Stitch and Pitch 2011

I went to my first Brewer's game in the new Miller Park Stadium with the Sow's Ear group last night. The park sponsors a Stitch and Pitch game every summer. They invite knitters/crocheters from all over the state to a game and they have special contests, raffles and even a Miller Park Chorizo Sausage bobble head souvenir...and he's knitting! 

Got on the bus at The Ear and rode to Milwaukee. Got a lot of knitting done on the bus. We tailgated in the parking lot before the game-hotdogs-YUM and then went in to the stadium just as the black clouds rolled in. Got to watch them close the roof which was really amazing.  We signed up for the raffle, collected of Chorizo and headed for our seats on the second floor.

The new stadium is beautiful though I couldn't help but remember the big crane disaster that occurred during it's construction. So sad.  Our section was mostly all knitters except for two guys behind us who were so freaked out by all of the crazy, knitting ladies with pointy sticks that they vacated the premises fairly early in the second inning.

I quickly discovered that though the concept sounds good, knitting and baseball are a kind of oil and water mixture at best. Between being squished into the seats, trying to pay attention to the game, juggling your drink and gigantic sesame-garlic pretzel, having beer splashed on you, having to stand up and gather all of your belongings from the sticky floor in front of you every two seconds for someone who has to get out of your row to go get a snack or go to the bathroom, knitting just wasnt' in the cards. I put it away and spent the rest of the evening enjoying the game. Really enjoying it.. I know! Me! Liking a sport!

The Field

The Jumbo tron

Of course, true to form I was more amused by the fun stuff like the racing sausages and when the mascot, Bernie the Brewer, slid down the water slide into a hot tub when there was a home run!

There was a wicked thunderstorm during the game with strobing lightning flashes and thunder that could be felt and heard over the crowds and announcers!  The power flickered once and led me to entertain what would actually happen should the lights go out while I was surrounded by 40,000 of my closest friends in what is essentially a giant, ramped/corridored/domed gerbil habitat for people, but it didn't happen.

Open roof before the game

             Closed roof during the game

We won the game which was exciting-don't think I've even been to a game where we won before.  When we left the stadium, it was pouring. The bus was parked way out in the dooryard so it was a 10 -15 minute walk in the crowds and we were all drenched for the ride home. All in all I had a great time and I'd go again in a minute. But next time, I'll remember to leave my knitting bag on the bus!