April 27, 2014, Nationals Park (DC). Bobblehead Give-A-Way, Signature Sunday, and Box Frites.

On Sunday April 27, 2014, I decided to go to the Nationals Game against the San Diego Padres in DC.  After two back to back games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards Friday and Saturday I didn't feel so guilty going to the Nationals game over the Orioles.  I wanted to go to the Nationals game since it was a bobblehead give-a-way day, and a signature sunday. 

So the bobblehead give-a-way was for a Jordan Zimmermann bobblehead and it was sponsored by PNC Bank.  On the bobblehead give-a-way days the first 25,000 fans get a bobblehead.  Sunday was the first of six bobblehead days.  The other bobblehead day give-a-ways are May 16 (Wilson Ramos), June 30 (Bryce Harper), July 20 (Denard Span), August 21 (Ian Desmond), and September 27 (Fan Choice/Tyler Clippard). 

Jordan Zimmermann bobblehead give-a-way 4/27/14

For those who want to get the give-a-ways you should arrive to the stadium at least an hour before game time. Generally, if your in the stadium at Nationals Park an hour before the game you should get a give-a-way.  Anytime after that, and its luck of the draw.  People may think its incredibly stupid or not worth getting the give-a-way if your going to the game.  Maybe so, but if you look on e-bay during the game and soon after, you will see people are selling the bobblehead for around $25 - $35 (and getting bids).  Considering you can get Nationals tickets for as low as $10 list price (and sometimes as low as $6 on Stubhub) its not a bad deal to make sure you get the give-a-way even if you don't like it (i.e., you can sell it on e-bay and cover your ticket cost and then some). 

I also got to the park early this Sunday to take advantage of signature sunday as previously mentioned in my April 20, 2014 post.  I arrived at the stadium about 10:05 AM (gates opened at 11:05 AM, 2 1/2 hours before game time).  There wasn't much of a line at the time.  There were two main lines to enter and two lines for season ticket holders only.  I ended up being about the 14 person in line.  As soon as the gates opened I got my bobblehead, and went to Section 109 to get my signature voucher.  I was early enough to assure I got a voucher, I believe they ran out soon after gate opening (i.e., I'd say within the first 10 minutes or so).

After getting my signature voucher I went up to the Miller Lite Scoreboard walk since that is the main area in the Stadium that is open (the rest of the sections past section 109 and 142 on the lower level don't open up until 1 1/2 before the game).

Miller Lite Scoreboard Walk

At the Scoreboard walk bar, they have happy hour drinks.  The happy hour drinks are a 16 oz Coors Light or Miller Lite for $6.  I believe the deal lasts up until the first pitch (and is probably the cheapest place to get a beer inside or outside of the stadium outside of a few local bars during normal weekday happy hour times).

About 15 minutes before noon, I waited by section 142 in order to approach the home team dugout to use my signature voucher (section 128/129 was where one had to go to redeem the signature voucher.  The section past 142 opened at around noon, 1 1/2 hours before game time...the voucher requires you to be in line once the player begins autographing in order to ensure you get an autograph).  

Home Team Dugout by Section 128/129

In my line, Tyler Moore, #12 for the Nationals was signing. Unfortunately, I didn't see who was signing in the other line (the voucher is only good for one signature and the ticket details what section/line to wait in...two different vouchers are available each Sunday depending on if you pick up your voucher in section 109 or 142).

Tyler Moore Autograph Ball from 4/27/14

After waiting in line for about 30 mins or so, I got my autograph (I probably was one of the first 15-20 people or so to get an autograph, but I would estimate about 50-100 people get a signature voucher of each player). 

So after my wait I was making my way to my seat and was a little hungry.  I decided I would stop at Box Frites which is in the 200 level by the Scoreboard Walk.  I really wanted to get some fries.

Box Frites at Nationals Park 200 Level Scoreboard Walk

So Box Frites definitely specializes in fries and has a few other unique items. They had 4 different varieties of fries. I got the garlic fries, but they also have normal fries, sweet potato fries, and bacon cheddar fries. On top of fries they also will give you some of their unique sauces for the fries.  I got smokey bacon sauce, but they have some others like chipotle BBQ, bacon ranch, and a few others I forget (one sauce is free with the fries, but additional sauces will cost you extra).

Garlic Fries from Box Frites at Nationals Park

I also saw a unique hot dog I had to try, the BLT dog.  It was a hot dog with bacon, lettuce, tomato, and smokey bacon sauce.

BLT Dog from Box Frites at Nationals Park

The fries and the hot dog were amazing.  The garlic fries with the smokey bacon sauce were really good.  The hot dog didn't need any additional sauce, the smokey bacon sauce was perfect with the added bacon, tomato and lettuce.  The fries are a little on the expensive side at $8.50 a large (the garlic fires and bacon fries don't come in a small which is $6.50).  The BLT dog was $6.50 which isn't bad for a specialty hot dog in a ballpark (the specialty hot dogs in Camden Yards for comparison are about $9 at Stuggy's as referenced in my post on April 26, 2014 at Camden Yards).  I'd also say the BLT dog for taste actually beat the Stuggy's Crab Mac N Cheese Dog for anyone who is curious.

The game was ok.  Nothing special.  I was shocked though to see the Nationals use 6 pitchers in the game. They pulled Taylor Jordan out of the game in the beginning of the 5th inning.  He only gave up one run, his pitch count was low, which really boggled my mind why you would do such in a tie 1-1 game. The Nationals ended up losing 4-2.

The Orioles also lost their game that day 9-3 so it didn't look like that Sunday would have been a good day for me at either park.