The Great Ballpark Chase

The Great Ballpark Chase: Citizens of Philadelphia

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Citizens Bank Park
The exterior of Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

For most baseball fans, it’s a dream to catch a ball hit into the stands.

But for Alex, it was more than a dream. It became reality more than once.

Alex was on a father-son road trip with his dad, Kris. The two had registered for Coast 2 Coast Sports Tour’s Hall of Fame Baseball Tour in June 2023.

Originally, the twosome was just going to do a trip to San Diego, since both are Padres’ fans. But when Kris saw a Facebook posting for the tour, he considered it and his wife was fully onboard, despite the higher cost.

Alex caught or was given a total of four balls during various pre-games this tour. They also had a bat inscribed at Cooperstown to commemorate the weekend.

Kris and Alex weren’t alone in rooting for their favorite team. The tour was also pretty loaded with Padres’ fans. There was a father-daughter, Brandi and Dave, both of whom are from San Diego, though Brandi recently relocated to Florida.

There was also aunt and niece, Corinna and Alexis, who flew out from San Diego for the trip. The two became a juggernaut in the daily score contest. Before each game, our tour leader, Zac, would pass a clipboard and you’d guess the winner and the score for each game. The closest to the correct score would win. The tiebreaker was total number of hits in the game.

Corinna won once while Alexis won twice. No one else won more than once.

Many times, as we were travelling to our next hotel after each game, there would be several phones tuned to MLB.tv and the Padres’ game.

Our tour made its way to Philadelphia and Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies. It opened in April 2004 as a replacement to the now-demolised, Veterans Stadium. It continued the trend started with Baltimore’s Camden Yards in 1992 toward the retro-style of ballpark, meaning more open-air, less cookie cutter stadiums.

The videoboard at Citizens Bank Park as well as the game’s first pitch thrown by Ranger Suarez.

It is located in south Philadelphia in the same area as the other major stadiums, Lincoln Financial Field (Eagles) and Wells Fargo Center (76ers and Flyers). Xfinity Live is nestled in the middle of all of the stadiums; it is a dining and entertainment hub.

The old Veterans Stadium site is now a parking lot, next door to Citizens Bank. They do have home plate and the bases marked out in the lot.

Inside the stadium, a prominent feature is Ashburn’s Alley, out in the center field concourse area. Richie Ashburn was a Phillies’ Hall of Fame center fielder from 1948 to 1959. Many Phillies’ fans wanted the stadium to be named in honor of him, so the Alley became a compromise.

The Alley is highlighted with a statue of Ashburn. It also features restaurants, games and memorabilia from Phillies history.

Philly Phanatic
A game at Citizens Bank Park isn’t complete without the antics of the Philly Phanatic.

Chickies and Petes is one of the more popular food stands in the park. They are famous for their crab fries, an Old Bay seasoned crinkle fry with a cheese sauce.

There is also Bull’s BBQ, featuring typical barbecue fare. It is named for former Phillies’ slugger Greg “The Bull” Luzinski. You can also get a cheesesteak in the park, at Campo’s or Tony Luke’s. Both have full-service restaurants outside the park as well.

In addition to the Ashburn statue, there are three more statues outside the stadium of pitchers Robin Roberts and Steve Carlton and third baseman Mike Schmidt. Former announcer Harry Kalas also received a statue, mainly funded by the fans.

The Phillies Wall of Fame is located in Ashburn’s Alley.

Above the center field activities is a neon Liberty Bell. It “rings” after each Phillies’ home run and after a victory. It is similar to the one from Veterans Stadium, which now sits outside Citizens Bank Park.

Liberty Bell
The neon Liberty Bell sits high above centerfield.

The stadium has a capacity of 42,901. The dimensions are: left field, 329 feet; left field power alley, 374 feet; The Angle, from CF to left CF, 409 feet; straightaway CF, 401 feet; right field power alley, 369 feet; and right field, 330 feet.

Of course, a visit to Philadelphia is not complete without feasting on an authentic cheesesteak There are many options, including the two most popular with tourists, Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks, which are across the street from each other in South Philadelphia.

My preference has always been a little further away, on South Street in West Philly. You actually can’t eat there right now, though. They are rebuilding after a devastating fire in July 2022. Reports are they are set to reopen around Labor Day this year.

So the second option was to grab a steak at Reading Terminal Market, a famous indoor farmer’s market with rows and rows of vendors and eateries, featuring grocery, dining, and other shopping needs. Spataro’s Cheesesteaks was the choice here. Just remember to order the correct way, “Wit Whiz,” or you’ll identify yourself as a tourist.

