The Great Ballpark Chase

The Great Ballpark Chase: 30* for 30

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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.

  • You can find several books where you can write your memories from each stadium visited.
  • Another book has a specialized stamp that fans can get at each ballpark.
  • You can even track it all through the MLB app that holds your digital tickets. It can keep track of teams you’ve seen, their record in home and away contests you’ve attended, and total stadiums.

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 travel group at Angel Stadium
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.

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Todd Russell
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.

The Great Ballpark Chase: Rogers and Out for this Chaser

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Author Tim Russell Visited his 30th Active MLB Ballpark
Author Tim Russell notes his accomplishment at Rogers Centre, his 30th active MLB ballpark visited. The
glow emanating from above is no doubt shining from his late brother who started the journey with him 11
seasons ago. (Photo courtesy of Tim Russell)

(Contributing writer Tim Russell returns with another set of entries in his Chasing Ballparks series. Leading off this year is Toronto’s Rogers Centre.)

Baseball was meant to be played outdoors.

The fresh air, the sounds and smells of the environment around you just add to the ballpark experience.

So after pulling up to Toronto’s Rogers Centre and seeing the roof closed, it was a little disappointing, especially since I was finishing up the Chase for 30. It was part of the “Niagara Baseball Tour” with Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours this past summer.

The stadium marked the 30th Major League ballpark that I’ve visited to complete the circuit of active ballparks. The Chase started in 2015, when I went to the Tigers’ spring training in Lakeland, FL, with my brother. The next year, we spent a week in Baltimore and Washington, following the Tigers against the Orioles and Nationals.

While my brother wasn’t able to finish The Chase in body, he was there in spirit. And our mother took over for him and ended up finishing The Chase during this trip. She joined me during our Pittsburgh stop.

I’ll give a cap tip to my brother, though, because as we got settled in our seats, the Rogers Centre roof started to open, and we were able to enjoy a beautiful night at the ballpark with a great view of the CN Tower, which sits at the base of Rogers Centre.

Clockwise from upper left, the full expanse of Rogers Centre prior to the game starting; as the roof opened the CN Tower became visible from our seats; despite only being 50 years old, the Blue Jays have plenty of banners hanging in the rafters; I was able to capture the roof in mid-opening; the exterior of Rogers Centre.

Rogers Centre is the first stadium in the world that has a fully functional motorized retractable roof. It is also the first one with a hotel attached to the stadium. There are currently six other active stadiums with retractable roofs: Arizona, Houston, Miami, Milwaukee, Seattle, and Texas.

The stadium opened in 1989 as SkyDome, but Rogers Communications later bought it in 2004. The sale did not, however, include the hotel.

A unique thing about the stadium is that some of the hotel rooms overlook the field.

Early in the existence of the facility, the stadium earned nicknames such as “SexDome” and “Exhibitionist Stadium.” The Blue Jays used to play at Exhibition Stadium.

When SkyDome first opened, there were several instances when people were caught in various sex acts. Since then, the hotel guests have to sign contracts stipulating they will not perform any lewd acts in view of the stadium.

Recently, the Blue Jays started a major $400 million renovation of the stadium, which was completed in two phases. The objective of the renovations was to extend the ballpark’s shelf life by another 10–15 years, while continuing to plan for a new stadium or a more significant rebuild of the Rogers Centre within the next 10 to 12 years.

In 2022-23, they reoriented the outfield seats to face home plate, raised the bullpens, and adjusted the outfield dimensions. They also added social spaces, which helped enliven the atmosphere around the ballpark.

The following year, the Blue Jays reoriented the infield seats to face home plate and added cup holders in the 100-level seats. They also reduced the size of foul territory and improved the dugouts.

Those renovations lowered the seating capacity from 41,500 to 39,150.

The renovations also made the field dimensions more symmetrical. The left-field and right-field lines are 328 feet from home plate. It is 368 feet to left-center and 381 feet to the left-center power alley. Right-center is 359 feet away, while the right-center power alley is 372 feet. Center field is 400 feet from the plate.

Clockwise from left, the CN Tower by night; the sculpture entitled “The Audience;” and Vlad Jr. on the big screen getting ready to bat.

Around the stadium are various forms of artwork, but the most recognizable would be the ones above the northeast and northwest entrances. It is a larger-than-life depiction of fans in all kinds of celebration and is entitled, “The Audience,” by Michael Snow.

