Heading to the ballpark? We've got tips for Lugnuts fans
Nothing goes better with a sun-splashed midsummer day than a visit to the ballpark.
And with the Lansing Lugnuts in town, those trips are easy to make for those in Greater Lansing.
If you're ready to watch some baseball, Jackson Field will be the place to be in the coming days. Starting July 4, the Lugnuts will have six home games in six days against the Lake County Captains. All games will be at 7:05 p.m., with the exception of the final game in that stretch on July 9 at 1:05 p.m.
So what do you need to know if your family is planning to spend some time in downtown Lansing at the ballpark? We could spend time delving into which hitter has the most power or which pitcher has the best curveball.
But we're here to help with the important stuff.
From foul balls to finding shade to post-game fun, we've got you covered.
The best place to land a foul ball
One of the unique things about attending a baseball game is the chance to get a free souvenir from the field of play. And for those bringing their gloves in hopes of snagging a foul ball, the best places to sit are a little further away from the action. Head down the left-field or right-field lines, past the protective netting that goes from the visiting dugout on the third-base side to the home dugout on the first-base side.
A veteran of Lugnuts games has a more specific suggestion.
"The majority of hitters are right-handed batters and the majority of pitches are fastballs," said Jesse Goldberg-Strassler, the Lugnuts' radio broadcaster since 2009. "(When the hitters swing late) I see foul ball after foul ball end up in those bleachers (in right field)."
The top sections to sit in to get a ball on the first base side are DD through B. Sections P and Q and the Pepsi Porch are top foul ball areas on the third base side.
Just pay attention and have your gloves ready.
Where to get a photo with Big Lug
Looking to document your visit to the park by getting a picture with Big Lug — the purple dinosaur who serves as the Lugnuts mascot? Arriving early is a way to improve your chances.
Starting 50 minutes before first pitch, Big Lug is stationed on the concourse in the Sparrow photo shoot area for 15 minutes. For a standard 7:05 p.m. start, Big Lug is available for photos from 6:15-6:30 p.m. The Sparrow photo area is behind the home plate area on the concourse.
After his other pre-game responsibilities, fans can catch Big Lug roaming around the concourse or visiting suites. At the end of the game, Big Lug can be found by the gate.
Following games on kids day on Sunday, Lugnuts assistant general manager of stadium events and operations Greg Kigar said Big Lug typically spends 20 minutes taking photos or signing autographs.
When and where to get player autographs
Some people go to minor league games with the hopes of scoring an autograph from a player who could one day play in the majors. Before the game is the best shot at collecting some signatures.
Getting to the park when the gates open (an hour and 5 minutes before first pitch) and hanging around the dugouts is a way to potentially interact with a player and get an autograph.
The best time to catch players is when they begin to emerge from the clubhouse to take the field for pre-game warm-ups or when they return to the dugout before first pitch.
"We're not as autograph friendly as a lot of places because we have the walkways down behind where the players are definitely milling down towards the bullpens," Kigar said. "For us, as far as the home side, it's a little easier once you get closer to the dugouts for sure."
The best place for shade at Jackson Field
Hoping to visit the ballpark and not have to sit in or look into the sun? Getting seats on the third-base line provides the best option. Sitting in sections L through Q provide the most shade at Jackson Field.
From his experience, Kigar has noticed fans staying away from their first-base seats in the early portion of games on warm and sunny days.
"The sun shines right down on the first-base side which is unusual because that's (the Lugnuts') dugout," Goldberg-Strassler said. "The best dugout to be (near) with the sun shining if you don't want to get the sun in your eyes is the visiting side."
Enjoy downtown
One of things that makes Jackson Field different from several of its counterparts across minor league baseball is that it’s located in the heart of downtown. Kigar said because of the development around the ballpark in recent years there is a lot more to do than just take in a Lugnuts game when coming to town.
“Before the game you can find something to do, after the game you can find something to do,” Goldberg-Strassler said. “I love that on Sundays, you can go and enjoy the game with your family, kids run the bases afterward and then you can run across the street (to the Capital City Market) for free ice cream. Us being downtown and not being separated from the rest of the city is really special.”
The other two Midwest League teams in Michigan — the Great Lakes Loons in Midland and the West Michigan Whitecaps in Comstock Park — don't feature the downtown convenience.
"I was in Midland with the Loons for a couple of years and they're right at the end of downtown, so it's very easy to drive in, park, go to the game, get back in your car and head home and not even know you're three, four or five blocks from a restaurant or a bar or something else to do downtown," Kigar said. "Our ballpark is cool because we're right in the thick of things."
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Heading to the ballpark? We've got tips for Lansing Lugnuts fans
