Best. Day. Ever.
Your Sunday read—the Raimondi stars align for one young fan’s experience of a lifetime
By Roberto Santiago
WEST OAKLAND—I’m sure many fans felt appreciated on Fan Appreciation Day at Raimondi Park. But it was also, I believe, the best day a kid has ever had at a baseball game. This is the second in our series of posts on that final Sunday, and at that game, it was my kid’s dream day. Next season, next game, it might be yours. There is no shortage of Raimondi magic for our truest believers.
As you read last week, I spent my pregame time talking to fans about their experiences this season and why they love the Ballers. I wasn’t on the game recap that day, so I could relax and enjoy watching the contest with friends and family as a fan. The game was exciting, but I have to admit, I missed much of it as I was in the thrall of witnessing a kid have perhaps the greatest day any kid has ever had at a baseball game. Allow me to introduce Yoshiko, Raimondi’s Dennis the Menace. Yoshiko sees the ballpark as an extension of their back yard. They know all the game day staff by name. They’re a ball hawk. I have had to impose rules around asking players for balls and asking staff to be picked for a between-inning contests—once per home stand for each. But it’s hard to reign in a child’s enthusiasm for baseball. On this day, this last gameday of 2026, I imposed no limits.
The day started with a tailgate near the putting green outside center field with our fellow Oakland 68s. Yoshiko arrived in style, Ballers rugby jersey, kelly green and gold cap and every green vs. gold bracelet our family had collected over the course of the season. Tailgates mean tacos and quesadillas and hot dogs and sodas and chips. Yoshiko and their brother made a trip to the estate sale across the street and each bought an item of some dead person’s clothing. At one point, we saw some Long Beach players headed to Prescott Market in search of a pregame meal. We hailed them from across the park and invited them to share our bounty. Like college students, Pioneer League players rarely turn down free food. A little later, B’s broadcaster Gareth Kwok also joined us for a taco and some end-of-season conversation.
We had to leave the tailgate as soon as park gates opened to secure Scrappy keychains for the kids and because according to Yoshiko, “I need to get there right away to ask my friend Andy if I can be in a game.” We headed in, put down our drums and gear, and Yoshiko headed off to find Andy. After securing a spot in the dance off, we learned that our 68s would be down on the field before the game to say “play ball.” Of course all the kids were invited and Yoshiko was front and center (maybe left-center).
During the game, Casey Pratt, Ballers VP of Communications and Fan Experience, and the gameday staff were shooting foam baseballs into the stands. If you caught one, you won a gift bag. I caught one, which caused me to miss seeing myself in the Dispatches photo montage on the Jumbotron. Yoshiko caught three, one of which was gifted to Ice Cold Kenny’s daughter. For grub, there were pineapple whips, mini corndogs, lemonade, candy and all manner of other nonsense consumed over the course of the day. Around the fourth inning, I was at the merch booth with my other kid, Santi looking to procure a cap when a foul ball landed nearby. I offered it to Santi who told me, “Give it to Yoshiko. They love that stuff.” And so, Yoshiko got a foul ball to add to their day’s bounty.
At the top of the seventh inning, it was time to report for Yoshiko’s go at the dance off. We arrived between innings and ended up the dance cam prior to the start of the seventh. Then, because the camera was there, we were on the big screen again for Take Me Out to the Ballgame.
The subsequent dance “battle” was fait accompli as there was no way Scrappy would choose me over the adorable child.
With another dance battle victory in the books, it was time for the mad dash to the dugout gate for the Circle of Oaks ceremony. Between us, our family had collected all 15 pins and Yoshiko was stepping forward to represent us on the field.
But wait! What’s this text message? We needed to stop at the Sonic Fiber Internet booth on our way to the dugout to pick up the autographed jersey Yoshiko won in the raffle. At this point it’s getting embarrassing, but we soldier on. Being knighted by Scrappy was a thrill, as evidenced by the child’s goofy grin.
Through all of this, the Ballers were pouring on runs, scoring in every inning on their way to a 24-16 victory. After the game, as they have done every Sunday at Raimondi, the kids ran the bases. Yoshiko was among them before jetting off to the autograph session that has also been a Sunday staple for the Ballers. Armed with the foul ball from earlier and a poster from the prize pack, Yoshiko got a scribble from every player. With that, the best day ever came to a close.
Just kidding. There was an afterparty with players and team staff at Prescott Market. We all grabbed a slice from Pizza Violetta and hung out for a while longer. The party had a near championship vibe, all smiles and hugs. By all appearances, these are people who genuinely like each other. No one was ready for the good times in West Oakland to end. Yoshiko got to “Hey, Mr. Wilson” Andy and Aubrey one last time before winter. Casey chided me for wearing team gear in opposition to basic journalistic principles. (Casey, I wasn’t covering the game that day. Cut a guy some slack.) A guy selling balloon animals created a Scrappy balloon based on a drawing, having never seen the mascot before. (Don’t be surprised if he shows up in the park next season.) Our balloon Scrappy is slowly shrinking on a shelf in our kitchen. Finally, after 10 hours at and around the final home game of the year, the kids were really and truly ready to go home.
Best. Day. Ever.
Roberto Santiago is a third generation Berkeley boy currently raising the fourth generation. Roberto’s writing has appeared in Latina, Parents, and various online outlets. A lifelong baseball fan, Roberto worked briefly with the Boston Red Sox and once hit an RBI single off Spaceman Lee on a 2-2 changeup. It was his only at bat ever in a real baseball game. Find him on Instagram.
