On April 30th, 2017 Alan made his major league debut at Progressive Field, playing third base and batting 4th in the Kids Starting Lineup! Here’s the timeline and recap of Alan’s eventful day:
11:09 –11:39 – Alan and his traveling party ride to the ballpark aboard the RTA Green Line. When Alan arrives at Tower City, he eats his pregame meal: A soft pretzel (his favorite baseball food).
12:10 – Alan enters the ballpark and meets up with the other 7 kids in the starting lineup at the Terrace Club elevators. A few minutes later, the kids (and parents) head down to the field level and set up on the track behind home plate.
12:20 – Mickey Calloway rolls baseballs to the kids from the Indians dugout.
12:30 – Alan’s cheering section finds him behind home plate; many photos are taken.
12:53 – The kids line up in order and head down the left field line for the National Anthem. Alan’s cheering section shifts with him.
12:57 – The Hot Dogs and Slider greet the kids while they wait to take the field.
1:03 – The Kids Starting Lineup is announced by Sara Shookman of Channel 3 News and Alan runs out to third base! Video of the action was captured from the third base seats and from behind home plate (Jumbotron in view).
1:08 – The Indians take the field, and Alan meets Jose Ramirez! Alan gets an autographed ball from Ramirez before heading off the field.
1:10 – Josh Tomlin throws the first pitch and the Indians game is underway. The temperature at first pitch is 76 degrees, though it feels much warmer in the sun.
1:20 – Alan and I are reunited under the stadium, and we return to the main concourse to meet up with the family.
1:35 – Now on the family deck, Alan picks up his 2017 Tribe Town MVP souvenirs and enters the Kids Clubhouse.
2:00 – The Indians begin an 8-run rally in the bottom of the 3rd inning – their highest scoring inning since May 2015.
2:10 – Jose Ramirez, likely inspired by Alan, tags and scores on a shallow pop-fly to RF with an incredible tag-avoiding slide.
2:15 – Alan orders the largest box of popcorn either of us has ever seen.
2:20 – Brantley caps the Indians’ 8-run outburst with a 2-run HR to right field.
2:40 – Alan returns to the family deck activities after eating lunch. He climbs the Lofton wall and hits at Little League Park.
3:10 – Alan beats [simulated] Slider in a footrace and tests his pitching accuracy.
3:40 – This picture is taken: 🙂
4:00– Alan enters the “Kids Run the Bases” line and moves towards the front with his Tribe Town MVP badge.
4:08 – Indians record the final out and beat the Mariners 12-4.
4:15 – Alan circles the bases in record time! He also coaxes me out of retirement, and I struggle to keep up. Later a photo of Alan appears on the Indians website in their game recap photo gallery. 🙂
4:20 – Alan stops for some finals photos. He also plays photographer and takes a few photos of his traveling party – plus some selfies – to wrap up the day at the ballpark.
5:04 – 5:32 – We return home on RTA. Afterwards, Alan wants to watch the train until it leaves the station, which we do because it’s his day.
