I’m a big fan of minor league baseball.

Right now, I don’t go, because I live within walking distance of the stadium of a major league team, the Washington Nationals.

But in principle, I like minor league and when I have lived near minor league teams, I have gone to see games more frequently than I go now to see the Nats.

This article backed me up on my appreciation for minor league ball.

While working on campaigns in Iowa and Mississippi (legislative and a governor’s race, respectively), I went frequently to see the Des Moines’ triple A Iowa Cubs and Jackson’s single A Braves. The  I-Cubs play in a great stadium, on the edge of downtown and right by Iowa’s state capitol. It’s a beautiful park with great views and some quality ball is player there. I have less positive things to say about the Jackson Braves, but paying a few bucks to see some ball means that going to see a game feels like less of an effort. No planning, no worries. Just head out there and see the game if you feel like.

And I grew up Florida, the land of spring training. My hometown of Dunedin has a stadium for the Blue Jays (for both major league spring training and minor league in the regular season). You could walk to it. That’s freaking awesome.

The neighboring town of Clearwater has a much nicer stadium, but it’s in a more suburban environment and feels less like an organic part of the city, but it’s still pretty darn gorgeous and pleasant.