Sure I have seen a few robins out and about, and I am sure that some of y'all have a yard full of color . But here in lower Ontario, we know its SPRING when the Redwings come back ala Capistrano to Rochester!
We switched hotels this year, moving out of downtown to the suburbs making getting in and out of the event so much easier, and really, there was a lot more room at this hotel. Now you dont have the iconic view of the Genesee flowing north to the lake nor the skyline - but you have easy free parking. Our pal Jack is on the board of the team and gets a table each year at the event. We have been going a long time. This hotel is nice with a big indoor atrium / pool area with a few bars set up - and the staff was most efficient and friendly.
The local chapter of the American Legion puts it on and they do a really nice job with lots of flags and singing of songs. Marching about step! step! step! and the presenting of arms.
Our baseball buddy Larissa and the muckily mucks - the owner of the team Naomi and the President of the organization Gary
You get there early before the dinner and festivities and get stuff signed by the 2015 team. Spikes and Mitsy are there to keep things moving right along and everyone entrained.
It really is a fun dinner
You get to meet the team, have little one minute chats with the players - a really large number are back from last season , which is pretty rare for AAA baseball.
Linda and the VOICE OF THE REDWINGS! Josh ( he is the radio/tv guy )
Tonight we had all our bases covered with not one but two BISHOPS, one of each kind, Jack the Episcopalian and Matt the Roman Catholic . I wanted them to put their two rings together to see if their wonder twin powers would activate...
Dinner is your straight up hotel banquet fare - this was chicken, some folks had pork. There was a salad and rolls sitting when you got to your table , and a big plate of cookies and either chocolate cake or cakey brownies.
Every table - well most every table GETS A PLAYER! We had
DOUG BERNIER , the current shortstop. He could not have been a nicer guy, saw that my pal Thomas is handicapped and came over to him to chat , spend some time - then went to each of us at the table and intruded himself, shook everyones hands etc. A very nice guy with excellent manners - I wanted to write his parents a nice letter because from what I have seen over the years, this is not always the case with these young men. He even came up after the dinner said how nice it was to meet us and sorry we could not chat more across the table - it was a pretty loud room.
The American folks are up on the dais, along with Naomi, the new coach, the GM etc along with the County Executive Maggie Brooks, a simi mean Republican who is big pals with Naomi - but you let things slide to keep things on a friendly level at the ball park. For the first time since we have been going there was no one from the city of Rochester there, sometimes it was the mayor or someone - maybe they are mad that the dinner moved out of downtown.. there were a few other changes this year as well , that sort of kept things moving at a faster pace.
We were the cool table and a large time was had by all .. NOW ON TO BASEBALL !
( as long as it is above 50ยบ and no snow or rain , or too windy... )
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