Every time I go to a game, I am still amazed by the crisp, clean, whiteness of the uniforms. The foul lines, too. And I always forget how they throw to each other in between innings, just to stretch out the arm. The 1st Baseman does that hard underhanded toss that takes a few skips and then is fielded with a clean “thwop” by the shortstop and gunned back to from where it came. Even the outfielders play toss and catch. Either the rightfielder or leftfielder needs to borrow someone form the bullpen to throw with. The players run wind sprints up the leftfield line. Bats, balls, batting gloves. Peanut shells are crunching underfoot. Even the umpires are a spectacle. This was back when they still wore the maroon velure jackets. Now it’s sort of a boring grey shirt with a number on it, but I would take it! I love uniforms, and logos. Colors, logos and options. The foul pole is a bright yellow. The road uniforms of the Phillies are red. The Mets sport Blue and Orange. White with Blue pinstripes.
Open the program. Check the scoreboard for the starting lineups. The PA announcer will guide you, but if you get lucky, it is already posted. Put that pencil to work. They give you the little one, but I bring a big one with an eraser. Later, when I would do the cross country trip and see the stadiums, I would visit Jacobs Field. They, in fact, post the actual written lineups on an actual paper on the stadium wall. That is old school.
