Best Spring Training Ever!

[JAHV]

Took my son to Tempe Diablo on a surprise 12th birthday trip this week.  We live in Florida but work was bringing me out to San Diego, and I figured the timing was too perfect not to fly my son out with me and then drive out to AZ for a couple days.  I could not have scripted it better if I tried.  

 

On Monday we showed up early and walked away with 7 autographs and 3 balls before heading off to Phoenix Municipal to watch the game against the A's.  He was so happy.  I was a little worried because Monday was so good I didn't think Tuesday could get much better.  Showed up early again on Tuesday and got 4 more balls and he ended up with 19 total autographs.  Then to top it all off, he was selected out of the crowd to be the Angel's batboy!  I'm not sure who had more fun, my son running around in the field and in the dugout or me watching him from the stands.  Sam had two favorite moments: Running out to get Josh Hamilton's broken bat and accidentally running into "someone big" and then realizing it was Mike Trout.  My favorite moment: Watching Omar Visquel mess with him tapping him on the helmet and then pretend he was watching the field.

 

Took a bunch of photos on my phone but my favorite pic was of Sam by the dugout with Howie Kendrick photobombing in the background (he also signed a personalized photo for Sam).

 

Good Times.

[Angelfan79]

Awesome!!

[Chuck]

Took my son to Tempe Diablo on a surprise 12th birthday trip this week.  We live in Florida but work was bringing me out to San Diego, and I figured the timing was too perfect not to fly my son out with me and then drive out to AZ for a couple days.  I could not have scripted it better if I tried.  

 

On Monday we showed up early and walked away with 7 autographs and 3 balls before heading off to Phoenix Municipal to watch the game against the A's.  He was so happy.  I was a little worried because Monday was so good I didn't think Tuesday could get much better.  Showed up early again on Tuesday and got 4 more balls and he ended up with 19 total autographs.  Then to top it all off, he was selected out of the crowd to be the Angel's batboy!  I'm not sure who had more fun, my son running around in the field and in the dugout or me watching him from the stands.  Sam had two favorite moments: Running out to get Josh Hamilton's broken bat and accidentally running into "someone big" and then realizing it was Mike Trout.  My favorite moment: Watching Omar Visquel mess with him tapping him on the helmet and then pretend he was watching the field.

 

Took a bunch of photos on my phone but my favorite pic was of Sam by the dugout with Howie Kendrick photobombing in the background (he also signed a personalized photo for Sam).

 

Good Times.

Batboy.jpg

 

Very good. Great story dude. Stoked you and your son had a great time. 

 

Thanks for sharing. What a weekend to remember for both of you. This is why I love spring training! 

[Richard]

Awesome!

[Taylor]

Love it. What an incredible experience for you and your son.

 

I was 13 when my dad and I went to Spring Training for the first time. Last week I celebrated my 24th birthday with my dad at Tempe Diablo Stadium. It's a tradition that never gets old.

[Pbonetheman]

Real cool! Tell your son I'm jealous!! 

[LBHalos17]

That's great, JAHV!  What an awesome Dad; you've scored a lifetime of points!

[stemyn]

Superb

[ukyah]

that's totally cool for a kid.

[Redondo]

Great story. Thanks for sharing.

 

That should lock your son in on being an Angel fan for life.

[NJHalo]

Great story. You are right, that could not have been scripted better.

[Lhalo]

That's great to hear JAHV. That picture with Kendrick is hilarious!

[Wallerrrr]

awesome...glad you guys had such a great time

[Jay]

That will be the high point of your son's life until he gets laid.

[JAHV]

Thanks to all.  I hadn't done Spring Training since I was a kid in Palm Springs.  Things have changed a little since then.  The Tempe Diablo complex is amazing and the players and coaches were so much more laid back than during the regular season.  They actually seemed to have fun with the fans.  Of the guys we talked with Josh Hamilton, Howie Kendrick and C.J. Wilson were the friendliest.

 

The first morning we were hanging out along the right field line waiting for autographs while the pros were stretching it out.  A group of minor leaguers were making the trek down to the lower fields and one kid with a Hamilton jersey thought he saw Josh out there and called out as loud as he could "Hey Mr. Hamilton will you sign my jersey?"  Hamilton who was in fact only about 15 yards from him stretching out on the ground called back "Hey kid, I'm right here...but I'll be happy to sign your jersey."  He made a good first impression.  Here's hoping he does the same with the stick.

[katie]

Cute!

[LBHalos17]

Thanks to all.  I hadn't done Spring Training since I was a kid in Palm Springs.  Things have changed a little since then.  The Tempe Diablo complex is amazing and the players and coaches were so much more laid back than during the regular season.  They actually seemed to have fun with the fans.  Of the guys we talked with Josh Hamilton, Howie Kendrick and C.J. Wilson were the friendliest.

 

The first morning we were hanging out along the right field line waiting for autographs while the pros were stretching it out.  A group of minor leaguers were making the trek down to the lower fields and one kid with a Hamilton jersey thought he saw Josh out there and called out as loud as he could "Hey Mr. Hamilton will you sign my jersey?"  Hamilton who was in fact only about 15 yards from him stretching out on the ground called back "Hey kid, I'm right here...but I'll be happy to sign your jersey."  He made a good first impression.  Here's hoping he does the same with the stick.

I'm sure you've all noticed the difference between athletes of different sports...  As long as you're not interfering with the game or their routine, baseball and hockey players are mostly generous toward fans.  I wouldn't say that about those two other major sports (unless it's some kind of appearance).

 

In fact, every year we are visited a few times at the Buttes pool-bar by some Halos players/etc.  I'm sure some of those visits are arranged, but they are very gracious and spend time at every table before leaving if they need to.  Arte and his wife have hung-out there a few times, and one of my highlights was a few years ago when The Hud-Dog bought us a couple rounds.  I was floating in the pool when I heard him yelling, "Hey DC!" while holding-up my beer.

 

Spring is my favorite time of year!  Watch-out tho;  your son will want to make this an annual tradition!  

[DowningRules]

What a great trip and great pic!  Lucky kid.

[tomsred]

Way to score JAHV!!!

[2002_halos_II]

Good job Dad!

[Afternoon Angel]

Great story!...that's the best part about baseball and Spring Training..it's perfect for building memories with your kids. 

[Jimmag]

That is so Bombsauce!

 

Ran into someone big and then relaized it was Mike Trout.  lol

 

Thanks for sharing.

[BaseballMom]

What an awesome time for you and your son.