The Gazette – Colorado Springs – Aug 8, 2014 – John Reimer Finds Joy at Fields Across the Nation
For John Reimer, the search for happiness begins at the ballpark.
The Milwaukee man, who writes a well-regarded blog called “Baseball Buddha,” is on a spiritual trek to find happiness by watching a few hundred games this season.
That journey took him to Security Service Field on Friday where he and 5,968 fans saw the hosts split the doubleheader, falling 6-2 in the opener before winning the nightcap 10-9 on an Angelys Nina home run in the bottom of the 12th inning.
The Sky Sox rallied to force extra innings put off clinching another losing season for last-place Colorado Springs (47-72).
Reimer’s journey began on Feb. 14 in Florida, where he watched a doubleheader.
As a result of those twin bills, including the occasional tripleheader, the 48-year-old will average a game a day, about 250, until his journey ends this fall in Florida with high school and college baseball. He will get to all the MLB parks.
For Reimer, the game result is not important.
“It’s about meeting the super fans,” he said. “It’s about seeing how a ballpark is part of its community. MLB attendance may be down but baseball is thriving all over the country, especially in the small communities.”
The idea developed after talking to his dad, who had a triple bypass last year.
“Life is short,” he said. “(My dad) started contemplating his life and about what he wanted to be and what he felt he missed out on.”
Reimer realized traveling the country and seeing baseball was his desire.
He put his belongings in storage and started driving to Florida on Feb. 12. It’s been a wonderful experience most every day, he said.
The former IT head for a medical supply company had some money set aside and with help from his brother and ex-wife, started his journey. With media passes he gets a behind-the-scenes look that proves popular on his blog.
The posts prompted “a major media company” to approach him about writing columns. But that isn’t what “Baseball Buddha” is about.
“It’s about the search for peace and happiness,” he said. “As my slogan says, ‘Baseball is happiness.'”
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