TO DESCRIBE MY evolution as a baseball fan I must paraphrase a line from my favorite Woody Allen movie, Annie Hall: Intellectuals prove you can be absolutely brilliant yet have absolutely no idea what’s going on.
As a New York City-area guy growing up in the late 1960s, I thought I possessed a master’s degree in baseball—and it was all about the Yankees and the major leagues. The minor leagues were for small-town folk, existing only to feed the big league beast and provide fodder for cute stories. I’m astonished at how ignorant those beliefs were and are. Minor league baseball is the heartbeat of our national pastime. To be a fan of baseball’s history and never take the time to learn about the lower league gems is like striving to be a mechanic by simply polishing the chrome on luxury vehicles. You leave out the core, the guts, and what makes that high-end baby hum.
I’d never even heard of the Alaska Baseball League until some of my magazine colleagues enlightened me. Founded in 1974, the ABL is a six-team summer league featuring top college players from the United States. The league plays a short season from early June through the end of July, and spectators enjoy magnificent settings to watch games, from Anchorage to Kenai to Palmer. The most expensive ticket is seven bucks. That would get you one beer at Yankee Stadium! |
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I mentioned when the ABL was founded, but its roots go back more than a century. The first Midnight Sun Baseball Classic was played in 1906 to settle a bet between the California Bar “Drinks” and the Eagles Club “Smokes.” The Classic still played on summer solstice night, starting at 10:30 p.m., and the use of artificial lighting is banned.The game draws fans and journalists from all over the country.
The Alaska Goldpanners, founded in 1960 in Fairbanks, are the league’s elder statesmen franchise. Their alumni list of guys who’ve made the big show includes Hall of Famers Tom Seaver and Dave Winfield plus current All Stars Jason Giambi of the Yankees and Michael Young of Texas. To plan a visit and drink in some of this amazing baseball, start with a visit to www.alaskabaseballleague.org.
Riding the Rails
The history of our national pastime, until just after World War II, included the greats of the game riding the rails to their next destination. If you live along the West Coast between Eugene and Vancouver, B.C., and want to experience Seattle Mariner baseball, consider taking the train to the game. The hassle of airports, gas prices, and |
wear and tear on your rig is pretty much eliminated, and the Amtrak stop is within walking distance of Safeco Field. Many travel agents, tour groups, and ticket brokers offer good value deals on game and train tickets.
The Amtrak Cascades is a relatively new service that began in early 1999. This train is packed with comfort, convenience, and amenities. In each seat you can power up your laptop computer or any electronic gizmo to make your travel time fly. If you bring the kids, the train has TV monitors showing family movies. Hungry travelers can choose from a dynamite selection of foods from the Pacific Northwest, available in the Bistro.
Then we have the Lounge Car, which is very cool. You can enjoy the passing scenery, eat, drink, read, or get into a
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card game at one of 10 tables. Amtrak is also proud to provide services to passengers with disabilities and special needs.
Minor League Magic
Of course, jumping on a train
doesn’t mean you’re limited to the Major Leaguers in Seattle. On stops all along the route, you can catch ballgames in some nice venues at various levels of the minors. The short-season Northwest League has franchises at several Cascade
stops. The Eugene Emeralds, Salem/Keizer Volcanoes, Everett Aquasox, and Vancouver, B.C., Canadians all play from June 19th through right around Labor Day. This brand of ball is filled with fresh-faced hopefuls who are mostly getting their first taste of getting paid to play. (www.northwestleague.com)
Just a cut below the big leagues is Triple-A, and in both Portland and Tacoma you can take in Pacific Coast League action. The Portland Beavers are the affiliate of the San Diego Padres and play in fan-friendly PGE Park. The Left Field Lounge is lots of fun with wait service for those who like to combine baseball watching and socializing. (www.portlandbeavers.com or www.pgepark.com)
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The Tacoma Rainiers are a Mariner farm club. Cheney Stadium is easily accessible from the train station and a short fly ball from I-5.
In the Pioneer League, you’ll find the Idaho Falls Chukars, plus a trio of Montana based franchises: the Missoula Osprey, Helena Brewers, and Great Falls White Sox. (www.pioneerleague.com)
As yet unmentioned from the Northwest League is the remaining trio, based in Spokane, Yakima and Pasco, Washington, plus the Boise Hawks in Idaho. Our national pastime comes in all shapes and sizes, and for those fortunate enough to be trekking around this amazing part of America this summer, get out and take a great big bite. |
