9 Mar 2019 - Angels vs Cubs Spring Training Game

9 Mar 2019

Today we attended a Chicago Cubs spring training baseball game at Sloan Park.  They hosted the Los Angeles Angels.  We stopped by a Petsmart Hotel on the way to the ballpark and dropped off Liberty for 'doggie daycare' so we did not have to cut our game day short. 

We arrived at the Sloan Park and quickly found parking.  Because we arrived well in advance, there was plenty of parking available.  We parked in a grassy field so there were no lines and extra space for the big ol' RAM! 

We walked across the street to Sloan Park.  The Cubs used to play ball here in Mesa at Hohokam Field, in fact we attended the LAST game the Cub's played at Hohokam in 2013.  That field was sold to the Oakland Athletics.  The Cub's new field, Sloan Park, was then built and financed by the residents of Mesa, and opened in the spring of 2014.  It has a capacity of 15,000, the largest spring training facility in Major League Baseball. The size and dimensions of the playing field closely match the Cub's home in Chicago, Wrigley Field.  In January 2015 the naming rights were purchased by Sloan Valve Company, hence 'Sloan Park'.   

We walked around the ballpark, past the team store to the home plate gate so we could check out the park.  

The Home Plate Gate

We processed through security and entered the park.  It as a beautiful stadium for sure.  They allowed us to go down near the field for pictures before the crowds arrived.  

I take terrible selfies.

Spring training is so exciting.  There is a buzz about the field!  Everyone is pumped for the new season to start and high hopes for a successful season.  We met people from all over the country.  Doreen wanted to get a visor and she needed to get her MLB Passport stamped, so we headed down to the Team Store.  They have an extensive inventory, one of the biggest I've ever seen!  

Inside the Team Store.

We also contacted 'fan services' and they provide 'first visit' certificates
for fans who have never been to Sloan Park before.

On the outside of the building they posted the starting rosters.  It is always exciting to see the MLB players that we have been following over the years.  The first four on the Cubs roster are regular season starters - Heyward, Zobrist, Rizzo and Schwarber.

We were both ready for something to eat and rather than messing with it in our seat we decided to take advantage of the picnic tables around the outside of the outfield. 

Now I have been sampling hot dogs at all the Major League Baseball ballparks around the United States and UNTIL TODAY, Cincinnati was the winner. Sorry, Reds Fans, Sloan Park just took first place! I had an absolutely awesome Chicago-style hot dog topped with yellow mustard, chopped white onions, green sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, pickled sport peppers and a dash of celery salt. No ketchup!  Doreen had a great hamburger. 

After lunch we walked around the area outside the outfield and noticed a sign on a vendor trailer selling tenderloins and it said 'DeWitt, IA'.  Hey, I lived in DeWitt IA from 1960 (kindergarten) through 1970 (freshman in high school)!!!  I need to check this out!  

So I approached the staff and they directed me to a guy sitting in a lawn chair in front of the trailer.  His name is Chuck(ie) Cox from DeWitt, owner of the trailer and he lived there during the time I lived there.  He knew my dad as he was a lieutenant in the Iowa Highway Patrol at the time, and in charge of the district 12 office in DeWitt.  Apparently Chuckie got into a bit of a snag with law enforcement down in Georgia and my dad had to pull a few strings to 'adjust the situation' so to speak LOL!!  So we had some laughs and reminiscing about times back in DeWitt!

Game time was upon us, so we quickly checked out the outfield 'seating' and then headed down to our seats on the first base side.  

General admission seating on blankets in the outfield, similar to the bleachers at Wrigley. 
Nice family accommodations! 

Our seats were in section 118 which is just beyond first base.  We were surprised to hear the David "Grandpa Rossi" Ross, a catcher from the 2016 World Series Cubs,  was coaching first base, and we had a great view of him.  

David "Grandpa Rossi" Ross coaching first base.

We had great seats and really enjoyed the game.  

A view from our seats in row 11

Pedro Strop on the mound.  Strop has been a relief pitcher for the Cubs for several years.

The main starters were pulled early on in the game so that others could get a chance to play.    The Cubs went on to beat the Angels 11-4.  We will see three other Cubs games while we are here.  Two of them will be here at Sloan Park and one will be at the old Cubs home, Hohokam Field against the A's.