‘Take me out to the ball game’ takes on new meaning at the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Written by Victoria Scialfa on June 22, 2021
‘Take me out to the ball game’ takes on new meaning at the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
By Ben Stemrich
June 22, 2021
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs 2020 season was canceled because of the pandemic. This year they’re getting back on the field with fans back in the stands.
It seems the game has taken on a whole new meaning.
Just ask Paul Sofia from New Jersey.
“Baseball is in my heart and in my blood and I love it, this is part of me,” Sofia says.
Recently the Pigs opened up to 100% capacity. Masks are not required, and few people were wearing them.
“It’s been a difficult year and a half for us, we’ve been 616 days between IronPigs games,” says Kurt Landes, president and general manager of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Seats were filling up, the concourse was bustling with action, and there were lines at food stands.
Just what people like Jay Hone of the Lehigh Valley came out for.
“We haven’t been to a sporting event or anything public in the last couple years so we’re really excited,” Hone says.
For some fans, like Ashley Parker of Kutztown, it was family time.
“It actually feels really great, I actually got the tickets from work, so I got to bring my family out and it was a nice way to kick off summer,” Parker says.
Kaylee Bullard was there with her mom.
She says getting back to the old normal feels different.
“I don’t know. I guess I’m just used to sitting on my couch, or a few people running around,” Bullard says.
Fan Paul Sofia says he’ll never take going to a game for granted again.
“Everything: the action, the crowd, the smell of hot dogs, peanuts, beer, the players, everything. Just ‘Take me out to the ball game,’” Sofia says.
The Pigs lost that night, but everyone I spoke with said they were vaccinated, comfortable, and just happy to be out.
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