Written by UPDATE: Click here to check out the local Cedar Rapids CBS affiliate’s video report on Thursday’s event!
It wasn’t a big crowd Thursday night at Veterans Stadium for the Cedar Rapids Kernels’ World Series party, but those of us who showed up had a good time! It was a bit too chilly to sit outside and watch the game on the stadium’s video bard, but there were plenty of televisions inside.
I confess to having a $2.00 “Thirsty Thursday” beer or two (or five) and the brat was very good, but the company was even better. It was a great opportunity to meet and talk to some fellow Kernels fans, as well as make several new acquaintances among the fans in Twins gear that showed up.
The “guest of honor,” though, was Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year and fellow Iowan, BJ Hermsen. After spending an hour or so in an adjacent suite signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans, he joined the rest of the crowd, including several members of his family, in the main “Grand Slam Suite” to watch the Tigers and Giants do battle in San Francisco. Even then, he was more than gracious about continuing to sign autographs and pose for pictures with fans (and even the occasional old blogger).
Thanks to the Kernels, as well as the Hermsen family, for a very enjoyable evening!
BJ Hermsen signs an autograph for a young fan
Hermsen, along with friends, family and a mixture of Kernels and Twins fans enjoy food, drink and World Series baseball
BJ Hermsen and a blogger to be named later
Good pics, JC. I met BJ a couple times last season at Rock Cats events and he came across as a really nice guy. No real ego or anything. Hopefully he continues to progress and make use of his assets — good location and the ability to change speeds — even if that fastball never quite reaches the 90s.
Yeah BJ and his family are just genuinely nice people. And yeah the pictures turned out alright. That last one make a good picture of BJ to add to our blog media library once we crop out that old fart he’s standing with.