If you need to walk off that cheesesteak or roast pork sandwich (another Philadelphia staple, DiNic’s is the place to get one), there are plenty of places to do that, especially if you like history.

There is Independence National Historical Park. At one end, you can see Independence Hall. The Liberty Bell is at the end of the Liberty Center, which has other exhibits about the bell. The actual bell is at the end closest to Independence Hall.

At the other end of the park, you’ll find the Constitution Center, featuring life-size statues of American forefathers. There is also the U.S. Mint (sorry, they don’t give out free samples) and the Christ Church Burial Ground, where Benjamin Franklin is buried.

Benjamin Franklin Gravesite
Benjamin Franklin’s gravesite sits in the Christ Church Burial Ground.

There is a small fee to walk around the cemetery and visit the graves of Declaration of Independence signers Joseph Hewes, Francis Hopkinson, George Ross, and Dr. Benjamin Rush. It is also the final resting place for many of the nation’s early leaders, prominent lawyers and military heroes. It is still an active cemetery with new burials happening each year.

You don’t need to pay the admission fee to see Franklin’s grave. It is visible through the brick fence. Many people have pitched a penny or two onto his grave, in remembrance of his “A penny earned is a penny saved” quote.

As far as the game, Atlanta beat the Phillies, 4-2. Braves’ starter Spencer Strider went six solid innings, allowing one run on eight hits with nine strikeouts. Austin Riley homered in the sixth and Matt Olson in the eighth for the Braves.

Nick Castellanos started the scoring for Philadelphia with an RBI single in the fifth.

But it was finally nice to see an actual baseball game. This was fourth day of the bus tour and we had only seen one game. Remember, the game in Boston was rained out and Monday was our Baseball Hall of Fame visit.

Previous Installments of the Great Ballpark Chase by Tim Russell

The Great Ballpark Chase: Hall of Dreams

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Tucked away in a little corner of upstate New York, there is something special about Cooperstown and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

It’s the small-town charm and the beautiful scenery, but more importantly, you have to want to go there. It’s not just something you stumble upon and say, “let’s go there.” It takes actual planning.

So when the Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours Hall of Fame Baseball Tour rolled into town, it made for a special moment to take a slight breather from seeing games.

Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente
Not a bad trio to greet guests upon arrival: Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, and Roberto Clemente.

When you walk into the Hall of Fame, the first thing that strikes you is the life-size statues of Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, and Roberto Clemente. You can also catch a glimpse of the plaque gallery, but no need to rush right to the gallery. There are plenty of other great things to see.

Being a ballpark chaser, the third floor was of special interest with the Sacred Ground exhibit. It highlights ballparks of yesteryear and why a trip to the ballpark is such a special occasion. You can see the Ebbets Field cornerstone, as well as piece of the Tiger Stadium wall with the 440-foot measurement, noting the distance from home plate to center field. There are also old ticket booths, turnstiles, and seats.

Comiskey Park Pinwheel, Tiger Stadium measurement
One of Comiskey Park’s scoreboard pinwheels sits in the foreground while the Tiger Stadium centerfield measurement is in the rear.

Most of what you see on display at the museum at any one time is a mere fraction of its collection. There is only about 10 percent on display and it grows daily.

From the history of the game to the current teams, there are exhibits featuring Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, women in baseball, and international players.

Babe Ruth Uniform
A Babe Ruth jersey is displayed.

Ruth is featured quite prominently, with his locker, jersey, and details about his life.

If you have ever watched “A League of Their Own,” you’ll see details about women in baseball. The exhibit is called Diamond Dreams.

Aaron is also featured in the exhibit, Chasing the Dream, chronicling his career and his run toward being the greatest home run hitter in the game and the problems that brought to him.

There is also an exhibit about international baseball, called Viva Baseball. It highlights the history of Latin baseball and Latino ballplayers in the Majors. Detroit Tiger Miguel Cabrera‘s jersey is hanging there, just waiting until his plaque can be installed.

Miguel Cabrera Jersey
A Miguel Cabrera jersey sits in the Viva Baseball exhibit.

That leads you to baseball records, baseball cards, and World Series rings and accomplishments.

You’ll finish the third floor, walking through a simulated locker room, called Your Team Today. It features a locker stall for each of the 30 teams. There are artifacts from current players of each team. As they try to stay current, this exhibit can see a lot of changes as events happen during the season.

Obviously, being a Detroit Tigers’ fan, I took special care to look for exhibits highlighting the team. In addition to the centerfield signage there are also several other Tiger exhibits sprinkled around the Hall. Those include some artifacts from Hank Greenberg, Charlie Gehringer, Al Kaline, and the 1984 World Series champion Tiger team, which started 35-5.

