“Did you enjoy it?” she said.
I stopped scrolling through the photos on my phone and turned to look at the lady sat beside me on the tube. It was around 10am, I was really tired, mildly hungover, in need of a Monster White. However, I was more than happy to discuss the incredible 4 days I’d just experienced.
She followed up with “Did you manage to get to the games?”
“Yeah, I got to go.” I said with a huge smile on my face.
“It was epic.”
She then proceeded to tell me all about her husband and two daughters (10 and 7-years-old) that also went to the games. They sat high in the bleachers for game 1, then were fortunate enough to have tickets on the 3rd base line for game 2. She also mentioned that her husband used to work in New York City, prior to them being married, so they would go to watch baseball every now and then.
“Did they enjoy it?” I asked when she had finished explaining the back story.
“My eldest really didn’t want to go. She was adamant she would hate it and said it would be a waste of time.”
“Oh” I said rather disappointingly.
“No, don’t worry, they absolutely loved it. They came back decked in brand new jerseys, caps, balls the volunteers and players were dishing out to the crowd. They are baseball fans for life now, they are desperate to watch more.”
I smiled, nodded and said:
“Your family were it. Your family were exactly who MLB were targeting this weekend. They don’t need or want me, I love the sport anyway. They want you and they put on a show good enough to get you.”
She stood to leave the carriage as her stop was approaching. I asked if she would be happy for me to put her story into a post as the train slowed to a halt and the doors opened. She agreed, asking if I needed anything else from her, the doors beeping loudly signalling they were about to lock her in the train for at least one more stop on the line.
I told her she was good to leave as she’d given me enough already.
She stepped off the tube, the doors closed, she was gone.
That was just one family, in a sea of over 100,000 people, this number doesn’t include the waves of people who went through Trafalgar Square that weekend.
You absolutely smashed it London Series. I can’t wait for next year.
As an American Cubs fan who attended this series, I had a blast. MLB outdid themselves in putting on the event, and I’m so glad that the scene you described here happened. That’s the reason these games were held, to try to make new baseball fans in new places. Wonderful experience!