For nostalgia: My dad taking my brother and I to watch the Hawaii Islanders or the University of Hawaii Rainbows on weekends. The Rainbows were nationally ranked and very entertaining in the early 80’s. The stadium was small and intimate and the players took care of the field. The Islanders were our professional home team and loved those players: Gwynn, Wiggins, Flannery, Orsulak, et al. I hated when the September call-ups would happen right as we were going into the PCL playoffs.

From watching the game live: Besides every visit to Dodger Stadium, my favorite memory has to be attending the 1996 ALDS the NY Yankees vs the Texas Rangers in The Ballpark in Arlington. Although the Rangers lost the series, it was exciting games. Juan Gonzalez was a one man wrecking crew but ultimately it was Bernie Williams and the Yankees who prevailed. It was special to see the beginning of the what that Yankee core would do over the next few years. I also seen a no-hitter. George Stablien threw a no-no for the Hawaii Islanders on San Diego Chicken Night.

From a fan perspective: I got to sit down with Don Newcombe at a card show. I was in his autograph line and he saw that I had some kind of Hawaii t-shirt on so he asked me where I was from. When I answered him, he told me to come around the table to sit and talk with him. We found out that he had a vacation home about a mile from where I lived and right on the beach that I boogie boarded and fished as a kid. We chatted for about 20 – 25 minutes. I also got to meet and shake hands with Larry Doby but that was in passing. It was Larry Doby Day at The Ballpark in Arlington and he was honored at a season ticket holders luncheon in the old Legends of the Game Baseball Museum. I was working as a museum and learning center guide and before he left to take a ride around the ballpark to be acknowledged, I got to shake his hand. This was in 1997 for the 50th Anniversary of him breaking the color barrier in the American League.