Anyone who knows me well realizes that I am a huge sports fan, with baseball holding down the top spot on my list. One of my favorite sports events has always been baseball's All Star Game. The entire sport is put on hold for three days each July so the game's biggest stars can assemble on one field to determine the supremacy of the American League versus the National League. And unlike the all star games of most other sports, the baseball stars seem to actually care about the exhibition, resulting in a well played game highlighted by superstar performances. With that history in mind, needless to say I was excited to get the chance to watch an All Star Game in person.

On Tuesday, our last day in California, Sindy and I retraced our steps to AT&T Park. As we neared the stadium, we noticed a crowd gathering around the main entrance to the park. We soon learned that everyone was clamoring for a spot along the parade route for the Red Carpet Parade, in which the all stars and their families rode in the backs of pickup trucks to the stadium, allowing fans to get an up close view of their favorite players.

We staked out a spot not far from where the players would walk from their respective trucks to the player entrance. While we waited for the parade to arrive, we were entertained by several Fox Sports personalities who were recording the pre-game show that would go on the air later in the day.

Soon, the players began arriving. We had a pretty good view from our vantage point, but a combination of my camera's lack of a zoom lens and the presence of a huge TV camera boom immediately in front of me prevented me from taking any decent pictures. Nonetheless, it was a thrill to see all of baseball's stars so close, and it was arguably just as thrilling to see some of their wives close up! It was enough to make me wish I had worked a little harder at baseball!

Once the parade had ended, Sindy and I entered the park and, as we had the day before, got as close as we could to the field beyond the first base dugout to watch the players warm up and take batting practice. As it turned out, we were in prime foul ball territory. We kept a close eye on the batters, hoping to catch a souvenir ball (and hoping to avoid a souvenir bruise). Several fans near us were able to catch a ball, but no such luck for me.

After warm-ups we headed out to the concourse to find our seats. Well, not seats exactly. We had standing room only tickets, which would allow us to stand on the walkway separating right field from McCovey Cove. We secured a spot in foul territory near the right field line. While standing for the next four hours would not be entirely pleasant, we had a nice view of the field. Oh yeah, and it was the ALL STAR GAME, so I wasn't about to complain.

Shortly after we found our perch for the evening, the pre-game ceremonies began. After the singing of the Canadian and U.S. national anthems, four jets in formation flew over the stadium from beyond center field, flying so low I could practically feel the breeze. The sound generated by the thundering jet engines was enough to take my breath away.

Next, the Giants paid tribute to Willie Mays, one of baseball's all-time greatest players. A video of his career highlights was played on the Jumbotron. Following the video, a gate opened in the wall in center field, which was Mays' territory during his playing days. Willie himself emerged through the gate in a red convertible, eliciting a roar from the crowd. His car circled the field while Willie threw souvenir balls to lucky fans in the crowd. Eventually, Willie's ride disappeared again beyond the outfield fence and the players took the field to begin the game.

As had been the case six days earlier in Yankee Stadium, I found myself in the minority in terms of my rooting interests. The majority of fans in attendance were pulling for the National League, as their favorite Giants, most notably Barry Bonds, were playing for that league. I, on the other hand, was pulling for the American League, which featured Twins' players Johan Santana, Justin Morneau and Torii Hunter. Fortunately, no one gets overly excited about the winner of the All Star Game, so any differences in loyalties were all in fun.

That said, there was one moment when my Twins fandom got the best of me after Johan Santana took the mound to pitch the bottom of the seventh inning. As you may recall, I had worn a Santana jersey when I had watched him pitch at Yankee Stadium the previous week. I had broken out the Santana jersey again for the All Star Game, so I was excited when he finally made an appearance. He struck out the first man he faced, then followed with two strikes to the next opponent. When the batter took a called strike three, I instinctively jeered him with a "Yeah! Sit down!" delivered at the top of my lungs.

By the time I finished my taunt, I realized that, while such an outburst was perfectly normal at a regular season game (at least in my mind) it was probably not appropriate for an All Star exhibition, a feeling that was shared by the many spectators in my area who turned around and looked at me with an expression of surprised bemusement.

The rest of the game was exciting, with the American League holding a 5-2 lead entering the bottom of the ninth, when the National League rallied to make things interesting. Fortunately, the AL held on for a 5-4 win, securing home field advantage for the World Series, a benefit that seemed a lot more relevant at the time, before the Twins eliminated themselves from contention with an awful second half of the season.

After the final out, we stayed around the stadium for a while, soaking it all in one last time. Reluctantly, we left the beautiful ballpark on the Bay and made our way back to the car, leaving San Francisco for good.

The following morning we packed our bags, which were now filled with numerous souvenirs, in addition to the clothes we had packed for the trip. We headed to the San Jose airport, where we boarded a flight back to Minneapolis. When we touched down, I helped Sindy find the gate for her flight back to New York and we said our goodbyes.

After I had picked up my luggage at the baggage claim, Lori and Caity picked me up at the airport. I spent the ride to Maple Grove recounting the highlights and lowlights of the trip. Before I knew it, I was home, and this weeklong odyssey that had been months in the making was suddenly a memory.

The End

Dear Miss Hetty,

Jim Smith
Brooklyn Park, MN

I just can't quit staring at that lovely home and the couple on the steps are a success beyond words. I admire them both so much. They are at a goal they should be so proud of -- and isn't Patty a pretty lady and Don so handsome in their new "figures"! Surely worthy of the honor of the first picture, setting the tone for The Bulletin this week. I was glad for all the pictures included so we could get a view of the inside the home and of both the cabin dwellers.