My Experience Trying to Catch a Piece of the Craig Stammen Classic
Alright, let me tell you about this whole “Craig Stammen Classic” thing. For me, it wasn’t some official event, probably just a game I decided was the one. You know how it is, you fixate on something. I got it in my head I needed to get a baseball signed by him, specifically during what I called his classic appearance.
So, first things first, I had to actually get there. This meant figuring out the game details, which wasn’t too bad. But then came getting tickets. Didn’t want nosebleeds, wanted to be somewhere I might actually have a shot near the dugout or bullpen before the game. That took some searching and yeah, cost a bit more than I planned.
Then the prep work:
- Dug out a decent, clean baseball. Didn’t want some scuffed-up thing.
- Got a good pen. Heard you need the right kind so it doesn’t fade or bleed.
- Planned the trip. It wasn’t exactly next door, involved some driving. Had to make sure I got there super early.
Game day. Got up early, did the drive. Traffic was, well, traffic. Found parking, which cost another arm and a leg, naturally. Finally got inside the stadium hours before the first pitch. Made a beeline for the area where players sometimes sign autographs on their way in or out.
And then, the waiting started. Just standing there. Packed in with a bunch of other folks, all hoping for the same thing. You hold your ball and pen, trying to look hopeful but not desperate. It’s a weird vibe. You see some players walk by, some sign, some don’t. Your arm starts to ache a bit from holding the position.
Saw Stammen eventually. He was walking from the bullpen, I think. Closer than I expected, actually. Held up the ball, tried to catch his eye. He was focused, maybe just didn’t see, or maybe just wasn’t signing that day. Walked right past. Didn’t even glance over. Poof, chance gone.
Stuck around for the game, of course. It was fine. Baseball is baseball. But that little mission I was on? Total bust. You put in the time, the effort, spend the money, rearrange your day, all for that one little moment, and it just doesn’t happen. Felt pretty deflated, honestly. It’s like spending all weekend trying to fix something around the house only to realize you made it worse. Sometimes you just gotta shrug and move on, I guess. That was my Craig Stammen Classic experience. A lot of effort for not much payoff.
