The past few days have been a whirlwind of excitement and just about every other emotion of happiness. For years I’ve watched Opening Series events on TV from around the globe, always watching in jealousy, vowing to one day go. That one day finally arrived.
Last season, Major League Baseball announced that the 2014 season would open in Sydney, Australia at the historic Sydney Cricket Grounds with two games between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. It could have been the Royals and the Rays, I still would have come. Sydney has always been a dream, and with the announcement, the dream became reality.
After months of saving and planning, and more planning, I’m finally here. It was worth every single penny, and every moment of stress. Saturday night made everything priceless. It really was a MasterCard commercial in real life. The Diamondbacks held a special fan event before the game with a bunch of the fans that came out from the states, and members of the Diamondbacks, including the media guys, and team ownership. From there, we walked over to the Sydney Cricket Grounds for the game. The SCG is absolutely beautiful and they did an amazing job turning it into a baseball field. The foul territory was massive- like makes the Coliseum’s foul territory looks small, massive.
We made our way to our seats, the top deck, directly behind home plate and watched as the Diamondbacks finished taking batting practice. Baseball was back. As I was warned before, the weather in Sydney can change on a dime. After a beautiful, sunny, cloud free day, the clouds rolled in an hour before game time. Rain delay. Start time was delayed an hour, but I didn’t care, as long as it started. There is something peaceful about hearing the national anthem at a baseball game, in my opinion at least. And since we are down under, the Australian national anthem was also preformed, which is quite beautiful.
Tarps on the field is never a good sign. The storm did create a beautiful sunset
First pitch. Strike. And just like that, the season had started. Being on the West Coast, by the time our Opening Day rolls around, all the other firsts of the season has happened. First walk, first strike out, first double play, first home run. This time, I actually got to experience those. All of those. It was amazing and very exciting. Yes, I realize that sounds weird, and I do not care because I am in Sydney watching baseball.
The Diamondbacks lost game one 3-1, it was close, but Clayton Kershaw is one of the best for a reason. I was bummed to see the DBacks lose, but you can’t win them all. Of course, I’m also an A’s fan and we can’t seem to win opening day, so I’m used to not getting a win. The only downside to the rain delay was that it was a quick turn around for the next day, so I was a little sleepy for game two.
Game two was on Sunday, or Saturday night back in the states. Got to love that 18 hour time difference. It was another beautiful day in Sydney, perfect for baseball. My mom and I walked around the SCG a little bit before the game to check it all out. The older section, the members only pavilion is absolutely stunning. The view from the third base side offered an incredible view.
Baseball at the Sydney Cricket Grounds
We grabbed some food, and no, we did not get one of those two foot long hot dogs. We got burgers and fries, or chips as they call them. My mom asked if they came with fries, to which the girl said “Yes, they come with chips” and my mom said “Chips? No, we want fries.” My mom was unaware that chips and fries were the same thing. I was cracking up. We made our way up to our seats with a beautiful view of the sun shining down on the field. They did a tribute to all of the Aussie born Major League Baseball players throughout the years, along with having them on the field for the ceremonial first pitch. It was great to see former Athletics players Grant Balfour and Travis Blackley in the tribute. The 9th inning just won’t be the same this year.
History of Baseball in Australia
Balfour makes the All-Star team in 2013!!
Grant Balfour
As the game quickly started to turn into a blow out, we made our way down to pick up a few more souvenirs. We watched the game from the back of the seats on the first base side for a while before moving to the third base side and grabbing some seats from a couple leaving. The dbacks did their best to come back against the Dodgers bullpen, putting up 5 runs in the 8th and 9th innings, but fell a little short.
And just like that, it was over. I do not want to go back to the states and I can’t wait to see where the next Opening Series will be. Thank you Diamondbacks, Dodgers and Major League Baseball for an amazing weekend I will never forget.
My mom and me
First vacation with my mom, and it was a blast!
Mommy and me time
Me and Bob Brenly. He remembered me from when I got to meet him last season.
My mom and Ken Kendrick with his 2001 World Series ring
Me with Ken Kendrick (Managing General Partner of the Diamondbacks). He was nice enough to put his 2001 World Series on my finger for the picture.
My mom, Derrick Hall (President of the Diamondbacks), and me at the DBacks fan event before Game One
Out of Left Field 