Minor League Majesty

I don’t know about where you were over Memorial Day weekend, but in Asheville, North Carolina, it was hot! The local paper said the temp was in the low 90s. You probably couldn’t convince any of the 600 or 700 at McCormick Field for the May 28 Asheville/Kannapolis baseball game that it was anything under triple digits. Thankfully, a breeze came by every now and again from the whiffing bats of the Intimidators (Kannapolis, NC, is the birthplace of Dale “The Intimidator” Earnhardt). Another source of cool under the brutal West Carolina sun came from a kind young lady who brought various treats from the concession stand to your seat. I had this $4 lime-flavored Icee. Imagine Sprite blended with old snow—now take whatever nutrients that concoction may have had and replace them with neon green artificial coloring. Ahhh, baseball heaven.

“There’s a [Carolina] Hurricanes game on tonight,” says a guy a few bleachers back. “You’re right. 7:30,” the man next to him responds. Dang, it must be good being a sports fan in the Carolinas these days. The Canes are up 2-0 in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Panthers camp is about to get going. Clemson, Charleston, UNC and South Carolina all made the Super Regionals in the College Baseball Championship. Top all of that with great performances of late by these Tourists.

Now if you haven’t been to a Minor League Baseball game (Asheville is the Colorado Rockies’ Single-A affiliate), you’re missing a ton. Forget for a minute those delightful slushees. First off, the outing’s relatively inexpensive (front row tix are $10!). Second, there’s loads of between-innings entertainment (still trying to figure out what’s more exciting, the kids bike race around the warning track or the guys unraveling frozen t-shirts). What can possibly top the occasional chance at seeing possible Major League talents (yep, that is Eric Young Jr., the journeyman big leaguer’s son, topping the South Atlantic League in steals) before they’re formally introduced to ESPN or BALCO?

All that considered, the day at the quaint ballpark is a welcome escape from Turner Field. The Ted has loads of in-game fun, don’t get me wrong. But something about it compared to McCormick just feels different—and no, it has nothing to do with the huge Ingles Advantage logo covering the right field wall like the Blue Ridge’s version of the Green Monster. The Minors is simply a freer environment. There’s more time to reflect on the important things in life. “OLN,” begins the same guy from earlier, “Why do they show hockey anyways?” Beats me, bro. Now pass another 7-Up Icee thingie.