Fields of Dreams

Today is my 41st birthday. No this is certainly not my finest prime number and yes, I am feeling older each year. And landing smack dab in the middle of a 100 year world pandemic, well this birthday party threw quite a curve ball.

No doubt about it, this one may carry on as the most memorable birthdays of my life (side from the greatness that was 6/17/94).

AKA All Sports Camp, Target Field, June 2019

Today, if it wasn't for this God forsaken pandemic, I would have gotten to see my childhood team, Milwaukee Brewers, at Target Field take on my adulthood home and second favorite, your Minnesota Twins. 

I legit reserved 450 tickets for AKA and friends for today's game. And that would have probably grown to 500 tickets with all the excitement that was building since the schedule came out last Fall.

Turns out this all could have been a blessing in disguise as sitting for a 9 inning game in 94 degree heat with that 500 people. Count your blessings people.

Now a little backstory before I get to what I'm really feelin' here.

33 years ago, June 17, 1987, was the day that I first saw a major league baseball game. I just turned 8 and Dad and my sweet Grandma Schulz drove me from Neenah (WI) down Highway 41 to Milwaukee to see my favorite Brewers take on their American League rival Minnesota Twins.

I remember that day still so clearly. That drive, with my glove on my right hand and my nose virtually plastered to the backseat car window, we passed at least a couple dozen baseball fields from high school fields to municipal softball diamonds with bleachers for no more than 50 people. And I remember asking Dad, to the tone of "Are we there yet, Are we there yet", I asked to each ball field, "Is the Brewer's Stadium like that? Is it bigger than that one?" One by one, as the 90 minute drive went on and the scent of beer brats and Wisconsin's finest tailgating drew closer I asked, is the Brewer’s Stadium that big?

County Stadium, Milwaukee, WI, 2000

My imagination grew with greater intensity. I had absolutely no idea what I was about to witness. County Stadium*, with a size to seat about 55,000 people, home of Bernie Brewer, Paul Molitor and Robin Yount, about 1 million sausages and Miller High Lifes, was absolutely ginormous! I was speechless. Dad and Grandma probably loved the moment as much as I did. What a new world they have just brought me to! (*County Stadium's time had come and was demolished in 2001 just before Miller Park opened. Funny to think that Miller Park absolutely TOWERED over County Stadium before saying goodbye. So much for ginormous!)

The Brewers won 8-5 on a no cloud in the sky lower level seat game to which I'd be lying if I told you I didn't think about that experience regularly. Mind you this was 33 years ago. The impressions that these experiences leave on a kid have insurmountable memories. Was this my Field of Dreams "If you Build it, they will Come moment"?

2011 - Target Field - AKA Campers building their Dreams

Which brings me to this.

Kids, Youth, Dreamers, near and far across the world, these days especially, need more opportunities to imagine and to dream and to be in awe!

Rid the fear, drop the phone. Build a level of anticipation by staring out your car seat window and dreaming what will this all look like down the road.

AKA (NSC) All Sports Camp, 1st Twins Game, Metrodome, July 20, 2006

Because when you get to that venue you are seeking and dreaming and envisioning with immense excitement and then it all comes to life beyond your wildest imagination... there simply is nothing else better.

We, AKASPORT and the All Sports Camp, have a 12-9 since attending Twins Games at the Metrodome starting in 2006.

AKA on the Target Field Jumbo-tron, 2018

10 years ago today, June 17, 2010, AKA Campers and Staff saw our first game at Target Field (loss to the Rockies on another hot, sunny day!). Prior to that we'd of course gone to the giant inflatable, Metrodome to enjoy Twins Baseball.

We look forward to getting back for some helmet nachos, dip n' dots, Twins Wins and Jumbotron dance parties... and no doubt about it, Baseball Fun, Laughs and Imagination galore. Let's get back to the Fields of Dreams!

p.s. thanks to all my Directors and Staff for seeing the day out, this 17th of June.

All the best, CS