Saints baseball game a big hit with more than 1,000 members

1,500 tickets, members from nine locals, free food and fireworks, nice weather for a baseball game, what could be better on a Friday evening?

This is the second year in a row MAPE locals have joined together to spend an evening at CHS Field to watch the St. Paul Saints play baseball on Aug. 23. Last year, 400 tickets were bought and this year 1,500 were purchased for MAPE members by Locals 201, 401, 501, 701, 801, 901, 902, 1001 and 2101.

"We chose an event in St. Paul because it's the Capitol for state employees. It's a family-friendly event. This was our second time here, so we know how the game works - we were able to leverage our 1,500 tickets to get some verbal 'advertising' for MAPE and state workers and some other promotions," Local 401 President Jeff Gintz said.

Gintz is a true baseball fanatic: he played the sport in college and continues to play the game in a senior league in Apple Valley where he plays outfield, pitcher and catcher. He also was selected to throw out a first pitch. "It was really fun. I wasn't nervous standing on the mound until the announcer kept talking and talking about how much state employees contribute to the well-being of all Minnesotans," Gintz joked.

Gintz negotiated some between innings promotions that members participated in as well as the opportunity to go down onto the field before the game began. "I went onto the field and played catch and batted with my daughter and granddaughter. It was fun to see the field from that angle," Local 201 Treasurer Robin Seifert said.

"I think involving families in events is very good. When you can bring your kids and watch the game, and there is free food and fireworks, everyone has fun. It's a way to say, 'We value you. This is what we're doing for you,'" said Region 2 Director Sheila Malec.

Local 1001 President Kent Barnard attended the game with his daughter and grandchildren. The children brought their baseball gloves "and had a great time down on the field running around and tossing balls," Barnard said. "In Local 1001, we did a future activities survey, and the Saints game was number one. We had picnic tables in the left field area, and it was a good networking opportunity for locals that don't have a lot of interaction."

"Members were really enthusiastic. When we were watching the game, I looked around and loved the diversity: young kids playing with each other, a broad palate of younger and older members, different ethnicities - it really represented our workers at MAPE," Barnard added.

"Members told me we needed to do this more. They were saying things like 'Next time, do you think we could invite other locals?' 'This is so nice - why haven't we done this before?'" Malec said.

"Getting together after COVID is more important than ever. We need that connection time. Many of us don't see our coworkers unless we do it intentionally. You could see the relief and joy on people's faces when they saw their colleagues - it was a feeling of real togetherness," Gintz said.

MAPE leaders said they were on board to arrange another Saints game for 2025. "We'll plan for an even bigger event next year," Gintz promised.