Ballpark #13- Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

Stadium Opened: 2004
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
1st Visit: 4/4/05
Last Visit: 6/15/11
# Games: 12
Food: 8/10
Stadium: 7/10
Important Games Seen:
Washington Nationals' 1st-ever game (4/4/05), 1st one-hitter seen- Tim Redding (4/2/08), 1st Dodgers playoff game seen (2008 NLCS), 1st game with Dad (5/12/09)

I've had alot of great moments at Citizens Bank Park (see above), and it is a great ballpark, my complaints are with the Phillies' abuse of a fan base that has become stronger with the success of the team in the last 5 years. The Phillies, circa 2004-06, were much like the Nats or Pirates are today- an up-and-coming but still-struggling team that had a beautiful new ballpark. There were plenty of fans out at games, but nothing like it is today after 4 (soon to be 5) consecutive playoff appearances. I decided 2 days before Opening Day 2005 that I was going to drive up from DC to see the brand-new Nationals. I went online and purchased a good seat with no problem. Now every game is sold out by May, which is great. Where's the problem? That the Phils have seen fit to triple their ticket prices in 5 years. Success has driven this greed, but when the inevitable down-cycle happens in a few years, will they lower their prices? Of course not. I only hope that Washington and Pittsburgh don't do the same and screw the true fans.

Now to concentrate on the good things- Citizens Bank Park is an excellent place to see a game. This is one of the first parks to lean and face all seats in such a way as to make you feel close to the action, even from the nosebleeds. I have sat in most areas of this park and can say I really don't have a favorite- a true sign that they have accomplished that goal. The food is fantastic, the only problem is innings-long lines if you want Tony Lukes or Chickie & Pete's. Their regular food is much less of a wait and above-average, taste wise. And any place that offers Turkey Hill in a bottle is a friend of mine.

What about the notorious fans? Overblown...mostly. I typically see more drunk people at a Phillies game as compared to other places, but most of the fans are just passionate and knowledgeable. I've worn my Dodgers gear to every LA-Philly matchup and only encountered a problem when we went to the 2008 NLCS. We were barely out of the car when we were met with curses and slurs. We were even told that we should say we were from LA instead of PA because we'd have less trouble. Really ridiculous behavior, but 1 out 12 games isn't bad I suppose.

The best game was, of course, finally having a chance to go to a game with my Dad. All of his kids took him to see his Dodgers for the 1st time in 2009 and he seemed to have a great time. It ranks with Addie's 1st game as one of the 2 most special games of my life.

Our view from a suite! 2008

Opening Day 2005

1st pitch in Nationals' history- 4/4/05

Overlooking the parking lot where the old Vet stood

Guys' Day Out- 2007

The Kenney Boys at Dad's 1st Dodgers game- 5/12/09

Staci & I at the 2008 NLCS- Dodgers v. Phillies

2008 NLCS

Kenneys Everywhere! 2009

Addie's 1st Dodgers-Phils game- 2011

Opening Ceremonies for Game 1- 2008 NLCS

Ballpark #12- Pfitzner Stadium, Woodbridge, VA

Stadium Opened: 1984
Teams Seen: Potomac Cannons (Reds) 2004; Nationals (Nationals) 2005-present
1st Visit: 4/8/04
Most Recent Visit: 9/4/11
# Games: 215
Food: 4/10
Team Store: 4/10
Stadium: 6/10
Future/Rehabbing Stars Seen: Pudge Rodriguez, Drew Storen, John Lannan, Jordan Zimmermann, Dmitri Young, Ian Desmond, Danny Espinoza

This may be the toughest review I have to write. How do you separate a place that has meant so much to you emotionally, but also happens to be one of the worst stadiums in baseball? I don't know, but I am going to try..

Both my gameday and professional baseball career started with Potomac. I spent the 2004 season as a cook/ beer guy for the Potomac Cannons, and 3 years later my front office career commenced with the Potomac Nationals. Those first days of 2007 were the most exhilarating of my working life. I had 3 wonderful, exhausting, exciting years (2007, 09, 10) as Assistant Director of Food Service, Director of Merchandise and Group Sales Executive with the Nationals. Great friends were met in that time, and I got to be a part of the inner workings of baseball. I even got to be a part of a championship season in 2010 and have the ring to prove it. Now that I got that out of the way...

The stadium is horrible. Plain and simple, the Pfitz, as it is commonly referred, is a concrete slab with mostly bleacher seats and no cover from the rain or sun. Until recently, it had a field that would not drain, causing rainouts to happen 12 hours after the last drop fell from the sky. The food stands are antiquated with no variety to speak of. There has been talk for 15 years of a new stadium, to no avail.

