Turner Field- Then & Now

It had been 7 years since I had seen a game in my old hometown ball park, Turner Field in Atlanta. While most of the park looks the same, the upgrade in video board and other electronics is phenomenal. Check out the 2000 and 2010 differences.

2000 Right Field View:


2010 Right Field View:


2000 Video Board:


2010 Video Board:


2000 Left Field View:


2010 Left Field View:


Many new bright lights, including side score and outfield walls, which really adds to a great place.

Cure For The Wintertime Blues

The older you get, the more depressing winter becomes. Even Christmas isn't what it used to be, so the "blahs" start earlier. So what I do to get through that? I start planning our baseball roadtrips for the following year. The steps are easy:
1) Figure out when and where we want to try and go next year. Adding the minors to my list a few years ago has made this especially fun.
2) Picking 2-3 new MLB cities to go to. The MLB parks left to see is dwindling, but in some ways more difficult (ie expensive).
3) Scanning through dozens of minor league teams' schedules. Trying to make sure as many teams as possible are at home in a certain radius is the key. My Christmas comes as a team I've been waiting to release their schedule finally does.
4) Looking at giveaways. This is not really that huge to me, the only thing I tend to care about is a hat giveaway, with an occasional bobblehead thrown in. The other problem is teams tend to release that schedule right before the season, long after the choices for us have been made. It's fun to see what other teams are doing, however.

So the rough outline for 2010 has been established. Here's the possibilities:
MLB Parks: With only 6 left, we are not going crazy in this department next year. The new Yankee Stadium is on the docket after my one-year ban. This will probably include a stop by one of the minor league parks I haven't gotten yet, the candidates being Long Island, Newark and Sussex. There will most likely be only one other MLB park for '10, with either Seattle or Minnesota as the choice. It will come down to which plane ticket is cheaper. Plenty of good MiLB to hit in either region with the St Paul Saints in Minnesota and Tacoma and Yakima in Seattle.
Local/regional trip: One of the good things about the DC area is the choice in baseball in a fairly close proximity. No less than 10 teams in a 2-3 hour drive. The 2nd annual P-Nats tour will occur the first weekend in June, with a stop in 3 states and DC, 4 different Nats affiliates, and 1 Flying Squirrel. Richmond, Hagerstown, Wilmington and DC, here we come!
Longer road trips: In some ways, these have become my favorite aspect of the baseball season, as they are fairly inexpensive and you get to see so much of the surrounding areas. Last year's North Carolina and Midwest trips were huge amounts of fun while continually clicking off more ballparks. For 2010, I have a New England trip planned as we go to visit Staci's parents in Maine. So many teams to choose from on the 750 mile journey, including Lowell, Pawtucket, and Portland. We will also be looking at an Upstate New York trip as well, as this is a quick 6-hour drive to dozens of teams, including Binghamton, Oneonta, and Tri-Cities.

2010 is going to be a great year in many ways, and plotting the baseball season is one small but important aspect of that.

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!

Two More Ballparks!

Staci and I headed to NYC for a belated birthday weekend. On Friday night, we went to Staten Island to see an SI Yankees game (below). It was a very nice park, especially for low New York-Penn League. It was situated right next to the St George Terminal for the Staten Island Ferry. Our seats were great, and it was great to be able to see the ferry and Manhattan in the distance.

On Saturday, we headed to Coney Island and Brooklyn. We got to ride the famous Cyclone, headed to the original Nathan's Hot Dogs, and went to a Cyclones game (above) that night. I loved this park, and not just because of the semi-association with my old Brooklyn Dodgers. Everything about the park was 1st class, from the 2-level store to the many concession stands to the fan interaction.

After some time in Manhattan on Sunday, we headed home. A great birthday weekend!

4th Anniversary of the 4th...

Tomorrow is going to be way too busy to write anything, so let's start this anniversary a day early..

The 4th is a great holiday, not something I was able to say before Staci, a subject I covered last year. And nothing makes it more special than baseball. It was a tradition that started in 1995, when my girlfriend Anne and I went to an Elmira Pioneers game. I also went to a Braves game in Atlanta both in 2000 and 2002. But when Staci and I decided to start our baseball trips in earnest, we headed to Cleveland to see Jacobs Field. It ranks as one of my favorite games that I have been to, just for the life direction that it led me to. And, of course, the next year, at RFK, was our engagement. This year will mark the 8th time, and the 5th consecutive year, that I will be at a game on the 4th. '05 and '06 will most likely never be topped, and that's just fine with me.

