By Kelly:
Editor’s note: This was written on Wednesday on the way to Phoenix.
In March of 2012 I had an idea that I wanted to go to the Arizona Fall League so I mention it to Josh and from there the idea took off. We were already planning on going to Spring Training in March of 2014. Going in October 2012 wouldn’t have given us enough time to plan and map everything out, so we spent that first 6 months thinking and dreaming about it.
So last September through October we studied the Fall League, like when the schedules came out and when they announced the rosters. Seeing how many people attended the games, which is anywhere between 300-800 fans. To think we can see some of the best prospects in baseball and not have to fight crowds. It just got us more excited about the trip.
When we first started talking about it the 9 Inning Know It All empire was in its early stages so the trip had nothing to do with it. We just wanted a chance to see the top prospects play and get their autographs.
Now it’s a big deal for us and we can use it to get our name out there. To be able get press passes (thanks Norm) and to be able to possibly interview some of the bigger prospects in baseball. It’s a trip I never thought I would be able to go on and I plan on taking full advantage of it.
So 18 months ago I had a little idea turned into a actually trip and at this exact moment I’m sitting on an airplane writing a blog post that people that I have never met will read and I never ever thought in my wildest dreams that would happen. A personal trip has turned into my first ever business trip and I hope to take many more of them in the future.
My first trip to the AFL was planned in less than a month and half. I had heard about the AFL, but never knew anything about it. This year, I read more and decided I should take the trip with my daughter. Little did I know that I would meet some really nice people (some baseball fans, the mother (NOT a sports fan) of a disabled baseball fan, manager of the HoHoKam Stadium and some blog writers), learn the ropes of the AFL (where to start with the autograph hunts, autograph hounds are rude and often don’t even like baseball – if they did, they’d stay and watch the game – and about a nice blog called “9 Inning Know It All”) get almost all of the autographs I wanted (about 17 out of 20, plus some I didn’t expect to get) and my daughter and I had a good time! Who knew?!?! It was fun to meet Kelly, Joshua and Stan. I wish my trip was as long as theirs, but then again, they had a longer time to plan it. Maybe next year my trip will be longer. Maybe………..