Now, does all that mean you will not have a good time seeing the Potomac Nationals? Not at all- in fact, quite the opposite. Speaking from personal experience, working in a run-down place like Pfitzner means you have to work that much harder to give fans a great experience. And this is where the P-Nats shine. And with the Washington Nationals 30 miles away, Potomac gets a ton of rehab assignments and rising stars. In my 3 years there, I saw no less than 3 dozen current and future Major Leaguers.

So if you're in the DC area, go catch a game at the Pfitz. Just don't expect much in the way of comfort or amenities.

A great view from Center Field- 7/4/09

Addie spent alot of her 1st summer visiting Daddy at the Pfitz

Staci and I at her beer stand

The '09 P-Nat Posse

2010 Champs!!!

Meeting Pudge Rodriguez

P-Nat Night at Nats Park

Ballpark #11- Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD

Stadium Opened: 1992
Team: Baltimore Orioles
1st Visit: 4/6/04
Last Visit: 6/30/10
# Games: 5
Food: 8/10
Stadium: 9/10
Important Games Seen:
Staci's & my 1st game together (9/11/04), Opening Day '04 against Red Sox, best catch I've ever seen (Coco Crisp- 6/30/10)


Camden Yards should be know as the stadium that saved baseball stadiums- every stadium for the 3 decades from 1963-1991(after Dodger Stadium, before Camden Yards) was cookie-cutter, bland, concrete, and/or domed. Camden should also be given credit for creating traveling baseball freaks like me. As much as I love seeing all these cities and parks, it is hard to envision a road trip just to see Riverfront, Three Rivers, Memorial Stadium, etc. They all looked and felt the same. Camden Yards changed all that.

Known as a retro-park, Camden was the first modern park to incorporate a large plaza (with high-end restaurants and food stands, almost separate from the ballpark). Eutaw Street is a great place to find Boog's BBQ and to see the warehouse that is a big part of the view here (and can be remembered for "2131" hanging on the windows during Cal Ripken's streak). Babe Ruth's birthplace is right around the corner as well.

The inside of the stadium is fantastic as well. A sea of dark-green seats awaits you (a part of the new trend that Camden can take credit for as well- what WAS up with all the multi-colored seating in cookie-cutters?), and there really isn't a bad seat in the place. A new video board installed in 2006 has only made the view better.

The other food here besides Boog's is very good- Crabcakes are a local staple, an above-average sandwich shop is out on Eutaw, plus all the normal ballpark food.

Camden is worth seeing, a top-10 MLB stadium for me. It will always hold a little special place for me since it was mine and Staci's first game together back in 2004.

Staci & I at our 1st game together- 9/11/04

Babe's Dream- Babe Ruth Statue

Schilling pitches Opening Day 2004 against the O's

The Knepleys and Kenneys at an '08 game

View from Left Field

P-Nat Posse Road Trip- June 2010

Addie's 1st Camden Yards game- June 2010

Ballpark #10- Holman Stadium, Vero Beach, FL

Stadium Opened: 1953
Teams Seen: Los Angeles Dodgers (Spring Training)
1st Visit: 3/9/03
Most Recent Visit: 3/4/07
# Games: 3
Food: 8/10
Team Store: 8/10
Stadium: 10/10

When it comes to Major League stadiums, one could make the argument for any number of places as "the best." Old, new, retro, location, etc, all play some sort of role in determining your favorite. Well, in spring training parks, there was virtually no argument for over 50 years- Holman Stadium in Vero Beach was the standard-bearer in every way possible.

What made Vero so special? Atmosphere is putting it lightly. From the beginning in 1953, players were as accessible as anywhere on the planet. This continued into its last days in 2008, when millionaire players and fences, closed batting-practice, and general ambivalence had overtaken MLB parks. Dodger players had to walk a dirt path to their locker room, literally walking next to fans as they did so. I had conversations with players and coaches in both visits there. Even opposing players were more open- minutes after arriving at a 2007 game, Staci had her picture taken with her favorite player Ryan Zimmerman.

Another great thing was the food- Dodger Dogs imported straight from LA, a wide variety of stands for all tastes, another rarity in spring-training complexes. A huge souvenir stand awaited you as you walk into the stadium, giving East-Coasters a chance to load up on Dodger gear.

And then there was the game itself- as you can see from the photos below, there were no dugouts, so the players were right there for you to hear every word and watch every move.

There's talk of another team filling the space the Dodgers left in '08, but it will never be the same. I look forward to seeing the Dodgers in their new Arizona spring training home someday,but nothing will ever be good old Dodgertown.

