In
The Card, the main character, Van Stone, works in the visiting clubhouse of a major league baseball team. Many of the events and scenes that take place in the book come directly from my experiences working for the Seattle Mariners
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Van spends much of his time in the dugout at Safeco Field in Seattle. From here, the mystery unfolds surrounded by the sights and sounds of professional baseball
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Back during my days on the field, the action took place in the Kingdome which has since been torn down. It was no less glamorous for the batboy named
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The Kingdome during the All Star Game
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Jim Devitt as it is for Van Stone in the current Young Adult novel series.
Let's take a look at the inside of the clubhouse. One of the highlights during my run as a batboy was the All-Star Game which just happened to be in Seattle during my tenure.
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Lockers are unpacked awaiting the All Star Team
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The National League All Stars invaded Seattle before the days of inter-league play and twenty-four hour baseball networks. It was a chance for a rare glimpse into the other league.
During the regular season, million dollar athletes made a home of the visiting clubhouse for three days at a time. As a batboy or clubhouse attendant, I was
involved in all sorts of adventures from going on chicken runs for Wade Boggs to making sure that Tom Seaver had his favorite b
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On the road with the Mariners
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eer.
It was a dream job for a kid, but it also taught me many life lessons. To read more about my days in the Kingdome and Major League Baseball,
visit my blog to see a series of posts and pictures.
