer, tennis, the Winter X Games, golf, basketball (especially tournament play)….all of it. I am an all around sports fanatic and ESPN is commonly on at my house.

Aside from all of that I got to attend my sixth opening day at Turner Field Monday night to watch the Braves take (and WIN) over the Phillies right there at the Ted.

I awoke early Monday morning to the rain and was instantly thinking and praying (a bit selfishly, I might add) for the weather to clear up before the game, as tailgating and pre-game entertainment was much better in clear weather. As I worked through the first half of Monday, that it did. The sun came out, the temperatures were close to if not in the 70s and I was one happy, happy lady as my friend and I drove to Turner Field.

I could barely keep my seat as we approached the stadium, along with thousands of other fans.

We went early, arriving before 5 p.m. as the game was slated to begin at 7:10 p.m. and there was no parking to be found. Anywhere.

We did after an hour find parking in someone’s driveway for the bargain price of $20. My friend asked why there were no decks close to the stadiums in Atlanta, to which I told him there was too much culture and history in the A so therefore the property was kept up for a scenic view and a positive image of Atlanta.

To this he looked at me and chuckled a little as we were standing in what would appear to be the more rundown area near the stadium, and all I could do was smile.

In case you didn’t know, or you couldn’t tell by now, this is a tradition in my family—attending Braves games.

It all started with my Papa, Bill Hughes, as he took us to games for as long as I can remember.

He bought us Braves gear to wear and he usually wore a red polo style shirt with his old Braves cap to every game.

I have vague memories from when I was younger, except that we went, because the highlight of my day back then came after the game. Papa would insist on taking anyone who was with us to Manuel’s Tavern on North Ave.

Now this does not sound like a place for children, I know, but it was. The adults could eat, drink and be merry while us kids got to play games in the hall…

Yes, games. Old games such as pinball, and duck hunter, and they always had a game where you could get a gumball of sorts.

Now that I am older, I still go there, just not so much for the games, as for the eating, drinking, and being merry. And in case you don’t get out much Manuel’s is a landmark in Atlanta. It was started by Manuel Maloof (who my Pap knew) in the mid 1950s and is still to this day a “neighborhood watering hole.”

Moving on.

Another Braves memory I have was that my mom (who is the best mom) took me and allowed me to have my Birthday at the Ballpark. This is a bit of a joke in my family, as no one really recalls what year that was, but I think that I was about 9.

The day started with two vans carpooling to the stadium and we parked to eat, as the parents were to feed all of the kids before we went in. It happened to be raining the entire time, and Roxie Cargile’s hatch to her van was open while the parents fixed sandwiches or whatever we ate, and there was so much rain on her hatch that it wouldn’t stay up on its own, and that was a big deal because it’s what I remember.

Whatever age I was—it was the year trolls (they were those plastic elf looking toy doll with the neon hair standing straight up) were insanely popular as I got about 30 as gifts. Adam Harvey told me when I was opening presents that “if you open another troll, I might throw-up” and out popped another one with pink hair.

I remember meeting Homer the Brave and the Indian, and we got to celebrate under the big tent. I found a certificate from that birthday going through a box of my old “memories,” and it is not dated either. Very official; just not sure what year it was.

Another Braves memory is that of Papa always having to get a program at the first game of the season. He bought a scorecard at each game after that and kept his own “book” during the game.

I can still remember him say “there goes the no hitter,” after the first hit of the game. I’m not sure he was ever talking to himself or anyone else but he said it every time nonetheless.

Our family Braves tradition seems a bit crazy to most people. I’ve heard things like “you’re going up there by yourself?” But I can assure you that it is a great time, there is a lot of family togetherness in the car on the drive up and we enjoy ourselves and the entertainment of the game play.

I continued our tradition with a friend and no family Monday night. It was beautiful. The Braves won 7-5, and Freddie Freeman, Dan Uggla and Justin Upton all hit home runs for the Braves. Chipper Jones threw out the first pitch. There was a pre-game concert, Miss America, Bobby Cox, and over 54,000 people in attendance for the opener. And what an opener it was.

I am excited to say that I enjoyed opening day in my flip-flops and look forward to another season of Braves baseball and time with my family.

I highly recommend this outing with your family as it’s reasonably priced, kid friendly, and not exactly “in” Atlanta, but on the outskirts, with an easy, just over an hour drive on I-20.

I recommend making memories like these with your family…as those are what last a lifetime.