For a lot of couples, the ballpark is part of the love story. A first date in the upper deck, a proposal at a spring game, years of season tickets side by side. An anniversary gift built from that history says more than flowers, because it says you remember the day and the score.
Everything below is made from real game records. Here is how each gift works, which anniversaries it suits and what you will need to track down.
I Was There, the box score from your first date
I Was There is the box score of any game you attended, and for an anniversary, the obvious pick is the first date or the first game you went to together. Seeing the real score from that night, years later, is a little startling. Most people remember who they were with far better than who won. Prints are paper, which also makes this a natural fit for a first anniversary, when paper is the traditional gift. From $45.
Sky Over the Stadium, the stars above that night's game
Sky Over the Stadium shows the real night sky over the ballpark or stadium at the minute your game began: every star to magnitude 5.5, the constellations, the Moon in its true phase and the cardinal points, all computed for that place and time. Below it sit the final score and the line score. It is the more romantic choice of the two, and it looks like a piece of art first and a sports print second. From $45.
The Collection, for years of games together
For a tenth or twenty-fifth anniversary, one game may not cover it. The Collection puts up to six real games on one print, each with its real scoreboard, your words for what happened that day and the story of the game. Pick the first date, the proposal, the first game with your kids, the road trip, and the game you still talk about. The words you write for each are what make it yours. From $45.
Our Seats, for season ticket holders
If you have held the same seats for years, Our Seats is made for you: the ballpark, section, row and seats, how many seasons, and up to four favorite games from those seats with their real scoreboards. It fits an anniversary that lines up with a season-ticket milestone, too. From $45.
Our First Game Ornament, a small add-on
Our First Game Ornament is a two-sided ceramic ornament with the ballpark, the city, the date and your names, in our scoreboard type. It is a sweet extra alongside a print, or a gift on its own for a winter anniversary. From $24.
House Divided, for a couple on opposite sides
If you have spent the marriage rooting against each other's team, House Divided sets each of your birthday games side by side and adds the two teams' record against each other since the younger of you was born. It is a lighthearted pick for any anniversary, and it ends at least one long-running argument. From $45.
The Party Sign-In, for a milestone anniversary party
For a big anniversary celebration, The Party Sign-In carries a headline of your choice and the real scoreboard from the wedding day, with a lineup left blank for 42 guests to sign in and pick a position. It is printed on matte 18 by 24 inch paper that takes a marker. Children often order it for their parents' twenty-fifth or fiftieth, and it makes a fine keepsake once the party is over. From $59.
Finding the date of your first game
This is where most people get stuck. A few places to look: photos on your phone or in an old album, which usually carry a date; a ticket stub or a ticket app's order history; old texts or emails about the plans; and the team's schedule for that season, which you can match to what you remember (a weekend, the opponent, the weather). Once you have the date and the teams, you have what you need.
Choosing and budget
For a first anniversary, I Was There. For the romantic, Sky Over the Stadium. For a long marriage, The Collection or Our Seats. For a party, The Party Sign-In. Prints are $45, The Party Sign-In is $59 and the ornament is $24, so a print with the ornament comes to $69.
Shop this guide
I Was ThereFrom $24
Sky Over the StadiumFrom $45
The CollectionFrom $45
Our SeatsFrom $45
Our First Game OrnamentFrom $24
House DividedFrom $45
The Party Sign-InFrom $59
Ordering
Personalize your gift on its product page. Each order is checked by hand before it is made, and shipping is free in the US. Allow about two weeks for it to arrive, so count back from the anniversary date. For a gift at Christmas, order by early December at the latest.
Find more gifts for couples and families in the Family and Retirement collection.