Birthday Wishes

For the past three years, the Diamondbacks have played a home game on June 24 and I have been here each year with my daughter Tiffany. It has become a tradition for us to spend this day at the ballpark together. It is Tiffany's birthday and she is ten years old. Today is an extra special day for her since the Diamondbacks also held the third annual autograph party at Bank One Ballpark. Here several of the players and coaches came together to raise money for ALS by signing autographs for the fans for a donation. I brought Ashley to the party last year but since the autograph party was being held on Tiffany's birthday this year she was able to attend. She was very excited as she was able to meet several of her favorite players. The players were all very gracious and brought a sparkle to her eyes as she spoke to each of them. She met with Jay Bell and Greg Swindell, Brian Anderson and Danny Bautista, Greg Colbrunn and Damian Miller, Armando Reynoso and Todd Stottlemyre, Tony Womack and Hanley Frias, Erubiel Durazo and Mike Morgan, Matt Williams and Buck Showalter. By the end of the party she had collected nearly half the team on her baseball. The excitement continued at the game when during warm-ups, Byung-Hyun Kim brought her a ball. Of course her friend Matt Mantei was there to wish her a happy birthday and play a few jokes on her as well. Although the Diamondbacks happened to lose the game, she still enjoyed herself and I got to spend a great day with my daughter. It doesn't get much better than that.