On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Items in red would be of particular interest to Red Sox fans. Today’s category number eight out of twelve is:
PARTICIPATION – Part 1
9 Play Fantasy Baseball In A Rotisserie League
The only time I played Fantasy Baseball was in 2004 (yes, that memorable season). It was fun, but a lot of work. Seemed I always had to make last minute lineup changes before each game (the fantasy allowed for adjustments just before game time). The best part was making trades and reassessing the players and obtaining new ones. Of course I liked it when I did well. If I were to play Fantasy Baseball again, I want to have just one opponent. I would have all the Red Sox players and my competitor would have all the Yankees. A real team-to-team matchup - how great is that! Any takers for 2012?
12 Learn To Keep Score
In college I would go to Red Sox games several times a season and part of my game ritual was to buy a scorecard when I arrived at Fenway Park. I didn’t know how to keep score, but I figured I’d followed the scoring information provided and muddle through a game. Well, that plan never worked as I always got so caught up in the action on the field, that I totally forgot to make any type of notation on the card!. Oh well, learning how to keep score is a baseball skill I have yet to master. The booklet of scorecards I bought on sale will just have to wait for another year. But there’s probably some online, just input the information way to keep score. Is there an app for that? Question: How does one become an official scorer for a Major League team?
16 Take A Kid To His Or Her First Major League Baseball Game
I took me to my first Major League game, other than it was at Fenway Park, I have no recollection of who the other team was, where I sat, or what the final score was. I know that I brought my glove (long since vanished), but never in all the times that I’ve gone to Fenway has a foul ball come close to me. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to take a kid to a baseball game, though I think it would be fun to do so.
18 Attend A Major League Baseball Fantasy Camp
All the Major League teams offer a baseball fantasy camp held in January or February. Although a somewhat pricey fantasy (2012 Red Sox camp is $4,595 per person), it is a great opportunity to receive instruction from former players and meet team-affiliated personalities. The Red Sox will hold their 2012 baseball fantasy camp in Ft. Myers, Florida from Sunday 5 February to Sunday 12 February. Guess it’s the closest any baseball fan would have to playing in the Majors. Wonder if any scouts will be there.
42 Coach A Season Of Little League Baseball
Unfortunately I don’t have the skills or knowledge to coach Little League or any league level of baseball. I certainly wish I’d been able to play Little League – I might actually be able to make an accurate throw from the outfield! If you have the ability, time and interest, help youngsters on the road to a lifetime of baseball playing and enjoyment on all levels.
47 Learn To Figure Important Baseball Statistics
Personally, I’m happy enough to know what the statistics mean, never mind actually having to figure them out. But for those of you more numerically ambitious, here is some information on figuring offensive statistics, defensive statistics and pitching statistics. Go for it – who knows perhaps you’ll be so inspired that you’ll make up a new statistic of your own!
48 Become A Member Of SABR
The Society for American Baseball Research had its beginnings in Cooperstown, New York. It was the brainchild of L. Robert Davids, who in August 1971 gathered 15 other baseball researchers at the National Baseball Hall of Fame to form the organization. From this modest start, SABR membership has broadened steadily. A decade later, it had reached 1,500; today, it totals more than 6,000 worldwide. Who belongs to SABR? Many major and minor league baseball officials, broadcasters and writers, as well as numerous former players. Primarily, the membership consists of "just plain fans" — anyone interested in baseball can join. While the original purpose of SABR was to band together baseball historians, statisticians and researchers, it is not necessary to engage in research to become a member.
SABR has an annual convention. The 2011 one was held in Long Beach, California from Wednesday 6 July to Sunday 10 July. The 2012 convention will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the 2013 convention will take place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
51 Play In An Adult Baseball League
I guess this is where formerly aspiring Major League baseball enthusiasts go to play. There’s a National Adult Baseball Association. - NABA, the fastest growing adult baseball organization in America, is proud to have you step into our dugout. We provide all the information you will need to become a player, manager, coach, sponsor or fan of the NABA. If you're already a part of the NABA, The Dugout will update you on the latest NABA news and upcoming tournament schedules and information, list important contact numbers for NABA national staff, as well as provide an opportunity to purchase official NABA logo merchandise. The NABA is organized nationally by age groups. The largest division of play is the Open Division (18 & Over). The NABA also features 25 & Over, 35 & Over, 45 & Over and 55 & Over Divisions.
52 Attend A Fan Fest
A Fan Fest is one of the All-Star celebration events that happen during the weekend before the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game. There are exhibits, interaction with players, merchandise buying and Q&A sessions. It’s an appetizer for the star baseball attraction!
