Field of Dreams

One of my dreams has been to sing the National Anthem for a professional baseball game. I love baseball, I love to sing, I love to sing outdoors, baseball is outdoors, and the National Anthem isn’t so bad a song. The controversial swirl of current events notwithstanding, it is an honor to sing for the flag and for the crowd.

A few months ago my workplace quartet went to an audition. We did all right. For Friday June 22nd they gave us tickets and parking and told us to be there at five thirty for a sound check. Raley Field was empty of fans but people were scurrying about getting ready for the show and we sang our song down on the field and the guy looked bored and said it sounded fine and we hung out for an hour and watched the shadows creep across the seats.

Later on the seats were filled and we sat down by the field awaiting our turn. Every game is preceded by a ceremony and tonight’s was to honor the region’s best high school baseball and softball players. Two of them were from my kids’ high school and I yahooed. One of the others had already been drafted by a major league team. The kids stood in two rows looking like normal kids who also happen to be top-notch athletes. A handful of old pros and dignitaries were set in chairs for decoration, including Dusty Baker’s dad, representing his son’s local baseball academy. He had huge eyeglasses and I felt like he was staring at me the whole time. Probably everyone within six rows of home plate felt the same way.

Around seven we were ushered to the microphone, arranged ourselves around it, and did our thing. People cheered, we went to our seats, sat with family, ate too much, and watched the Sacramento Rivercats beat the Tacoma Rainiers 12 to 4. AAA baseball is the best. The atmosphere is relaxed, and every seat is a good seat.

The Cats sent us a DVD of the entire game. Here I've clipped out our part. The Mrs also took a video, and it has better sound.

It was a trip. And it was a privilege.

MRS:


DVD: