timothynrussell

The Great Ballpark Chase: Sidetrip!

September 28, 2022September 28, 2022timothynrussell3 Comments

It’s quite fitting that the Gem Theater sits across from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

The museum, nestled in the 18^th and Vine District of Kansas City, is a gem and treasure trove of baseball history.

As part of the Diamond Baseball Tours Rockies Plus College World Series bus tour, this was a much-anticipated part of the trip. It was a tight schedule, but we were able to squeeze in about an hour or two in the museum.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was founded in 1990 by a group of former Negro league players, including Kansas City Monarch players Aldred Surratt, Buck O’Neil, Larry Lester, Phil S. Dixon, and Horace Peterson.

The museum started out in a small, single-room office inside the Lincoln Building in the 18^th and Vine district. In 1994, it moved to a 2,000-square foot space. Three years later, the museum moved to its current 10,000-square foot home.

Probably the first thing you notice when you walk into the museum is the Field of Legends. You only catch a glimpse of the statues of the players, which are set up on a shortened baseball field. There is a screen separating you from the field, so it leaves you wanting to see more.

But you quickly forget that as you come across the statue of John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil Jr. watching the action on the Field of Legends. O’Neil was finally inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this past summer, as an executive.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum chronologically charts the progress of the leagues with several informative and interactive exhibits. Exhibits starts with memorabilia from the Negro National League of 1920 through the Negro American League, which lasted until 1962.

Visitors move through the museum, learning the history of black baseball. In one area of the museum, you’ll come across lockers for some of the legends of the Negro leagues. One can see game-worn uniforms, gloves, and other artifacts from stars such as Detroit Stars’ Norman “Turkey” Stearnes and Andrew Cooper. Josh Gibson, who was known as the Black Babe Ruth, is also featured prominently. Gibson played for the Homestead Grays, among others, and may have hit more than 800 home runs, although records are sketchy. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

**^{Jerseys of Detroit Stars’ Andrew Cooper and Turkey Stearnes. (Photos by Tim Russell)}**

**^{Jerseys of Detroit Stars’ Andrew Cooper and Turkey Stearnes. (Photos by Tim Russell)}**

Stearnes was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000, 21 years after his death in Detroit. His wife, Nettie Mae, was instrumental in helping to get her husband inducted.

One of 12 remaining Negro league stadiums was recently renovated in Hamtramck, MI, in part by the Hamtramck Stadium Grounds Crew. This was the same crew that helped clean up the former Tiger Stadium site before the Police Athletic League took over. The Navin Field Grounds Crew, as they were known originally, were made up of volunteers that kept the Michigan and Trumbull site clean after the city had neglected it. They even eventually held old time baseball games there.

After PAL took over the Tiger Stadium site, the volunteer crew set their sights on Hamtramck Stadium. It was rededicated this past summer as Turkey Stearnes Field. There is also a plaque honoring Stearnes outside the center field gate at Detroit’s Comerica Park.

At the PAL site, officially known as The Corner Ballpark, there is a display honoring Stearnes along the third base concourse.

Of the 12 remaining Negro league stadiums left, the majority hosted only occasional league games. Only Hinchcliffe Stadium in Paterson, NJ, and Rickwood Field in Birmingham, AL, were in use longer than Hamtramck Stadium.

Major League Baseball has recently announced plans to possibly host a Major League game at Hinchcliffe Stadium, similar to recent games at Iowa’s Field of Dreams.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was on the verge of financial collapse in 2008, but current president Bob Kendrick took over in 2011. By the following year, he helped the museum experience a profit of $300,000, it’s most successful year since 2007.

Kendrick is a frequent visitor to the museum. You may even get a chance to toss the ball around with him on the Field of Legends, which is at the end of your walk through the museum.

**^{Clockwise from upper left, Negro Leaguers Buck Leonard, Cool Papa Bell, a look out into the Field of Legends, Rube Foster, and a replica of a hotel room. (Photos by Tim Russell)}**

**^{Clockwise from upper left, Negro Leaguers Buck Leonard, Cool Papa Bell, a look out into the Field of Legends, Rube Foster, and a replica of a hotel room. (Photos by Tim Russell)}**

Geddy Lee, lead singer of the rock band Rush, made one of the largest single donations to the NLBM. Lee, an avid baseball fan of the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays, donated nearly 200 autographed baseballs to the museum. Those signatures included names such as Hank Aaron, Cool Papa Bell, and Lionel Hampton.

The Great Ballpark Chase: Busch!

September 21, 2022July 31, 2023timothynrussell3 Comments

Rivalries can be fierce. They can be bloody. They can be intense. But they can also be fun.

Rivalries can lead to some great outcomes in the world of sports.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs may arguably have one of the fiercest rivalries in the Major Leagues.

So as luck would have it, I was in line to see this rivalry during Diamond Baseball Tours‘ Rockies Plus College World Series baseball bus trip. It was one of six MLB games we saw during the tour. We also saw a College World Series game.

