I arrived at the stadium with my former roommate from years ago Manny a little before the 4:10pm call time and unloaded the droid.
Once we were inside, I took a panorama of the beautiful ballpark, where I've been coming since I was a child, and where I once had season tickets.
Employees and others arriving early got pictures with R2, including this evening's military honoree.
Around 5pm we started to make our way out to where we'd do the photo ops for arriving fans.
Initially we just did ad hoc photos, but as I warned them, it was quickly apparent we would need to form a formal line, and we did. R2 was paired with Din Djarin and Grogu.
A couple of times they stopped the line for character appearances on the pregame show. (In the picture below, R2 may look like he's facing the wrong way, but his dome is pointing at the camera. I couldn't move the body because Baby Yoda/Grogu was near the feet, and I certainly didn't want to knock him over on camera.)
Around 6:45 the escorted three of us through the center field gate and onto the warning track, where made our way to the home plate area. My buddy Manny wasn't allowed to go with us, which was a major bummer, but he was able to take pictures from a distance.
I've done this drive the last couple of years without problem, but this time the warning track dirt was reminiscent of riverbank sand, and there were a few times R2 spun his wheels in the wet and thick warning track dirt, so I had to give him an assist by lifting him up by the skirt to help with traction. The drivetrain itself was fine, it was just a lack of traction in the deep wet dirt that was the problem. Regardless, we made it to the home plate area safe and sound.
Once there, folks on the field got pictures with R2 and the characters.
The Mandalorian season 3 show runner and director Rick Famuyiwa was throwing out the first pitch. I was able to chat with him for a moment and he was happy to take a selfie with me. He was very friendly.
Meanwhile, Manny relocated and was able to get a picture from the stands. R2 is near the middle of the photo and I'm just above the 76 circle.
After the singing of the national anthem, it was time to head the short distance to the wheelchair elevator to get R2 below the field, where he egresses. I was able to get a picture of some of the Dodgers coaches, including manager Dave Roberts, and a picture of Rick and our characters coming off the field.
As usual, R2 took the wheelchair escalator up the stairs.
From there we hopped on the elevator and returned to the changing area on the club level, near the offices. More pictures!
At that point I stowed R2 in the Droidmobile, and we finally had a chance to watch the game, from some excellent seats on the field level.
The Dodgers ended up winning the game 13-1 against the Philadelphia Phillies, bringing R2's record with the Dodgers to 11-3. I hope we are able to come back next year.
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