Picture this: you're with your friends on a warm summer night, surrounded by a crowd of people. You can smell hot dogs and peanuts and fresh-cut grass. The sound of a bat hitting a ball rings through your ears and the cheering begins.

If you've never been to a baseball game, you are seriously missing out. First of all, it isn’t nearly the same as watching one on television. There is something so special about the atmosphere in the ballpark that makes it a memorable experience. Even if baseball isn't your thing, nothing beats a summer ball game.

Baseball is one of the most American sports there is (some would argue football, but I disagree). There have been movies, TV shows, and songs created around the game. There are leagues for people of all ages, from tiny tee-ball to the major league teams we watch on television. Baseball is a sport where everyone is welcome to its magic.

For me, I grew up around the game. Both sides of my family are baseball fanatics. My grandfather is an umpire, at one time my dad was looking to the minor leagues, and I grew up with a mitt on my hand and a Red Sox hat on my head. The Boston/New York rivalry runs through my blood. I can list players, teams, and coaches from the best years of baseball.

Some of my favorite memories are from watching Pawsox games at McCoy Stadium or playing on my town team. Baseball is covered with nostalgia for me.

Because I love baseball, I find it easy to say that there is something about being at the park that can put a smile on anyone’s face. Maybe it's the sense of comradery that is found when the whole crowd bursts out in a chorus of "Sweet Caroline," or the magic when a player hits a homerun. Maybe it's the history of the game, knowing all the greats who played before and getting to see newcomers take on the challenges they have set.

Maybe it’s the rivalry that draws you in, letting you watch with anticipation for the outcome. Or maybe it's just the fact that for one night, you can forget everything else and just be a part of something that’s bigger than yourself.

So if you’re looking for something to do this summer, something that will create lasting memories for you and your company, a baseball game is the way to go. Even if you don’t quite understand what each position does or what the rules of the game are, you will still become part of the experience. Trust me when I say, there is nothing like it.