  • The Game: The Houston Astros were in Toronto for the final night of a 3-game set. Toronto youngster Trey Yesavage, who burst upon the scene in September last year and was a post-season mainstay for the team, was on the hill for the Blue Jays, facing Houston’s Mike Burrows. Both teams scored single runs in the first inning before seven innings of relative silence (each team managed just four hits). Houston scored a run in the eighth on an errant pickoff attempt by reliever Jeff Hoffman, and then added an insurance run in the ninth on an infield single.
Niagara Falls
You can’t go on the “Niagara Baseball Tour” and not get a glimpse of Niagara Falls, can you?

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The Great Ballpark Chase: Spanning the Globe

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Globe LIfe Field Homeplate View
The view from behind homeplate during pregame at Arlington’s Globe Life Field. (Photo by Tim Russell)

The worst part of any trip is usually the last day.

It’s the same with baseball road trips. Traveling with a few dozen people, you get to know each other pretty well and there’s a certain sense of melancholy with the realization the trip is coming to a close.

So it was when we arrived in Arlington, TX, with Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours Southern Slam tour. There was a twinge of sadness knowing it would soon be over.

But, there was also great happiness after another successful tour and meeting people like Dub and Sue Ann. This was the second tour with them. We had previously met them on the West Coast Swing in 2024.

The couple, who reside in Flower Mound, TX, was on its second bus trip this year. A week before the Southern trip, they were on the Midwest tour. During the Southern trip, they were able to meet up with their daughter and son-in-law, who reside in Houston.

Earlier in the trip, Dub treated the bus members to dinner during a restaurant stop after the game.

It’s meeting people like this couple that makes these bus trips the most fun.

Globe Life Field was supposed to open in March 2020, but since COVID delayed the start of the season, it didn’t open until July 24, 2020. It replaced Globe Life Park, which still stands across the street and was renamed Choctaw Stadium and renovated for football and soccer.

Globe Life Park was only 20 years old when it was replaced, but the Rangers wanted a retractable roof due to extreme heat in Texas during the summer months. The roof is rarely opened for games, except for very early or late in the season.

The new stadium does feel like a cavernous warehouse at times, especially whe the roof is closed.

Clockwise from upper left, the arches were a carry over from the former Globe Life Park and hold the Rangers’ retired jersey numbers; this unique clock is visible to fans along the concourse; the exterior of Globe Life Field; the odd dimensions near center field are visible here; under the left field archways; and a center field view. (Photos by Tim Russell)

Field dimensions are a bit unique at Globe Life Field, with a nod to the Rangers’ history.

It is 329 feet down the left field line, which honors recent Hall of Famer third baseman Adrian Beltre (No. 29). Just inside the left field line is 334 feet, which honors Hall of Fame pitcher and former owner Nolan Ryan (No. 34).

The left field power alley is 372 feet in honor of the 1972 Rangers, which was their first season in Arlington. The right field power alley is 374 feet, for the first winning season in Arlington.

The deepest distance is 410 feet, which is just left and right of center field for second baseman Michael Young (No. 10). Straightaway center field is 407 feet for Rangers’ catcher, former Detroit Tiger, and Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez (No. 7).

Down the right field line is 326 feet, for former manager Johnny Oates (No. 26). And finally, it is 42 feet from home plate to the backstop, for Jackie Robinson, whose No. 42 is retired throughout baseball.

Another design element is the brick arches beyond the left field wall. It was a part of the old Globe Life Park and liked enough that they brought it to the new stadium. The Rangers’ retired numbers are posted near the top of the arches, facing the field.

Rangers' PA Announcer Chuck Morgan
Rangers’ public address announcer, Chuck Morgan, in his booth as he always is. (Photo by Tim Russell)

A visit to Globe Life Field isn’t complete without a trip to see Rangers public address announcer Chuck Morgan‘s booth, who has been with the Rangers for 42 of the last 43 seasons. He has announced 3,325 consecutive games. The microphone used for his 3,000th game is in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

Martin, who is in his 47th year of professional baseball, is currently second behind the Philadelphia Phillies’ Dan Baker. Baker is in his 53rd year!

During the offseason, Martin is responsible for coming up with the Rangers’ promotional schedule.

  • Game Result: Texas scored single runs in four of the first five innings against the visiting Atlanta Braves and eased to an 8-3 victory. The Rangers really took control with four runs in the eighth. Catcher Jonah Heim had the only home run for Texas. Ranger pitcher Nathan Eovaldi threw five shutout innings, allowing just three hits and four walks with seven strikeouts. Atlanta outfielder Michael Harris II had a home run for the Braves.
Rangers' Timeline Featuring Nolan Ryan-Robin Ventura
No post about the Texas Rangers’ is complete without referencing the Nolan Ryan-Robin Ventura 1993 dust up. (Photo by Tim Russell)

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The Great Ballpark Chase: Houston, We Have Baseball!

