Baseball is in the Air

Can you smell that? Take a deep breath... savor it... exhale slowly. It's the sweet smell of BASEBALL SEASON! Astros Fan Fest kicks it off for me every year, as it's held about a week before pitchers and catchers report to spring training.

After I get over my initial shock of parking literally across the street from Minute Maid Park (MMP) for only $1, the first thing I notice is the "Return of the Good Guys" banner with Carlos Lee sporting his new team colors. Man, it feels good to be "home". I love MMP... something calming about just being in the vacinity... to actually sit down inside is nothing short of a religious experience for me.

I walked slowly around the concourse, soaking in the atmosphere, just beginning to bustle with activity as the vendors set up their tables and the children's games are taking shape as they are inflated with air. The sounds of baseball waft in from the field, where Rice is playing Vanderbilt in the first game of the Houston College Classic. The only distinction between this game and an Astros game is the metallic pop as the ball makes contact with the metal bats college teams use.

After conversing briefly with a vendor about Jason Jennings and Carlos Lee rookie cards, I purchased a grossly overpriced Diet Dr. Pepper and found a spot to hide and jot notes, as I couldn't resist the urge to record the sights and sounds that signal the beginning of baseball season for me. Astros Fan Fest starts it all. After relishing the moment for a while, I made another circle around the concourse. Although not set up yet, the vendors were more than willing to pull out anything I asked for in the hopes of making a sale. I carefully chose some Jason Jennings and Carlos Lee rookies, as I would need those for autographs over the next 2 days.

At this point, it occured to me that I found the conversations with the vendors oddly comforting. These are people just like me... people who understand what pulling a 1957 Frank Robinson rookie card means. This line of thinking moves me quickly to the fact that I need to make some friends that do what I do... friends who understand the passion and insanity that is card collecting.

I spent the rest of the day chatting off and on with my two new friends, sitting in the Crawford Boxes, watching the next two games, and purchasing a few more cards of Astros players - most notably, a Craig Biggio 1988 Score Update. It was the perfect card for his autograph. *sigh* It feels good!