On Sundays, kids ages 4 to 14 can run the bases at Turner Field after the game is over. Those who are going to participate line up along Hank Aaron Ramp (near aisle 129). About twenty minutes after the last out, the kids file down into the stadium towards the field.
(In the picture below, see the guy on the left side of the photo? Blow him a big raspberry. When he saw that the line was moving, he cut in regardless of the fact that there were lots of kids who had been patiently waiting their turn. This fact was politely pointed out to him, but his reply was, "I don't care." He later apologized, which I appreciate, yet kept his stolen spot. Way to be a role model, Dude!)
Winding our way through the bowels of the stadium...
For some reason I didn't expect the field to smell so grassy. I guess the turf is so perfect that it doesn't seem real. It is real grass, though. And it smelled like summer itself -- meadowy and damp with wafts of peanuts and beer.
The stadium was emptying out quickly except for the kids and the parents. I'd never seen the stadium like that.
It was fun to see the details like the pipe that serves as a spool for the huge dropcloth they use to cover the field during hard rain.
The dugout...
And finally our turn to run...
A little distracted watching them compress the dirt of the pitcher's mound for tomorrow's game...
It was a great experience! And the kiddos got a free certificate and a tee shirt...
One Mama's Two Cents:
Kids ages 4 to 14 can run the bases, but it only happens on Sundays. Click HERE for the Braves website information. It was crowded, yet well-organized. The Atlanta Braves Kids' Club ($25 per year) offers a VIP line for the event. Click HERE for more information.
We don't have a Kids' Club membership, so I went to find the queue for running the bases in the sixth inning and was the third in line. By the time the game ended, the line stretched up and around Hank Aaron Ramp and far into the top decks -- hundreds of kids. We started moving towards the field about 20 to 30 minutes after the game, but I heard it can take almost two hours for the last kids to run. Head to the bathroom first and then get in line early! And there is no saving spots, so Little Guy had to come stand with me. I found myself wishing I'd brought him some games or crayons, but he did fine as there was a lot of great people-watching to do.
Because of the crowds, this isn't something I would do every year, but it was definitely worth the line and our child staying up late. Our whole family enjoyed watching and I think it is something Little Guy will always remember.
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