Anyone who calls themselves a baseball fan has to love Michigan. Within driving distance to one another are, the Detroit Tigers, the Toledo Mud Hens (AAA), the Lansing Lugnuts (A), the West Michigan Whitecaps (A), the Battle Creek Yankees (A), and the Kalamazoo Kings (Frontier). And that list doesn’t even include teams in Indiana or south of Toledo.

Being the middle of summer, it was time for a road trip (albeit a short one). People flew in from as far east as New York City and as far west as Chicago. The first stop was Todelo for a doubleheader against the dreaded Durham Bulls at Toledo’s beautiful Fifth Third Field. The stadium was named the best minor league ballpark in America, and if you never been then you have to take mine and Newsweek’s word for it. SIX DOLLAR BEERS? Only in Toledo. The field is a real prize in Toledo’s revitilization. The long and short of it is that Toledo swept the doubleheader 4-3 and 2-0. Mustard won the first weiner race with Ketchup taking the rematch. The tricycle races, kids catching Z’s dressed as mattresses, and fireworks are all a blur to me now. Be sure to catch Myron Noodleman as he returns on the 13th of August.

On Sunday, the Tigers destroyed the New York Yankees 4-2 in front of a sold-out Comerica Park. I’m sure the win would have been a bigger story had the Blues Brothers or Skyy Dogs USA performed.

All of this baseball has renewed my efforts to bring minor league baseball back to Ypsilanti.