There are not too many times in my life where i’ve been nostalgic. Tomorrow I will however be feeling this strange emotion. Tomrrow as I make my way to the Metrodome, I will be overcome with all the opening day celebrations i’ve been to over the years. While none of the openers that i’ve been to at the dome have ever been all that memorable, I will be forced to stop and think of all the memories that I have been witness to. Here are my top 3 in order of importance.
1. And We’ll See you Tomorrow Night!
This is something that in my lifetime I don’t think that i’ll ever be able to see again. At the time, I thought that it was cool but now looking back years later I obviously missed the significance of that game. I could not have known that Pucketts “Touch Em All” in game 6 would be the biggest baseball event in my life. Thank you Kirby! I will always have that memory.
2. Go Royals! Twins Clinch!
The second most memorable event that I witnessed at the Dome was the last game of the season happened on October 1st, 2006. The Twins had a home game against their bitter rivals the Chicago White Sox as they were tied for the division lead with the Detroit Tigers. The game was not contested by the Sox however during the entire game the Twins and their fans kept a close eye on the scoreboards in left field. Everyone was watching the Royals who were playing at Detroit. Detroit was in first place to start the day and had previously lost two games against the hapless Royals. The Royals and Tigers game went long and as the game came to a conclusion the Twins ran out of the dugout and started their celebration with the fans by running around the stadium giving highfives to the fans. The Twins won the division and as fate would have it, this was the only day of the entire baseball season where the Twins were in first place.
3. Torii….Will you sign my baseball?
My third favorite memory at the dome happened during the last home series of the 2007 season. During the Friday night game, Torii Hunter was batting. I was sitting about 10 rows up on the first baseline right above the Twins bullpen. During this atbat, Hunter started off the atbat in a hole. He went 0-2 and looked as if he would soon take a seat. On the fifth pitch of the atbat, after he flared one down the first baseline and the line drive went right into my right hand while I was texting my girlfriend (now fiancee). I made it on television, caught a linedrive and have a memory for life. The following year Torii was no longer with the team and I attempted to get the ball signed with no luck Maybe this year!
