So many times in the past in casual conversation I have heard the remark, "the first date (John or Joe or whoever) we went to a baseball game. Naturally now that I am busily providing my information on baseball for all to enjoy many of the people I meet confirm this same comment.

Would it not be a most amusing statistic to know for real how many first dates enjoyed a thrilling baseball game. One step further how many of those first dates blossomed into more romance and then marriage?

The first game I attended this season sort of intrigued me for there seemed to be an inordinate number of the 20's to 30's age group in attendance. The demographics of baseball from my younger days sure appeared to be a different age group.

As I recall the stands especially the bleachers would be teeming with the 10 to 15 year age group. The more sedate grandpa group filled the first and third baseline box seat sections. Through out the grandstands were scattered the older sandlot age ball players and the dads, uncles and cousins of the younger bleachers bunch.

My first game observation with the 20's or so group seemed to be unattached single male and female in goodly numbers. The baseball stadium today is not a ticket for seats it's a ticket for adventure. For the older crowd there is even a sit down knife and fork dinner restaurant up near the press box.

Your biggest crowd will be found at the garden tent area where the picnic or carnival atmosphere with some theme motif draws droves of mixed couples. The drink is not the big orange with a coney. Souvenir cups touting the entire array of cool frosty beer with some exotic floating leaf.

The seating in this area is not stadium sit down and watch the curve ball get belted into the stars. Fantastic assortment of park like benches and round table set the tone for "It's Party Time." When the game is over somebody won and nobody lost.

I suppose what it really boils down too is it is still a boy and girl thing at the ball park but a little different atmosphere. Conventional dating of boy goes by picks up his date and they go to the baseball game has changed. Now it is I'll see you at the game Louie.

This statistical thing would still be most interesting.

Batter Up---Let's Play Ball

Major Wiley B. Channell USMC (retirred) with baseball information for all at http://www.baseballfarming.com where it is.

At the ball park you win some you lose some and some are rained out. But it never rains on the rifle range.