Maybe a question to which I should know the answer: why do we sit in the third base dugout for home games?

Because all the infrastructure (locker room, cages, etc) is on that side and we don't want to cross the field to get there.

Traditionally home teams use the 3rd base dugout at their home field. Something to do wth baseball lore, how fields were oriented with the sun, where an eagle landed on a cactus, etc.

I haven't had my coffee yet...

quote:

---

Traditionally home teams use the 3rd base dugout at their home field. Something to do wth baseball lore, how fields were oriented with the sun, where an eagle landed on a cactus, etc.

I haven't had my coffee yet...

---

Unless you play for the Astros...

(where an eagle has never handed on a cactus)

I never knew all that! I grew up in Houston and pretty much only watched the Astros.

In the majors, most -- but not all -- home teams sit on the first base side. I mistakenly thought it was all. Learn something new every day.

the sun is why A&M has always been in the 3rd base dugout -- the 1st base dugout gets blasted during the late afternoon / early evening games

Usually, the home team takes the dugout that is in the shade. Since most baseball fields are oriented with the home plate to center field line running SW to NE, that is usually the 3rd base side. There are plenty of exceptions, but the angle of the sun is the main reason.

Has to do with Freemasonry and celestial alignments. You don't f with that stuff.

It is the sun issue, but remember we originally were in the first base dugout for the first 10-20 years of Olsen's existence. Switched 15-20 years ago I believe.

Your memory is off. My time at Olsen only dates from '86 forward, but A&M has been in that dugout the entire time, and as far as I know, was in the 3rd base dugout when the park opened in '78.

I defer to your knowledge. Perhaps I'm just recalling them being there during Regionals and SRs.

Seems like we had this discussion last year as well. Guess I'd better see a neurologist.

twk has a few more years than I do, but we've always been in the 3rd base dugout at Olsen. However, you're right that in regionals/supers the "home" team for that games gets their pick of dugouts.

The correct answer is the sun.

I was at the first game ever played at Olsen. We have always been in the third base dugout, except for certain tournament play.

Same reason as football team bench is on west side--shade. Some Big 10 football teams have benches on east side for just the opposite reason--get some sun.

growing up, my teams always took 3rd base dugout whenever possible. Most batters are right handed and we felt it gave on deck circle a better look at the pitches before the at bat and more protection from foul balls.

no clue if that plays into any Aggie decision or not, but its possible.

Also, having the opposing team sit in front of the GA is beneficial for heckling...section 203 has gotten into more than a few players heads over the years (see Hostra player's tweet about his scrawny legs).