Ballpark #6- Turner Field, Atlanta, GA

Stadium Opened: 1997
Team: Atlanta Braves
1st Visit: 10/19/99
Last Visit: 8/29/10
# Games: 23
Food: 7/10
Stadium: 8/10
Important Games Seen:
1999 NLCS Game 6, 2000 All-Star Game, my 1st interleague game (6/2/00), 1st anniversary of 9/11 vs. the Mets (2002), longest game (16 innings- 5/7/02)


Turner Field was my first home ballpark, and it only took until my third day of living in Atlanta for it to become so. The Braves were in the middle of their record-setting 14 consecutive division titles in 1999 and were playing the Mets in Game 6 on the Monday after I arrived. My roommates and I headed downtown and saw the series-clinching win by the Braves. Thus began a great 4-year run at the beautiful Turner Field. One of the big draws of living in a big city was being able to head to a Major League game anytime I wanted, and I took advantage of it as much as possible.

My only experience with Major League ballparks at the time was Philadelphia (concrete multi-purpose) and New York (historic but old and lacking many amenities). What a shock to the system to walk into a 2-year old park with every bell & whistle imaginable, including a huge video board, a large cafe with bands and big-screen TVs, and concourses where you could watch the game while you grab a beer. It didn't hurt that as you walked into the park you were walking through reminders of the '96 Olympics (Turner Field was 1st used for that before being turned over to the Braves in '97).

The crowds, while not often sold-out, were loud and supportive, still in the midst of the mind-numbing "Tomahawk Chop." And you had a 60% chance of seeing a future Hall-of Fame pitcher (Glavine, Maddux, Smoltz) on any given night. The prices were right too. In a time when successful teams price regular fans out of games (hello, Phils & Yanks!), the Braves had many great seats under $15, even $5 day-of-game seats.

The food was eclectic and plentiful. My favorite stand was "Taste of the Majors," a a stand that featured food and beer from the opposing team's home town (for example, when they played the Phillies, the featured items would be cheese steaks and Rolling Rock Beer). Sadly, when I returned in 2010, the stand was gone. But the food was still better than the average ballpark. The Chophouse is the view-of-the-park restaurant common in MLB parks these days. It is a nice place to watch the game, but you have to be there very early to get a good table.

The team store is nice but lacks the space needed for a modern ballpark. The variety is solid, carrying most of the variations the Braves have worn through the years.

My best memories were of 2 particular games:
-the 2000 All Star game, which remains my only All Star Game. It was an amazing climax to a great 5 days, which included the All Star FunFest (which I volunteered at) and the Home Run Derby. The game was solid, despite many All Stars missing the game because of injury (including Mike Piazza and Mark McGwire);
-the 1st anniversary of 9/11, which featured the Mets versus the Braves. Many members of the FDNY and NYPD were in attendance, presented the colors and threw out the 1st pitches. The game was simultaneously the most somber and most patriotic game I have ever been to.

As you can see, I have very little negative to say about Turner Field. Returning there, much like Nationals Park, will always be nostalgic and enjoyable.

For more pics of Turner Field and comparison of differences from 2000 and 2010, click here.

2000 All Star pre-game festivities

Turner Field Press Box

Coke Bottle Home Run Fireworks

Addie And Staci see my old home for the first time

Dodgers and Braves battle it out in April 2000

Dodgers pre-game in front of the Braves' pennants- August 2001

The infamous John Rocker (3rd from right) after his 2000 suspension

1st Pitch of the 2000 All Star Game

Ballpark #5- Bowman Field, Williamsport, PA

Stadium Opened: 1926
Teams Seen: Williamsport Cubs (Cubs) 1994-98; Crosscutters (Pirates 99-2006) (Phillies 2007-present)
1st Visit: 7/18/98
Most Recent Visit: 8/20/11
# Games: 6
Food: 6/10
Team Store: 4/10
Stadium: 8/10
Future/Rehabbing Stars Seen: Eric Hinske, Will Ohman

As you will come to see in my reviews, I am a sucker for historic well-kept ballparks. And Bowman Field in Williamsport is one of the best in that regard. That said, Bowman is a sign of how much minor league baseball has changed in the last 20 years. After seeing the scope of places like Trenton, Reading, Portland, etc, it is hard to believe this cozy little place was Class AA as late as 1991. Short-season A New York-Penn is a perfect fit for Bowman.

My first visit here in 1998 had the Cubs in town, with the likes of Eric Hinske and Kerry Wood passing through town. The following year they became a Pirates affiliate and became the Crosscutters; now with the more popular PA team, the Phillies, as their affiliate, the 'Port couldn't be happier.

The stadium has made alot of improvements over the 13 years I've been going there, adding an expanded food court and beer stand near the entrance. The seats are, sadly, mostly unchanged in that time, with uncomfortable bleachers in most of the park. Even the box seats are tight and packed together. Most of the seating is covered, which is a plus. The good part is that you are right on top of the action. The scoreboard has been vastly improved, adding a small video screen on top of the line score.

The team store is small-ish, but probably the right size for a short-season. Selection is limited as well. The food is fairly consistent with most place, but the beer selection is very solid, with plenty of choices and decent prices.

Overall, I like our annual trip to see the Cutters- a nice place to see a game in the hills of Central PA.

