No Trouble in River City

The game of baseball is not as important as the experience of baseball. You can still have a good time at the game even when your team loses, because the ritual — even-ups, 27 outs per team, peanuts, hot dogs, nachos and beer (a.k.a. eating for the cycle) — is the spectator's reward. The ritual is the game's inalienable right, and it's a self-evident truth that all baseball is good baseball, with the possible exception of the San Diego Padres. Frugality is also part of the fun, and there is no better confluence of affordability and baseball than the River City Rascals. Tickets for all games are $5 to $11 — and the Rascals begin a six game home stand at 7:05 p.m. tonight at T.R. Hughes Ballpark (T.R. Hughes Boulevard and Tom Ginnever Avenue, O'Fallon; 636-240-2287 or www.rivercityrascals.com) with the first of three games against the Traverse City Beach Bums, followed by three more versus the Kalamazoo Kings. Six games for $30 is about as pretty as the 6-4-3 double play — and you can't call yourself a St. Louisan if you don't appreciate that. PHOTO BY DON ADAMS JR.
July 8-13, 2008