Back in early 2002, I got the idea to visit each MLB stadium.  I was burning out working at Juilliard, and the events of September 11th made me realize life was too short to be working 70 hours a week at something I didn’t absolutely love.  I loved it, but it had definitely become a job.

So I started thinking I would do this super cool thing, while I tried to figure out what was next.

Then baseball started talking about contracting two teams.  The Montreal Expos weren’t making it- and well, if you get rid of one team you have to get rid of another- and the Twins were up for consideration, or so everyone thought.  That sparked an idea.  Why could baseball survive in Toronto and not Montreal?   Why could it thrive in St. Louis and not in Kansas City or perhaps Minnesota?   That is where the idea for my first book first came from.

It didn’t take too long before it was clear that contraction, at least in terms of Minnesota was a blackmail scheme to get a new stadium. It took longer to know what was up in Montreal, of course.  Bud Selig nearly said that as well today before opening day at that new stadium- Target Field.

I am sitting here now, watching the Twins host the Red Sox in their new home.  For the first time in nearly 30 years, sun shines down on the Twins on their home opener.  No more baggie, no more losing balls in the ceiling, no more home field advantage from the noise.

The Target Field celebration began with the unveiling of a statue of Kirby Puckett outside gate #34 (in honor of Puckett’s uni number) followed quickly by Kirby’s wife and son being the first to step foot inside the unpadlocked gate.  This Brian Murphy piece will give you a good picture- and perhaps give you some chills even if your own opening day has past.

So the park looks good.  The sun is shining.  Now there is a Major League ball park that I have not been to.  I am thinking that in 2012 I need to head back on the road to repeat the journey- and perhaps do an update to The View from the Stands. Until then, I just have to figure out how to get to Target field.