Ballpark Road Trips in Review: 2011
Over the past nine seasons, I have visited 174 Minor League ballparks (many of them more than once). This is the second in a series of posts, providing a season-by-season account of my “On the Road” Minor League Baseball experiences.
Previous posts in this series: 2010
2011
2011, my second season of ballpark travel, was much like the first. I didn’t go into the season with a series of itineraries, I just cobbled them together one at at time as the season went along. And, as with the season before, I often struggled with my MiLB.com “On the Road” features. They too often seem like text heavy repetitions of the blog posts, as compared to standalone features isolating a particular element of the ballpark experience. But, hey, the only way to learn is by doing. What follows is a recap of what I did in 2011.
TRIP #1
It all started with a trip to Arizona and California, marking the first time I’d been west of Omaha (in a professional context). On May 6th I announced my first itinerary of the season, which was set to kick off on May 11th.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL BLOG POSTS FROM THIS ROAD TRIP
May 11–12: Tucson Padres (Kino Stadium)
Do you remember the Tucson Padres? The franchise, formerly the Portland Beavers, was originally slated to move to a new ballpark in Escondido, California. When that fell through, the team spent three seasons in Tucson before moving to El Paso and becoming the Chihuahuas.
During my time in Tucson, I also visited Hi Corbett Field (which had previously hosted the Pacific Coast League Tucson Toros).
MiLB.com story: Tucson hopes Padres show faith
May 14th: Lancaster JetHawks (Clear Channel Stadium)
MiLB.com story: Lancaster gusts produce hot air
May 15th: High Desert Mavericks (Stater Bros. Stadium)
The Mavericks had fallen on hard times in 2011. They were able to last through the 2015 season, when they (and the Bakersfield Blaze) were contracted out of the California League.
MiLB.com: Mavs mark milestone in uncertain times
May 16: Inland Empire 66ers (Arrowhead Credit Union Park)
MiLB.com: 66ers exorcise losing ways with bonfire
May 17th: Lake Elsinore Storm (The Diamond)
MiLB.com: In the eyes of the Lake Elsinore Storm
Once again: CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL BLOG POSTS FROM THIS ROAD TRIP
TRIP #2
On June 8, I announced my next trip. This time, I’d be making a swing through Ohio (along with one stop in Indiana).
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL “MIDWEST 2011” BLOG POSTS
June 13: Fifth Third Field (Toledo Mud Hens)
MiLB.com: Toledo citizenship ceremony a ‘natural’
June 14–15: Fort Wayne TinCaps (Parkview Field)
MiLB.com: TinCaps offer food at every angle; A Hill at Fort Wayne’s ParkView Field
June 16: Lake County Captains (Classic Park)
MiLB.com: Cook brings Hollywood to Captains
June 17: Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Eastwood Field)
MiLB.com: Scrappers mark Opening Day, Part 2
June 18: Akron Aeros (Canal Park)
I cannot locate any MiLB.com stories from my visit to Akron. You can find my blog post, as well as all blog posts from this trip, HERE.
ONCE AGAIN: CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL “MIDWEST 2011” BLOG POSTS
TRIP #3
In late July, I was back on the road. This time, my destination was the Carolinas (as in, both of them). Additionally, I hit Danville, Virginia.
CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL BLOG POSTS FROM THIS TRIP
7/20: Charleston RiverDogs (Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park)
MiLB.com: Charleston has PA man on the move
7/21: Myrtle Beach Pelicans (BB&T Coastal Field)
MiLB.com: Pelicans groundskeeper having a Ball
7/22: Kinston Indians (Grainger Stadium)
MiLB.com: Baseball deeply ingrained in Kinston
7/23: Durham Bulls (Durham Bulls Athletic Park)
MiLB.com: Bulls’ innovation on display in TV booth
7/24: Burlington Royals (Burlington Athletic Stadium)
MiLB.com: Baseball history alive in North Carolina (this story isn’t about Burlington, per se. But it’s the story I wrote in the immediate aftermath of my visit to Burlington)
7/25: Danville Braves (American Legion Post 325 Field at Dan Daniel Memorial Park)
MiLB.com: Appy League has no-frills entertainment (this story covers both Danville and Burlington)
7/26: Winston-Salem Dash (BB&T Ballpark)
MiLB.com: I am almost certain I wrote an MiLB.com story about my time in Winston-Salem. But it appears to have been lost in the internet, trapped, never able to find its way out.
ONCE AGAIN: CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL BLOG POSTS FROM THIS TRIP
TRIP #4
Before the season concluded, I hit the road one last time. As I did at the end of 2010, I concentrated these travels in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region.
CLICK HERE TO READ ALL BLOG POSTS FROM THIS TRIP
8/30: Williamsport Crosscutters (Bowman Field)
Bowman Field was the first ballpark I visited twice. My first trip there occurred the year before.
MiLB.com: Field entertainment more than a game
8/31: Aberdeen IronBirds (Ripken Stadium)
MiLB.com: IronBirds do things the Ripken Way
9/1: Hagerstown Suns (Municipal Stadium)
MiLB.com: “‘World’ descends upon Hagerstown”
9/2: Bowie Baysox (Prince George’s Stadium)
MiLB.com: Home in Bowie not tough road for Hoes
9/3: Delmarva Shorebirds (Perdue Stadium)
MiLB.com: Shorebirds a team that chickens built
ONCE AGAIN: CLICK HERE TO READ ALL BLOG POSTS FROM THIS TRIP
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