When Staci met Ryan- 3/2007

Players just hang out during the game- 3/2003

Me at Holman Stadium entrance

Players exiting the same way the fans do

There's always a Dodger legend close by- this time it's Maury Wills

Staci & I- 3/2007

Ballpark #9- Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter, FL

Stadium Opened: 1998
Teams Seen: St. Louis Cardinals (Spring Training); Florida Marlins (Spring Training)
1st Visit: 3/7/03
Most Recent Visit: 3/8/03
# Games: 2
Food: N/A
Team Store: 6/10
Stadium: 7/10

My first foray into spring training was an exciting one- I drove down from Atlanta to hang out with Mari & Ian in Miami and catch a game. I ended up seeing three games- one in Vero Beach (more on that next time) and two at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. There is something different about Spring Training- more laid-back, players are more accessible (AJ Burnett signed my ticket), closer to the action for less money.

And Roger Dean fits those criteria- and it's also unique in that it has two MLB teams sharing the stadium- the Florida Marlins and the St Louis Cardinals. This is becoming more commonplace in the Cactus League in Arizona, but is still a rarity in Florida. So what does this mean? It's great if you're a fan- there is a game every day, because if one team is on the road, the other team is playing at home.

Roger Dean is a nice complex- relatively new (1998), a wide open concourse greets you when you walk in the gate. Scoreboards tend to be small on this level (after Spring Training many Florida stadiums become homes for low-A baseball). The team store was a nice size, bigger than most minor league stores, in order to carry more Major League items for the traveling baseball fan.

One of the big thrills in Spring Training is seeing alot of the younger prospects playing, especially in early March. Unfortunately not too much to report for the Marlins and Cards that year.

My only complaint about the stadium comes after having seen Spring Training in 4 parks- nothing distinguishes it from any other Florida park (except Vero). Not to say that's a horrible thing- they tend to be cleaner, friendlier and more reasonably priced than your average game, but the cookie-cutter-ness of it bothers me a bit. Small thing to complain about when you're enjoying an 80 degree day 1000 miles from snow.

Ballpark #8- Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

Stadium Opened: 1962
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
1st Visit: 4/1/02
Last Visit: 9/16/07
# Games: 6
Food: 8/10
Stadium: 10/10
Important Games Seen:
My 1st home Dodgers game, my 1st Opening Day


So few things in life live up to lofty expectations- you build things up in your mind and are sure to be disappointed. My 1st visit to Dodger Stadium was a major exception to the rule. It took me 29 years to get there, and it was the first time I had seen one of my favorite teams in their home stadium. It was a dream come true, and one of the top 3 highlights of my sports fan-dom.

My first visit to LA was for Opening Day 2002. I spent 6 days there and went to 5 games. While the Dodgers stunk up the joint, going 2-3, I had a blast. I purposely sat in different areas of the stadium for each game, and came to discover that there is not a bad seat in the place. And for the 2nd-oldest National League ballpark (only Wrigley is older), Dodger Stadium is surprisingly as modern as the newest parks. I went back in 2007 as part of our honeymoon, and it was still a treat.

The food is above average, with the world-famous Dodger Dogs leading the way. One suggestion- get the grilled as opposed to the steamed. Though I haven't tried it, the all-you-can-eat section comes highly recommended as one of the better buffets in the game.

Dodger fans get a bad rap for being late and leaving early, but I would put them up with Chicago and St Louis as the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable fans in the majors. It's harder to find than you would think- so many place, you'll see too many fans not aware of rules, strike zones, or the name of the 5th guy coming out of the bullpen. That's not the case in LA.

If you only see 5 ballparks in your life, Dodger Stadium should be one of them. A good time in every way.

Meeting Dodger great Don Newcombe

Staci & I on our honeymoon- 9/2007

Staci thinking Blue

Walking up to Dodger Stadium for the 1st time- Opening Day 2002

Under the lights in 2002

View from the top

Ballpark #7- Tropicana Field, Tampa, FL

Stadium Opened: 1998
Team: Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays
1st Visit: 5/27/01
Last Visit: 5/27/01
# Games: 1
Food: N/A
Stadium: 3/10
Important Games Seen:
My 1st domed stadium


When people ask me what my favorite stadiums are, it is difficult for me to say- beauty, sentimentality, amenities, etc, all play a role and make me change my mind on a regular basis. There is no such difficulty when asked about my least favorite MLB park- it is the home of the D-Rays, Tropicana Field.

What is so bad? It's not location- based right on the Atlantic Ocean, it is in one of the most picturesque areas of Tampa. But the moment you walk in, it is like standing inside a tuna can. It is drab with no personality. Which is strange, because when Tropicana was built in the early 90s, it was used as the jewel to attract unhappy teams. The Thunderdome, as it was known (even the name was awesome!), almost had the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants moving to the Sunshine State. So what happened? Tampa's stadium got surpassed by the retro-stadium trend and looked 25 years old when they finally got their team (the expansion Devil Rays in '98).

My only trip to Tampa was back in 2001. My roommate Mel and I decided to take a road trip for Memorial Day down to Tampa. I was happy to go to my 4th MLB park, until I actually got there. I look forward to going back when their new ballpark opens in the next couple years- but not before then.