Kansas City T-Bones Begin Their 2013 Baseball Season

The St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals are doing well in the beginning of their season, but another team in the area is just starting their season. The Kansas City T-Bones will be taking on the Lee's Summit Monarchs today (April 6) at Community America Ballpark in Kansas City in an exhibition game.

The T-Bones games have become a favorite trip for me since I can get the flavor of baseball in an independent league that is unique and different. There is always something going on at Community America Ballpark, with promotions done between innings. My son and I have had the chance to see numerous games, and it is one of the few ballparks that you can sit in the outfield on a lawn and catch a home run ball.

The T-Bones know how to relate to the fans, with free parking and $2 hot dogs each night. They have nightly promotions where on Monday home games, the first 2,000 kids 12 and under receive a voucher for a free hot dog, chips and lemonade. Tuesdays are giveaway nights, Wednesday's you can play catch on the field after the game and get autographs from the mascot, Sizzle. Thursdays is a great deal for your adult beverage fans, but not sure the FCC would like for me to say what exactly it is, but it is a deal. Friday is theme nights, Saturdays are Fireworks nights, when kids can get pre-game player autographs get to run the bases afterwards.

One of the things I most enjoy is that there is not a bad seat in the park. Sometimes my son and I will watch the game for 4 innings and then make a stroll around the park to see the game from different vantage points. One year we hung around the bullpen when the T-Bones were up by a bunch of runs. The pitchers put out a bucket that you could toss quarters, nickels and times into and if you made it in, you'd win a prize. My son was able to get a ball from the pitchers and his day was made. He still has the ball in his room.

Tickets range from $6.50 in the grass to $16 for the prime seats, you can also get picnic table seats for a family of 6 for $48 and patio seats for $32 or $44.

Last year, the T-Bones finished 51-49 on the season in the American Association League and are looking to making improvements. I highly recommend going to a game if you have not, you just need to get on I-70 and keep going until you hit I-435 North on the Kansas side, get to exit 138 on State Avenue West and you'll be at the stadium. Good luck to the T-Bones!