This past Easter, my sister made an interesting observation; turning to my parents, she whined, “Why do we always have to spend holidays watching baseball?”  Of course, I quickly snapped back at her that we didn’t spend every holiday watching baseball.  “You can’t watch baseball on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s or Valentine’s Day, and you’re lucky my birthday is in December,” I said.

For the past four years straight (and numerous times off and on before that), I have spent the Fourth of July at the ballpark.  As with the rest of the holidays during baseball season, watching baseball seems to be the proper way to celebrate the Fourth.  But even more so than catching a game with dad on Father’s Day, the Fourth of July and baseball seem to naturally fit together–the combination of America’s favorite pastime and the celebration of the country’s existence.  I can’t imagine spending my Fourth any other way.

Well, make this year number five–with a twist.  I will be spending my Fourth of July at Memorial Stadium with the packed house of fans and the rest of the Hawks staff.

I think I have chosen the right career path.  After all, what other job would allow me to spend my Fourth of July the same way I would if I wasn’t even working?!

Ok, so I won’t get to see the fireworks the same way as I would if I were a fan in the stands, but the view from the press box isn’t too bad.  And, yes, I might be a tad more stressed than I typically would at a Fourth of July baseball game…but in the end it’s all the same.

I get to spend my Fourth of July at my favorite place to spend Fourth of July–the ballpark!

And, boy, are we preparing for quite the celebration!  Memorial Stadium will see a full house and a game featuring post-game fireworks, a Memorial Stadium t-shirt giveaway at the gates and 4ALS Awareness Night.  4ALS Awareness commemorates the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech at Yankee Stadium and is designed to bring awareness and raise funds for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.”  Additionally, the Hawks will wear their Main Street Mile replica 1978 Chicago Cubs jerseys that night as they take on the Eugene Emeralds.

Tomorrow will definitely be one of the more memorable Fourth of July’s I have spent at the ballpark…simply for the fact that, for the first time I won’t be one of the fans taking in the celebration from my seat in the stands, but, instead, I will be part of the team responsible for bringing the celebration to the stands.  No doubt, however, I will enjoy it just the same.