As we arrived to the stadium, you could tell the atmosphere was already electric. Lines to get in the stadium wrapped halfway down the block. Ballpark Village (more on that later) on Clark Avenue was almost wall-to-wall people.

Homeplate view at Busch Stadium — **^{The view from homeplate at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. (Photo by Tim Russell).}**

And the game did not disappoint. While we did not see Albert Pujols in this game, we did see the future Hall-of-Famer in Milwaukee. The Cubs were able to jump out to a 2-0 lead and Kyle Hendricks did the rest. He threw 7 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and one walk with six strikeouts.

The Cubs posted a 3-0 victory.

What makes the rivalry special is that it’s territorial. One of the big territories in question is central Illinois, which receives radio broadcasts for both teams.

Noted author Buzz Bissinger compared the rivalry to another famous MLB rivalry in his book, Three Nights in August. “The Red Sox and Yankees is a tabloid-filled soap opera about money and ego and sound bites. But the Cubs and Cardinals are about… geography and territorial rights.”

Overall, the Cubs lead the regular season series 1,259–1,209–18. The teams’ lone MLB playoff meeting occurred in the 2015 National League Division Series, which the Cubs won, 3–1.

In the 130-year history of the rivalry, the Cubs lead the series, 1259-1,209-18. The Cardinals have won 19 pennants to the Cubs’ 17 pennants.

There are lots of rich history between the two teams. One of the most famous connections is the 1998 home run race between St. Louis’ Mark McGwire and Chicago’s Sammy Sosa. The race for the single season home run record helped revitalize baseball after a bitter 1994 players’ strike, which canceled the World Series and part of the 1995 season.

In early September, the teams met for a two-game series in St. Louis. McGwire tied New York’s Babe Ruth with his 61^st home run in the first inning. McGwire broke the record the following day.

McGwire would finish the year with 70 home runs and Sosa with 66. However, the Cubs won the National League wild card, making the playoffs for the first time in nine years, while the Cardinals missed the playoffs. Sosa would win the NL MVP that year.

Building Busch was a unique construction venture. They started building the new stadium, while the old one was still in use, right next door. In the end, the footprints of the two did overlap. Half of Busch III was constructed by the time Busch II was closed down at the end of the 2005 season. Busch III was ready for action a few months later.

There are some cool photos showing Busch II in action while Busch III is under construction.

Busch Stadiums — **^{Current Busch Stadium under construction while the old Busch Stadium was still being used during the 2005 season. (Photo by David Carson, St. Louis Post Dispatch)}**

While it wasn’t 100 percent complete for Opening Day 2006, it was built enough to hold 37,962 fans, in the field level, terrace level and bleachers.

Construction on the rest of the stadium was completed in late May, increasing the capacity to its currently 46,861. The first game under 100 percent completion was May 29, 2006 against the Houston Astros with finishing touches performed throughout the year.

Here are the dimensions for the stadium: Left field line (336 feet), left-center field (375 feet), center field (400 feet), right-center field (375 feet) and 335 feet down the right field line.

Like many of the ballparks, the Cardinals honor many of their former greats. Having a rich history allows for a healthy display.

The biggest one is outside the Gate 3 entrance, a large bronze statue of legend Stan “The Man” Musial. The statues that surrounded the previous incarnation of Busch Stadium are now displayed at the corner of Clark and Eighth Streets, outside the Cardinals’ team store.

**^{Some of the statues on the grounds of St. Louis’ Busch Stadium include Baseball Hall of Famers Bob Gibson, Jack Buck, Lou Brock, and Stan Musial. (Photos by Tim Russell)}**

**^{Some of the statues on the grounds of St. Louis’ Busch Stadium include Baseball Hall of Famers Bob Gibson, Jack Buck, Lou Brock, and Stan Musial. (Photos by Tim Russell)}**

The statues are of former Cardinal players and Hall of Fame inductees Enos Slaughter, Dizzy Dean, Rogers Hornsby, Red Schoendienst, Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Ozzie Smith, and Ted Simmons. George Sisler, a former St. Louis Browns Hall of Famer, is represented as are former Negro League St. Louis Stars Cool Papa Bell. Legendary radio broadcaster Jack Buck has his own statue just up the street from the others.

Also, outside the stadium is a retail/restaurant area called Ballpark Village. It’a a multi-phase residential and entertainment complex, located on the former Busch site. The first phase was completed in time for Opening Day 2014.

It includes a St. Louis Cardinals Museum as well as many restaurants and bars. It is very similar to other developments around the league, like Texas Live in Arlington, TX (Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field), Philly Live (Philadelphia Phillies’ Citizen Bank Park), and most recently, The Battery at Atlanta’s Truist Park.

Concessions range from the standard ballpark fare to St. Louis-area favorites like pork steak sandwiches and toasted ravioli. Budweiser holds the beer contract as expected, but local craft breweries such as Saint Louis Brewery, Urban Chestnut, and 4 Hands all are available.

Attendance is always pretty high in St. Louis. With the exception of 2020 (no fans due to COVID-19) and 2021 (limited capacity due to the pandemic), the Cardinals have drawn more than three million fans every year since its opening.

