This superfan has attended every Guardians game this year
This story was excerpted from Mandy Bell’s Guardians Beat publication. To learn the total publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it frequently in your inbox.
It’s Aug. 6 and Peter Knab has but to overlook a recreation this season.
If you don’t bear in mind Knab, let me jog your reminiscence. We first talked about Knab on the finish of final season. He was on tempo to go to 123 common season video games. For anybody, that may be a troublesome sufficient quantity to attend, however for Knab, who was born with cerebral palsy in 1996, it comes with a slew of challenges.
Clearly, he wasn’t deterred by any of those hurdles. He and I then chatted firstly of the 2023 season, when he set his lofty objective of attending all 162 video games with the assistance of a brand new pal, David Coury, who’s the CEO of Specialty Networks and wished to assist Knab financially in his endeavors. Through 111 video games, Knab remains to be on tempo for 162.
“It’s been exhilarating, exhausting, chaotic,” Knab mentioned. “I’m trying to think of all the adjectives to describe it.”
I sat down with Knab simply earlier than the Trade Deadline, as he watched Game 102 at Progressive Field, and requested him all about his journey so far.
MLB.com: What’s been the toughest a part of travelling?
Knab: I had a resort situation in Detroit firstly of the yr the place I obtained to the resort, I used to be instructed I had an accessible room after which I get to the resort and so they say, ‘It’s all steps. We don’t have an elevator.’ It mentioned nothing about that on the web site.
When we have been in New York for the Mets, my SmartDrive motor, which is on the again of my wheelchair, the strap from one in every of my baggage obtained caught within the good drive and it stopped working. … I ended up going a complete of three weeks with out my SmartDrive, which was actually powerful.
(Note: SmartDrive motors are connected to the again of wheelchairs to assist make pushing oneself much less strenuous.)
After that recreation in Chicago on that Sunday evening at Wrigley, as I used to be getting off the prepare, I didn’t notice how large the hole was and I ended up falling backwards and I broke my wheelchair. The [one I’m in now] is definitely a backup chair that I had in my basement. I don’t plan on stopping even when my chairs break. … I had my handlebars dangling on the bottom just about.
It’s been exhausting at instances. I’m not going to faux I’ve the identical power each single day as a result of that may be unrealistic. But it’s exhilarating as a result of I truthfully didn’t assume I’d make it this far. I assumed I’d be aiming for 155 at this level, however I’m nonetheless aiming for 162, in order that’s a win in my e-book.
MLB.com: After going by all of that, how relieving was it to succeed in the All-Star break?
Knab: Once I obtained to the All-Star break, I slept for 4 consecutive days. I wanted that. … In that final week earlier than the week, folks have been saying, ‘Peter, you look really tired.’ No kidding!
MLB.com: What have been the highlights of the primary half of the season for you?
Knab: I’ll break it all the way down to dwelling and away. Favorite dwelling recreation. I feel it was June 9. The 14-inning recreation.
It’s in all probability a tie between my two favourite highway video games. The one in Kansas City that was 14-1. That was a whole lot of enjoyable. And then my different favourite highway recreation was in all probability that recreation at Phoenix — the 12-3 recreation. That was actually chaotic as a result of I initially had a direct flight dwelling, however then the airline modified the departure time that I couldn’t make. So I ended up going Phoenix to Charlotte to Cleveland and I ended up getting dwelling at 8:30 a.m.
MLB.com: Has everybody at Progressive Field change into like household?
Knab: Absolutely. Everybody right here is simply unbelievable. They’ve been cheerleaders, as nicely. That definitely retains me going.
I’ve had so many individuals attain out to me and inform me that I encourage them, which is unbelievable. And I’m grateful for that. It’s been exhausting, however these individuals who proceed to contact me definitely assist me hold going.
MLB.com: We’re two months away from the top of the common season. What do you assume it would really feel like so that you can attain Game 162?
Knab: I feel that can in all probability be my World Series. Obviously, I hope we’ve got video games past that. … I imply, this complete factor is a marathon, proper? When you get executed with a 26-mile marathon, it feels fairly rattling unbelievable. So, I feel as soon as I’m on that bus to Detroit, then it’ll actually begin to hit. It’s going to be a celebration.
