MLB Stadium Visit #28/ Midwest Baseball Trip

Last week, we did our first big MLB trip of the year. And it was one of our most ambitious trips to date. Our main goal was Milwaukee to see a stadium we hadn't been to in Miller Park. But there was so much more to do.

After driving late Thursday night to Canton, OH, we woke up Friday morning to head to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. While all Halls have been ruined for me by how great the Baseball Hall is, this one wasn't bad. Plenty of Cowboys stuff to see, along with old uniforms. After a few hours there, we drove the 45 minutes to Cleveland to see an Indians game, where we hadn't been in 4 years. I made sure to get us seats close to where we sat the last time, as this was the place that I had decided to ask Staci to marry me. Jacobs Field still ranks as one of my favorite parks.

After the game, we drove 4 more hours to give us a head start on Saturday, which put us in South Bend, IN. I'm always a fan of college towns, even when I hate the team (like Notre Dame). Saturday morning, we walked around campus and took in the football field. Even got to see Touchdown Jesus, well-known throughout the college football world.

Then it was back on the road to head to Milwaukee. We drove through Chicago, and made a stop at Gino's East Pizza, a famous Chicago deep-dish pizza place. After having Giordano's (its main competition) in '07, I have to give the edge to Giordano's.

We finally arrived in Milwaukee late Saturday afternoon. We decided to take in the Riverwalk to get some Milwaukee food, and also so I could see the bronze Fonzie statue. Had some cheese curds, took my picture with the Fonz. On Sunday, we went to the Brewers game to see Miller Park. This stadium would be an easy top 5 for me, based on atmosphere, food, concourses, the stadium itself. But one fatal flaw- the scoreboard is awful- tiny screen, with a bigger 1980's style stat board below it. So it falls somewhere in the top 10.

After the game, it was time for 7 more hours of driving, to a small town in Ohio that would put us just a few hours outside of Pittsburgh for the next day's game.

Monday was a return to PNC Park to see the Dodgers take on the Pirates. I was excited not only to see the Dodgers, but because they had a chance to clinch the pennant that day. They did not, instead losing 11-1. But PNC is still a great place to catch a game. The final 2 stops were exciting as well- the site of Forbes Field, where Pittsburgh played until 1970, where they still have a piece of the outfield wall. And West Field, where the Negro League's Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords played. It's now used for a middle school soccer field, but you can still see the outline of the diamond.

Another great trip, and only 6 parks left! We are getting there!