Take Me Out To The Ballgame!

Margie with #18. I don't own a bright red shirt, so I'm wearing one of Stan's!!!


And I'm wearing my brand new Carps baseball cap - the first one I've EVER owned . . . and you can't see it, but my ponytail is hanging out the back over the strap.


Walking up the ramp to the stadium. It's been a pleasant walk - more than 10 minutes for us though . . . but it's a really beautiful late afternoon. It was raining off & on this morning so hoping the rain has finished since the stadium is open . . .


Wow - there goes the Shinkansen! (bullet train) toward the station. Their tracks are nearly always elevated. Pretty cool to see it outside the station. . .


Approaching the entrance we see a drummer. Pep squads play instruments at professional baseball games in Japan. I was surprised we had to pass through Security - all bags were patted down & peeked into. First time I've ever seen this in Japan except at the airport.


Wow! This is VERY cool! Our first trip to the new Zoom-Zoom stadium! Stan went to a game with our friend Hiroshi-san a few years ago, but the Carp were still playing at the old stadium near Peace Park.


As we walk around to the opposite side (our seats are in the outfield) we have a great view of inside the stadium.


We're in our seats now. We have seats with a large group of Americans tonight, but we're the first ones in our group to arrive. We wanted to get here early so we could relax & look around before the game.


The wind is causing the large inflated player (or is it a fan?) above us to bob around.


These are really great seats & we're not the only ones to arrive early.


And we can see the scoreboard well.


Lots of workers sweeping & raking the dirt, and adding something (sand, maybe?) to help soak up the water from the morning's rains.



Little boys practicing their swings . . .


Looking up - goody! We're mostly covered from the pep squad area above, so if it rains straight down, we won't get wet.


Seats to our right are starting to fill up.


Looking across the field at the ads on the fence as another Shin leaves the station.


Closer view.


The lights are coming on as the sun sets. The game starts at 6 PM.


And the team is on the field! Each was introduced on the jumbo-tron.

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