The Major League Baseball regular season is winding down, but we haven’t quite finished with it yet. Closer to home, for us, the minor leagues have finished their postseason championships.

My husband and I try to make it to as many games as possible of our hometown Greensboro Grasshoppers, the High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. We’ve now said a mixed happy/sad goodbye for this year.

The last game we attended was on a Friday close to the end of the season. The team won with lots of action and great plays. An appearance by Miss Willie Mae Mays, bat dog extraordinaire, spiced it up. A grand fireworks display closed things out for us. The Hoppers had a very good season, going 75-55 for the season and ending as the South Atlantic League North Division champions. Unfortunately, they lost in the first round of the playoffs, going 1-2.

I enjoy watching major league games on TV and occasionally going to a game, but, honestly, minor league games have a lot to recommend them. Cost is probably the biggest difference. Ticket prices to a local game are far less than for MLB teams. A good seat behind the first or third base dugout costs about a third of the price of a nose-bleed-section seat at a big league stadium. Not to mention the cost for parking, food, beer, and even souvenirs is far less as well.

Because the stadiums are smaller, you can be much closer to the action. No binoculars needed to follow the ball. Food lines can get long on days that draw crowds, but being the second or third person in line is more common.  And the options may not be as extensive as at larger parks, there are still plenty of choices that include the standard essential ballpark fare of hot dogs, nachos, pizza, peanuts, popcorn, and Cracker Jack.

Another advantage for us is we can be home from the ballpark in ten minutes, seven if all the traffic lights co-operate.

We’ve taken visiting family members to games on several occasions this summer and we’ve always had a great time.

But now Fall is here. Pro Football has started. It’s time to put away the summer clothes and get out the sweaters and coats.

Thanks to the Greensboro Grasshoppers, players and staff, for a wonderful summer and great memories.