Now that summer is here and the weather is getting warmer (at least in most of the country) the People of Berkeley are heading outside to enjoy the long, balmy days. With baseball season in full swing, it’s the perfect time to head to your team’s stadium to catch a game (puns intended). Here in Berkeley, we are lucky to be just a stone’s throw from two teams worth following: the Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants.
The Oakland Athletics:
As of June 2014, the Oakland A’s are leading with the most wins of any team in both the American league and the National league. They obviously aren’t struggling for wins, and yet low attendance and dilapidated stands makes watching a game at the Coliseum feel like rooting for the underdog – which is practically an American pastime in itself. Oakland’s weather is always a couple of degrees warmer than Berkeley’s, and sometimes there is nothing better than a sunny day game at the Oakland Coliseum with a beer and some garlic fries. Bonus: the home team just might win.
San Francisco Giants:
There are many reasons to see a game at the Giant’s stadium, AT&T Park: the quirky, character-filled team, easy access by Muni, cheap nosebleed and standing tickets. But one of the best reasons to visit the stadium is the stadium itself. AT&T Park is the most beautiful stadium in baseball. The park sits on the water, with a phenomenal view of the San Francisco bay. There are fun traditions like the splash count (the number of balls that have gone into the bay) and the crowd singing Journey’s Lights at the 8th inning stretch. I recommend going to a night game sitting behind home plate (even if it is in the cheap seats). It gets a little chilly, but you can watch the sun set over the bay without it glaring in your eyes.
Find tickets at www.stubhub.com