7/30/12 at Dutchess Stadium
It was a bit last minute, but I was here Monday night:
Sorry for the dark picture, I forgot to take one during daylight. It is Dutchess Stadium, the home of the Single-A short season Hudson Valley Renegades. They are the affiliate for the Tampa Bay Rays. I’ve been here plenty of times, and my personal record here is 5. You have a good chance of finding an easter egg or two here, and a toss up. The Renegades were playing the Williamsport Crosscutters. Since it was last minute, I didn’t get in when the gates opened. When I did get in, I headed over to left field because this was going on:
Catcher Kevin Quaranto was having a long toss with some other player, and I got him to toss me his ball after he was done. Minor League balls get used a LOT more often than MLB ball, just take a look:
I have a few more MiLB balls in my collection, most look like this. Pretty cool.
A few of the Renegades recognize me, so they always say hi when I go. I figured I’d try my luck over on the 1st base side:
A few minutes later, there was a whole group of kids from a camp in front, so I knew the players wouldn’t throw me one and risk hitting someone. Once the game started, my two friends (Brian and Rich) and I hung out here:
…Where I narrowly missed getting a foul ball. It hit off the gutter on the roof behind me and darted to the right. So close. Later we moved down by the dugout (where I’ve gotten a few third out balls before):
…but came up empty. Later I sat over on the first base side…
…because the clubhouses are behind the right field wall, and tried to ask the home plate umpire Blake Carnahan for a ball. I saw he threw a bunch by the dugout, and when he got to me, he was all out. There was a father/daughter dance on the field, so that was my cue to head out.
- 1 ball at this game
- 54 total balls
Next game – 7/31 Baltimore @ NYY
The Ballhawker 
That baseball is beautiful .Ever now and then, I get balls like that one that are so scuffed. Usually, the infield warmup balls look like that.
I love scuffed balls. The plain ones from the box aren’t as exciting.
I got one tonight that has a black blotch on it and the rest of the ball is scuffed badly.
I have a few like that. Blotch probably came from a brand new bat, my guess.