I was 13 years old by the time I attended my first Mariners game at the Kingdome.  I still remember it well.  Seattle beat Texas and I almost caught a foul ball, before someone in the row in front of me snagged it first.

My son Dylan won’t remember his first Mariners game.  But that’s because his first M’s experience came 12 1/2 years before mine.

Like his old man, Dylan got to see Seattle beat Texas.  It was the last game before the All-Star break (I know, I was slow to get these pics uploaded).  And even though he won’t remember it, it doesn’t mean he didn’t have a great time.

Dylan was an instant hit in our section.  As my wife Melissa said, he charmed the pants off everyone around him.  He was a little freaked out the first time everyone stood and clapped, when Ichiro legged out an infield hit.  But after that, he was just fine.

We intentionally arrived late, because we knew a 6 month old wouldn’t last a full nine innings.  But he gave us 5+, which is about all I could ask for, and it was just about the same amount of innings Erik Bedard gave the M’s that day.

As a guy who covers sports for a living, I can’t tell you how satisfying it was share in my son’s first live sporting event.  We watched a Cougar basketball game in the hospital when he was two days old, so I like to think I put the ball in motion early.  I can’t wait to take him to Cougar football and basketball games, Seahawks games, etc., in the months and years to come.

And even though he won’t remember those either, dear old Dad will be sure to tell him what a blast he had.

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