The Great Ballpark Chase: Guaranteed Fun

September 14, 2022July 31, 2023timothynrussell1 Comment

Guaranteed Rate Field Scoreboard — **^{The centerfield scoreboard at Chicago’s Guaranteed Rate Field. (Photo by Tim Russell).}**

Most people on the quest for 30 usually collect some sort of memento from each ballpark.

For some, it could be a logo ball, a mini bat, or a team patch. For others, they could choose the home team’s hat or a uniform.

But for Father Steve, who was a member of the Diamond Baseball Tours group, he collected something different – socks.

“I try to collect something that I would need, and who doesn’t need socks,” said Father Steve, who is pastor of a Catholic church in Illinois and a Cubs’ fan.

Myself, I have taken to collecting lapel pins, usually with a representation of the stadium emblazoned on it. I also have a few special edition pins, like one for Miguel Cabrera’s 500 home runs and 3,000 milestones.

In addition, I have a scratch off poster of all 30 parks. So far, I have been able to scratch off 16 parks. I have been to 20, but four have since been retired. Those are Tiger Stadium, Houston Astrodome, Turner Field, and the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Park. Globe Life Field is their current, domed stadium.

Another way to help commemorate visits is the MLB Ballpark Pass-Port. Similar to the National Parks Passport, you collect stamps at each park you attend. Stamps, which are usually available at guest services or the team store, have the date of the game you attended, as well as the name of the stadium, city and zip code.

It is a private company that was granted the MLB license. There are several types of books. The main is the MLB leather bound book, which is best for first visits to each park. It includes an entry for each team with info about the park, as well as blank pages to put game info and any memories. For more frequent visits to parks, there is a smaller gameday version with just blank pages for the stamp and game info. There is also a minor league book and a spring training book.

There is also a Facebook group for people to share their stamps. That is one of several groups out there dedicated to ballparks. The group I share the most with is called Ballpark Chasers. There are some members that have attended more than 400 different ballparks (major, minor, collegiate, and independent leagues).

Most stadiums offer a “First Game Certificate,” commemorating the first visit with their name and date. In recent years, some parks have started shifting that online, giving the fan a web site address to print out their own certificate at home.

Another keepsake that seems to have gone by the wayside is ticket stubs. I have several envelopes of stubs from many sporting events. With the advent of cashless parks and digital tickets, stubs have almost become extinct. Some parks will print you off a stub for a nominal fee, which could range up to $10.

Back to the tour, our next ballpark was one I had already visited, although it had been more than 15 years and endured several name changes, so it still felt somewhat new to me. I also had lower-level seating in June. During my first visit, I sat in the upper deck, where the seats are at very steep incline. Now, maybe that could just be my perception, but they could definitely be a problem for someone who doesn’t like heights.

**^{The view from my seats at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Photo by Tim Russell)}**

Guaranteed Rate was built in 1991 next to the old Comiskey Park site, which is now a parking lot next to the stadium. There is a plaque marking where home plate was in the old park. It was the first major sporting facility built in Chicago since Chicago Stadium in 1929. It was also the last MLB stadium built before the wave of “retro” parks started in the late 1990s.

HOK Sports (now Populous) had wanted to eliminate some of the overhang problems in older stadiums, where the upper deck was set on top of the lower deck with gradual inclines. HOK moved the upper deck further back. This created better sight lines, but also created one of the highest upper decks in MLB. The first row of seats in the upper deck of the new stadium is as far from the field as the highest row of seats in the upper deck at the old stadium.

Another quirk at the Chicago stadium is the inability to explore the ballpark if you bought upper-level seating. That is an ownership decision that could date back to when a Chicago fan attacked Kansas City first base coach Tom Gamboa. The following year, the Sox also had problems with rowdy fans entering the playing field.

But the new park did retain some of the old features. The front facade of the park features arched windows. In the original park, then-owner Bill Veeck installed an exploding scoreboard with spinning pinwheels. The new park’s scoreboard is very similar in design, although it doesn’t have the ‘exploding’ aspect. The pinwheels do spin and light up after home runs and victories.

Newer technology allows the White Sox to use flicking LED lights for whenever the team takes the field before the first pitch, hits a home run or wins a game.

Shower — **^{The old Comiskey Park shower, with some modifications, made it to Guaranteed Rate Field. (Photo by Tim Russell)}**

There is a nice center field concourse with party areas, statues honoring past ballplayers and one of the more unique items you’ll see in a ballpark, an old shower stall from the old Comiskey Park. And it actually works. It will provide a mist to help fans cool off on hot days. There are also ‘rain rooms’ to provide fans’ relief from the heat.

Like most parks, the stadium pays homage to some of its past greats. Guaranteed Rate is no different. There is a plaza out in center field with several statues.

It starts out with former owner Charles Comiskey as well as Luis Aparicio and Nellie Fox, located behind Section 100. Harold Baines, a recent National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, is behind Section 105.

Billy Pierce, Minnie Minoso, and Carlton Fisk all take up residence behind Section 164. Recent stars Frank Thomas and Paul Konerko are set up behind Section 160.

