Opening Day - A rookie gets the nod

Every man knows what it means, it is a mutual sign of communication amongst many, it is what every rookie yearns for...the head nod.

This rookie beer man got the nod and started opening day.

The streets were packed full of people as I walked to the employee entrance, showed the guard my badge and entered into the lower level through a "employee only" door as if it were the entrance to the bat-cave.

I wasn't for sure what to expect honestly. There was only about 50 of us in orientation and I knew there would be plenty more people crowding the lobby of where Sports Service employees check-in and check-out uniforms and such. After getting a coat and apron checked out, I made my way to the concession stand where employees get a free food item from a small selection and cold beverage. I opted out of the beverage and decided I was going to get my first hot dog of the season.

As I stood in line, a large group of volunteers were in front of me. I could tell they were volunteers because they had on volunteer jackets. (Busch allows groups to come in and work as volunteers in order to help raise money for a cause or for fund raising.) Today's group: some form of military personnel. Now I assume they must have just recently joined and hadn't seen any combat action because they were dancing around shivering and complaining about the cold. Yes, it was cold, but they too had a jacket on and I was actually starting to sweat in mine...and starting to think to myself that if the country is protected by this small group of shivering military personnel...well, I looked down and shook my head in disgust knowing that a heart complication kept me from passing my physical and I wouldn't have been shivering.

I ate my hot dog on my way to my assigned commissary. I was assigned to commissary 261, which yes, it is behind section 261. Now, for those who do not know, as a vendor, we are able to vend anywhere that there is red seats in the stadium...but we are assigned to one of four commissaries in the stadium and can only reload our product from that station...meaning, I wouldn't want to go to the opposite side of the stadium to sell my last few cold ones when I would have to walk half way around the stadium just to get more product.

2 1/2 full hours prior to the first pitch, I had my first load of beer (1/2 case and covered in ice) in hand and a large bag of peanuts tossed over my shoulder. I chose to carry only a 1/2 case, because I wasn't for sure how heavy it would be hauling this tub up and down steps numerous times...not to mention the added weight of the ice in there too. It took about 25 minutes before people were flooding into the stadium, none of which looked like they wanted an ice cold beer while it was snowing on opening day...and then it happened...

A gentleman was walking towards me and he gave me a nod. I did it. I made my first sale!

Throughout the game, I had some very comical encounters.

I saw Ronald McDonald walking around before the game near Big Mac Land and he had a creepy voice.

During one transaction, I asked a gentleman for his ID (which I do with everyone who is 30 or younger) and I could tell he wasn't too happy about it. He took off his cap to show off his balding head and said here it is. Frustrated, he passed his ID down to me when I noticed he was younger than me...He commented to me saying he couldn't believe I was carding him, I then replied cheerfully that I wondered if he'd believe that I was older than he was. He replied with a few explicit words and said he wanted to see my ID...so I showed him. A few explicit words later, he announced to everyone around me that he was a year and a half younger than the f'n beer man.

Over the course of the game and 3 1/2 cases of beer later, that bag of peanuts was beginning to get heavier and heavier...I was hoping to sell most of them and make the load a bit lighter, but that didn't happen.

As the snow was starting to fall again and as the last out was caught in the bottom of the 7th, I was taking everything back for returns and to check-out when a gentleman asked me for a beer. I replied back with stating that we weren't allowed to sell after the 7th inning. He looked at me and winked and said come on, you can still sell one more. I thought to myself that I wanted to tell this guy I wasn't gay and he wasn't getting a beer either...which would have been funnier than what I really said which was 'sorry, i want to sell you one, but i can't, enjoy the remainder of the game'.

Overall, I loved my first day. I had a blast getting to know some of the other beer men as well as the fans in the stands. My body hates me and the job...I woke up the next morning with arms that could barely move and legs that wanted to not take another step...I need a massage and can't believe I have 6 more days in a row of this before a break.