Ryan Restivo

I’m not going to lie: 2009 was a great year. However, it’s almost over so I’d like to recap it. What better way than through blog posts and photos?

Unfortunately, I’m going to start to try to tell stories about how well the year went fully knowing that my awesome girlfriend Jenna is probably way better at telling every single story than I am.

July:

So I took the 23rd off of work? Where were we off to? Camden Yards.

That’s right, there for the epic Royals-Orioles battle!

This is about how close we can get to the action for only about 19$ a ticket. Where does that get you at Citi Field? Obstructed view.

It was that night, after a bunch of e-mails back and forth, I met Zack Hample. Nice guy and I was trying to get him to sign a copy of his book, of course I didn’t figure to bring it with me to Baltimore (oops) so he let me know if I was ever around where he lives in the city that I should stop by and he’d show me what’s hes up to.

August: So I stopped by the Upper West Side in August. Zack was nice enough to show me what he was working on for his book project and how he had a whole pile of old articles. I saw his 200 pound rubber band ball and I couldn’t even tell you what we talked about for a while but it was just nice to talk to someone who has that appreciation for baseball just like I do. And I got him to sign his book for me, Watching Baseball Smarter.

So it reads:

For Ryan, from one deeply serious baseball fan to another. Dont’ lose the passion even when working for MLBAM drives you crazy. Your friend, Zack Hample 8/3/09

How cool is that?!

So now I know two authors! I love to write and I love to read but I know there’s no way I’d ever be able to do what they do: write books.

And then August flew by, mostly because it was the thick of baseball season: when I wasn’t near home I was working watching baseball, obsession over my fantasy baseball team or hanging out with my girlfriend.