Star Tribune's Secret Fan: Northwoods a hidden gem

Star Tribune

Mankato MoonDogs baseball

The third in the Star Tribune's 10-part series on taking in the fan experience at Twin Cities-area sporting events.

Last update: June 25, 2009 - 12:45 AM

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Editor's note: We sent various Star Tribune staff members out to different summer sporting events and asked them to write about the experience from the perspective of a fan. This is what the "Secret Fan" found:

Like the untelevised portion of the Oscars or a deep cut of an album, Northwoods League baseball teams have talent. It just goes largely unnoticed.

The 14-team league includes six Minnesota franchises: Alexandria, Brainerd, Duluth, Mankato, Rochester and St. Cloud. Founded in 1994, the Northwoods League is a chance for college players to continue to hone their skills during the summer months.

Games are played at small fields and in front of even smaller crowds. At a recent Mankato MoonDogs afternoon doubleheader, the only thing saving the team from a spotty showing (at best) was free admission to anyone bringing their pet dog, $1 seats for senior citizens and a plethora of DayGlo-clad youngsters from area day camps.

That doesn't mean there isn't plenty of fun to be had for those forced to pay full price (which isn't much).

It's outdoor baseball, after all. Using wood bats, the MoonDogs stadium located at Franklin Rogers Park can be a haven for the longball. The Frank measures just 315 feet down the right field line, and 383 to center.

No home runs were hit in Game 1 of this twin bill, but it wasn't a wasted afternoon in the sun.

The seats are comfortable. I even moseyed into the reserved section (with chair backs) after buying a general admission stub.

The concessions are affordable. After already saving money with the free parking, it was refreshing to see nothing over $6 (which gets you a large bag of kettle corn) for sale on the first-base side concourse.

There's even some good humor thrown around.

The first time a player slides into a base, fans are reminded by the PA announcer to get their dry cleaning done by a local company. Foul balls hit into the parking lot are sponsored by a nearby auto glass outlet. And when the visiting field manager ran out to argue a called balk on his pitcher, someone had the great idea to play the Four Seasons' "Big Girls Don't Cry" over the loud speaker.

Keep your ears tuned for freebies, too. I was surprised to find out upon my exit that everyone in attendance had won a free taco because the right visiting team's player had struck out in the third inning.