One of the best family events in the Bay Area is the San Jose Giants minor league baseball team. If you’ve never been to a minor league baseball game, then that is reason enough to go. Right in the middle of San Jose is Municipal Stadium, home of the Single-A San Francisco Giants affiliate. Game days are signaled by the billowing BBQ smoke from the various grills. The BBQ Area gets more action than the bleachers it seems. Everything from hotlinks to ribs can be found.

Ballpark entertainment is as good as any big league game with kids competitions on the field and the ever popular kissing cam, which invariably ends up on an elderly couple who squeak out a rusty old kiss. Its always good times at the park. Another great thing about Municipal is that every seat has a spectacular view of the field. You’ll feel like you are in the movie Field of Dreams, except without shoeless Joe Jackson or your young father.

Players in the minors are also hungry to perform. They haven’t made it yet and still believe in hard work, hustle and teamwork, something I find to be missing in the MLB. Watching the Giants can present various situations you might not see at the major league level. Young aspiring players make silly mistakes, young prospects seem to shine even brighter among the less polished competition. This all adds to the fun, it feels more like real baseball, something between the MLB and the sand lot.

Aside from being a key part of the community and great activity for families, the Giants are a top-notch franchise in the California League. Having won the 2009 league championship and with an attendance over 223,000 last year, this is no little league game. The Giants also help raise over $300,000 for local youth organizations each year. Although they play an away game this year during the Fourth of July, it is usually one of the hot tickets for the summer with families flocking to Municipal for the great fireworks show. Maybe next year. They do have fireworks night, just not for the fourth. So check the schedule.

Located in the shadow of San Jose State’s Spartan Stadium, Municipal Stadium is a great place to whatch a game.