Spring baseball is a magical thing. The weather is warming up and you hold every 60-degree day near and dear. As the bats crack and the gloves pop, people across the country start to remember that shorts, T-shirts and barbecues are right around the corner. Not to mention, nobody’s season has crashed and burned yet. Hope springs eternal!
However, Major League Baseball is expensive and can be drab. In the minor leagues, tickets are cheap and ideas are free flowing. The first couple of months of the season are packed with great promotions at area clubs. Here are three that you should attend with friends, family and anyone else who enjoys a day at the ballpark.
Chesapeake Baysox, Saturday, April 12, vs. Erie Seawolves; Hershey Park Tickets
Who doesn’t love amusement parks? At the recently rebranded Baysox game at Prince George’s Stadium in Bowie, all fans age 16 and under will receive a one-day pass to Hershey Park upon entering the game. The ticket is good for the rest of the year, making it a perfect way to set up a second local trip sometime in the summer. The Baysox and Hershey Park may not be located in Baltimore, but they’re close enough that it’s worth a trip on a warm Saturday. Plus, this game will feature fireworks and the theme of “Cowboy Carter” night, centered around superstar Beyonce’s newest album release.
Aberdeen IronBirds, Sunday, April 20, vs. Brooklyn Cyclones; Easter Egg Hunt, Catch on the Field, Run the Bases
Your child may love baseball, but not be the best at it — that’s OK, because that’s how most of us are. Making it to the biggest stage is hard for a reason. But at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen this month, any and every kid will get to live their dream of being a pro ballplayer by playing catch on the field beforehand and chugging around the bases after the game. Whether they’re imagining themselves slow-trotting a home run or trying to beat a throw to third for a hard-fought triple, your child will be antsy all game for their chance to get on the field once it’s over. Plus, with Easter in season, kids will also be able to participate in an Easter Egg hunt the IronBirds have put on. It’s a day packed with fun and activities!
Hagerstown Flying Boxcars, Sunday, May 25, vs. Southern Maryland Blue Crabs; Princess and Pirate Day and Sunday Funday
You may not have heard of this team before, and that’s OK for two reasons: one, they played their first season last year, and two, they are not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The Flying Boxcars play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a league with quality teams and facilities that rival those of AA or AAA teams. While the games may not feature many future Major League stars, the players are as talented as those in the middle tier of Minor League ball, and the games are thrilling and fun. At the game on Sunday, May 25, the first 1,000 kids age 14 and under will receive a hooded beach towel that coordinates with the theme. Whether your child wants to be a member of middle-age royalty or a sultan of the high seas is up to them, but either way, they’ll have a blast at this game. By the way, kids will get to run the bases as a part of “Sunday Funday,” too.