In the Your Team Today, the Tigers locker was filled with a Justin Verlander jersey and ball from one of his no-hitters. There is also a cap from Spencer Turnbull‘s no-hitter. There are also helmets from Cabrera’s 500th home run and Victor Martinez‘s 2,000 hit.

One of the more interesting pieces is Daniel Norris‘s bat. The former Tiger pitcher borrowed a teammate’s bat to become the first American League pitcher to homer in Chicago’s Wrigley Field.

After seeing Your Team Today, you can take the elevator down to the first floor toward the gallery. First, you’ll see exhibits dedicated to the current players being inducted that year. This past year, it was infielder Scott Rolen and outfield Fred McGriff. Rolen went in as a St. Louis Cardinal. McGriff chose to have a blank hat, since he had been with several teams.

HoF Class of 2023, Fred McGriff and Scott Rolen, signed the spots where their plaques would eventually reside.

Each year, after the inductees are announced, the player or manager gets a day at the Hall. They are given a private tour of the facility. They also sign the base in the gallery, where it sits until the plaque is installed after the induction ceremony.

After visiting the gallery, make sure to take a short walk up the ramp toward the library and kids’ clubhouse. You’ll find the area dedicated to announcers and writers. Obviously, I had to find the Ernie Harwell honor, which is just above one for Vin Scully. The two were honored just a few years apart in the 1980s.

Just past that you’ll find what looks like a box office window. Step in and you’ll see exhibits from different baseball movies.

Of course, any visit to the Hall of Fame isn’t complete without a short walk to Doubleday Field. It was once thought of as the birthplace of baseball, where Abner Doubleday played the first game of baseball. But recent developments have somewhat dispelled those myths.

Doubleday Field sits right off Main Street in Cooperstown, NY.

But, even so, it’s still a grand place to watch a ballgame. And even if Doubleday didn’t invent the game, it still lets you go back in time to feel the simplicity of the game.

Youth and Little League teams will still play ball at Doubleday. An expansive Little League complex, Cooperstown Dreams Park, was built just outside of town, which draws a lot of camps and tournaments. But it’s still quite an experience to actually play on the Doubleday Field.

While you’re walking to Doubleday, you’ll come across many small shops, selling bats, balls, caps, jerseys, and trading cards, among other things. A real baseball fan could go broke.

During the walk, take a minute and enjoy strolling down a small-town American street.

There are also really good places to eat, as well. There is the Cooperstown Diner, which is basically a lunch counter and a few tables. Sadly, it is only open until 2 p.m. The Hardball Cafe is within a baseball’s throw of Doubleday Field. A few finer dining options are available further from the downtown area.

Those aren’t the only restaurants. You can pretty much find anything your tastebuds desire.

Whether you spend just a few hours in Cooperstown or a few days, it is time well spent.

San Diego Chicken
There is even some wildlife in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Previous Installments of the Great Ballpark Chase by Tim Russell

The Great Ballpark Chase: Taking a Bite Out of the Big Apple

timothynrussell8 Comments
Citi Field, home to the New York Mets, as seen from high above homeplate.

A good tour is only as good as its leader.

It should be someone who knows their way around the places you visit, but still gives a sense that they are just another guest.

Zac does that well. I first met Zac when he was hosting tours with Diamond Baseball Tours in 2022. After finishing that tour, it was a great time and a great way to see the country and chase ballparks, so I knew I’d look to do another one the following season.

Unfortunately, due to high demand, a lot of the tours had filled up very quickly. It’s not unheard of for us chasers to start planning a year in advance. Schedule release day, which is usually in July or August, is like our Christmas, Easter, and National Hug Your Postman Day all rolled into one.

Anyway, after looking at the schedule, the tours I were interested in with Diamond and Jay Buckley Tours had filled. Luckily, I found out Zac had started his own touring company, Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours, and was offering an East Coast trip. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Zac, who lives in the Nashville area, also does tours for hockey arenas as well as some football stadiums. He features a lot of Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Braves tours.

During the baseball tours, you’ll often see him in a Braves’ jersey. He often does at least one tour with his daughter, Taylor, who has now been to 17 stadiums.

The tours feature a lot of camaraderie between fellow baseball fans, which is good since you are confined to a comfortable luxury bus for up to four hours per day with one another while you travel to the next stop. But there are baseball movies to watch and just general conversation to help pass the time.

