Charlotte Native Starts His 1st MLB Game For Chicago Cubs
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Charlotte native (and East Mecklenburg High School grad) and more important, Chicago Cub, Luke Little gave his friends and family a huge thrill against the Oakland Athletics last night as he was the starting pitcher in a major league game for the very first time. I never think the athlete has any idea how big a deal this is for the people who know him/her.
I’ve had multiple friends and former teammates who I have gotten to live vicariously through as they made their professional sports journeys. Each time I got to watch brought as huge sense of pride. Shoot, I have one friend (former Michigan DT Chris Hutchinson) whose son (Aiden) is now a huge star in his own right in the NFL. Doubly exciting for me to see him play. So, I know how cool it was for Luke Little’s posse yesterday.
Luke Little line last night? One inning pitched. He gave up zero runs and zero hits while throwing one strikeout. I know, you’re going, “Wait, that’s great. Why did he just pitch one inning?” Well, Luke Little is by trade a relief pitcher. Starting games isn’t his move. However, the Cubs have been dealing with early season injuries to their starting pitching rotation and opted to have a “bullpen game.” This is a game started by relief pitchers who only throw a very limited number of innings before handing off duties to the next.
It’s been a busy couple of days in Luke Little’s young career. He appeared in the ninth inning of Chicago’s 12-2 win over Colorado on Tuesday night as well. He gave up one walk but allowed no hits and no runs. This was his second relief appearance in the newly begun 2024 season for the Cubs.
I mentioned earlier that Luke Little isn’t a starting pitcher. That’s not altogether true. At just 23 years old (and in his first full season in the major leagues), his career has only just begun. And although he’s been pitching in relief for the Cubs, he started half of his games in the minor leagues, so the book on him is far from written. However, it got off to quite a start last night.
12 Of The Most Unique MLB Stadium Attractions
Major League Baseball has a deep respect for their game’s rich history. Attending a ballgame can be a great experience that allows fans to marvel at baseball culture. Furthermore, most MLB parks have designed stadium attractions that make them unique amongst the 30 venues in the league.
From museums to bodies of water to fan-zone fun, the MLB stadiums across the country each have something that is representative of their character. Often you will find baseball enthusiasts track how many ballparks they have been to. In addition, it is common for fans to build trips to other cities to have a new MLB park experience.
MLB is the only professional sport in the country where each team has its own dedicated stadium. For example, in the NFL, the Jets and Giants share Metlife Stadium. Many NBA team share their home arena with the NHL team in their city. In professional baseball, each of the 30 teams has their own home field that is theirs alone. This enables the organization to build more character specific to the club.
The interior of an MLB ballpark is all about the players. Though there is a mysterious aura about the clubhouse, given that they are underground. The common thread in modern-day construction is centered around the ballclub. The intent is to make each clubhouse comfortable, hi-tech, and private for the players and coaches. The rest of the stadium is all about the fan experience.
Inside The Park
Here, we will look at some of the most unique MLB stadium attractions. Each is representative of their city and team history. They provide character to the ballpark. In many cases, these features make the park a landmark in their home state.
If you want to take in an MLB game in a ballpark you have not visited yet, here are some attractions to consider.
Charlie Nance is the Afternoon Drive co-host (along with his wife) of "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The couple have been with the radio station since 2006. Charlie has won the prestigious CMA (Country Music Association) Award for Radio Personality of the Year and has been a finalist for the Country Radio Hall of Fame four times. Prior to his time in Charlotte, Charlie (along with Debbie) spent more than a decade hosting successful morning radio shows in Greenville, SC; Augusta, Ga; and Birmingham, Al. As a content creator for Country 1037, Charlie writes about dream lottery windfalls, sports, restaurants and bars, and travel experiences in North and South Carolina.