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Daikin Park Homeplate View
The view from behind homeplate at Houston’s Daikin Park. (Photo by Tim Russell)

When you take these baseball bus tours, you meet lots of different people who root for many different teams.

On Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours‘ Southern Slam tour this past summer, we had 15 people, rooting for eight or nine different teams. But with so many different rooting interests, it’s quite easy to get along with everyone on the tour.

Apparently, baseball brings people together:-)

So after a quick trip to New Orleans, we moved down the road toward Houston for the penultimate game of the trip.

Daikin Park was first called Enron Field from 2000-2002 and then Astros Field for a few months during the Enron scandal. It became known as Minute Maid Park from 2002 to January 1 of this year.

It replaced the Astros’ former home, The Astrodome, which was the world’s first enclosed stadium and still stands today, but is not used for anything. It cannot be destroyed due to its designation on the National Register of Historic Places.

Daikin Park park features a retractable roof, which is a welcome relief to the Texas heat. Typically, the roof is only open during games in April and May.

There are unique features both in and outside the ballpark, which has a capacity of 41,168.

The first one is the Houston Together Commemorative Baseball Wall, which may be the first thing you see if you enter at the home plate gate. It features customized baseballs from fans all over Houston.

Houston Together is a community-based, non-profit organization that focuses on creating a healthier social environment and improving balance to the community’s livelihood.

You’ll also see a large astronaut sculpture at that entrance, signifying Houston’s Space City nickname.

Clockwise from upper left, fans are greeted by this spaceman statue as they enter Houston’s Daikin Park, an ode to Houston’s Space City monicker; the Houston Together Commemorative Baseball Wall; the Astros celebrated Christmas in July during my visit to Daikin; a look at the Crawford Boxes and Home Run Locomotive above; and a close up of the Locomotive. (Photos by Tim Russell)

Once inside, you’ll likely notice the locomotive high above left field. It is a replica of a 19th century train and coal tender, which weighs close to 50,000 pounds. It runs on an 800 foot track in left-center field.

The train keeps connection to Union Station, which stands next to Daikin Park with a nod to Houston’s railroad history.

In the early 20th century, the railroad helped create Houston with a base of wealth and culture. Union Station was built at the corner of Texas Avenue and Crawford Street and dedicated on March 2, 1911. By the mid-1940s, Union Station was handling 5,000 travelers daily.

Back to baseball, down the left field line, you can see the Crawford Boxes, which run parrallel to Crawford Street. It is only 315 feet down the left field line, one of the shortest in Major League Baseball. But there is also a 19-foot high wall in front of the boxes. The wall contains the hand-operated out-of-town scoreboard.

Here are the other outfield measurements: left-center, 366-399 feet; 409 feet to center; 370 feet to right-center and 326 to right field.

From left to right, a long view of the Astros Hall of Fame; a pair of HoF members’ plaques, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell; the Phillips 66 Home Run Pump; and a view of left and center field. (Photos by Tim Russell)

The Astros also have a pretty extensive Hall of Fame behind the Crawford Boxes in left field. There are statues of Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio outside the stadium as well.

In the same area, you’ll see the Phillips 66 Home Run Porch. It features a classic gasoline pump that counts the total number of Astros home runs since the park opened.

When Daikin Park first opened, it had some unique features that are no longer there, namely Tal’s Hill. It was a 90-foot wide incline in center field. It was in the field of play along with the flag pole until 2016, when it was eliminated due to injuries.

  • Game Result: The Athletics pounded out 12 hits while Luis Severino held Houston to just two runs on four hits with no walks and eight strikeouts en route to a 5-2 A’s victory. Houston’s Taylor Trammell had three of the Astros’ six hits.

A few sights from our visit to New Orleans, from left, a building in the French Quarter; the inside of famed St. Louis Cathedral; and the exterior of the cathedral. (Photos by Tim Russell)

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The Great Ballpark Chase: Buc-ee’s is a Solid Substitute for Baseball in a Pinch

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Buc-ee's Exterior
A ill-timed rain storm washed out our game action in Biloxi, MS, but there was still Buc-ee’s! (Photo by Tim Russell)

You don’t often look forward to a visit to a gas station.

But Buc-ee’s is more than just a gas station. So it was with great anticipation to get to this part of the Southern Slam tour with Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours in July.

For those that don’t know, Buc-ee’s is a chain of mega-sized convenience stores, based in Texas with many locations throughout the South, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Colorado, Texas, and Virginia.

They are known for many, many gas pumps. Most have between 100-120 pumps, along with electric vehicle charging stations. They also have a reputation for spotless bathrooms, even winning “Best Restroom in America” in 2012.