And it’s not all just baseball. Zac and other tour groups add some historical or cultural sightseeing as well. Some past trips have included spending time at Abraham Lincoln’s Home in Springfield, IL, as well as time on the National Mall in Washington, DC, and historical sites in Philadelphia.

There are also score contests for each game, with a baseball-type prize for the winner.

As we walked up to our next stop, Citi Field, in Queens, NY, it appeared huge in comparison to Boston’s Fenway Park. But even though, it appeared massive, the brick façade makes it feel more appealing. It’s also within shouting distance of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center – site of next month’s U.S. Open tennis championships.

Citi Field
Citi Field as seen approaching.

Citi Field was built as a replacement to Shea Stadium, which was literally right next door. It also brings back days of yore with the iconic home plate entrance, very similar to Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field. That itself is somewhat ironic, because New York officials tried to get the Brooklyn Dodgers to build a new stadium where Citi Field sits now, but the Dodgers had none of it and moved west to Los Angeles.

The Mets have had just two homes in their history, Shea Stadium and Citi Field. From 1964 to 2009, they played in Shea, which lacked a sense of intimacy that is found at Citi. Shea was either loved and hated, depending who you asked.

The first thing you notice after driving up or getting off the No. 7 train is the exterior facade, which is made to look like Ebbets Field.

After that, the most striking feature is the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at the main entrance. The inside is just as striking as the outside. Nine ideals associated with Jackie Robinson are engraved on the floor and flat panel TVs play highlights of Robinson’s career. Escalators and grand staircases take fans to their seats.

There is still a homage to Shea inside the stadium. There is the Shea Bridge out in center field. Thousands of fans cross the bridge each game as they traverse the stadium. It can also be a great meeting place.

The Jackie Robinson Rotunda and the Shea Bridge are two of the unique features at Citi Field.

“Hey, Bill, meet me at the Shea Bridge and I’ll buy you a beer!”

As you cross the bridge, there are a lot of restaurants and food stands, along with a kids play area and wiffle ball field. Before the game, Mr. and Mrs. Met can usually be found there for photo opportunities.

Mr. & Mrs. Met
A Mets game must include some interaction with Mr. and Mrs. Met, don’t you think?

You can also see part of the old Shea Stadium scoreboard, which shows the city skyline with the Mets’ logo. It is above a restaurant area in the center field food court area.

Something unique to Citi (and Shea, for that matter) that you may not see (or hear) at other ballparks is jetliners taking off and landing at LaGuardia Airport just beyond the stadium. For many years, the noise from the airport would be so loud that players would call time during a takeoff or landing. TV and radio broadcasts were also barely audible.

Eventually, flight paths were reworked, making it a quieter area to play and watch a game.

Tom Seaver statue
A statue of Mets’ great Tom Seaver greets fans outside of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda.

A cool celebration is the home run apple, which started at Shea in 1980 and continued at Citi Field. The original apple was first installed at Citi Field’s bullpen gate, but moved to outside the Robinson Rotunda in 2010. It was next to a giant Tom Seaver statue. Seaver, who died in 2020, spent 11 seasons with the Mets and has his number retired and inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame. The current home run apple rises from behind the wall every time a Mets player hits a dinger.

Other amenities at Citi Field include:

  • An enhanced outfield picnic area next to the area known as the “Taste of the City.” This is where the skyline from the old Shea Stadium scoreboard is found.
  • The Mets Museum and Hall of Fame islocated just off the Robinson Rotunda. It is 3,700 square feet of special moments, including their two World Series titles in 1969 and 1986.
  • And the stadium also features the largest scoreboard in Major League Baseball currently at 17,400 square feet. That’s three times the size of the old one. When you add in the secondary scoreboard in right field, you get an additional 4,100 square feet of display.
  • With a seating capacity of 42,000, Citi Field has an intimacy that was not found at Shea Stadium. Nearly 42% of the seats are found in the lower deck. The main three tier grandstand runs from the right field foul pole to home plate, down to the left field foul pole and into left centerfield. Additional seating is located in right field.
  • Over 50 luxury suites are found at the ballpark including ones behind home plate below the main concourse.
  • In right field, the Pepsi Porch, that seats over 1,200 fans, can be found. This seating area, modeled after Detroit’s old Tiger Stadium, overhangs the playing field.

As a happy bonus, we also got to see our first live ballgame of the tour. The St. Louis Cardinals edged the Mets, 8-7. Cardinal third baseman Nolan Arenado hit his second home run of the game in the top of the ninth to secure the win.

Clockwise from upper left, a view of the current home run big apple, the Shea Stadium home run big apple, Citi Field is still close to flight plans for many airliners, a Shea Stadium relic sits atop the food court in Citi Field, and the scoreboard is the biggest in MLB.

