Many international students consider attending a baseball game to be a “must” while studying English in California, and we agree that this is indeed an activity that students should try! If you are a student at CISL San Diego or CISL San Francisco, you have many options for attending a classic American baseball game: San Diego is home to the Padres and San Francisco has both the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A’s. But how do you attend a game . . . and what should you expect? We have the answers to these questions in our guide to attending an American baseball game (plus the lyrics to a VERY famous song that you will certainly hear).
CISL’s Guide to Attending a Baseball Game
Where to Buy Tickets
Once you decide to attend a game, check with the front desk at CISL San Diego and San Francisco: sometimes games are on the Activities Calendar for that month, and CISL will have discounted tickets available!
Padres tickets can be purchased directly from Petco Park, which is a short walk from CISL San Diego. Ask the front desk for a map of Downtown San Diego and enjoy a stroll through the beautiful Gaslamp Quarter before arriving at the park.
Tickets can also be purchased online: check the official websites for the Padres, Giants, and A’s. Note: because the Giants have been a very successful team these last few years, tickets can be difficult to obtain.
Preparing for the Game
We recommend doing a few things before the game:
1. Read our post “Tips for Enjoying a Baseball Game.” This will provide you with useful information on the game, the traditions, and (of course) the food!
2. Check the weather, and come prepared. Baseball games are long and often finish when it is dark. Make sure to bring a sweater, even in the summer.
3. If you plan to use public transportation, prepare for some “traffic.” All stadiums are accessible by public transportation, but you might experience some delays because thousands of people are making the same trip to the game.
4. Learn the songs they play! Below is the classic baseball song, “Centerfield.” We suggest listening to it and reading the lyrics before attending a game. Thanks to this song, the expression “Put me in, Coach!” is very common in English.
“Centerfield” Lyrics
The sun came out today
We’re born again, there’s new grass on the field
A-roundin’ third and headed for home
It’s a brown-eyed handsome man
Anyone can understand the way I feelOh, put me in coach, I’m ready to play today
Put me in coach, I’m ready to play today
Look at me, I can be centerfieldWell, I spent some time in the Mudville Nine
Watching it from the bench
You know I took some lumps, when the mighty Case struck out
So say hey, Willie, tell the Cobb
And Joe DiMaggio
Don’t say it ain’t so, you know the time is nowOh, put me in coach, I’m ready to play today
Put me in coach, I’m ready to play today
Look at me, I can be centerfieldYeah, I got it, I got itGot a beat-up glove, a home-made bat
And a brand new pair of shoes
You know I think it’s time to give this game a ride
Just to hit the ball, and touch ’em all
A moment in the sun
It’s a-gone and you can tell that one good-byeOh, put me in coach, I’m ready to play today
Put me in coach, I’m ready to play today
Look at me (yeah), I can be centerfieldOh, put me in coach, I’m ready to play today
Put me in coach, I’m ready to play today
Look at me, gotta be, centerfield
Yeah
Tag CISL in your photos from your baseball game! And enjoy!