The stores are about 65,000 to 75,000 square feet.

Buc-ee's Pickup Truck
It’s not every gas station convenience store that fit a full-sized pickup trick inside. (Photo by Tim Russell)

But a stop here is more than just a gas stop. You might spend anywhere from $20 to $500.

You can shop various tchotchkes, including Buc-ee the Beaver souvenirs, clothing, home décor, fishing gear, and barbecue grills.

The most popular item would be the Beaver Nuggets, which is a corn pop snack with several flavors. Other food items are the brisket barbecue sandwiches, breakfast tacos, fudge, pecans as well as jerky (either freshly made or hanging on the 30-foot jerky wall).

There is a whole wall of fountain drinks, with any combination of flavors. And there is a wall of equal length for the coffee connoisseur, with a small section devoted to tea or hot chocolate drinkers.

Despite the size, everything runs fairly smooth at the pumps and inside at the registers, with very little wait times.

It’s definitely something to experience, if you happen to be travelling down south.

As you enter or leave, you can shake hands with the Buc-ee Beaver statue outside each entrance.

We were also there to see some baseball. It was supposed to be the Rocket City Trash Pandas vs. the Biloxi Shuckers at Biloxi’s Keesler Federal Park. We had club level seating for this game, which included all-you-can-eat seats in the Yacht Club.

The Trash Pandas and Shuckers didn’t work the day of our visit, but the Shuckers’ chef was in fine form! (Photos by Tim Russell)

An in-house chef put together a nice spread of a Banging Shrimp and Crab sauce over rice. There were also huge homemade biscuits, as well as hot dogs, fresh vegetables, and desserts.

The food was great but, unfortunately, the game never started due to rain and was eventually postponed.

Keesler Federal Park Rain Delay
Our view during dinner told it all. No baseball tonight:-( (Photo by Tim Russell)

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The Great Ballpark Chase: A Cool Spot in Hot-lanta

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Henry Aaron Statue
Despite having never played a game at Truist Park, Henry Aaron’s presence looms large. (Photo by Tim Russell)

Doing these bus tours, there can be a lot of returnees, so you see a lot of the same faces.

It’s natural since most people are chasing ballparks. And it’s nice to reconnect with people you met on previous tours, but it’s also nice to meet new people as well.

On the Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours Southern Slam tour this past summer, I was able to do just that. I met Tara and Rodney, both Milwaukee Brewers‘ fans. The Brewers currently have the best record in Major League Baseball just recently became the first team to clinch a playoff spot.

Tara and Rodney are veterans of Coast 2 Coast tours. They live about an hour from Milwaukee’s American Family Field.

If you remember from Miami, Tara was the one that won the score contest, picking the exact score and beating me in the process.

So, we move on to the third leg of the trip: Atlanta’s Truist Park.

Truist Park just hosted the most recent All-Star Game in July after opening in 2017. It replaced Turner Field, which was built for the 1996 Summer Olympics.

The remnants of now-demolished Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium still offer some nostalgic reminders of its history. (Photos by Tim Russell)

Part of the reason the Braves wanted to leave Turner Field was Atlanta’s traffic congestion, making it tough to get to games on time. They also said most of their fan base comes from the suburbs, so they built Truist in Cobb County, about 10 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta.

Turner Field was converted to Center Parc Stadium, home of the Georgia State Panthers.

There are cool features inside Truist, which we will get into, but one of the better features is The Battery, which is a mix of shops, dining, and livable space around the park. It is part of the trend to create huge entertainment districts, like Ballpark Village in St. Louis, Texas Live in Arlington, and Stateside Live in Philadelphia. Metropolitan Park in Queens, NY has been proposed, but not built yet.

Truist Park
A look at the exterior of Truist Park from The Battery. (Photo by Tim Russell)

Around the outside of the stadium are statues of former Braves players: pitcher Phil Niekro, pitcher Warren Spahn, and manager Bobby Cox.

But the nicest area would be Monument Garden, inside the stadium behind the home plate area. It is highlighted by a huge Hank Aaron statue and a 755 sculpture made out of baseballs. Aaron hit 755 career home runs which stood as the record following his retirement in 1976 until Barry Bonds broke it with 762.

Some more of the Henry Aaron mementos found in Truist Park’s Monument Garden. (Photos by Tim Russell)

Around the statue is a two-tiered walkway with Brave memorabilia on both sides, including uniforms, trophies, and the Braves’ Hall of Fame.

Inside the stadium, you have a more intimate feeling with the seating configuration. They have placed a higher percentage of seats closer to the action than any other stadium in MLB. The middle and upper bowl seating is pushed closer to the field.