Previous Installments of the Great Ballpark Chase by Tim Russell

The Great Ballpark Chase: Fenway Sizzle, Then Fizzle

timothynrussell12 Comments

Boston’s Fenway Park is one of the most recognizable baseball ballparks in the world.

We’ll start this year’s Great Ballpark Chase series with a pair of questions:

  • What constitutes a ballpark visit?
  • When do you count it as official in your count?

Understandably, there are many answers, but the primary one is: your chase, your rules.

Some say just setting foot in the ballpark is enough. Still others say you must see an actual game, not just a tour of the park. Some will count it if you see a concert or football game instead of a baseball game.

And then there is the question of how long you must stay? Some say you need to be there for the entire game, first pitch to last pitch. Still others say if you hear the “Star-Spangled Banner” and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” it’s a visit.

Again, your chase, your rules.

For me, personally, I try to stay for the entire game. I have long had this rule about attendance at any sporting event. I always stay to the last pitch or the final buzzer. Part of that is just wanting to soak in the entire atmosphere and part of it is, even during a blowout, you might see a key moment or something unusual happen.

But there are exceptions. During my Chase, there have been a couple of occasions where I was forced to leave early. I’ll usually count it with an asterisk, meaning I’ll get back there at some point to remove it and see an entire game. When I am forced to leave, it’s usually due to something out of my control, thus allowing me to officially count it.

For example, back in 2016, my brother and I were in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., for a week since the Detroit Tigers were playing Baltimore and Washington.

Our hotel was in Baltimore and the commute between the two cities is usually fairly easy. But the MARC commuter train shuts down before the end of the game and the last Amtrak back to Baltimore leaves around 10 p.m.

We spent the day in D.C. doing some sightseeing before the game, but had to leave about the sixth inning to catch the subway over to Union Station to get that last Amtrak. It ended up being the game Max Scherzer racked up 20 strikeouts against the Tigers so we always joked we saw about 15 of them.

This year, rain got in the way of seeing a game.

I was on the “Hall of Fame Tour” with Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours. We were set to open the tour at Boston’s Fenway Park, but Mother Nature had other ideas.

Fenway Park Tarp
Not everyone gets to see the Fenway Park tarp, right?

We were scheduled for a private tour, rain or shine, which is why I still count it in my tally. The weather was out of my control and due to the itinerary, we couldn’t attend the makeup game the following day. I was able to make a few bucks selling the tickets though:-)

That takes us inside Fenway, which is probably considered the Holy Grail of baseball parks. A national shrine, as former pitcher Bill “The Spaceman” Lee once said. Even without seeing a game there, it was still an awesome feeling just to walk through. There is so much history.

Sure, the seats may put you at a weird angle, looking into center field instead of home plate. And the seats may not be as comfortable as the more modern parks, but there is still something special about being there.

There are also the obstructed views, which – as a metro Detroit native – I became familiar with at the old Tiger Stadium. Chicago’s Wrigley Field is also famous for posts blocking your view.

There are the statues outside of Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, and The Teammates (Red Sox greats Williams, Dom DiMaggio, Bobby Doerr, and Johnny Pesky).

Ted Williams Statue
The Ted Williams statue outside Fenway Park.

And, of course, there is the Green Monster in left field. That is obviously the first thing that strikes you as you walk in. But then you look around and get a feeling of awe, just soaking it all in, quirks and all.

One of the quirks is the ladder on the Green Monster. Before there were seats on top, there used to be nets to catch home runs. Park staff needed the ladder to retrieve the balls. When the Monster seats were added in 2003, they left the ladder in place, which is in play and can yield some crazy caroms.

The Green Monster from a distance and looking straight down the foul pole.

The only ground rule, concerning the ladder, is if it gets stuck then it’s a ground rule double. Otherwise, the ball is in play and can end up with some crazy caroms. The last time a ball struck the ladder was in 2014, when Kansas City’s Omar Infante ended up with a double.

The Green Monster has one of the few hand-operated scoreboards still used today. Some Fenway tours will get you on to the field and inside the Monster. Unfortunately, I was only on the pregame tour, which did not include that. But I was able to go on top the Monster and look straight down the 37 ½ feet to the playing field. Inside the Monster are signatures of many ballplayers who have signed the structure throughout the years.

Other Fenway quirks include Pesky’s Pole, which is the right field foul pole that is just 302 feet from home plate. Pesky is famous for curving home runs around the pole. The left field foul pole is 310 feet down the line. The outfield dimensions are also kind of quirky, it juts out to 379 and 389 feet in left-center, 420 in center field (also known as the Triangle, due to the unique shape of the stands, and 380 in right-center.

