This Rock Father™ Rides Special Feature is presented in collaboration with Chevrolet, the Official Vehicle of Major League Baseball…
Every team wants to play October baseball. Thing is, if you want to hit the field during the month of pumpkins and hayrides, September baseball is where it’s at – a month that can absolutely make or break a season. As the final stretch of the five-month regular season, it’s entirely possible for strong teams to collapse while traditionally bad teams can score a spot in the playoffs… weird stuff happens, and rivalries often come into play. Living in Northern Illinois, we’re surrounded by rival factions. Of course, the Chicago Cubs reign supreme, but we’re almost the exact distance from Wrigley Field as we are from Milwaukee’s Miller Park, and now we have a year where the Cubs and Brewers are fighting for the top spot in the National League Central Division (spoiler alert: Cubs will come out on top). That means we regularly hear about a Milwaukee/Chicago rivalry, but we seldom actually see it. Why? Go to a Brewers game and experience it… Cubs fans outnumber the hometown crowd about 5-1 (some say 2-1, but it’s more). In fact, Miller Park has the unwelcome nickname of “Wrigley Field North” when the Cubs are in town, but the ball club takes full advantage of that fact, jacking rates on parking and the like to take advantage of their neighbors to the south (can’t say I blame them). With September baseball getting good, my wife and I recently had a “grownups night out” with a couple of friends, hitting the road to experience Wrigley North for ourselves.
Heading north to Milwaukee in the all-new 2019 Chevrolet 1500 Z71 Trail Boss, it was a perfect early fall evening for four adults to ride in comfort and style with the windows open and the music up as we enjoyed the golden, sun-drenched scenery of Northern Illinois and Southeastern Wisconsin.
Of course, there is a rather… shall we say, unusual occurrence when we attend ballgames: our team ends up losing. Go to see the Cubs, they lose. Go to see the White Sox, they lose. Head out to Anaheim when I’m working in L.A., the Angels lose. You get the idea. So as our beloved Cubbies faced-off against Milwaukee, we happened to be there for what was arguably their worst game of the season. The one where they lost 11-1 and some guy in the outfield unfurled a gigantic “L” flag in response to the Cubs famed “W” flag.
Still, we had a fantastic time and as of this writing, the Cubs are in first place and I expect them to win their division within a few days, after which they’ll be looking toward the future of October baseball – what it’s all about!
More thoughts on the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado:
Despite having driven them many times, I’ve never owned a truck. That said, every time I get behind the wheel of a Chevy pickup (and we are Chevy owners), the case for buying one becomes stronger. The Silverado is a gorgeously-redesigned truck with all the comfort and features that I’d usually look for in a car, but with more hauling and towing capacity than I’d ever need in a truck. As-driven, I love the size and features of the cabin, plus the convenience and function of the bed-liner along with the LED task lighting (or “Dance Party Lighting” according to The Rock Daughters) and optional 120V outlet in the bed.
Work hard. Play hard. I am seriously considering a truck for our next purchase. Our girls loved this truck so much, they asked to be “car riders” and be driven to school while it was here on loan. The Silverado is assembled at GM’s Fort Wayne, Indiana plant.
Bonus: Yes, there’s a Hot Wheels version!
Chevrolet and Mattel have a long history that dates back to the first-ever Hot Wheels vehicle released in 1968 – a ’67 Chevy Camaro. Those collaborations have continued, with 2018 bringing the 50th Anniversary Camaro, but Chevy Trucks are also in the mix – literally! Recent assortments of the Hot Wheels Mainline vehicles (the ones that sell for around $1) include the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado Trail Boss LT. It’s currently offered in Cajun Red Tintcoat, but I’d imagine we’ll see one that mirrors what I was just driving in Northsky Blue Metallic down the line.