The entrance to Bowman

Becca & Staci enjoying the Adult Section

BK Squared showing off our Terror at Bowman cups

Ballpark #4- Dunn Field, Elmira, NY

Stadium Opened: 1938
Teams Seen: Elmira Pioneers (Marlins) 1993-95
1st Visit: 7/4/95
Most Recent Visit: 7/4/95
# Games: 1
Food: N/A
Team Store: 3/10
Stadium: 7/10
Future/Rehabbing Stars Seen: None


My one and only visit to see an Elmira game was back in 1995. At the time, the Pioneers were part of the New York-Penn League. The history of Dunn Field goes back to 1938, and for better or worse, the stadium hasn't changed much since then. The walk underneath the concourse is charming, and many of the seats date back decades. So why did the NYPL pull out of Elmira in 1996? It's hard to say, other than the Pioneers were losing loads of money or not drawing fans. Which is a shame, as it boasts a bigger population than many of the current NYPL teams.

Luckily, there are still summer collegiate teams that play here. We drove up in 2010 to look through the stadium and I was happy to see that it hadn't much changed and was well-maintained by a small dedicated staff. Let's hope Dunn Field has many years left for baseball as it approaches its 75th year.

Ballpark #3- Lackawanna County Stadium, Moosic, PA

Stadium Opened: 1989
Teams Seen: Scranton/Wilkes Barre Red Barons (Phillies) 1989-2006; Yankees (Yankees) 2007-present
1st Visit: 6/18/91
Most Recent Visit: 6/3/11
# Games: 5
Food: 8/10
Team Store: 4/10
Stadium: 6/10
Future/Rehabbing Stars Seen: Mike Lieberthal, Jorge Posada, Andy Ashby


It's amazing that I lived 10 miles from this stadium for 11 years and barely ever went. The reason is two-fold: 1) At the time, I was working nights 6 days a week; and 2) I really didn't care for Minor League baseball (shocking, considering my life path since that time). Either way, it's a shame, because it's a pretty good place to see a game. And it was my 1st Minor League game.

Before the Red Barons came to town in '89, baseball was hard to come by in eastern PA. There was Reading and Williamsport and that was it. Scranton was rightfully excited, as it hadn't had baseball in 40 years. In the 17 years that SWB was a Phillies affiliate, big names like Mike Lieberthal, Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard, and many more came through town. In 2007, the Red Barons became a Yankees affiliate (ugh), and changed their name to...the Yankees (double ugh).

The biggest problem with the stadium is a lack of personality. It was modeled after the Phillies' Veterans Stadium, which made sense in 1989 but quickly got bypassed by other AAA teams. The scoreboard is virtually unchanged from the mid-90s, with no video to speak of. And the team store is embarrassing, a small closet with lack of variety.

The good things: the view is awesome- built on the side of a mountain, the trees lining the outfield are a great sight. and the brick facade is excellent. The parking is free, a rarity on the AAA level. And the food is actually region-related, with famous "Old Forge" pizza and Yuengling on tap.

Alot of changes are coming to what is now known as PNC Field. Major renovations are due over the next couple years. Overall, it's a place I enjoy heading back to see. Just as long as you don't expect too much from the place.

Ballpark #2- Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

Stadium Opened: 1923
Team: New York Yankees
1st Visit: 8/11/80
Last Visit: 7/22/08
# Games: 10
Food: 5/10
Stadium: 7/10
Important Games Seen:
Tom Seaver's 300th Win (8/4/85), Last game with Papa (6/5/94)


As much as I hate the Yankees, I respect the hell out of Yankee Stadium. It was a great place to see a game, and the history oozed out of every corner. The other of my grandfather's yearly bus trips, he always made the trip around a special day- we were there for Phil Rizzuto Day, Billy Martin Day, Bobby Murcer Day. But the one he didn't plan was the biggest historical moment I've seen- Tom Seaver of the White Sox winning his 300th game on 8/4/85. Mary, Jimmy, Staci and I closed out the stadium in its last season (2008) by sitting in the vicinity of the seats Papa always got.

Staci & I- 1st Yankee Stadium trip together- 2006

Papa's old seats

View from the press box- 2008

Mary & I close out 30 years at the stadium

Ballpark #1- Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia PA

Stadium Opened: 1971
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
1st Visit: 6/10/79
Last Visit: 7/19/92
# Games: 11
Food: N/A
Stadium: 5/10
Important Games Seen:
1st game (6/10/79), 1st Dodgers game (5/11/82), Met Steve Garvey (5/27/84)


You never forget your first. The Vet was a concrete, typical '70s stadium. But too many great memories will keep this place a favorite of mine forever. The excitement of my 1st game (read more about that here ), my 1st Dodgers game, meeting Steve Garvey, and of course the famous bus rides with my family.

BK's Big Baseball Page Reboot

If you were a regular reader of my posts, you noticed that I have been conspicuously absent for many months. The truth is that the blog reached a crossroads- I had originally started it to talk about baseball and it became less about that with each passing day. So what to do?

Then it hit me yesterday- why wasn't I writing about all the ballparks I had been to? To give everyone an idea about the teams, states, little towns, & big cities that this journey has brought me to?

So that's what I intend to do- take you through all 78 (and counting) places that I have seen a professional baseball game, chronologically by my 1st visit. To give you an idea of ambiance, concessions, the team, and of course the ballpark itself. To take you to places that are no longer in use or have even been demolished. To give you a unique perspective on my (and now our) adventures.

My goal for awhile has been to every MLB and Minor League park. And now more than a third of the way there, it's a good time to share the uniqueness of over 250 professional ballparks.

So let's start with #1, which happens to have occurred 32 years ago today..Enjoy!