30 Years Today..

On this date in 1979, I went to my first baseball game. Very hard to believe that 30 years has come and gone. It was at Veteran's Stadium (below) in Philadelphia, and I got to see Phil Niekro of the Braves pitch against Steve Carlton of the Phillies. My Grandfather (above, with a cute young me) ran bus trips every year to the Vet and Yankee Stadium, and at age 5, it was deemed that I was old enough to go. It was the beginning of a long odyssey that continues today. I remember alot about that day, and 30 years and 400 attended games later, I am still thankful to my Grandpa's huge role in making me the fan I am today.

North Carolina Baseball

This past weekend Staci and I traveled to the state of North Carolina to catch some baseball, and in the process got to see a dear old friend of mine. Since we are on a tighter budget this year (i.e. broke), we are doing drivable minor league trips instead of the major league trips we usually do. And this one didn't disappoint. We started Friday night in Durham, where I had been before but was excited about seeing again. Despite the weather, we had a good time.



Saturday, it was on to Greensboro. On the way, we stopped to visit the Burlington Royals stadium and the yet-to-be-finished new Winston-Salem stadium. We also stopped for a great dinner with my old college roommate Tracy and her family. We hadn't seen each other in over 5 years, so it was great to catch up and introduce the spouses. Then we all headed to the Grasshoppers game. Greensboro was a great stadium, packed with 9100 people, which is very impressive for a low-A team. On our way out of town, we stopped at the old Greensboro stadium, then headed to Lynchburg.

Danville was on the way, so we took a peek at the D-Braves park. Very nice for Rookie League. Lynchburg was also a park that I had seen, but was happy to re-visit. The P-Nats were in town, so we gt to see my team get beat.

It was a great, inexpensive trip in which I got to mark 5 more stadiums off the master list (7 total).

200 Minor League Games

Last night was a small milestone in my baseball games odyssey. It was the 200th minor league game that I had attended. I have a long way to go to see all stadiums, but it's still an accomplishment. I have seen games in 33 minor league parks, and in 11 states (PA, NY, NJ, VA, MD, FL, TX, KY, NC, SC, DE). And it is fitting that my 200th was at the stadium that I have attended the most games, the Pfitz. Hopefully, in a few years, I'll be able to look at this number as quaint as I go to visit my final stadium.

MLB Stadium Visit #27

Staci and I made the long drive to NY on Sunday to see the new Mets' stadium, Citi Field. The stadium itself was great, but the Jackie Robinson Rotunda took my breath away. It was designed to resemble the historic Brooklyn Dodgers' stadium, Ebbets Field. And it did not fail to disappoint, as they missed no detail, down to the light fixtures. The tribute to Jackie was everywhere, from the old games playing on big screens, to pictures and a giant "42" that you can take pictures with. Definitely a must-see for any baseball fan.

Bye Bye Shea

It was reported on ballparkdigest.com today that the last piece of Shea was taken down yesterday. And good riddance to it. Out of the 26 MLB stadiums that I have watched a game in, Shea was by far the worst, worse than Tropicana, Olympic, and the Vet combined. Its sightlines were horrible, there was no intimacy, and for all the cookie-cutters of its time (DC, Philly, Cincy, Pitt), Shea stood out like a sore thumb. However, as with any place, if you had good memories there, it will hold a higher place in your heart. RFK would be much lower on my personal list if not for all the great memories there.

So goodbye, old Shea. You're being replaced by a shiny new Ebbets Field-like stadium across the street, and even fickle Mets fans have to be happy about that.

Midwest Trip Part Two- St. Louis

After 2 days in KC, we drove back to St. Louis to spend some time there. We started this leg of the trip at the Budweiser Brewery, which was alot of fun, alot of interesting buildings, and Staci even got to pet one of their dalmatians.



We then headed to the Arch, and though we didn't go to the top, we got to sit underneath it and look out at the Mississippi River.



Finally we finished up at Busch Stadium III, #26 on my stadium list. Only 3 years old, it is a beautiful stadium, I saw a little bit of Atlanta, Baltimore, and Philly in their design. And the view looking out at the Arch is fantastic. The only disappointment was not getting to meet my hero (and current D-Backs bench coach) Kirk Gibson. It is very fan un-friendly down by the dugouts which made it impossible to get close enough. But I did get to watch him lead BP, and as you can see from the picture (#23 on the left), he's got the same swing that made him a legend 20 autumns ago.



A great trip, to be sure- and now the planning begins for next year's baseball journeys!

Midwest Trip Part One- Kansas City

Staci and I had a nice 4-day weekend in Missouri, flying into St Louis, then immediately driving 3+ hours to Kansas City. We began our trip at the Negro League Museum, which was both fascinating and sad.



Friday night, in an effort to get both famous aspects of KC culture, we went to BB's Lawnside BBQ, a fantastic rib joint that doubled as a blues bar. Neither disappointed, as both the music and food were out of this world.



