Our fifth and final MLB ballpark for 2019 was Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins. In first place and playing at home on Fathers’ Day, this was our first sellout game experience since son Ben joined us for a Chicago Cubs game when he was still in college, more than 15 years ago.
There is something electric about a packed stadium, watching a first place team play. A few years ago, ESPN magazine called this park the best fan experience in major league baseball, and I would certainly agree it is in contention for that title. The “crowd participation” captain certainly did his part, with more ways to get the fans to cheer more often than any MLB game I can ever remember.
The Twins previously played in a dome, but abandoned that for this beautiful park. Like some of the other parks, most notably St. Louis and Cleveland, the downtown skyline looms just beyond the outfield wall, giving an urban ambiance to the experience.
Every ballpark has some variation on the same themes. Since this is Target Field, the sideline race in about the 6th inning is kids dressed as characters from Target commercials (see pictures below). Home team home runs are celebrated with fireworks. In the 7th inning, before “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” a featured speaker does “God Bless America.” A veteran raises the flag at the start of the game. We loved each of these endearing touches.
It did not hurt that the weather for the game was a picture-perfect 70 degrees. As usual, we found a local fan to talk with about the team and the park, and we rooted for the home team. Unfortunately, they lost on this particular day, after having won the first two games of the series before. We left the park pleased and happy. It is a great stadium.
Ellen bought me this Fathers’ Day shirt, so it debuted on this game day. 
We parked our truck at a nearby shopping mall, and Uber dropped us right here, at the entrance to the game. It was well worth the $20 round trip fare to save Ellen’s knees and my sanity trying to find a place to park our big rig. 
This panarama shot shows the capacity crowd. Seats were a Fathers’ Day present from our kids. 
This better captures the backdrop of the Minneapolis skyline. I love the setting. 
Yes, it was a great day for baseball. 
The Nationals race presidents, Milwaukee races sausages. Here they dress kids up as cartoon characters from Target commercials. 
And thsi is the actual race. 
The origin of the Twins name: the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, separted by a river, but together in baseball. 
On the way out we found this statue of one of the baseball stars of my childhood, whose card I collected: hometown here Harmon Killebrew. 
Smiles from a great day.
Wayne & Ellen,
Have taken this Sunday afternoon and enjoyed the photos and with your informative adages. You help bring it all to life. I enjoy looking over my iPhone’s pictures every opportunity I get. I looked at every one of yours again today in that manner. Lot of fun just exercising my imagination personally.
I’ve asked you before when are you going to write your second book. When you two decide to park the fifth and all the other ‘wheels’ and take that deep breath of accomplishing this “Dream”, you will have already brought together the material for that work. Maybe a little bit of tweaking here and there but well documented I must say.
You don’t realize that you are working when it’s fun, huh?
Kenneth James & Diann.
Thanks, KJ!
I never thought about doing a book about what we are doing, but it is an interesting thought. Ellen will be recovering from surgery for several months, so I may have some bigger blocks of time this winter. Thanks for the idea.
Wayne