On the center field fan deck is a plaque honoring the first player, Jim Thome, to hit a baseball on to the fan deck on June 4, 2008 as the Sox beat the Kansas City Royals. Later that year, he did it again, as Chicago beat Minnesota, 1-0, in a one-game playoff to win the American League Central Division.

There are also two blue seats, marking two different accomplishments during the 2005 World Series. Konerko’s grand slam (left field, section 159) and Scott Podsednik‘s game-winning home run (right center field, first row of section 101). Both seats are the original blue seats.

Guaranteed Rate Field is known as a hitters’ ballpark. Here are the dimensions: 330 feet down the left field line, 375 to left center, 400 feet to center, 375 in right center and 335 down the right field line. The backstop is 60 feet from home plate and the outfield wall height is eight feet.

On the ramp heading to the upper decks are two great photo opportunities and a great view of downtown Chicago in the distance. One sign says Southside in script letters, the other says Chicago.

Food-wise, you can’t go wrong with a nice Italian beef sandwich, by Buona Beef. There are also plenty of options for dinner before or after the game, although most are not very close to the stadium. Portillo’s is a hot dog, hamburger, Italian beef place, originating in Chicago, but has recently expanded into Michigan with a Sterling Heights location. Deep-dish pizza is also an option.

The game featured the White Sox hosting the up-and-coming Baltimore Orioles, who ended up with a 4-0 victory. Dean Kremer pitched into the sixth inning, allowing seven hits with four strikeouts.

Former No. 1 overall draft pick Adley Rutschman hit the second home run of his career for all the scoring the Orioles would need. The 2019 draft pick had just been called up about a week before this game. Current Tiger center fielder Riley Greene was drafted fifth in the same draft.

The Great Ballpark Chase: Milwaukee’s Best

September 7, 2022July 31, 2023timothynrussellLeave a comment

Baseball has always been meant to be played in the great outdoors.

The air seems fresher. The sounds seem clearer. The smells seem more fragrant.

So when we pulled into Milwaukee on the Diamond Baseball Tours‘ Rockies Plus College World Series Tour in June and saw the roof open at American Family Field, it brought a smile to my face.

Pulling in from I-94, you can’t miss the stadium. It definitely stands out, especially the hulking roof, which is unique itself. Most retractable roofs go from one side to the other, in a rectangular shape.

At American Family Field, the roof is fan-shaped, with the roof panels opening and closing simultaneously in a sweeping manner from the first and third base sides toward center field.

The stadium didn’t open to the best of beginnings, though. After groundbreaking in 1996, construction was delayed after three workers were killed in an accident on July 14, 1999. A crane, nicknamed Big Blue, collapsed while lifting a 450-ton roof section during windy conditions. Repair work and the investigation forced the Brewers to play one more year in County Stadium, until 2001.

The workers, members of Iron Workers Local 8, are remembered with a statue called Teamwork in front of the main entrance. The three fallen workers were William DeGrave, Jerome Starr, and Jeffrey Wischer.

Outside American Family Field, there is plenty to see. In addition to the Unity statue, there are also statues of former stars Robin Yount and Hank Aaron. There is also one of Bob Uecker, famed Brewer radio announcer.

Robin Yount Statue — **^{The statue of Brewers’ legend Robin Yount in front of American Family Field. (Photo by Tim Russell)}**

Walking up to the field, you see the Brewers Walk of Fame, which was created in 2001. It is on the plaza near the home plate entrance. There are 18 honorees. The walk honors both former Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Braves.

Not far from there is the Wall of Honor, created in 2014, on the outside wall of the stadium, near the Hot Corner entrance. This commemorates players, coaches, and executives based on club or career accomplishments. There are 15 honorees.

Milwaukee is known for its tailgating atmosphere. Fans will show up hours before game time, pitching their canopies and firing up their grills, long before gametime. In that tailgating lot sits a plaque in the exact spot that Aaron hit his 755^th home run.

You might also notice another oddity not far from there. There is a baseball field in the middle of the parking lot. Helfaer Field is a youth baseball facility, where the infield is laid out on the former footprint of the County Stadium infield. It was named in honor of the Evan and Marion Helfaer Foundation, which was founded in 1974. Evan Helfaer was an original investor in the Brewers.

Moving inside the park, one of the more popular aspects of the park is the Sausage Race, which is run during the middle of the sixth inning. It used to be in the bottom of the sixth, but was moved to create more excitement as the Brew Crew came to bat.

The current roster of sausages is the Bratwurst, the Polish, the Italian, the Hot Dog, and the Chorizo. The Chorizo, which became a full-time participant in 2007, is the most recent addition to honor the growing Latino population in the region.

There are plenty of other fan interactive attractions. Bernie Brewer is the team mascot and has a club house above the left field seats, called Bernie’s Chalet.

Bernie Brewers' Chalet — The famed Sausage Race.