More importantly, though, there is air conditioning on each level, as well as overhead fans, to help deal with the oppressive Atlanta heat.

Another cool feature inside the stadium is the batter’s eye area, which is similar to Coors Field, with boulders, three evergreen trees, and a fountain. The fountain activates during Brave home runs and victories, shooting water 50 feet in the air.

An interesting fun event only happens during weekend games. The Freeze will race a random fan for a prize package worth $100. The race is 160 meters, from left field foul pole to right field foul pole. The contestant gets a head start and The Freeze tries to catch them, which usually happens.

Some shots of the interior of Atlanta’s Truist Park. (Photos by Tim Russell)

Dimension-wise, the stadium is 335 feet down the left field line, 385 feet to left-center, 400 feet to center field. It is 375 feet to right-center and 325 down the right field line.

While Turner Field is still in use, the Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium site is just a parking lot. Although the outline of the park is marked and the piece of wall where Aaron’s 715th home run (breaking the previous record of 714 established by Babe Ruth) still stands.

  • Game Result: It was all San Francisco in this one. The Giants roughed up Atlanta starting pitcher, Davis Daniel, for four runs in the second inning. San Francisco starting – and winning – pitcher Landen Roupp and three relievers combined to shutout Atlanta, 9-0. The offensive stalwarts for the Giants were designated hitter Wilmer Flores (four RBIs), thirdbaseman Matt Champan (two hits, including a run-scoring first inning triple), and Rafael Devers (two hits and two runs scored).

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The Great Ballpark Chase: The Boss’s Place

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Steinbrenner Field
The view from behind homeplate at Steinbrenner Field. (Photo by Tim Russell)

When scheduling ballpark visits in the great chase, there are no set rules. It’s often called “Your chase, your rules.”

That brings us to the Tampa Bay situation.

As many know, Tropicana Field was damaged by Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm that hit the Tampa area in October 2024. That forced the Tampa Bay Rays to seek another place to play. There were several options, but it was finally settled that the Rays would use George M. Steinbrenner Field, while Tropicana is repaired.

The repairs are slated to be finished in time for the 2026 season at a cost of $55.7 million.

Tropicana Field
This was about as close as we were able to get to Tropicana Field, damaged by Hurricane Milton. (Photo by Tim Russell)

But that also causes a dilemma for ballpark chasers.

How do you count Steinbrenner Field? Do you wait for Tropicana to reopen before visiting the Tampa area? There is no real answer and a lot depends on how you count stadiums. Do you count just MLB stadiums or all stadiums?

For me, it was included in the Southern Slam tour with Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours, so it was an easy choice. I’ll likely go back for a weekend trip sometime in the next couple of years to knock off Tropicana as well.

I prefer to count any baseball stadiums, including MLB, MiLB, college, and independent league.

Some of the views around Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field which is being utilized by the Rays this season while Tropicana Field is rehabbed following Hurricane Milton. (Photos by Tim Russell)

But for now, it’s just Steinbrenner Field. Although we did visit a couple of minor league/spring training facilities for quick visits. We saw JetBlue Park, also known as Fenway South, home of the Boston Red Sox. We also saw Lee Health Sports Complex and Hammond Stadium, home of the Minnesota Twins. Both are located in Fort Myers.

JetBlue Park
The exterior of JetBlue Park in Fort Meyers. It’s the Grapefruit League home of the Boston Red Sox. (Photo by Tim Russell)

Steinbrenner Field, named for the longtime owner of the New York Yankees, underwent a few changes to get ready for the Rays. The field holds just 11,026 fans, which makes it the smallest MLB field. It also was stripped of many of the Yankee decorations to make the Rays feel more at home.

A life-size statue of Steinbrenner, as well as plaques honoring Yankee greats remain outside the stadium.

The regular tenants of Steinbrenner Field, the Class A Tampa Tarpons, were also displaced by the Rays. The Tarpons play their games on one of the back fields at the spring training facility.

The Tarpons also are the first team to hire a female manager in MLB affiliated baseball. Rachel Balkovec managed the team from 2022 to 2024. She is currently the Director of Player Development for the Miami Marlins.

Steinbrenner Field opened in 1996. The dimensions mimic that of both old and new Yankee Stadium. It has the scalloped grandstand facade (the frieze). It was also the first spring training stadium to include luxury suites.

But enough about the stadium.

Let’s talk about one of the most important people on these bus tours – the bus driver.

Not only are bus drivers entrusted to get you to and from each of the sites. Most of them have local knowledge that will help you find places you might not normally see.

