2006 - The Texas Tea Tour

June 16 thru 18, 2006

6/16/06 – Hooks vs Roughriders – 5-4 – Box Score
6/17/06 – Diamondbacks vs Rangers – 4-8 – Box Score
6/18/06 – Hooks vs Roughriders – 7-4 – Box Score

Everything’s Big in Texas—Even the Distances

Everything’s big in Texas, ain’t it? Turns out, that includes the distance to the next Major League ballpark. The closest one outside the state? Atlanta—about 800 miles east. With that kind of gap, we had to rethink the usual formula. Rather than limit ourselves to just the two MLB parks in Houston and Dallas, we decided to mix things up and dip our toes into the minor leagues.

Enter: Dr Pepper Ballpark, home of the Frisco RoughRiders. Built in 2003, the place was still relatively new at the time and already racking up awards for its clever design, fan-friendly vibe, and a whole mess of amenities you wouldn’t expect at a minor league game. Even better? A high school buddy of mine lived nearby in McKinney and graciously offered up accommodations (and by "accommodations" I mean a yard big enough to hold a community of tents)—a real blessing for those of us trying to stretch a dollar without sleeping in the van.

To top it off, we had one of our biggest crews ever—nearly 20 folks came along for the ride. Apparently, a little minor league ball, some hometown hospitality, and a lot of Texas charm go a long way.

As a bonus, the visiting Corpus Christi Hooks gave us an early look at two future MLB staples: Ben Zobrist and Hunter Pence. Both went on to enjoy impressive 13-year careers. Not bad for a couple of guys we saw hustling on a muggy Texas evening.

I’ll admit it: for a while, I was a bit of a baseball snob. If it wasn’t Major League, I wasn’t interested. But somewhere along the way, I started to see the charm—and sanity—of baseball off the big stage. MLB has morphed into a glitzy, bloated spectacle of TV contracts, $15 beers, $50 parking, and absurd salaries. The soul of the game—once for all the people—now feels reserved for those who can afford luxury boxes and artisan nachos.

Meanwhile, in the minors? It’s still baseball. Real baseball. Players chasing dreams, owners hustling to please actual fans, and games played for the joy of the sport, not the size of the endorsement deal. Baseball, at its best, is graceful. It doesn’t crash or clamor for your attention. It breathes. It waits. It lets you feel something between pitches. And I love it for that.

Anyway... [stepping off soapbox now]

Here are da links!

• Photos Album - features some of the pictures for your viewing pleasure.

• Secretary's Report - this year's Secretary's Report is actually a collection.

  • Deep in the Heart of Texas (full version)

  • BO '06 Recap (condensed version)

  • Top 10 Moments of BO '06