A photo from last month’s season ticket open house at Target Field. Thanks again to the usher for whom, “Uh, we lost our tickets,” was reason enough to let a couple of non-season ticket holders sneak through the gate.

From the seats, to the signage, to the limestone to its vistas of the skyline, Target Field feels like a piece of Minneapolis that has been missing. It feels totally of its time — no faux retro-ness about it — and totally of its unassuming location.

The ballpark’s down-to-earthness and human scale (though the Metropolitan Club is pretty posh) make Target Field very much a Minnesota ballpark. It’s a hell of a contrast to the Yankees’ ‘BE ABSOLUTELY IN AWE OF US,’ over-the-top new Yankee Stadium. It’s all just very Twins. I am in love.

Six months ago, I sat in the dome and watched the Twins’ improbable 2009 run end, and its teflon-topped home fade from existence (in baseball terms, at least). To watch those Minnesota Twins pinstriped whites run out of that dugout and onto the green grass of an outdoor ballpark this evening (well, if this rain goes away) will almost be a shock to the system. A team and a city and a state will finally have a ballpark that fits its place and its character.

It’s only a ballpark. But, dammit, it’s a beautiful thing.