This year, our bus driver was Greeker, who just had his first grandchild about a week before the tour started. Based in Dallas, Greeker had a few adventures getting the bus from Dallas to Miami.

It took him about three days to make the trek. While that isn’t a huge time, you also have to be sure the hotels along the way can handle bus parking.

One of his hotels assured him that they had bus parking, but apparently they didn’t tell him the lot was about a half-mile or so down the road in a deserted lot. He ended up having to catch an Uber to get to and from the hotel.

Naturally, it caused Greeker some concern being that far away from the bus. He even ended up going back to the bus during the night to check on it. The bus was fine, although Greeker did find beer bottles strewn around the bus door.

Greeker wasn’t too worried about any potential damage to the bus, since there are security precautions installed. But, suffice to say, his sleep wasn’t too restful the rest of the night.

  • Game Result: Brooks Baldwin blasted a 2-out, 3-run homerun to deep rightfield in the top of the second inning to give the visiting Chicago White Sox a lead they’d never relinquish. Luis Robert added a 2-run single in the top of the third inning and six total White Sox pitchers made it hold up in an 8-3 victory to open this 3-game series.
Steinbrenner Field
The view from leftfield at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field. (Photo by Tim Russell)

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The Great Ballpark Chase: A Day at the Beach

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loanDepot Park
The view from behind homeplate at Miami’s loanDepot Park. (Photo by Tim Russell)

(Contributing writer Timothy Russell returns with another set of entries in his Chasing Ballparks series. Leading off this year, Miami’s loanDepot Park.)

Some people vacation in tropical locales. Some visit historical places. Some go to northern Michigan.

For a baseball fanatic like me, there’s nothing better than chasing ballparks.

Planning starts the day the next season’s schedule is released, which is usually around the All-Star Break. It was delayed this year, drawing the angst of baseball fans around the country. The 2026 MLB Schedule dropped August 26th.

I registered for the Southern Slam tour with Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours in fall of 2024. We had to overcome a possible cancellation due to lack of participants and then a personal medical issue, but it ended up going off without a hitch.

So, we flew into Miami and the fun began at one of six stops along the way.

loanDepot Park is the home of the Miami Marlins. While I have always said, baseball should be played outdoors, it was nice having a respite from the oppressive Florida heat and humidity.

Clockwise from upper left, when they talk about playing in South Beach they aren’t lying; some palm trees adorn the exterior; like most sponsors loanDepot has its name on just about everything; a view of the massive glass panels in the outfield; a perfect selfie spot; and Marlins’ pitcher Jason Junk in mid-delivery. (Photos by Tim Russell)

loanDepot Park is located on the former site of the Miami Orange Bowl in the city’s Little Havana neighborhood, about two miles west of downtown Miami. Construction was completed in March 2012 as the sixth stadium to have a retractable roof, which is rarely open during most of the season.

A nice design feature is the six glass panels (240-feet long by 60-feet high) in the outfield, allowing one to look into downtown Miami.

There is also, what some call, the Monstrosity. It used to be the Marlins’ home run sculpture in center field. Some called it tacky and ugly while others said it captured the “essence of Miami.” It was later moved outside the stadium plaza, which is being redeveloped into a Miami Live! plaza for indoor and outdoor dining, as well as entertainment places. It should open in 2026.

The home run statue will activate every afternoon at 3:05 p.m., in honor of Miami’s area code.

The artwork some call “The Monstrosity” and some images of the Bobblehead Museum inside loanDepot Park. (Photos by Tim Russell)

And if you are into bobbleheads like I am, you’ll love the Bobblehead Museum out in center field. There are lots of bobbleheads from all teams, including past players, mascots, and special edition themed ones.

Field dimensions are fairly standard, compared to other stadiums. Down the left field line is 344 feet, in left center it’s 386 feet. The deepest part of the park is center field at 400 feet. It’s 387 feet to right center and 335 feet down the right field line.

The upper deck is frequently closed off, due to the Marlins’ low attendance problems. They will open the upper deck for high profile teams like the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox e.g. teams that will draw bigger crowds.

Food-wise, one of the popular items would be the Cuban sandwich, although there are probably better ones at several places outside the stadium in Little Havana. The team also has a value section, called Familia Faves, where you can buy ballpark items like nachos, hot dogs, ice cream, or popcorn for $3 or $5, again in honor of the 305 area code.

As a Michigander, I was bummed to have just missed seeing the MLB debut of Michigan native Jakob Marsee. He’s from Allen Park, MI, went to college at Central Michigan University and I work with his grandmother.

Marsee ended up debuting with the Marlins just after the trade deadline. Originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the sixth round in 2022. He was traded to Florida in the Luis Arraez deal in 2024.

