Day 39 - Home Run Derby

**Editor's Note** (This is part 2 of a 3 part blog covering the 3 events this beer man will be working at during the All-Star break)

I can't believe it. I got paid to see something so amazing! It's still really surreal. The fact that I'm watching Sports Center right now and the HR Derby is the only thing they are really talking about...that's just cool.

I have a flood of memories going through my head from tonight and I'll do my best to fit them in here tactfully.

I drove downtown a bit early just to enjoy the surroundings and to be sure I made it to the stadium on time. While walking through Kiener Plaza, I was surrounded by people. It was awesome! Felt like what the downtown of a city should feel like on a regular basis.

I enjoyed my walk to the stadium and seeing how much the city had transformed into a media circus for the next few days.


I decided to go out w/ my beer and peanuts early tonight to try and make up for the pitiful night last night...It was still rough honestly selling beer till about 5:30...so many people were down next to the field...but event he people who were already in their seats weren't wanting any beer yet...

So I did what everyone else was doing. I watched. I stood around for about 45 minutes watching the National and American Leagues take bp. I would still ask people walking past me if they wanted some beer...but I took it easy cause I knew it was going to be a long night.

I got a good chuckle when they announced the mascots that are in the MLB...of course the place went crazy when Fred Bird was introduced. The crowd was mostly Cardinal fans...which was just awesome...but the place went crazy when they would ask people to 'thank' STL and Busch Stadium for hosting.

I met the owner of the St. Louis Cardinal's brother. He was in the first row of section 253. He told me about watching the Cardinals at Sportsman Park and how his grandpa had owned the Cardinals from the '20s-'50s. As a season ticket holder, he told me that even though his brother owns the Cardinals, he still makes him pay for his tickets.

Nikko Smith performed the National Anthem. An amazing voice on that kid. Then there were a couple of jets that flew over the stadium after the national anthem...it was so amazing! Not to mention, seeing his father, yes, the Ozzie Smith, throw out the first pitch of the night. I also got to see David Cook perform a few songs. It was pretty amazing to get to see the performances by both artists. The picture to the right is from my phone of David Cook's performance.

I also met Lee Smith at the game tonight. He was sitting in the top row of a section I was selling beer in. I noticed several people talking to him and I asked an usher what the deal was and so after I found out who he was, I met him. If you don't know who I'm talking about, click on the link on his name.

I had several people ask me if I was enjoying myself tonight. Does a beer crap in the woods? Is the Pope Catholic? I had an amazing time. I'll be honest though, I got tired real quickly through the night. That tub of beer got pretty heavy as the night went on...and it's not like I wasn't selling anything...it was just a long night.

When Albert came up to bat, I sat my tub down behind section 250 and watched what I anticipated to be much more of an amazing show that what actually took place. Personally, I think it was all of the media that was already picking Pujols to win it and that pressure just got to him...just my opinion...It looked like hundreds of strobe lights were placed throughout the stadium...so many camera flashes were going off when Albert came up to bat. It was such an amazing site to see.

It was amazing to hear the crowd when Albert was first announced...when they were announcing all 8 of the hitters for the night. The roar of the crowd was so loud. (how loud was it?) It was so loud that I couldn't hear the PA announcer or could I hear anything at all. It was by far the loudest I have ever heard the crowd at Busch Stadium...and I've witnessed some amazing games and some amazingly loud crowds...simply amazing!

As for selling beer tonight...I had a guy ask me how much a case of beer would cost at the stadium. I told him $210 (since the price of beer is $8.75)...He looked back at me as if he was thinking. His buddy next to him looked at him, then at me, then back to him and yelled a concerned "no!" His buddy was asking me to bring them a full case of beer on ice. I told him I couldn't do that because I could only sell 2 beers per person per transaction. He was obviously a bit toasted already and asked the question over again. His friend next to him just sat him down and asked me to go away before he tried buying the rest of my case of beer....

With last call starting about 9:10 and check-out time at 9:30...I was able to watch the final round of the HR Derby. I tried to find a spot to watch, but after fighting through the crowd, I decided to head home so I wouldn't be fighting the crowd on my way home. I actually did have a spot where I was standing next to an usher and then another usher came over and told me I couldn't stand there. I decided that it was then that I'd go home.

And now here I sit...still surreal feeling...I plan to take my camera and have it with me throughout the All-Star game tomorrow night. I can't wait!

Remember to check back here tomorrow night for part 3 of this 3 part blog coverage of the All-Star activities!

Totals thus far:
65 Bags of Cracker Jacks
80 Bottles of Water
156 Bags of Peanuts
2125 Bottles of Beer

Day 38 - All-Star Future's Game

**Editor's Note** (This is part 1 of a 3 part blag covering the 3 events this beer man will be working)

After a very easy drive downtown without hardly any traffic like I thought there would be, I pull into my usual parking garage on 7th & Pine. It was a much older lady collecting money today. She looked at me...did a double take...and then asked me if I had a brother. I don't. I was confused by her asking me this...I told her no. She looked at me and said, "are you sure?" I laughed to myself and told her I had a sister and that was it. She went on to tell me that there was a guy who just went up into the garage who looked like he was my twin. I just responded with a "ah" and gave her my money. She handed me my parking pass and told me to watch out for myself up there. Never a dull moment parking in that garage.

I started to walk towards the stadium. There was a vibe in the air throughout downtown. It was like something I had never experienced before. Seeing everything decked out with All-Star decor and the crowded streets was amazing!

If you haven't had a chance to walk through Kiener Plaza and the area where the old Busch Stadium used to be, it's a must see area! Amazing stuff! I can't even begin to describe it all...


After getting changed into my uniform, I made my way up near commissary 240 and had glanced over to see this amazingness. The design in the grass. I've never seen a stadium's grass look so amazing!

I made it into the commissary where guys were discussing how bad they thought it was gonna rain. I checked the radar on my iPhone and saw that it was inevitable, we would face a rain delay.

I didn't think it would turn out to be a 4 hour rain delay!

I don't even think they got all of the way through the first inning...

Selling beer isn't even something i care to discuss. It was so awful. I didn't even make enough commission to cover my parking...and I park in a $5 garage....Only one guy in our commissary started to sell into his second case. I think they anticipated more people to show up to the game. The cost of beer was also raised during the All-Star activities....$8.75 for a 16oz bottle of an all-star brewski.

With the rain delay, most beer vendors were waiting around to see when we were able to check out. We were originally told we were able to start selling at noon and had to be done at 5:30. Just as the grounds crew was removing the tarp, ...around 5 we were all told we had to check out. I kept flirting with the idea of staying and watching the game and for the Celebrity Softball game...but carrying a full beer tub around for nearly 5 hours was exhausting and I honest would have rather of saved my energy for a much more busier two days ahead of me.

I'm kicking myself for not sticking around. I watched most of the All-Star Future's Game at home on ESPN 2 and what an exciting game! I also learned that the Celebrity Softball Game will be televised after the Home Run Derby on Monday night...so I feel good about getting to watch that!

Totals thus far:
65 Bags of Cracker Jacks
80 Bottles of Water
151 Bags of Peanuts
2053 Bottles of Beer
(no typo in those beer totals. I only sold 2 beers today...one guy didn't sell a beer...most of the guys sold about 12 beers...rough day)

Check back for pt. 2 late tomorrow night after the Home Run Derby for a full report of experiencing something amazing!