After Brewers’ home runs and victories, Bernie slides down the slide onto a platform to wave a Brewer flag and celebrate. In the old County Stadium, Bernie would slide into a giant mug of beer. During the home run celebrations, you’d get a brief burst of fireworks and hear famed radio announcer Bob Uecker and his catchphrase, “Get Up, Get Up, Get Outta Here, Gone!”

Speaking of Uecker, you can sit a spell with him up in the cheap seats. Up on the Terrace Level in Section 422 sits the Uecker “Last Row” statue. It was installed in 2014 as an homage to the popular Miller Lite All Stars ad, which featured Uecker’s famous line, “I must be in the front row.” But he always ended up in the last row.

During the seventh inning stretch, you’ll get the traditional “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” but you also get a rousing rendition of “Roll Out the Barrel,” a nod to the beer-making roots of Milwaukee.

If you get tired of game action, you can visit The Selig Experience, located on the Loge Level, in the left field corner. It features about 1,400 feet of exhibit space. There is a 15-minute documentary film, detailing the life of the former Brewers owner and MLB commissioner emeritus, Bud Selig. You can also see a replica of his office in County Stadium, as well as artifacts and memorabilia.

Bud Selig Statue — **^{The statue of one-time team owner Bud Selig. (Photo by Tim Russell)}**

American Family Field was built with plenty of windows to allow natural sunlight into the stadium, even when the roof is closed. You do get a sense of openness, as you are able to look out. There is no grand skyline, like at Comerica Park or Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, though. But it is nice that the game is played on natural grass.

The dimensions are about average by MLB standards. In left field, it is 342 feet; in left center, 371 feet; in center field, 400 feet; right-center, 374 feet and 337 feet down the right field line. There is only 56 feet to the backstop behind home plate.

Food-wise, how could I go to Milwaukee and not get a brat, which was quite tasty and fairly economical, by ballpark standards.

Some of the other food options include: a hot dog with fried cheese curds; a peppered brandy burger, as well as breakfast sandwiches available all game long.

As far as the game, it was a chance to see St. Louis Cardinals’ icon Albert Pujols in his final season. It was a back-and-forth game with three lead changes. The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead in the first inning. Cardinals came back for a 4-3 lead in the fifth, before St. Louis’ Nolan Arenado ended the scoring with a two-run home run in the sixth. It was one of four homers in the game.

In the bottom of the ninth, Milwaukee put two men on base with two outs, without the aid of a hit (a walk and hit by the pitch). But Brewer outfielder Christian Yelich grounded sharply to second to end the game.

The Great Ballpark Chase: On Target

August 31, 2022July 31, 2023timothynrussellLeave a comment

For most people on a baseball bus trip, a visit to the mall probably wouldn’t be the most dreamed about destination.

But for Gary, who was a part of the Diamond Baseball Tour group, it couldn’t have come at a better time. Gary, who hails from Australia, lost his luggage during a layover at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). He made his flight from LA to Denver, where the tour began, but his luggage did not.

A quick stop at a Denver-area Walmart helped gather some necessities for a couple days, before arriving in Minneapolis and the Mall of America, where he was able to gather a few more items.

Now, the Mall of America isn’t just your average mall. In addition to the requisite shopping, there is also an amusement park and aquarium. It is the largest shopping mall in total area and largest in total store vendors, when it opened in 1992. It sees about 42 million visitors annually, eight times the population of Minnesota.

On September 4, 1995, the mall hosted the first episode of WCW Monday Nitro. But that is not the only sports-related notable, especially for baseball fans. The mall was built on the former site of Metropolitan Stadium, former home of both the Minnesota Twins and Vikings.

It takes a little bit of searching, but you can find the exact spot Harmon Killebrew hit a mammoth 520-foot home run, marked by a chair from the stadium on the wall in Nickelodeon Universe. While the chair is somewhat easy to find, it’s a little harder to find is home plate and the 50-yard line, both marked by a plaque on the floor.

While there is a nod of history at the Mall, and even in the new stadium, Target Field is quite full with modern-day amenities.

There are eight party areas, bars, and restaurants where fans can access to watch the game, in addition to the traditional seating areas. The Budweiser Roof Deck features the only open-air bonfire in MLB.

Some of the other restaurants and bars include Hrbek’s, the Twins Pubs, and Town Ball Tavern. Hrbek’s (section 114) is named after former Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek, The Town Ball Tavern is in reference to the popular sport of town ball in the state. Town Ball is similar to baseball, but features amateurs representing different towns and cities.

At Target Field, the Town Ball Tavern (Section 229), also has a bit of history. The hardwood floor is the same hardwood floor that was in the Minneapolis Armory, where the Minneapolis Lakers played before leaving for Los Angeles.

Being a downtown ballpark, there were some constraints to the land, based on what was available, and city streets. It is one of the smallest stadiums, only covering 8.5 acres of prime real estate. That is about the same size as Fenway Park. It may feel like 10.5 acres though, because parts of the stadium cover roadways. The stadium capacity is 38,544, which is also similar to Fenway’s 37,731.

Being in the Great White North, there was concern about building an open-air stadium, but after years of discussion and even more years being inside the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, they settled on the current design.

