By Let me preface this post by stating that I am not a baseball fan nor an expert on baseball. But I do know good behavior! Now, I have nothing against baseball; I actually love attending any live sporting event. Maybe it is the atmosphere of true patriotism or the fact that I have an excuse to enjoy $ 5 Cracker Jacks without the toy (true capitalism). Nevertheless, after attending a Washington Nationals game yesterday, I realized, even at the ball park, there are a few rules of etiquette to be observed. Here are my top 3 baseball etiquette rules (strikes) that hopefully will get you through the season faux pas and confrontation free.
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Number #3 – Pretending you have a personal maid in the stadium staff. This is more of a personal issue for me. Yes, you apparently can throw your peanut shells all over the ground (although I suggest containing them in a cup or tray), however; the staff at the stadium are not there to clean up after you. You enjoyed your brat and nachos, kindly pick up the remainder and throw it away. It only makes sense. This goes for movie theatres and Panera Bread as well.
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Number #2 – Usurping a seat for which you did NOT pay for. I completely understand seeing that beautiful set of empty seats in Row 1 and the strong desire you have to squat in them. And even after an inning or two you figure, “those folks aren’t coming, I’d hate to see them go to waste.” And while it is rather tactless to take someone else’s seat, it is even worse when that person arrives and you attempt to make a case of ‘squatter’s rights’. I know it’s embarrassing, but you must quickly drop your head and expeditiously move to the less stellar seats that you purchased.
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Number #1 – Returning to your seat during an at-bat, prayer or soliloquy. I will admit, this was a new one for me. I am a theatre snob, so I suppose I can find a correlation. However, I incorrectly assumed that a person going up and down from their seats was all part of the natural flow of any sporting event where there are $10 hot dogs and beers calling your name from mere rows behind. However, it is in fact in poor taste to return to your seat during an at-bat. The ushers carrying their: “Stop! Do NOT Take Your Seat!” signs are supposed to keep the Neanderthals from returning to seats during at-bats. However, there’s nothing like personal knowledge. So just like church or the theatre, please wait for an appropriate time to take your seat, leave or stand.
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