Jennie Finch Takes The Mound At Celebrity Softball Game
This past Sunday I had the privilege of attending All-Star Sunday at Citi Field. Since tickets to the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby were through the roof,it was a fun and inexpensive way to get to Flushing to see Citi Field dressed to the nines for All-Star Week. Most that were there came for the Future’s Game, however by the end of the day, I found myself talking more about another event; the Celebrity Softball Game.
Once the Future’s Game ended, the crowd thinned out a bit, allowing for a closer view of the game. I was not concerned with the celebrities, only the Legends. That is with exception to Jenny Finch, she had my attention as well as several other fans, one of which called out for her hand in marriage.
Some of baseball’s finest living talent was on hand for a fun scrimmage. Kevin Millar and Chris Rose had sideline interviews with many of the different players while also providing commentary during at-bats. Everyone was in a good mood and was all-smiles; it was just a pure, fun event.
Being a younger fan, I never saw some of these guys play. Granted it is softball, Darryl Strawberry was in the batter’s box at Citi Field, I saw Ozzie Smith make three nice plays, I watched Andre Dawson touch ’em all, I witnessed Rollie Fingers‘ mustache with my own two eyes.
For one last time I got to see my favorite all-time Met Mike Piazza behind the plate in Flushing. Rickey was being Rickey, Bernie was being Bernie, and comedian Kevin James face planted into second base.
I found myself cheering and getting into the event just as much as I have with any regular Mets game. When James caught that hot-shot from Craig Carton, the whole crowd was on their feet. When Piazza ripped a home run, everyone went crazy. As funny as it sounds, it was electric while also having a relaxed, Sunday afternoon-vibe to it.
The greatest storyline to come out of the event was Marine Corps Veteran Josh Wege, who lost the lower portion of both of his legs in an explosion in Afghanistan. Wege made a great diving attempt on a fly ball in the first, had a single and drilled a key two-run homer to earn MVP honors and a post-game interview with ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian. After the game was over, hundreds of people swarmed behind the home dugout, tossing baseballs, hats, programs and gloves to Wege to sign. It was incredible to see a true American hero be honored in such a way.
All-in-all it was fun-filled eight hours of baseball on Sunday, and in the end was probably more fun than I would have had scrambling for a view on the Shea Bridge with a Standing Room Only ticket to the All-Star Game, and a fraction of the cost.
