Last week was opening day for baseball, and this year my team (the Dodgers) hosted Mike’s team (the Giants) for the opening series. Those of you who have been reading for a while will remember that the Dodgers are my former employer. I have a ton of great memories from my four seasons working in sales for the team, and I still have wonderful friends that work there. In fact, one of my wonderful friends gave us his set of comps for the second game of the year, so Mike, Annabel, and I met my cousin Leah at the Ravine to watch game two.
If you ask Annabel what her favorite baseball team is, she’ll tell you it’s the Dodgers AND the Giants. And if you ask her who her favorite player is, she’ll tell you it’s Matt Kemp AND Buster Posey. This is fine for now, but she only has five years before she has to pick a team and stick with it, so Mike and I are working hard to sway her. Since the Dodgers are no longer responsible for a large portion of our income, the “appearance regulations” have been lifted when it comes to what Annie can wear to games. Of course, Annabel picks out her own clothes, so I think it’s pretty telling that when she was at Giants’ spring training games last month she chose to wear non-Giants clothing. I also think it’s pretty telling that she chose to wear this ensemble to last week’s game at Dodger Stadium:
Dodger dress, Dodger hoodie, and LA cap.
Hey, if Mike doesn’t care enough to get Annabel Giants clothing that will appeal to her (I mean, do you think Annabel is going to pick an orange t-shirt over a twirly blue dress?) then he doesn’t want it badly enough.
We got to the stadium early enough to walk around, and Annabel really wanted to go down near the field. I asked her if she wanted to watch batting practice and she said, “No mama, I need to go play WITH them.”
I knew if she got close enough to the field an usher or ball boy would toss her a ball (they can never resist little kids who bring their own gloves) but she was content with staying farther back – I think the size of the crowd intimidated her a bit. So we walked around a bit more and then stopped for a family photo.
We had nice seats on the club level, right outside the owners’ offices. I had my eyes peeled for Magic, but Annie had her sights set on the food:
She was also really into the player introductions, and went crazy for her Dodger favorite, Matt Kemp.
She cracked me up the whole game. She took her hat off for the National Anthem, cheered for the Dodgers (and the Giants, too, but the surrounding crowd definitely influenced her to root more for the home team), and sang along during the seventh inning stretch.
She was also THRILLED when Leah showed up. She loves her Tia Leah something fierce.
Also, apropos of nothing, she fed me grapes. I could get used to that.
After the game we walked through my old office, where Annie made a beeline for the lit-up LA logo:
She never asked who won the game (the Giants), because it didn’t matter to her.
I love that she so clearly enjoys baseball, the sport that Mike and I both grew up adoring. It’s going to be a lot of fun going to games with her as she grows up, and hopefully she’ll pass her enthusiasm on to her brother. And just think Mike, even though Annie is clearly going to pick the Dodgers on her eighth birthday, you’ll get another chance soon with The Acrobat…although I’m not going to give him up without a fight.
Greis says:
I love your kid and her love for baseball. Next time the Astros are there playing the Dodgers (stupid move to the AL) I’m making the trip!! We are going to go to a game together!!
Meyli says:
Do you still have the half Dodgers half Giants onesie that Maddie wore?! The Acrobat will be styling’.
Laura says:
Being a diehard Mets fan I’m just thrilled Annie’s a lefty ;-D
Kathy Shipstad says:
Major Twins fan here! Nice to see how big your belly is getting Heather!
Annalisa says:
I still don’t see why she has to choose. It’s not me picking an issue with your set up so much as just finding the whole thing silly period. My SIL in law has already told us our kid cannot be a Seahawks fan (I know, different sport) because their own family is through and through a Saints family. I obviously don’t care either way, but I’ve gently pointed out this is my daughter, which most likely means she will have her own opinion about it, and won’t budge for anybody.
I guess what I’m saying is, don’t be surprised if 8 year old Annie tells you she doesn’t want to choose, and she doesn’t wanna, either.
Lindsay says:
The Seahawks aren’t even in the same division as the Saints! Weird. (Maybe your SIL is still having nightmares over that epic Marshawn Lynch play-off run, haha. As a diehard Falcons fan and a TRUE rival of the Saints, that run was one of the greatest football plays of all time in my humble opinion.) =)
Annalisa says:
Oh, but there’s always playoff potential. In fact, they played each other in the playoffs in 2011, I believe. Our SIL demanded photo proof that our toddler was wearing her Saints jersey on game day. Alas, that gesture didn’t help the Saints after all.
Annalisa says:
Oh, and I should further qualify: we live in Seattle, so the Hawks are the home team. In fact, apparently the only home team my kid is “allowed” to like is the Sounders (no pro soccer team in NO), doesn’t matter whether the divisions or conferences even match.
Lindsay says:
LOL. Well, I shouldn’t judge, because I now despise the 49er’s for beating my Falcons and keeping us from the Superbowl, and we’re not the same division either. So yep, you’re right, there’s always play-off potential.
But to tell your kid she can’t root for her home team?! Gotta let a girl choose her own sports allegiances. =)
Annalisa says:
Oh, thus far she doesn’t care, as long as she gets to watch TV with daddy on game day. But as we’ve learned about other things, even at 2 she likes to make her opinion known where needed. So if she decides differently in the future, I’m pretty sure she won’t be moved by any sort of pleas.
Alexandra says:
It doesn’t really matter if you “find the whole thing silly.” Just like you said to your SIL, Annie is THEIR kid.
Heather, I’ve been reading you since you first put up the eighth birthday post, so I know you guys are joking and fun-loving about the whole thing!
Annalisa says:
Heather knows from past iterations of my comment that:
1. I realize most of it is meant in complete jest
2. Just because I find sports rivalries and “must love this team” silly doesn’t mean I judge those who do appear to take them seriously (I once had two friends who were, respectively, a Cubs fan and a White Sox fan. They’d “fight” over which was the better hometown team ALL the time. Never once did I have cause to believe the whole argument was meant to be anything other than friendly banter).
So you’re basically worried about a perceived judgement that doesn’t exist.
Annalisa says:
That should read “doesn’t have to choose and doesn’t want to, either”. I guess 8:30 AM is too early in the morning for me to type coherently.
Dee says:
It may be too early to tell for certain which side will be dominant, but I love that for right now Annie is sporting a Left-handed glove! Go Lefties!!!
Dorcas says:
We’re Dodgers fans in North Carolina. I took my husband to a game at Dodger Stadium for his 30th birthday. I LOVE that even Annie’s hair ties are Dodger Blue!
Snarky Mommy says:
We were on vacation in LA and took our kids to the same game! Is it weird that while there, I actually thought to myself, “Huh. The Spohrs like both these teams. I wonder if they’re at the game?”
We did four baseball stadiums in six days on that trip and we saw the Giants three times in the stretch. My kids, who are Cardinals fans by birth, now think they are Giants fans.
Debbie A-H (editdebs) says:
Thanks for the smiles today; I needed them. I grew up in Simi Valley, so I grew up a Dodger fan. Moved to Chicago for college and ended up staying here. My husband is a major Cubs fan, so I’ve been influenced. But I still love my Dodgers, even if I don’t follow them as closely as I did. I love seeing the stadium-and I love seeing Annie rooting for the home team!
Jeanie says:
I love that she took off her hat and how she’s holding it in the picture.
Auntie_M says:
I just love how much Annie loves going to these games with her parents! Also love that you gave her to age 8 to make a decision for LIFE! hahahahaha