February 2012

Crossed off a bucket list item when I went to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York with my dad.  To say it was awesome is a huge understatement.  It is baseball heaven.  Even though it was so cold, I'm so glad we went in January during the off season.  We basically had the place to ourselves.  Every time I go to a museum I'm really enjoying I always wish I could be there without the crowds.  It was so nice to take our time and really only see a few other people the whole day.

There's a so much to see.  I think we spent about three or four hours there and could have easily spent all day.  We were beat by the time we were done.  Some of the highlights for me were seeing the following:

-the baseball from the first series of games at which admission was charged, September 10, 1858.
-the baseball hit by Ruth for his final career home run on May 25, 1935.
-the bat used for Ruth's legendary "called shot" home run during Game Three of the 1932 World Series against the Cubbies.
-Lou Gehrig's locker with his Yankees jersey hanging up and baseball hat.
-Hank Aaron's locker.
-Mariano River's spot among record holders for most saves of all time.
-the Yankee's 27th World Series trophy.
-every World Series pin and ring
-Curt Shilling's bloody sock
-signed ball used by the Yankee's Don Larsen on October 8, 1956.  The only perfect game thrown ever in a World Series.

And a couple quotes I loved:

"The fellows not only beat you, they tear your hearts out."
-Washington Senators first baseman Joe Judge, on the 1927 Yankees

"Major league baseball has done as much as any one thing in this country to keep up the spirit of the people."
-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

It was like a spiritual experience.  It was so quiet and I just felt like the spirits of so many legends could be felt there.  Cheesy?  Maybe, but it truly was an unforgettable experience, and I'm so thankful I could go with my dad.  There were so many things I would have missed had I not had someone with so much baseball knowledge with me.  The night before we watched one of the dvds from the Ken Burns baseball documentary I gave him.  I was so happy we watched it, as I learned so much about the baseball greats in the 70s and 80s.

After we finished up we walked around Main Street.  There are so many souvenir shops with tons of memorabilia.  The people running the shops aren't too busy this time of year and they all chatted with us.  It was interesting to talk to them and hear about what the town is like at different points in the year.  My dad was in the middle of collecting an autographed baseball for the best player in each position.  One of the shop owners told us there's only about half a dozen autographed Shoeless Joe baseballs, as he was illiterate and didn't know how to sign his name until later in life.

I think when we went to Cooperstown my dad only had three of the baseballs he was collecting.  I'm pretty sure he bought three or four more and I don't think I've ever seen him so excited.  He was like a little boy.  While we were having lunch he kept pulling the baseballs out just so he could look at them.  I was so happy to be able to be with him when he picked these out, particularly Hank Aaron.  It was nice to see my dad spoil himself for once.

The following weekend I flew to Dallas to surprise my friend Becky.  Her husband Sean, also my good friend, had asked me almost a year prior if I could come down for a Yankees vs Rangers game.  It was unfortunately the same weekend as a wedding I was attending in Utah, and I couldn't find affordable flights any other weekend.  In February I found a screaming deal, so I jumped at the chance.  Becky was definitely confused by all the scheming from Sean, but I think we pulled off a great surprise.

It was only a quick trip, about 36 hours, but definitely a blast.  I got in late Friday night and was thrilled when I remembered In-N-Out is now in Texas.  Saturday morning I was able to spend a few hours with my cousins and aunt having brunch.  I was so happy to be able to see them all.

Saturday night a group of us got together for dinner at BJ's.  So many of my college friends live in Dallas now, which is so fun.  Tommy and Megan and Will and Jess didn't come out as it was tough to find babysitters, but it was so nice to be able to see my beloved Mikey Perkey, Katie, Toni, and meet her fiance.  We had a total blast.  Tommy and Megan had Sean, Becky, and I stop by after.  It was so great to see Tommy.  On one hand, he hasn't changed one bit from college.  He's still the crazy fun loving Tommy.  On the other, he's totally grown up with a wife, two kids, and a home.  He is the sweetest guy and I'm so happy I got to see him and meet his wife.

Sunday early afternoon it was time to fly back to New York.  Sad.  I had the best time in Dallas.  Seeing Becky and Sean's home they were building, and Tommy's home made me think how awesome it would be to settle down there.  I love Texas.  I love how many of my friends are there and family too.  It would be a fun place to raise a family.

I was so excited to find this hat from an online seller.  It has the very first Yankee logo on it.  I found it in a shop in Cooperstown but they didn't have my size, and no other shops had it.