The design includes local limestone, prevalent throughout the park. The limestone is sourced near Mankato, MN. It doesn’t have a roof, but it does have heated viewing areas and a heated field. There is also a canopy over the top deck. That canopy is unique to Major League Baseball. Instead of just seeing beams and girders, there is a finished look to it.

In right field, part of the seats overhang the playing field, similar to the upper deck in Tiger Stadium.

Dimension-wise, Target Field is 339 down the left field line and 377 to left-center, 411 to center field left corner and 403 to center field right corner, 367 feet to right-center and 328 to right field.

The admission gates also honor former Twins greats. The left field gate is No. 6, honoring Tony Oliva, who entered the Baseball Hall of Fame last month. Oliva’s statue is nearby. Killebrew is honored in center field with gate no. 3. The Target Plaza gate, in right field, is No. 34 in honor of Kirby Puckett.

Another right field gate is No. 29, honoring Rod Carew. The home plate gate is No. 14, honoring Hrbek, along with his statue.

In addition to the Twins legends another noteworthy icon is represented at Target Field – Charlie Brown. No, he’s not there because he was a hapless also-ran like the Twins were for many years, but rather because Charles Schulz is a Minnesota native. Only one other MLB ballpark is able to display a Peanuts character. Oracle Park in San Francisco is the other because Schulz was a Bay Area resident in his later years.

One of the most prominent features is the huge Twins logo out in center field, of Minnie and Paul shaking hands over the Mississippi River. When the Twins first moved to Minnesota, then-owner Calvin Griffith didn’t want to alienate fans from Minneapolis or St. Paul, so he was going to name the new team, the Twin Cities Twins. MLB didn’t like that name, so they became the Minnesota Twins, but Griffith was determined to have the two cities represented.

**^{Twins’ legend Kirby Puckett is well-represented at Target Field. (Photo by Tim Russell)}**

The team’s logo shows two men, one in a Minneapolis Millers uniform and one in a St. Paul Saints uniform, shaking hands across the Mississippi River. They are affectionately known as Minnie and Paul.

**^{Minnie and Paul shaking hands. (Photo by Tim Russell)}**

During a game, various events will spark the logo board to flash: a run scored, a strikeout, a scoreless inning, and of course, a home run. When the Twins win, the T and S flash on and off, conveying the message “Twins win.”

Next year, the left field scoreboard will become the fourth largest among MLB stadiums, and the fifth to be HDR capable. It will feature more than 10,000 square feet of LED display. Daktronics will install it this offseason.

The Minnesota light rail system has a stop built into the stadium, behind the left field wall. Also, along the Fifth Street side, there are knotholes, which allow fans from outside to catch a glimpse of the game without a ticket.

Just over the right field wall is the Target Center, where the NHL’s Minnesota Wild and NBA’s Timberwolves play. Overlooking the stadium in neon lights is the Target dog, Bullseye. His tail wags in relation to the loudness of the Target Field fans, especially during key moments.

Like most stadiums, they bring parts of the old into the new. Target Field is no different. After Game 3 of the 2009 American League Division Series, they dug up home plate and eventually installed it at Target Field.

Now, this next bit of trivia, may or may not be true: Killebrew died a year after Target Field opened. Rumor has it that a picture of Killebrew was placed under home plate after his death.

During our tour of the park, the tour guide mentioned the story and added that he asked head groundskeeper Larry DiVito if that was true. DiVito just laughed and said there was no truth to it.

True or not, it’s a nice legend to have.

The Great Ballpark Chase: Back to School Time

August 24, 2022July 31, 2023timothynrussell3 Comments

(This is the second in a series of submissions from The Sports Fan Project contributor, Tim Russell, who embarked on a seven baseball stadium tour earlier this summer. You’re able to see his first two installments here and here.)

Charles Schwab Stadium — Schwab Stadium pregame.

“Let’s Go Braves!”

No, I did not see the Atlanta Braves play at any of the stops on my recent bus tour with Diamond Baseball Tours.

But it was a frequent theme.

That was thanks to our tour director, Zac Tucker. He is a high school teacher from the Nashville, TN area, who had taken several tours with Diamond, and had stepped up to become a group leader. It just so happens that he was also a big Atlanta Braves fan as well.

“Let’s Go Braves!”

Tucker is a baseball coach and had just taken his team to the state final. As a fan, he’s been to all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums. He’s also a University of Auburn graduate. On the tour, he brought his 11-year old daughter, Taylor, something he does once a year.

Our second stop on “The Rockies plus College World Series” tour just happened to be the Men’s College World Series. Obviously, with eight teams playing in a double-elimination bracket format, we had tickets for a specific game number, based on who had won or lost previous games.

Well, it just so happened that Auburn was scheduled to play Stanford in an elimination game. Both had been ranked in the Top 10 in the most recent rankings. The other CWS participants this year were: Arkansas, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Texas, and Texas A&M.

“Let’s Go Braves!”