Most of the park is painted in Fenway Green, except for one seat. Section 42, row 37, seat 21 in the right field bleachers. That seat is red and is 502 feet from home plate. It marks the longest home run in Fenway history, hit by Williams on June 9, 1946.

Fenway grandstands
Can you spot the red seat which commemorates Ted Williams’ 502-foot homer?

The capacity of Fenway is 37,755, making it one of only seven parks that is less than 40,000. But that part of what keeps the charm and nostalgia of the park. There was a movement to build a new Fenway Park in 1999, but opposition to that rose and the idea faded.

On March 7, 2012, which was Fenway’s centennial year, the park was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is also a pending Boston Landmark, which will regulate any further changes to the park.

It is considered to be one of the most well-known sports venues in the world.

While I did not see an actual game in Fenway Park, I’ll still check it off my list (my rules, right?), since I did go inside. At some point, I’ll definitely go back and see a game. For now, it resides as No. 17 out of 30.

One reason to go back is to participate in the singing of “Sweet Caroline,” the song by Neil Diamond. Every eighth inning, fans sing the song during the inning break. I also want to hear the clang of the ball hitting the Green Monster.

While the atmosphere of a tour was great, I’m sure it’s even more electric during a game, especially a rivalry game with the New York Yankees, which is what we were supposed to see.

To paraphrase James Earl Jones’ Terence Mann character from “Field of Dreams,” “I’ll be back. I’ll most definitely be back” to Fenway.

Fenway Farms
Fenway Farms sits atop a roof in the stadium and helps supply herbs and produce.

Previous Installments of the Great Ballpark Chase by Tim Russell

The Great Ballpark Chase: That’s a Wrap

timothynrussell6 Comments

(The Sports Fan Project contributor, Tim Russell, puts a bow on his 2022 baseball travels in this final installment of his series, The Great Ballpark Chase. Enjoy!)

Well, another baseball regular season has come and gone.

This is always a bittersweet time of the year. Sure, you have playoff baseball, but that’s just watching it on TV.

For a ballpark chaser, it’s just not the same.

But this season was a little special. It marked the first full season of being able to attend ballgames after COVID-19. I had made it to 23 during the 2021 season, but it was only about half a season, since protocols were still actively in force, especially early on.

This year, I made it to the same number, but it felt different.

Two years ago, we had just started coming out of the pandemic. Games weren’t open until the beginning of June. This year, it just felt more normal, if there can be such a term these days. In 2021, I spent most of my time going to minor league games. Smaller parks along with smaller crowds, but still quality baseball.

This year, with the Diamond Baseball Tours bus trip, I made it to more Major League games, which is a different experience than minor league games.

Anytime you walk into the ballpark, a sense of excitement comes over you. This year was no different; maybe even more excitement. Everytime I walk into a new ballpark, a sense of awe washed over me.

In June, it felt even stranger, especially walking into Coors Field, which was the first stadium on the trip. I had visited new parks since I had lost my brother five years ago and I always got a sense that he was there with me. This year, it still felt like he was with me, but it felt different too, because it had been so long since being able to resume trips. Almost a sense of normalcy.

But let’s get to the games.

In 2022, of the 23 games I saw, 13 were MLB games, eight minor league, one college, and one summer collegiate. I saw a total of nine new stadiums. Of the 23 games, the home teams had a 10-13 record and were outscored 111-82.

Some images of the author’s travels around the baseball world this summer. From left, the giant Miguel Cabrera bobblehead at Comerica Park, the Great Lakes Loons retiring Terry Collins’ number, action from a Toledo Mudhens game, and the West Michigan Whitecaps celebrate a walk-off victory. (Photos by Tim Russell)

Some highlights of the games was seeing Lou Whitaker‘s Number Retirement Ceremony in August. That just happened to be the game my cousins and I picked for our annual game. I also saw the retirement of Terry Collins‘ number with the Great Lakes Loons at Dow Diamond in Midland, MI (Collins is a Midland native). Most recently, Collins managed the New York Mets. The Midland native also managed the Anaheim Angels and Houston Astros. I saw Detroit Tiger first baseman Spencer Torkelson‘s first MLB hit, a double to right center against the Boston Red Sox.

I also completed my tour of Ohio ballparks, visiting the summer collegiate league’s Lake Erie Crushers in May. I had visited most of the other Ohio parks the previous year. There was a Baseball College World Series game and I helped take two kids to their first ballgame.

