I've always enjoyed visting a baseball venue. As a kid, I was able to go into Chicago once or twice to see the Cubs, and my dad took the whole family to St Louis once to the first version of Busch stadium. I've been to a few minor league parks, and lived on the north side of Chicago for 12 years and went to Wrigley field often. About nine years ago, we were at Fenway.

But the proverbial clock began to tick a little louder when I realized that Yankee Stadium, built in 1923 was going to be razed after this season.

I found a tour group which would include a bus trip to and from the game in addition to the game ticket, talked my sister and her son into meeting me, and went to the ballgame.

We had seats in right field and got to see Bobby Abreu and Melky Cabrera put on quite a show with several spectacular catches right in front of our seats. The Yanks played the Angels, currently holding the one of the best season records in all the major leagues. In the top of the ninth, the score was still tied 0-0. Reliever Mariano Rivera gave up a hit, the Angels sent in a pinch runner, managed to score him, and won 1-0. A terrific game to see on a once in a lifetime trip!

The entire weekend was marvelous fun, and I'm so glad I went. However, as the old saying goes, there's no place like home. Since I work in the guest relations section of Coors Field staff, and since customer service standards are pounded into us at every training and every briefing, I found several lapses in the staff attitudes, principally in those manning the souvenir stands. The ushers near our seats did come up to my admittedly high standards.

But, with the exception of a rainout, I don't think anything could have spoiled the fun for me.