Being stuck in an office all day, sometimes I forget that I am at, what some consider, “America’s best baseball stadium”. There have been hard long days and weeks during these first 3 months before the season, and I have begun to forget what I am part of. For the first couple days of January, I was wide-eyed and excited to be walking into AT&T Park for work, but by mid-January that excitement had worn off. I had grown into a routine of walking in this brick building, could have been an ordinary office for all I knew…
All of a sudden, as spring training was coming to a close, the team that I had been talking to people about for the past three months came back to town. The Giants played the last 3 of their last 4 spring training games right here in San Francisco. It was strange though, I didn’t get too excited. We were playing the A’s on Thursday and Friday and I think I am older than most all of their players, and none of them have the star power that wows you. I stayed for an inning or two of those games, but that excitement wasn’t felt.
Today, on Easter Sunday (Happy Easter, He is risen.), I had to go in to work during part of the last pre-season game. I didn’t even think twice about who we were playing, but then I glanced on the field as the players were warming up. Ichiro and Ken Griffey Jr. jogged in front of me, and then I felt what all kids, boys, and men feel when they see their heros live in person. I have seen a lot of players throughout my years, but I had never seen either of these guys. Pretty special players.
Ichiro, for those who don’t know, is one of the best international baseball players ever, and for sure the best Japanese player ever. He owns the single season record for most hits in Major League Baseball. He is second place behind Pete Rose for most hits in a career. Ken Griffey Jr.’s name speaks for itself, as even Bouldin probably knows who he is. I may have impersonated him more than anyone as I grew up wanting to play center field like Griffey. He is also 5th on the all time home run list, no biggie.
I needed to see these guys today. I needed a boost of excitement as I grind out these days on the phone. I had forgotten that I am part of a Major League Baseball team. Today, I stopped and thought about how blessed I was to be in this situation. I also realized that I still get giddy around these incredible athletes.
Opening Day is tomorrow, in Houston, and it brings a refreshing excitement to this job that was much needed.