By comparison, in 2021, I saw the same amount of games: 23, but it was six MLB, 16 MiLB, and one semi-pro. I saw 14 stadiums, of which nine were new parks.

Obviously, the bus road trip helped account for six of the MLB stadiums. But I also made an effort to get to more games at Comerica, since it is quite easy for me, living about 15 minutes from the park. Ease of getting there was part of it, but also, at the beginning of the season, hopes were high for a big improvement by the Tigers. Of course, that did not materialize for several reasons.

But the ballpark still holds a captivating atmosphere. There aren’t many other places I’d rather be, than at a ballpark.

I don’t always look to buy the best or the most expensive tickets. A lot of times, I’ll look for ways to pick up a cheap ticket. I’ve had good luck using the Gametime App, but there are others around also. Of course this year, especially later in the season, tickets were abundantly cheap and the ushers were pretty lenient on letting you move around. It’s not always like that, though.

I’m not sure I have a favorite seating area. Obviously seats behind the dugout or home plate are premium and offer great views. But, you can also have a great time down the baselines or out in the outfield. I guess as long as you are there, that’s all that matters.

As fun as Major League games are, minor leagues might be even more intriguing. It’s baseball at one of its more purer levels. Younger players trying to earn their way into the show and you feel closer to the action with the smaller park.

It’s also a fun experience, seeing top players before they become MLB stars. For instance, I saw former Tiger Nick Castellanos several times at West Michigan, years before he made it to Comerica Park.

In 2021, I was able to see current Tigers Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene at three minor league stops. I saw the duo at West Michigan, two days before they were called up to Double-A Erie. I saw them with the Seawolves about a month later, when they were playing in Akron, although Greene was given the day off that night. And finally, I saw them finish the season with the Toledo Mud Hens.

This year, I saw top Tiger prospects infielder Jace Jung, infielder Izaac Pacheco, and pitcher Jackson Jobe play for West Michigan. Jobe pitched five innings of one hit ball, but ended up with a no decision as the Whitecaps beat the Loons in the bottom of the ninth.

Jace Jung
The author was able to see Jace Jung play this year for the West Michigan Whitecaps. (Photo by Tim Russell)

So with the end of the regular season, there are no games to go to, but that allows one to focus on other things. Sure I’ll watch postseason baseball, but I also have season tickets to Eastern Michigan football, a membership in the Detroit Curling Club as well as other non-sporting activities.

And if there’s ever a yearning for baseball during the long winter months, there are computer games like Out Of The Park or Baseball Mogul or even MLB The Show on Xbox to get you through.

Or you just start planning the next year’s tour. I’ll likely take another bus tour, although I haven’t decided the location. I’m considering either a West Coast trip, especially since there is talk about Oakland moving or getting a new stadium.

Another option could be the Florida parks, along with Atlanta and Texas or an East Coast trip, which would include Fenway Park.

But mainly, you just start counting the days until spring training.

The Great Ballpark Chase: Fountains & Waterfalls

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To take a baseball bus tour, you probably have to be some sort of a super fan, at least somewhat.

It is a lot of baseball compressed into a short amount of time. It can be tiring, especially since you almost always feel like you are on the go.

Kauffman Stadium Scoreboard
While the author did make a stop at Kauffman Stadium, he did not appear on Kiss Cam. (Photo by Tim Russell)

This was the completion of my seven-city, seven ballpark tour with Diamond Baseball Tours in June. It started in Denver, CO, and finished in Kansas City, MO.

It was definitely a good time, though. You got to meet a lot of people with similar interests. I’ve introduced you to a few of them throughout this series and today I’ll introduce you to five more.

First, there was a three-generation family from the New Jersey area. Andy and his son, Kevin had completed a tour a few years ago. Andy’s father, Charles, asked why didn’t you take me? So when this year came around Charles, 83, was a part of the group, along with Andy and Kevin and Andy’s niece, Madison.

Fan allegiances were spread out as well. Charles is a Yankee fan while Andy is a Mets fan and Kevin a Phillies fan.

Then there is Margie, who had the shortest distance home after the tour ended. She is a native of Kansas City, so it was only a few miles after reclaiming her car at airport parking.

Margie, a Red Sox fan, is a Diamond Hall of Fame member. She has seen every ballpark on a Diamond Tour. In fact, she has seen all 30 ballparks twice and is starting a third go around. She has also started incorporating football into her stadium travels, usually a baseball game on Friday, college football on Saturday, and pro football on Sunday.

While Margie has seen all 30 with Diamond, she has also used other tour companies, such as Jay Buckley and Sports Travel and Tours.

