My brother came to visit for the day on Saturday with his 9 year old son. I currently live in Palo Alto near Stanford University, and after lunch my nephew had just one request. He desperately wanted to see the Stanford baseball field. He has visions of himself playing ball there one day. Well, I was happy to oblige. However, I am embarrassed to say that I had no idea where the field was and we were forced to track down and study a campus map.

Once we found the field, we had a terrific surprise. There was a game going on! So, we bought our tickets and walked inside. Sitting in the stands, with the warm sun on my shoulders, I looked around at the energetic crowd. There were many pairings of fathers and sons, elderly couples wearing their Stanford colors and shouting words of encouragement to the team and kids running around on the grassy hillside, eating huge sticky towers of cotton candy. It has been years since I have been to a baseball game, but, I found that little has changed. Baseball is still as “American as apple pie”.

My memories of baseball were formed at the University of Texas in Austin. My father was a big fan and he wanted to share his love of the game with his children. I can still remember him belting out “The Eyes of Texas” along with a crowd full of fans, his voice filled with emotion and pride. The Longhorns have always had a strong baseball program and this year is no different. They are ranked #13 in the country! If you find yourself in Austin this spring, put on your burnt orange and head over to Disch Falk field for a great game.

Is professional baseball more your style? Then head just north of Austin to Round Rock, Texas. Here you can watch the Round Rock Express (farm team for the Houston Astros) play at the impressive Dell Diamond complex. Order a beer and a hot dog, listen to the crack of the bat as it hits a home run, and spend your afternoon “cheering for the home team”. Go with a group of friends or bring your family….one of the great things about baseball is its wide appeal.

I might not be able to take in a game of Texas baseball…but, after this weekend, I will be sure to attend more games at the Stanford field. Especially now that I know where it is!

Do you like baseball…what are some of your best memories?