And it didn’t look good for Tucker and his Tigers early. Auburn fell behind, 2-0, after the second inning. But Auburn scored six runs in the sixth and seventh. Cole Foster had the big hit, a three-run double for a 4-2 Tiger lead in the sixth. That scoring went unanswered by the Cardinal.

Tucker returned to the bus a bit hoarse, but still able to take the lead to the next stop on the tour.

But the sore throat didn’t stop Tucker from crowing about the Atlanta Braves. The tour brings fans a lot of different teams together, so it’s only natural to do a bit of boasting when your team wins.

So at each stop, after detailing where to meet or attractions around each park, he’d throw in a “Let’s Go Braves,” either at the end of the announcement or via a group text after seeing they had won that night.

But while the Braves were fairly successful during the trip, Auburn was not. Arkansas knocked out the the Tigers the following day with an 11-1 decision. Mississippi eventually was crowned the national champion.

While the stadium atmosphere isn’t quite as raucous as the former home of the CWS, Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium, it can still be quite loud. But that is one of the things that make college athletics unique – a fun, party-like atmosphere.

The NCAA looked for a replacement to Rosenblatt and TD Ameritrade Park was the result. It opened in 2011 and is used primarily for the College World Series. The Creighton Bluejays also use the park as the home field.

The Big Ten has used the stadium for its conference baseball tournament several times, including this past season.

In 2019, the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals used the stadium for a regular-season game. The Royals won, 7-3, before 25,454 people.

The field was renamed Charles Schwab Field after Charles Schwab completed a merger with TD Ameritrade, which was based in Omaha.

Part of Rosenblatt Stadium was brought to Ameritrade/Schwab. the original Hammond Organ from Rosenblatt was restored and is used today. The organist, Lambert Bartak, was not part of the deal, though. He retired in 2010 and died in 2013.

Capacity is 24,505, but can easily be expanded to 35,000. Dimensions are as follows: Left field line, 335 feet; Left-center, 375 feet; Center field: 408 feet; Right-Center, 375 feet; and right field line, 335 feet.

Sight lines are good from any point of the stadium, even in the bleacher sections in the top corners down each foul line. If it’s a sunny day, which is likely since it is summer in Omaha, you will likely bake in the upper deck.

But the concourses are fairly shady and you may be able to move around the ballpark to some shadier seats, if the game is not filled to capacity. Food options are plentiful and tasty around the ballpark. There are also plenty of souvenir vendors around the outfield concourse.

Outside the stadium, the NCAA has set up a fan zone with interactive games, as well as food tents and beer service. Parking can be tough at times, so be prepared for a possible walk. Shuttles are available, but can be tough to snag one.

It is definitely a one-of-a-kind experience, even if you don’t have a rooting interest in any of the games.

The Great Ballpark Chase: Rocky Mountain High

August 17, 2022July 31, 2023timothynrussell16 Comments

Walking into a stadium for the first time usually sends a tinge of excitement down my spine. Not sure why that happens, but it sure hit me as I walked into Coors Field in Denver in June.

It may have been because it was the first major trip since before the pandemic. Or it may have been due to not having my brother along for the ride. This was the fourth stadium without him and every new visit gets a weird feeling as I walk in and see everything for the first time.

As you might recall, I lost my brother, Todd, five years ago, just five stadiums into the journey for 30. Sometimes it hits me harder than other times. This time was a bit harder, but I consider that a good feeling as it reminds me that he is walking in with me. And I carry a photo of him with me on every journey.

Coors Field was the first stop on Diamond Baseball Tours‘ “Rockies Plus College World Series” trip. It was seven games over eight days, traveling by bus. Coming from Detroit, I flew into Denver and then flew home from Kansas City, MO.

Coors Field is quite a unique experience. It was the third “retro” ballpark, after Camden Yards in Baltimore and Cleveland’s Jacobs Field, now Progressive Field. The red brick color scheme helped it fit well into the surrounding neighborhood, Lower Downtown (or LoDo as the locals call it). Like most downtown stadiums, the ballpark helped revitalize the LoDo area.

It’s now the third oldest park in the National League, but it has really aged quite well. It opened in 1995.

When building the stadium, they realized with the thinner air, the ball would fly further, necessitating fence distances be further. It’s 347 feet to left field, 390 to left-center, 415 to center, 375 to right-center and 350 to right.

By comparison, Comerica Park in Detroit features 345 feet to left, 370 to left-center, 420 to center, 365 to right-center and 330 to right.

Being as isolated as it is, in terms of Major League Baseball, you usually have made a bit of a journey to get there. It is very similar to Seattle in that regard so it’s worth it to take an extra day or two and visit the surrounding cities. Being a part of the tour made that a little difficult with a somewhat tight itinerary, but I was able to visit family in the Boulder area before starting the tour.

Walking through the stadium feels very comfortable with the wide concourses. It gives off a nice open feeling as you are able to walk around the entire stadium. Stadiums get bonus points, in my book, for allowing a complete tour around the stadium.

One of the first things that immediately draws your attention is the Rocky Mountain Forest out in center field, known as Fjallraven Forest. The area features seven different kinds of Colorado trees, as well as Navajo ruby sandstone, and granite marble boulders.