So when we pulled into Kauffman Stadium after a long week, it was still exhilarating as we walked into the stadium, which is possibly one of the more intriguing stadiums to cross off the list. It is one of the oldest stadiums, but the outfield waterfalls and fountains make for a unique experience.

Kauffman Stadium
The view behind homeplate at Kauffman Stadium and the Water Spectacular in motion. (Photos by Tim Russell)

Known as the Water Spectacular, the fountains are on display before, after, and between innings of any game. The waterfalls are constantly flowing. It is the largest privately funded fountain in the world.

It is a pretty cool experience to be able to walk right next to the fountains. You can’t walk from right field to left field without going up and down stairs. The fountains do offer some small relief from the heat with the spray from the fountains.

Kauffman Stadium Waterfalls & Fountains
Fans can get up close and personal with the fountains and waterfalls. (Photos by Tim Russell)

Kauffman is the sixth oldest stadium in Major League Baseball, behind Boston’s Fenway Park (1912), Chicago’s Wrigley Field (1914), Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium (1962), Angels Stadium of Anaheim (1966), and the Oakland Coliseum (1966).

Kauffman was the only baseball-only park built in the majors from 1966-1991. It was also one of the few baseball-only facilities built during the cookie-cutter stadium building boom. Kauffman is one of two such stadiums that are still active and were never converted into multi-purpose stadiums. Dodger Stadium is the other.

The main stadium is primarily concrete, with a smooth, uncovered facade. The stands wrap around the infield and end at the foul poles, with smaller bleacher sections in the outfield. The Royals call them outfield plazas.

Current field dimensions are 330 feet down the left field line, 387 to left-center, 410 to center field, 387 to right-center and 330 down the right field line. The backstop is 60 feet behind home plate.

Beginning in 2007, the Royals had a red seat placed in the stadium to honor Buck O’Neil, who was finally inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in July. The seat, which was formerly occupied by O’Neil, is located behind home plate. It was section 101, Row C, Seat 1 until stadium renovations in 2009. It is now Section 127, Row C, Seat 9.

The Royals honor a person who embodies the spirit of O’Neil, selected from community nominees to sit in that seat each game. O’Neil played for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro leagues from 1937 to 1955.

The Royals have a pretty extensive Hall of Fame as part of the Outfield Experience. The Hall of Fame starts out with the Clubhouse Lobby, where the Royals’ retired numbers are displayed. There is also Cooperstown Corner, the Royals Way and the Plaque Gallery.

In the Crowning Moments section, you can see trophies from the 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1984 division titles, as well as the 1980 and 1985 American League pennants.

Finally, the Plaque Gallery winds up the visit, where you can see all 26 Royals Hall members, including third baseman George Brett, second baseman Frank White, manager Dick Howser and former owners Ewing and Muriel Kauffman.

Dick Howser
Frank White
George Brett

Those five also have statues near the outfield gates. Brett, Howser and White are in right field while the Kauffmans greet fans in left field.

Also part of the Outfield Experience is a kids’ play area, highlighted by a whiffle ball field. There is also the Taste of KC food court and a sports bar-themed restaurant in right field.

In the game, Oakland defeated Kansas City, 9-7. The Athletics took an early 2-0 lead in the first and never lost the lead. The Royals would score three in the eighth, but would get no closer.

Royals Hall of Fame
The Royals’ retired jersey numbers hang in the Hall of Fame as does a tribute to George Brett’s 3,154 hits constructed of baseballs in the form of Brett’s number 5. (Photos by Tim Russell)

The Great Ballpark Chase: Busch!

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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 61st 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.

Bob Gibson
Jack Buck
Lou Brock
Stan Musial
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.

Ballpark Village
Clark Street doubles as St. Louis’ Ballpark Village. (Photo by Tim Russell)

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

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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.

Guaranteed Rate Field
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.

Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk
Charles Comiskey
Charles Comiskey
Frank Thomas
Frank Thomas
Minnie Minoso
Minnie Minoso

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

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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.

American Family Field
American Family Field
American Family Field
The roof was open!
American Family Field
A truly unique roof design.

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 755th 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.

Sausage Race
The famed Sausage Race.
Bernie Brewers' Chalet
Bernie Brewers’ Chalet.

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.

Albert Pujols
Future Baseball Hall of Famer Albert Pujols stepping into the batter’s box. (Photo by Tim Russell)

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

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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.

Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown stands sentry on the outer concourse at Target Field. (Photo by Tim Russell)

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.

Kirby Puckett
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
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.

Target Center
The Target Center looms beyond rightfield. (Photo by Tim Russell)

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.