My experience covering the 25th Anniversary at American Family Field

 Hello everyone, and welcome to Crystal Sideline Buzz. My name is Crystal, and in this article, I will be discussing my experience covering my first MLB game and the 25th Anniversary at American Family Field in my hometown of Milwaukee!

Planning

Last month, I didn't know what I wanted to cover. Usually, around this time, the MATC Athletic Department is on summer break, which means for me, stories will be hard to do. Now, I didn't have to cover anything during summer break, but I chose to. After writing two stories regarding the head coach for women's volleyball and one of the players. Even though that felt like a rollercoaster itself, because everyone was busy, I tried not to stress myself out, and in the end, the stories were finished. After I finished those two stories, I decided to do a story on the Brewer game. At first, my advisor wasn't disagreeing, but we needed something more besides just a typical regular day at the ballpark. I did some research to see what events the Brewer had, and that's when I discovered the 25th anniversary. The 25th anniversary at American Family Field, where retired players from 2001 to today are signing autographs, taking photos, and more. Once I explained the event, my advisor gave me the green light, and I was excited.

The Process

Covering these games was anything but easy, so here is a quick reality check for anyone who thinks it's all glam behind the media credentials. Let's start with transportation, offering rides for the media? In this predicament, not provided. Access to the clubhouse? Limited, it often depends on where you're working and who you're connected with. Also, some of them are not directly clear when it comes to directions, either; most of the time, the staff members at the venue or even security are more helpful than the people who issued out the credentials.  My advisor and I began planning months in advance, but we didn't hear back until two weeks before the event. Personally, I prefer having everything confirmed at least a month out so that everyone involved is on the same page. Otherwise, I tend to get seriously frustrated. The gentleman we initially communicated with wasn't much help. Between the two of us, we emailed back and forth repeatedly, trying to confirm whether my credentials were approved. About three weeks later, we were passed off to one of his co-workers, someone who didn't offer too much clarity either. I followed up with questions, and she answered some, but then followed up by telling me we'd hear more in the coming weeks. She finally emailed me a week before the event. At that point, I was ready to message my advisor and suggest we cancel altogether. Last-minute planning drains me; I value preparation, and my patience wears thin when things are not properly organized.

The day of the event 

The day of the event, I was mostly prepared. I had my notebook, phone charger, and pen all in my backpack. I decided not to take my laptop with me since the press box windows are always open, and stray balls often hit that area. I didn't want to risk damaging my laptop, especially since it's pretty big and I just got it last Christmas. Walking into the stadium, I picked up my credential, and seeing my full name and photo displayed made me feel incredibly proud. It was a moment that reminded me of all the hard work I've put in, and I hoped I'd made my family proud. As I entered section 106, I paused and just took it all in, admiring the entire stadium, reflecting on why I was there, and wondering what my grandma would say about me following my dreams. The view of the field was breathtaking. When I decided to find the press box, a king woman working there pointed me in the right direction. Eventually, a gentleman also helped guide me there. Stepping into the press box and looking out over the fans and the full stadium...the view was glorious, it's a sight I will never forget. 

Walking onto the field 

Stepping onto the field felt like a fever dream, surreal and unforgettable. I had never been on a major league field before, and in that very moment, it felt as if I were living inside a dream that had become reality. I immediately wanted to share that moment with my family, to let them experience this alongside me. Seeing players I never thought I'd cross paths with, watching them practice in the batting cage, and tossing the ball around was almost too incredible to believe. Seeing players walking onto the field to practice and seeing a few alumni on the field, like Ryan Braun, Corey Hart, Carlos Gomez, and Eric Thames, felt surreal. These names that I grew up hearing on TV, always telling myself, "One day I'll meet them and maybe even have a real conversation." I was trying to take a photo of Ryan Braun, and he noticed and posed for me. I missed the shot and told him, "Oh no, I didn't get it!" He laughed and started to walk toward me, but what looked like his manager stepped in and told him he had to go. I didn't get the picture or get the chance to interact with him, which was a bummer, but still, it was an unforgettable moment. I did manage to snap some pictures of the players during batting practice, including one of Christian Yelich talking to his teammates. At one point, he looked my way, and that's when I caught the shot. Another moment that had happened when Brewers' William Contreras was hitting in the batting cage, and one of his balls came flying in my direction. I didn't realize Brewers General Manager Pat Murphy was nearby, seemingly on the phone. He noticed and told me, "You can have the ball!" But that's when I realized I didn't have a pen, only my phone, and I didn't end up getting an autograph. Looking back, I could have asked to borrow a pen, but I was just too excited about catching a practice ball. I even took a photo with a two-time MLB All-Star Brewers Pitcher, Brandon Woodruff. He was very kind and didn't mind taking a photo.

The Alumni Signing 

After leaving the field, I returned to the press box for a bit to settle down, then I headed to the autograph signing, where fans, young and old, were lined up with baseballs and t-shirts were eager to meet  Corey Hart and Ryan Braun. I had hoped to get my ball signed, but I didn't get the chance to get my ball signed since it was so crowded. But, it was no biggie though,  after that I made my way back to the press box to get ready for the start of the Miami Marlins and the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Homerun Derby 

After the Brewers' tough loss to the Miami Marlins, the crowd still had plenty of energy as everyone was set for the alumni event. The Homerun derby featured fan favorites like Eric Thames, Ryan Braun, Carlos Gomez, and Corey Hart, just to name a few, competing in a friendly home run contest. Each player teamed up and faced off to hit the most home runs. It was a memorable moment, and I managed to snap a few pictures that turned out pretty nice. The only part that wasn't so enjoyable was being crammed into the Marlins' dugout with the rest of the media. Everyone was packed into one tight space, and I found myself standing next to the Marlins' general manager. I wasn't bothering anyone, I just needed to get my shots. Then someone who was working for the Brewers approached me and told me to move to the other side with the rest of the media, which was even more crowded and made it nearly impossible to see anything.  I just wanted to go home.

All in all, I enjoyed meeting the players, taking a picture with Brewers Pitcher Brandon Woodruff and who was very kind, and meeting the general manager Pat Murphy. I can definitely see myself doing this for the rest of my life. I know for sure that I will be back, but this time not just as a college student but as a reporter in front of a camera, reporting on Wisconsin sports teams.