Located right next to the Forest is what’s known as The Rockpile, center field bleachers where you can get seats for a buck.

But enough of action at field level, let’s go higher up. How about a mile high up?

There is a social area in right field, named The Rooftop. It features two full-service bars, a burger joint, cornhole, couches, and drink rails, in case you want to watch the game.

But the most prominent feature is the ring of 865 purple seats around the stadium at exactly 5,280 feet above sea level. Living up to its name as the Mile High City, you can actually sit a mile up and watch the action.

While I did make the journey up there – it was quite high – I did not stay up there long. But it was quite scenic, especially being able to see the Rocky Mountains in the distance. But you should definitely bring your binoculars if you’re going to watch the game from up there.

That is one drawback of the stadium, though. The Rockpile makes the stadium feel a little closed in. It is also oriented toward the Rockies, but that cuts off any view of the downtown skyline that a lot of newer stadiums seem to feature. While it’s great to see the Rockies from the stadium, you need to be fairly high to really enjoy the scenery.

Food-wise, I didn’t partake in much at the ballpark. They do have Berry Kabobs, which are strawberries, bananas, and brownie bites served on a stick, drizzled in white and milk chocolates.

Some of the food options I did not try include Rocky Mountain oysters (fried bull testicles) and the Elvis Shake, which is a banana and peanut butter shake.

Oh yeah, there was a game too. The Rockies used a five-run fifth inning to take an 8-3 victory over the San Diego Padres and sweep the weekend series.

I’m sure the win made the Rockies’ mascot, Dinger, happy. Yes, the team has a big, purple dinosaur as their mascot, but thankfully, this one isn’t as annoying as Barney. But there is a reason for the dinosaur mascot, when building the stadium, fossils were found that could possibly be 66 million years old.

Like I said earlier, it’s always nice to explore the area around the ballpark. Although this time, I wasn’t able to walk around as much. A few blocks from the stadium is a small museum, called The Ballpark Museum. While small, I have heard it is well worth the time. Sadly, this time I wasn’t able to visit, but it would definitely be on my list to hit should I make a return to Denver.

The Great Ballpark Chase: The Overview

August 10, 2022July 31, 2023timothynrussell29 Comments

People will come, Ray. 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, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again. Oh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.
Terence Mann (James Earl Jones) to Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) in Field of Dreams

Baseball is a special game.

There’s just something about it that makes it magical. At times, it may lack action, but watching a 1-0 game can be more fun than a 32-20 football game or a 5-2 hockey game.

The majesty of the perfect pitch. The art of turning a 6-4-3 double play. Watching the arc of a 3-run home run.

It’s what makes the game worth watching and following. And why I have always been a baseball fan. And what made me start chasing ballparks.

How do you chase a ballpark, you ask? It’s simple. It’s the quest to see all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums. Some do the feat in 30 days, some in one year, and some a park or two per season. Some even expand it to Minor League stadiums as well.

^{Baseball Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, right, and Phil Niekro participate in the last first-pitch at Turner Field in Atlanta on October 2, 2016. Author Tim Russell was in attendance for this game. (Getty Images Photo)}

Officially, my chase started in winter 2015, when my brother and I made the trek to Lakeland, FL, to watch Tigers’ spring training. Obviously, we had watched many games before at Tiger Stadium and Comerica Park, but it was the first time we had decided to see more ballparks.

After the spring training trip, we spent a week in Baltimore and Washington, DC, since the Tigers were also spending a week there in 2016. We also saw the final game in Turner Field that season, which was the second time we saw Justin Verlander lose, 1-0.

Unfortunately, the chase ended in 2017. Our last trip together was San Diego for two games at Petco Park. Later that year, my brother passed unexpectedly. Although it’s not the same without him, I have continued the chase the past five years.

There are some personal rules as to what constitutes being able to check off a stadium. First and foremost, I have to see a game in the park. I also have to be there for first pitch and stay until the final out.

There are exceptions though. For example, in 2016, when we were in DC and Baltimore for back-to-back series it began with sightseeing in DC before we settled into the Tigers-Nationals game. It just happened to feature Max Scherzer pitching against the Tigers. It was the game he fanned 20, although I was only able to see about 15, since we had to catch the last Amtrak train back to Baltimore, where we were staying for the week.

In total, I’ve been to 43 stadiums, including major league, minor league, college, summer collegiate, and independent leagues. To break it down even further, I have been to 20 MLB stadiums, although only 16 active. Of the retired stadiums, it includes Tiger Stadium, the Houston Astrodome, Globe Life Park (Rangers), and Turner Field (Braves).

This year, I took my first baseball bus tour, through Diamond Baseball Tours. Over seven days, 21 like-minded baseball fans started in Colorado and proceeded to Omaha for the College Baseball World Series, Minnesota, Milwaukee, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis, and before ending in Kansas City.

Throughout the remainder of the season, each Wednesday, I’ll recap a ballpark from that trip, including highlights, lowlights, food, and other curiosities to experience.