Contributed by Marilyn Bennett
I went to the Mat-Su Minors Game for the first time on July 1st. To my surprise a member of Congress, Don Young stopped by to throw out the first pitch. Coming into the Miners Game as the National Anthem was being sung, I noted all the men removing their caps and everyone putting their hands over their hearts to honor our flag. That brought me back to my childhood when there was no controversy in honoring our country.
Despite being a person who has never been particularly interested in sports, I do have a long history of engagement and enjoyment in the sport of baseball. Baseball is a uniquely American cultural phenomenon that has had a huge impact on our nation. Baseball is considered our national pastime; an honor no other sport can claim.
I grew up with three brothers in St Paul, Minnesota and my Dad was a great St Paul Saints fan. Our family did not miss many home games.
Then in 1953, Little League came to Minnesota and my father helped found the first Little League team in the East Side of St Paul. My Dad was a tough couch for my younger brothers who were 8 and 10 at the time... My youngest brother Stevie was small and quick and wanted to be a pitcher, but Dad wisely made him a catcher, which was a great spot for a fast little guy. Billy on the other hand was shooting up to be a big lumbering kid, he was the best hitter but had to be put out in left field as he tended to trip over his big feet. Those were the most fun games I have ever attended.
Fast forward to 1961, I was in college in Minnesota and the Washington Senators moved to Minnesota to become the Minnesota Twins. Everyone was a fan and they were a great winning team. It was an exciting time for the Twins and for me as I graduated and moved to California with my husband. I got a job in Long Beach, California at the Chicken of the Sea corporate offices. The company had box seats at Dodger Stadium, which was where the Twins played the Angels. Since none of the company executives were interested in watching the Angels get beat by the Twins, my husband and I got the last-minute tickets. We would go to the game with our Minnesota friends to cheer the Twins on in those fancy box seats. The Twins were one of the top teams in the American League in those days and in fact, won the American League Pennant in 1965.
Through the years, I have enjoyed many ball games. When we lived in Mankato, Minnesota, we often went to see the Moondog team. That team was just like the Miners and the Chinooks.
They were college athletes playing in a summer league. One of these guys might move up to the big league someday.
If you haven't been to a Miners game yet, you should make a point of getting a game in before summer is over. It’s fun to see these young athletes from all over the country playing in our beautiful field. Also, you get to eat junk food while singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” with an enthusiastic, if not melodic group of Alaskans.
Home games: July 18, 19, 20, 22 ,23,26, 28 and 30th.
