All photos of NLDS Game 3 available on Flickr.
November signals a time to reflect on the 2008 season. As the leaves and temperatures fall, awards are handed out, players file for free agency, and playoffs merchandise flies off the shelves at 25% off. The Brewers' first postseason in 26 years, the first of my lifetime, ended in a 3-1 defeat to the Phillies, even though I'm sure losing to the eventual World Series champion makes all Milwaukee fans sleep a little better at night. The Brewers have already named a new manager, Ken Macha, lost pitching coach Mike Maddux to the Rangers, picked up Mike Cameron's 2009 option, and extended a $100 million contract offer to legendary CC Sabathia. And that was only the first week of the offseason.
October 30th is the saddest day on the calender this year, as it marks the longest possible time until another professional ballgame. However, turning the calender even further ahead allows us to look forward to the exciting 2009 season. Erik and I have our Tour-Plus trips set for next year and cannot wait to hit the road, in proud defiance of the struggling economy. New Years Day is the 2nd annual Winter Classic, this year at Wrigley Field. This event has helped make hockey more popular in the US, and we look forward to attending this unique game at a classic stadium, not to mention spending New Years Eve in Chicago. Our first baseball trip of the 2009 season will be to the 2nd World Baseball Classic. It was between Pool B in Mexico City and Pool C in Toronto, but our love of Toronto and desire to jump in Lake Ontario eventually trumped the warm weather and bullfights of Mexico's capital (only Erik and I would voluntarily vacation in Canada in the dead of winter).Our two regular season trips celebrate an end and two new beginnings. We plan on going to Minnesota to see a game in the final season of the Metrodome - even though the stadium will still be home to the Vikings, and the Twins may still play there in inclement weather, the Twins are getting a gorgeous new stadium in 2010. This trip will also include a couple of Northwoods league games, and when the NWL schedule comes out, we will nail down the weekend - hopefully sometime between late May and the middle of June. And last but not least, the Yankees and Mets are both getting new stadiums next year, and we definitely have to visit New York in their inaugural seasons. Both teams should have fresh new faces on their rosters and we greatly look forward to this trip. We plan on going for about a week hinged around 4th of July so that we can also attend the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island! More updates to comes as travel plans are set and tickets are purchased.
FINAL 2008 GAMES ATTENDED TALLY:
Erik - 25
Peter - 53
touch with baseball when his childhood heroes Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, and Jim Gantner retired but the Great Home Run Chase of 1998 reignited his passion. As a student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Erik became involved with the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity. With this group Erik traveled to Portland, OR and Baltimore, MD to work on construction projects and help the group raise $25,000 to partially sponsor a house in Milwaukee. Also at UWM, Erik met Peter Nagel. The two attended their first Brewers game together during Opening Weekend 2003. Despite their failure to ignite the coals at their first tailgate, the two had a blast and were soon making weekly trips to the ballpark. Erik has gone on to several colleges and changed careers several times, and has moved all the way out to New Hampshire, but has always stayed true to his baseball roots by holding part-time stadium usher jobs. To this day he looks back fondly on his incredible cross-country journey.