Thank you to our hosts in Anaheim!

Prior to Anaheim, the Biking for Baseball team has been fortunate enough to have relatives or friends of relatives to stay with in each of our stops in the big cities. Anaheim, would be our first city where we didn’t know ANYONE in the area. It turned out better than we could have even imagined.

We have been working with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Orange County for the past couple months preparing for a baseball game with their youth and volunteers. To ensure that the event is well attended, a flyer is sent out to Bigs within their agency stating the information about the Biking for Baseball event in their area well in advance. Bigs can then RSVP to the event and come out to play baseball with their little and B4B!

Bill Petersen is a volunteer with BBBS of Orange County and has been matched with his little, Leeangel, since May of 2010. He receives the emails and flyers sent out promoting events within the Orange County area. When he received the description about the Biking for Baseball event, he was reminded of a friend’s cross country tour in 2004. Both he and Jeff reached out to the Biking for Baseball team via the Host the Team page! It was exciting to think that we could stay with someone in the area that we previously hadn’t met. And to offer up your home to complete strangers because you both share an affinity for baseball and youth mentoring… that’s awesome!

Bill and Amanda were incredibly gracious to host the team for three nights. With three extra bedrooms and plenty of couches, we were getting the much needed rest we required.

Bill and Amanda were great fans of Angels baseball and were able to attend a home game with us and BBBS of OC on Thursday night. After the game, we were lucky enough to meet Jeff Abraham and his father, George.

Jeff was one of the members of the 2004 journey to all 30 MLB ballparks and is an Angels superfan. He gets it from his father, George, who is the ultimate super fan. The Abraham family was actually featured by MLB in their promotion a few years ago “I Live for This!” They now own one of the most extensive baseball collections known to man.

Like kids in our first candy store, we walked around the museum of baseball paraphernalia with our eyes wide and curiosities peaked. What a night!

We are thankful and excited for our first stay with a previously unknown household. It means what we thought would happen. There are great people all over this country, in every city and as fans of every team. We can’t wait to have more incredible experiences with welcoming and hospitable people all summer long!

Bill and Amanda, thank you for opening your arms to the Biking for Baseball team. We won’t forget you or your delicious desserts 🙂