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May 10, 2011
Krystal Inman
A typical A’s game is illustrated with scenes of families, friends, and baseball lovers. Upon arrival, we were instantly greeted by the baseball culture. Scalpers, vendors and musicians lined the overpass bridging the BART station to the Oakland Coliseum. A steadily moving crowd approaches the game gradually, while others are hosting tailgate barbeques in the parking lot. Our tickets were scanned and we enter the buzz of people decked out in A’s gear, chatting, searching for their seats and browsing through the refreshments stands.
The first pitch was thrown to commence a beneficial first inning for the A’s. A home run is hit and the stadium lights up with the cheering fans. The audience consists of an almost equal amount of A’s fans as Red Socks fans, which becomes increasingly evident as the A’s begin losing. Meanwhile, sassy, enthusiastic vendors disperse throughout the crowd, selling overpriced snacks, desserts and drinks to fans that grudgingly pay to avoid the long lines of distant concession stands. To my dismay, though there was a constant mill of food peddlers, an ice cream cookie sandwich became increasing scarce.
The game had high points and low points for the A’s, interrupted by occasional fan-favorite games, such as dot racing. The traditional seventh inning stretch provided a brief intermission accompanied by a chorus of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”. Team mascot Stomper even made an appearance in the section next to us and we could see children and older fans flock to him. On the big stadium screen, flashes of dancing members of the audience and people enjoying the game can be seen. People merely migrated to covered stadium seats as a soft, steady rain began to come down.
The A’s game resulted in a loss, but provided insight into a typical game for a dedicated fan.
