I was surprised to see Santa Claus at a ball game last summer. It was a 102-degree July day in San Bernardino, and as I settled into my seat before a game between the home-team Inland Empire 66ers and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, the jolly fellow ambled down the aisle—hot dog and drink in hand.

When “Winter Wonderland” blared over the sound system and a troupe of elves commenced dancing atop both dugouts, I figured something was up. “It’s Christmas in July,” the fan seated next to me explained. “You wear your Christmas PJs, you get in free.” If only I’d known.

In Minor League Baseball (MiLB), the sideshows sometimes overshadow events on the field. But if you love baseball like I do, like to sit close to the action, and enjoy a smidgen of frivolity for your less-than-$40 ticket, a minor-league game is the best show in town.

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