Currently, Marsee is hitting .338 with four home runs and 23 RBIs.

As part of the tour, we do a score contest, trying to predict the correct outcome at each game. Closest to the correct score wins a prize, usually a mini bat or a logo ball.

Going into the ninth inning, the Kansas City Royals had a 7-0 lead. I had picked a 6-2 KC win, while Tara had picked a 7-4 KC victory. I was looking good for the win until Miami scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the ninth and I went back to the bus empty handed☹

I cursed Florida for scoring four meaningless runs all the way to the hotel. (OK, I didn’t, but it makes the story better:-)

The video board hangs high above loanDepot Park and the Marlins’ TV studio team of Craig Minervini, Jeremy Tache, and Rod Allen. (Photos by Tim Russell)

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The Great Ballpark Chase: Oracle of Baseball

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Oracle Park
The view from high atop Oracle Park behind homeplate.

There is always one sad moment when you take a baseball bus trip – the last day.

You’ve spent a week or so traveling with fellow baseball fans, making new friends, and having a great time. And then … it comes to an end.

But this year, it was a little different as we completed the West Coast Swing tour with Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours in July.

Oh, it was still a little sad, but this was also a time to celebrate.

Two of our travelers, Todd and Tina, finished the quest to see all 30. San Francisco’s Oracle Park was the last one.

The couple, who live in a small community in northern Missouri, had a busy summer travel season. Before the west coast trip, they completed the Hall of Fame trip with Coast 2 Coast less than month before. After the tour ended, Todd and Tina were going to hit three minor league games in northern California before heading home.

Todd & Tina
Todd and Tina completed their quest to visit all 30 MLB stadiums at Oracle Park in July.

During a lunch stop earlier in the tour, Todd – who will be starting his 33rd season as a high school basketball referee this year – went on a chase on his own. We stopped for lunch in Surprise, AZ, which also just happened to be the spring training homes for the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers. The teams have their own back fields, but share the main stadium, which was about a mile walk from the In-N-Out burger joint we stopped at.

Oracle Park is a fitting one to finish one’s chase. There are plenty of fun activities, in addition to one heck of a view along the upper levels of the stadium.

No matter which direction you walk toward the stadium, you’re going to see a statue and some Giants’ history. The Willie Mays statue and plaza is at the main home plate entrance. At the right field entrance, you have a statue of Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal. Across the China Basin, which is dubbed McCovey’s Cove, is a statue of former first baseman Willie McCovey. There is also a statue of a California seal, in honor of the minor league San Francisco Seals that played before the Giants, outside another entrance. Statues of Gaylord Perry and Orlando Cepeda round out the homages around the stadium.

At left is the Willie Mays statue and, at right, is the Willie McCovey statue with McCovey Cove and Oracle Park in the background.

During games, kayakers and boaters will float in the cove, hoping to catch a home run that clears the stadium. There have been 157 splash hits in the history of the park, 103 of them by Giants players. Of those 103, 54 were hit by former outfielder Barry Bonds.

In a corner of the right field wall is a counter, which tallies the number of “splash hits.” In order for it to be classified as a splash hit, it must be hit by a Giant. And it must hit the water on the fly, not bounce off the walkway.

On the other side of the wall, the right field wall is 24 feet high, in honor of Mays, who wore that number. The wall was designed to look like the Polo Grounds, with archways that allow people to look into the stadium from outside the stadium.

The Powell-Mason Cable Car and the giant Coke bottle and baseball glove are among the sights at Oracle Park.

As you move along the outfield concourse, you will come across a Powell-Mason Cable Car, an iconic site in San Francisco. It makes a good meeting point or photo opportunity as you sit inside the car.

In the left field concourse, you will see two of the most prominent items. A giant Coke bottle and baseball glove. The Coke bottle has two slides for kids to slide down. The glove is a replica sculpture of an old-time four-fingered baseball glove. No player has hit the glove yet, as it is more than 500 feet from home plate.

You’ll also see plenty of references to the Giants’ all-time greats, both from New York and San Francisco.

By Willie Mays Plaza is the Giants Wall of Fame. Forty-eight players are inducted on the wall, based on longevity and achievement.

Inside the park, down the left field line, are the retired numbers of Bill Terry, Mel Ott, Carl Hubbell, Monte Irvin, Will Clark, Mays, Barry Bonds, Marichal, Cepeda, Jackie Robinson, McCovey and Perry. Christy Mathewson and John McGraw, who played or managed in the non-number era, have retired uniforms with NY on them.

Retired Numbers
Some of the retired Giants’ numbers.

