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The Great Ballpark Chase: 30* for 30

timothynrussell
Tim Russell and Mom at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
The author and his mother at the site of the former Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium where Hank Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th home run.

(Contributing writer Tim Russell reflects on completing his quest to see all 30 MLB ballparks earlier this season.)

Thirty ballparks.

It’s a daunting task. It’s something that takes a little time, but is rewarding at the same time. And it creates a ton of memories along the way.

For me, the chase started in February 2015, when my brother, Todd, and I decided to attend the Tigers’ spring training. We took in several games on the backfields and two games in Joker Marchant Stadium and created many more unforgettable moments, especially now that he has passed on.

At spring training, games on the backfield are a bit more informal, although still competitive. But it allows some interaction between coaches and fans.

We were watching a Double-A game on the backfield of Tiger Town. Former Tiger catcher Lance Parrish, who managed the Erie Seawolves at the time, shouted to the 20 fans or so that were watching after a misplayed ball by one of the players: “Hit or error?”

After we answered error, he replied, “Ooh, tough crowd.”

It is stuff like that that makes baseball what it is. The speech by James Earl Jones in “Field of Dreams” sums it up well:

“The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It’s been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game – it’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again. Ohhhh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.”

– Terence Mann

And that is exactly what we discovered as we continued on our Quest for 30. This sort of quest has really taken off among baseball fans, with numerous ways to track the chase.

But the chase isn’t merely about checking off the next one on the list. It’s also enjoying the stadiums, the travel, rain delays, and seeing non-baseball sights.

One way I achieved that was through bus tours, traveling with other baseball fans, relaxing in a charter bus, and watching baseball movies along the road. For most of my trips, I used Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours, although there are several other companies.

The Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours group in front of Angel Stadium (aka The Big A) in Anaheim, CA.

Taking the bus trips, along with just visiting the stadiums, is about more than just seeing the ballparks. It’s about meeting other baseball fans, stadium employees, and fellow travelers, and the conversations you have with them. It’s about the friendships you develop along the way and continue, even after the chase is over.

It wasn’t easy by any stretch. There were some extremely tight schedules, which included late nights and early mornings. But you push through, and that makes the completion even sweeter.

Thankfully, rain delays did not play a big factor during the chase. There were just two stops where rain affected the outcome. Coincidentally, it was the two ballparks that are at the top of everyone’s list to see: Fenway Park and Wrigley Field.

This brings up another conundrum. How do you count the stadium? There are no set rules. Everyone determines it on their own. I had already seen Wrigley before, but I did return later that year and took in the rescheduled game. Fenway was another story. We had taken a tour of the park, so we were able to get inside, but I haven’t actually seen a game yet. So I counted it with an asterisk, which I’ll remove after seeing a game.

Clockwise from upper left, some mascot frivolity at Loan Depot Park in Miami; the Houston Astro’s Hall of Fame at Daikin Park (top) and the homeplate view (bottom); Hank Aaron’s mighty swing is immortalized in bronze outside Truist Park in Atlanta; the Texas Rangers play in Globe Life Park; Fenway Park was a washout but I still managed to tour it; the view of Oracle Park from across McCovey Cove; the main entrance to Dodger Stadium; the view from leftfield in Atlanta’s Truist Park.

Collecting souvenirs is a part of the chase as well. You always need something to remember. For me, I chose to collect lapel pins as well as a picture from behind home plate, looking out onto the field.

But the collection is more than that. It’s about completing a dream and all of the unforgettable moments along the way.

It’s a good correlation to the beauty of baseball, which is also about a chase. Baseball is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s about the long journey throughout the season and achieving little goals throughout. You must persevere through the season, just like you must do during the chase.

There are ups and downs for both the players and the chasers, but you stay strong and keep your eyes facing forward to achieve the ultimate goal.

Finishing the chase doesn’t mean the end of anything. It just creates more room for a new dream. While I’m not exactly sure what that may be, it may mean just starting over and doing all 30 again. It could also include trying to see the Detroit Tigers at all 30, some of which I have already done. Or it could mean starting a minor league ballpark chase, adding to the 60 stadiums I’ve already accumulated. There are more than 400 ballparks in the country, when you include major league, minor league, collegiate, and spring leagues.

But whichever happens, it’s great just to be able to have that chance to achieve them. This summer has brought that into focus even more, after having successful heart surgery.

And while I didn’t get to finish the chase with my brother, I took him along the rest of the way, in my heart, and with a photo that went along.

I also got to make more memories with my mom, who helped fill the void and, in the process, complete her own quest for 30!

And, really, that’s what life is all about, isn’t it?

Completing and achieving goals and showing the determination to do whatever you set out to do.

Clockwise from upper left, Busch Stadium at night; Cal Ripken Jr. in bronze at Oriole Park at Camden Yards; American Family Field in Milwaukee; the view from behind homeplate at Minnesota’s Target Field; the Phillie Phanatic appears to be up to no good at Citizens Bank Park; a view into the outfield at T-Mobile Park in Seattle; and the view from behind home plate at Yankee Stadium.

Previous Installments

The author’s brother, Todd, was a major reason for Tim to pursue his Chase and was with him – at least in spirit – throughout the journey.
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