Like my visit to
Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark., I wanted to visit Hammons Field because of my impending move out of the region and I expect it would be difficult to make a trip back with the primary purpose of watching games at each stadium. After packing up my apartment in Stillwater, Okla., I ventured toward Springfield in pursuit of my summertime goal. Before arriving in Springfield, I explored some other sights in southwest Missouri like
Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site, which allowed me to complete my trifecta of
Truman presidential sights. However, that's another story for another time. I'm here to talk baseball, which was the real purpose of the trip.
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| Main entrance. |
I don't know if there are lines waiting to enter the stadium each night, but I expect there were lines on the night I attended the game because the
Springfield Cardinals celebrated Christmas in July and the exclusive giveaway item was a snow globe that contained a replica of the team's 2012
Texas League championship trophy.
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| Snow globe with replica 2012 Texas League championship trophy. |
While Ben Hill's
article on MiLB.com provided a lot of information about the stadium, he didn't sample the ballpark staples like hot dogs or sandwiches. He highlighted the popcorn stand, the hot dog selection, and the Cardinals Creamery, but only ate popcorn and ice cream. So I didn't have a concrete idea of what to eat, I toured the concession stands and decided to wait until after the first pitch before getting something to eat.
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| First pitch: Northwest Arkansas Naturals at Springfield Cardinals. |
It was "Johnsonville Buck a Brat Night," which is something I'd normally indulge in very quickly. However, I wanted to be more selective in my dinner choice. I wanted to be sure that I experienced something unique to Hammons Field. After walking around the concessions and debating it over, I decided to purchase my typical encased meat at The Doghouse.
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| The Doghouse featured a variety of encased meats, but not the night's featured "Buck a Brat." |
I'm not sure why the team offers a Chicago Dog, as the
Chicago Cubs are a major rival of the Springfield team's parent club - the
St. Louis Cardinals. I thought I might betray the home team if I ate a Chicago dog, so I opted for the Missouri Dog.
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| The Missouri Dog, which is a hot dog served with melted American cheese and topped with grilled sauerkraut. |
I added ketchup and yellow mustard to the hot dog. The hot dog was OK, but nothing special. I didn't ask what made it unique enough to earn the moniker "Missouri Dog," but I can only presume that it's a staple of Missouri ballpark cuisine. Perhaps the best part of my meal was a local craft brew:
Paul's Pale Ale from
Springfield Brewing Company. The beer was a very good American pale ale, and a nice compliment to the sauerkraut on the Missouri Dog.
I saw something unexpected at the ballpark when I saw a concession stand that offered a funnel dog. I did not inquire about why it was available, but I expect it was a specialty item on the menu because the Cardinals were hosting the
Northwest Arkansas Naturals - the team that made the funnel dog famous.
I'm usually content with a hot dog and a beer, but my stomach needed more this night. In hindsight I should've gotten the Texas League Dog, but instead I took advantage of the "Johnsonville Buck a Brat" promo and had a bratwurst with another regional craft brew. For my second round, I had
Urban Chestnut Brewing Company's
Zwickel lager. The beer was a delicious, and reminded me of the German lagers I home brewed with my dad.
Although I saw the popcorn stand and ice cream station, I wasn't in the mood for any desserts. So I didn't get a mini helmet full of ice cream, and I didn't experiment with the popcorn flavors. Instead, I turned my attention to the game and the promotions.
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| Cardinals second baseman Colin Walsh at the plate. |
While the Cardinals featured a Christmas-related give away item, the on-field promotions did not show any hint of Christmas. A great example is the Bob Ross Paint Off, which took place in the middle of the 4th inning. I loved watching "
The Joy of Painting" on PBS, but I don't understand how it helped celebrate "Christmas in July."
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| The Bob Ross Paint Off. |
There were a handful of Christmas songs played during the game, but there were no unique on-screen graphics, no Christmas-themed skits, and there was no appearance by Santa Claus or his eight tiny reindeer. When my schedule changed and I knew I'd be attending the Christmas in July game, I was excited because I anticipated a game filled with Christmas-related promotions, prizes, and more. Instead, I had an experience that lacked almost any hint of Christmas.
I did capture photos with the team's two mascots:
Louie and Fetch. I also made sure to vote for Louie in MiLB.com's
Mascot Mania with a post on Twitter and through the web site.
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| Me with Louie. |
Like many teams, the Cardinals have two mascots. On Louie's first birthday, fans presented him with a puppy: Fetch!
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| Close-up of me with Fetch. |
Since April I've become more conscious of taking a photo with the team mascot(s), so I'm happy I got photos with both Louie and Fetch. On this trip, I noticed something else. I noticed more fans filming or taking photos with their tablets. Only a few days after seeing fans with heavy-duty technology in Springdale, I saw it again in Springfield. I'm all for taking photos and documenting your experience, but I think it's a bit extreme to record video with your tablet or with a mini digital recorder.
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| Most likely a proud parent recording her child's accomplishments with the latest technology. |
While planning my visit to Hammons Field, I looked over a handful of reviews besides Ben Hill's piece. Many articles described the experience as a "mini major," which means that the stadium and the experience is similar to attending a major league game, but at a mini park. In general, I'd have to agree with that critique. The ballpark is beautiful and it feels like a major league stadium, but a few minor league twists like the on-field, between-innings promotions remind fans that this is not The Show. Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo., may not be The Show, but the team shows visitors to this corner of Missouri a great time with a dash of local flavor.