When I was there in early July, two of their greats had recently passed away. To signify that, both Cepeda and Mays had gold rings around their numbers in left field. The Giants also hung the two numbers in right field on gold circles as an additional honor.

When attending a game here, the weather can vary in different areas of the park. In the stands behind the dugouts, it may be a quite comfortable 75 degrees or so. But being so close to the water, the outfield seats and concourses may have temps 15-20 degrees cooler.

Food-wise, there is plenty to partake in. The garlic fries are a well-known delicacy, as well as the crab sandwich. There are also different types of lumpia, which is a type of spring roll. For those with a sweet tooth, be sure to try a Ghirardelli sundae.

  • The Game: Toronto scored nine times in the fifth and sixth innings and cruised to a 10-6 victory over the Giants. The Giants held a 2-0 lead until the fifth inning. The Blue Jays took a 3-2 lead before San Francisco tied it in the bottom of the inning. In the sixth, Justin Turner, Davis Schneider, Alejandro Kirk, and Ernie Clement all had RBI hits in the six run inning. Blue Jay pitcher Chris Bassitt allowed three runs on five hits in his five innings to take the win. Giant Michael Conforto had two RBIs to lead San Francisco.

Clockwise from upper left, the Oracle Park sign at night, giant Peanuts bobbleheads, the scoreboard in straightaway centerfield, and the Coast 2 Coast Sports Tour participants.

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The Great Ballpark Chase: Angels in the Anaheim Outfield

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Angels Stadium
The view from above the home on-deck circle at Angels Stadium.

I’ve always had a fascination with the California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels.

Growing up, they were owned by famed actor Gene Autry, which I always thought was cool for some reason. My dad watched a few movies that Autry starred in, so he always asked about him when I’d watch the Tigers play the Angels. It probably was more along the lines that it was a recognizable name. And most owners’ names are not.

So when we pulled into the Angel Stadium parking lot and saw the “Big A,” it brought back a few memories.

The Big A
The Big A used to support the scoreboard of the stadium before being moved in 1979.

The Big A held the scoreboard at the stadium before 1979, when it was moved to make way for more seating. It is currently located near the eastern boundary of the parking lot. The structure stands 230-feet tall and weighs 210 tons.

This was the sixth of seven stops on the West Coast Swing tour with Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours. This was my second trip with the group and I’ll likely do another one next summer. This summer, the tour included visits to three of the five oldest stadiums in the majors. Earlier, we had visited Dodger Stadium (third oldest) and the Oakland Coliseum (fifth oldest). Angel Stadium is the fourth oldest. It has hosted the MLB All-Star Game three times in 1967, 1989, and 2010 as well as the World Series in 2002.

For Dub and Sue Ann, who were on the tour, it was a chance to see their hometown Texas Rangers. The couple lives in a northern suburb of Dallas.

The first thing you really notice is the rock pile landscaping in left-center field. That was a part of the Disney renovations, which were completed in time for Opening Day 1998.

The artificial outcropping of rocks in the outfield are a key feature of Angels Stadium.

The artificial rock sculpture was named the “California Spectacular” by Disney. It features an “A” as part of the formation, with geysers erupting to create a waterfall effect. Fireworks are shot off from that area before the start of every game and after every Angels’ home run.

During the renovations, a plaza was built around the perimeter of the stadium. In this plaza area, there are statues showing Autry and Michelle Carew, who was the daughter of former Angel and Baseball Hall of Famer, Rod Carew. The younger Carew died from leukemia at the age of 18 in April 1996.

Capacity for the stadium is 45,517.

The field dimensions are asymmetrical. Down the left field line, it is 347 feet; to left-center, it’s 390 feet; 396 to center field; 370 feet to right-center; 365 to shallow right-center and 350 feet down the right field line.

The team has also gone through several name changes. Originally, they were known as the California Angels. Then, they switched to the Anaheim Angels. Finally, they added L.A. and became the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

  • The Game: The visiting Rangers beat their hosts, 5-4, with some late-game heroics. Outfielder Adolis Garcia hit his 17th home run in the eighth inning for a lead the Rangers wouldn’t lose. Texas took a 4-1 in the third inning, but the Angels scored twice in the bottom of the inning. And Anaheim catcher Logan O’Hoppe hit a game-tying home run in the fourth. Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer made his first start after coming off the injured list. He went 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits with zero walks and six strikeouts. Jose Leclerc ended up collecting the win.

Clockwise from upper left, the Big A is seen beyond the outfield; former team owner Gene Autry’s hat; giant Angels hats adorn the homeplate entrance; Nolan Ryan’s glove and bobbleheads in a showcase; and Mike Trout, when healthy, is a must-see Angels’ player.

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