Images:
Left: Little League Baseball logo from the website upload.wikimedia.org
Center: National Adult Baseball Association logo from the website dugout.org
Right: SABR Convention 41 logo from the website sabr.org
PARTICIPATION – Part 1
9 Play Fantasy Baseball In A Rotisserie League
The only time I played Fantasy Baseball was in 2004 (yes, that memorable season). It was fun, but a lot of work. Seemed I always had to make last minute lineup changes before each game (the fantasy allowed for adjustments just before game time). The best part was making trades and reassessing the players and obtaining new ones. Of course I liked it when I did well. If I were to play Fantasy Baseball again, I want to have just one opponent. I would have all the Red Sox players and my competitor would have all the Yankees. A real team-to-team matchup - how great is that! Any takers for 2012?
12 Learn To Keep Score
In college I would go to Red Sox games several times a season and part of my game ritual was to buy a scorecard when I arrived at Fenway Park. I didn’t know how to keep score, but I figured I’d followed the scoring information provided and muddle through a game. Well, that plan never worked as I always got so caught up in the action on the field, that I totally forgot to make any type of notation on the card!. Oh well, learning how to keep score is a baseball skill I have yet to master. The booklet of scorecards I bought on sale will just have to wait for another year. But there’s probably some online, just input the information way to keep score. Is there an app for that? Question: How does one become an official scorer for a Major League team?
16 Take A Kid To His Or Her First Major League Baseball Game
I took me to my first Major League game, other than it was at Fenway Park, I have no recollection of who the other team was, where I sat, or what the final score was. I know that I brought my glove (long since vanished), but never in all the times that I’ve gone to Fenway has a foul ball come close to me. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to take a kid to a baseball game, though I think it would be fun to do so.
18 Attend A Major League Baseball Fantasy Camp
All the Major League teams offer a baseball fantasy camp held in January or February. Although a somewhat pricey fantasy (2012 Red Sox camp is $4,595 per person), it is a great opportunity to receive instruction from former players and meet team-affiliated personalities. The Red Sox will hold their 2012 baseball fantasy camp in Ft. Myers, Florida from Sunday 5 February to Sunday 12 February. Guess it’s the closest any baseball fan would have to playing in the Majors. Wonder if any scouts will be there.
42 Coach A Season Of Little League Baseball
Unfortunately I don’t have the skills or knowledge to coach Little League or any league level of baseball. I certainly wish I’d been able to play Little League – I might actually be able to make an accurate throw from the outfield! If you have the ability, time and interest, help youngsters on the road to a lifetime of baseball playing and enjoyment on all levels.
47 Learn To Figure Important Baseball Statistics
Personally, I’m happy enough to know what the statistics mean, never mind actually having to figure them out. But for those of you more numerically ambitious, here is some information on figuring offensive statistics, defensive statistics and pitching statistics. Go for it – who knows perhaps you’ll be so inspired that you’ll make up a new statistic of your own!
48 Become A Member Of SABR
The Society for American Baseball Research had its beginnings in Cooperstown, New York. It was the brainchild of L. Robert Davids, who in August 1971 gathered 15 other baseball researchers at the National Baseball Hall of Fame to form the organization. From this modest start, SABR membership has broadened steadily. A decade later, it had reached 1,500; today, it totals more than 6,000 worldwide. Who belongs to SABR? Many major and minor league baseball officials, broadcasters and writers, as well as numerous former players. Primarily, the membership consists of "just plain fans" — anyone interested in baseball can join. While the original purpose of SABR was to band together baseball historians, statisticians and researchers, it is not necessary to engage in research to become a member.
SABR has an annual convention. The 2011 one was held in Long Beach, California from Wednesday 6 July to Sunday 10 July. The 2012 convention will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the 2013 convention will take place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
51 Play In An Adult Baseball League
I guess this is where formerly aspiring Major League baseball enthusiasts go to play. There’s a National Adult Baseball Association. - NABA, the fastest growing adult baseball organization in America, is proud to have you step into our dugout. We provide all the information you will need to become a player, manager, coach, sponsor or fan of the NABA. If you're already a part of the NABA, The Dugout will update you on the latest NABA news and upcoming tournament schedules and information, list important contact numbers for NABA national staff, as well as provide an opportunity to purchase official NABA logo merchandise. The NABA is organized nationally by age groups. The largest division of play is the Open Division (18 & Over). The NABA also features 25 & Over, 35 & Over, 45 & Over and 55 & Over Divisions.
52 Attend A Fan Fest
A Fan Fest is one of the All-Star celebration events that happen during the weekend before the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game. There are exhibits, interaction with players, merchandise buying and Q&A sessions. It’s an appetizer for the star baseball attraction!
Images:
Left: Little League Baseball logo from the website upload.wikimedia.org
Center: National Adult Baseball Association logo from the website dugout.org
Right: SABR Convention 41 logo from the website sabr.org
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