As the San Diego Padres get set to face the Chicago Cubs on the road in a National League Wild Card Series, they left Petco Park this past Sunday afternoon on quite a high note.
Not only did San Diego thump the rival Arizona Diamondbacks 12-4, but they ended the regular season by breaking a pair of records off the field.
Last Sunday’s game was the 72nd sellout of the season at Petco Park. It also brought the season’s final tally of fans coming through the gates to a whopping 3,437,201.
For myself, last Sunday’s game was the second one I attended this season.
Since my New York Yankees did not visit Petco Park this season (they will be here next year over Labor Day weekend), I did not get to see them play there. I did make it to one of the games back in July when my hometown Philadelphia Phillies came visiting.
While many people reading this have likely been to Petco Park for at least one ballgame since its opening in 2004, those who haven’t gone to a game should definitely put it on their to-do list.
Going to a baseball game at the local ballpark is more than just watching nine innings of baseball.
You get to see some of the best fans in baseball. You have at your fingertips a nice selection of food and drink. The entertainment on the video board during breaks in the game often provides you with a good laugh or two.
This Sunday was the normal salute to the local military.
Several hundred members of the military in uniform were in attendance to take in the game. Paying homage to the men and women who protect us on a daily basis is something the Padres do a great job of.
It also gives you a chill when all these military members are in the crowd and the National Anthem is played.
During the seventh-inning break, America the Beautiful is typically performed. The young woman performing it last Sunday did a great job as the sellout crowd soaked it all in.
Even if you would not consider yourself the biggest baseball fan in the world, I would highly recommend taking in a game at Petco Park if you’ve yet to do so.
For Padres fans, they hope the team wins its series this week in Chicago and moves along to the next round of the playoffs.
Should the Padres do so, there will at least be another opportunity or two to see the boys at Petco Park this fall.
