Despite baseball's unofficial theme song, peanuts and crackerjacks were replacements for the original, mid-1850s snacks of heavily salted licorice and wooden chewin' slabs. Keep your family traditions classic, but not too classic, with today's Groupon: for $25, you get two MVP tickets to a Stockton Ports home game against the Bakersfield Blaze at Banner Island Ballpark (a $12 value each), a parking pass to the west lot (a $5 value), and two limited edition hats (a $15 value each; a $59 total value). Choose from the following game dates:
- Friday, April 29 at 7:05 p.m.
- Saturday, April 30 at 7:05 p.m.
- Sunday, May 1 at 2:09 p.m.
The Stockton Ports, a class-A minor-league affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, slug spheres and cater to the cheers of hometown spectators at the storied [Banner Island Ballpark]. MVP seats afford a player’s-eye view of the base-spangled diamond from box seats directly behind home plate and extending toward both team benches. Ballgame enthusiasts can immerse themselves in the game while following the emerging talent of future big-league stars—the team’s 70-year history has witnessed the launch of numerous major-league careers, such as those of Ben Sheets, Trevor Cahill, and Stomper the elephant.
The mitt-slapping proceedings face out on a 5,200-seat outdoor stadium reminiscent of baseball’s early days. Fans wishing to shield their crowns from the mid-afternoon sun at Sunday’s game or the harsh moon of Friday and Saturday’s evening bouts can take refuge under crimson Ports caps emblazoned with the characteristic anchor logo. Friday's game will be illuminated by fireworks, and former Oakland A's pitcher Dave Stewart will stop by the park on Saturday to show the kids how it's done.