THE FRICKES: Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Each baseball season since Grant was a toddling one -year -old we have been fortunate enough to be able to get him to a Cardinals game. Some of those years he has been able to go to a game multiple times and each time I'd say we have had decent seats. But none like these. Grant always gets really pumped up and excited each time he visits Busch Stadium. He gets out all of his gear (ball glove, baseball hat, foam finger and all things RED) and he watches each and every play of the game intently. He gets enthusiastic when the Cards get a base hit, he gets frantic when they are down on the scoreboard and he always goes CRAZY when he sees the sparks of the fireworks after a Cardinal homerun. But this past game we went to was no comparison to any other thus far. We decided several months ago that instead of giving Grant toys and books for his birthday (because Lord knows we have far too many of both) we would get him some sweet tickets to the Cards game. And oh boy- were they some sweet ones indeed! We were three rows up from the Cardinals dugout, directly across from first base and right where all of the player action happens. I am not sure who was more excited Grant or Jason and myself. We got there early in hopes that we might be able to see the Cardinals have batting practice and MAYBE catch a player or two who would be willing to give out autographs. Batting practice and field prep was actually quite entertaining to watch. You don't realize how much work goes into each game until you see it all play out. Grant enjoyed it but he got impatient about getting someone to sign his ball. He waited along the sideline of the Cardinals dugout for the players to come in from practice for over an hour. It started to lightly sprinkle and the players ran in from the field and directly into the locker rooms without so much as giving a glace in our direction. I felt disappointed for Grant that he wasn't able to get the autograph that he was after but I could tell from our seat location that the rest of the game he would not be disappointed about. We could see every move the players made and the view of the play on the field was equally impressive. Grant said very few words the entire game. He just kept grinning a HUGE grin. I thought for sure he would complain of his face hurting from all of the smiling he did. The game got underway and all three of us Frickes were excited that Adam Wainwright was pitching this game. He's a favorite of ours! Love that guys class and character. He's most definitely my favorite player. Matheny is my ultimate favorite but I was thrilled to see Wainwright pitch! We told Grant that he may have a chance at getting a game ball given to him by one of the players if he stood up there by the dugout between innings and held up his glove. He got up every time and patiently waited for a player to see him and see that he was holding his glove up in hopes of getting a ball...and every inning he was either over looked or the isle staff would come and request that he go sit in his seat. It was hard to watch...seeing him so hopeful and nervous about trying to get a ball and always coming back empty handed. He never complained and he kept trying....I tried to put things into perspective for him and explain to him that the odds of getting a ball given to him (one out of thousands) were pretty slim. Didn't want him to get his hopes up too high but I still encouraged him to keep on trying. And he did....bless his little heart. Soon he had the people in the rows and seats around us rooting and cheering him on. Then the time came for the end of the 8th inning. The Cardinals had just turned a double play to end the inning and Matt Adams had the game ball in his hand and he looked up at the stands in a search of a deserving fan...Jason was pointing his fingers downward toward little Grant that stood by him and I was yelling, "Adams, Adams, this little guy right here!" Matt Adams made eye contact -gave a little nod of his head, gave a little point of his finger at Grant and chucked the ball at Jason. Jason soon passed it off to Grant who I thought could pass out with excitement. He was shocked and stunned. The people around us clapped and cheered. Some saying, "he deserved it...good for him!" Some of the people around us asked Grant to hold it...he was hesitant at first and I could tell he was nervous about turning over his new favorite possession to strangers but he did it. I saw relief on his face each time they returned it back to him. He was so happy...and I was so excited for him. Matt Adams was one of the players we saw in Hannibal a few months ago with the Cardinals Caravan. Grant got his picture taken with him then and he signed Grant's helmet and pennant....I'm thinking that Grant may have a new favorite player. The Cardinals pulled off a 7-0 win over the Pirates....Grant was pumped that he got to see Peralta hit two homeruns. He was stoked that they won but he was quickly focused on when and where he could run the bases. Jason and Grant left me with our bags (we had so much stuff with us) while they went to see where line up would be for kids who wanted to run the bases. They had to wait 45 minutes in line but they finally got up to first base and Grant took off like a streak of lighting. He was smiling the entire time and passing slower kids up left and right. He was in all of his glory. I only wish I would have been the one to go out to the field with him so I could have captured better pictures. Don't know what I was thinking. After he finished running the bases he asked to go to the gift shop. We can never go to a game without stopping in the gift shop. After hunting for the perfect souvenir for a while he walked away with a Cardinals golf ball and notebook and pen for himself and a red Cardinals rubber ducky for Lane. We then took a look around the new Ballpark Village -which was incredibly HUGE!!! And definitely a fun environment! When we got in the car...he said, "this was the best day ever!" He then fell asleep clutching his game ball tight in his little hands. It was the most perfect Sunday baseball game for us all. It will most certainly be one we will always remember but will also be hard to beat! Now that I am done blogging about our experience, I have to figure out how to send fan mail to Matt Adam. Because on the way home Grant said, "Mom, I need to send Matt Adams a thank you note to tell him thanks for throwing me this ball." He said it several times so I'm now going to search the web to see how to get mail to the players. Ah, I am so blessed to have this sweet little boy in my life and blessed to have been able to experience this with him. Memories were made. Happy 6th Birthday, Grant Michael Fricke-I love you to the moon and back times on billion trillon!

We took some pictures while waiting for the gates to open...it was a perfect day for baseball. Didn't rain....not too hot or too cold. PERFECT!

I love this one!

Batting practice

Grant-waiting near the dugout in hopes of getting an autograph

He was so sweet -the entire time! I love this kid to pieces.

"Hey!" Everytime Mike is shown on TV during the game I always say, "hey." Well, I really said it Sunday...oh my is he a handsome man. He looks so buff in person!

This is him saying, "Hey, girl!" He was looking right at us!

Players rounding up after batting practice

A shot of the dugout

The FOX Sports Midwest -Jim Hayes was drinking up a Redbull before his interview with Matt Carpenter. Funny!

I loved being this close to the players...it gave the whole game a whole different feel.

There's my man signing some balls for fans. We were so close-but we couldn't get down there because that section was roped off.

This is Grant giving me the "no more pictures, Mom" look. Poor kid.

Molina and Wainwright right before game time.

There's Mr. Big City- Matt Adams...-he seems like such a good guy. And not just because he tossed Grant the ball. He was classy and fun at the Cardinals Caravan too. I am impressed with him.