On Sunday, we went to a Royals game. Stadium #25 for me was nothing special, but it was still a decent ballpark, and it may be my favorite location for an MLB park yet, as it was nestled on the outskirts of town, with no traffic and a laid-back atmosphere. Kansas City was a place I wouldn't mind visiting again.



Coming up tomorrow: St Louis.

Final Trip To The House That Papa Built

On Tuesday night, Staci, Mary, Jimmy & myself took the trip out to the Bronx one last time for old Yankee Stadium. The three of my road-mates were happy with an 8-2 Yankee win over the Twins. The trip was nostalgic, as Mary and I spent many Sunday afternoons in our childhood at Yankee Stadium. Our grandfather ran bus trips from Scranton out to the Bronx, and they were always entertaining and some of the best memories of our childhoods. Our last trip was in 1994, as the rising ticket prices and the horrible strike finally made my grandfather decide it was not worth it any longer.



In the 15 years leading up to that, though, Papa always got great seats and tried to find the most entertaining weekend- we were there for Bobby Murcer Day, Phil Rizzuto Day (when they brought a cow out on the field for him), Billy Martin Day. We also got to see Tom Seaver throw his 300th win against the Yankees, to this day the only true milestone I have witnessed live.



So, Mary and I remembered all this and more, from "iced tea" to lucky numbers. Mary even made me a pepperoni and butter sandwich, just like Grandma used to (we were not allowed to eat at games- "why would we spend $2 on a hot dog when we can make 20 sandwiches for the same amount?" HA!). We were able to get seats right behind where Papa always got his seats, so we had the same view as the old days. Another sign of changing times- seats that cost $7 in 1987 are now $75. Some things remain- Bob Sheppard's amazing voice still echoes from the PA system, and the outfield bunting and scoreboard are the same. But the days of Mattingly, Winfield, Guidry are long gone. And so are the days of $2 hot dogs, $7 seats, and Papa's bus trips. But somehow, 10 years after he left this planet, Papa was there Tuesday night, ensuring one more win for his Yankees in front of his two eldest grandchildren. And he was smiling as the strains of Sinatra played one last time for us in Yankee Stadium.

Happy 4th (A Day Early)

It's hard to believe 2 years have passed since my July 4th proposal to Staci at RFK Stadium. The reason I chose that date was simple to me and a year in the making. Staci and I had discovered early on in our relationship that we both had horrendous break-ups on this holiday (her with EJ, mine with Kim) that had rendered this once-loved holiday a dreaded date. We made a pact to try and make the 4th a fun day again. In 2005, on our very first baseball road trip, we went to Cleveland to see the Indians play the Tigers. As we sat there, enjoying the beginning of our odyssey together, I realized that we needed to make the 4th of July a day to always remember. And so began the year-long planning that came to fruition in Washington DC among family and friends. I kept the secret so close to the vest that no one knew except Mary, who I had told so that she could photograph the occasion.

2 years later, we are happily married and I could not ask for a better wife. And as I look forward to 3 1/2 days off with friends, baseball, and of course, my wife, I can say that my plan was brilliant- a holiday was saved for 2 people, and a beautiful life was begun.

New York, New York

The end of a busy week for us concluded in the Big Apple. On Saturday, we went to Shea for a Good Riddance visit, as I saw my Dodgers for the first time this year. The best part about it was seeing the magnificent beauty rising up behind it, Citi Field, which will open next year and whose outer fascade looks so similar to my beloved (but never seen) Ebbets Field. You can it below and also beyond the outfield above.



On Sunday, we headed to Yankee Stadium for a tour of the soon-to-be gone old park. It was pretty neat from a baseball perspective, standing on the same field and same dugout (as we are in pic below) where so many greats have played. Again, I think my biggest thrill was seeing the new Stadium going up next door, as it also is paying tribute to the past with its outer fascade looking like Yankee Stadium should look (and hasn't since 1974 remodeling). See below for that. All in all, a fun weekend of baseball past and present.

A New Minor League Jewel

On Friday, we treked the 15 miles to the new ballpark in Allentown, home of the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. I was afraid I would be biased against it because of the shoddy way I was treated during my job hunt last fall, but you can't deny beauty like this. The stadium is simply amazing. Everything from the outer fascade to the comfortable seats (Which unfortunately were wet because of the rain), even the food was memorable. I'm sure, with this being our "home" team now, that Staci and I will make plenty of trips to see the I-Pigs.

Toronto Trip

We had a great trip this weekend up to Toronto. It's a very nice city, clean, friendly, and easy to navigate with plenty to do. Staci, Ian and myself went to the Hockey Hall of Fame, the CN Tower, and of course, a Blue Jays game. The Skydome was a cool place to see a game, and I was pleasantly surprised to see knowledgeable fans that lived and died with every pitch. Very fun weekend with our neighbors to the north!