Ballpark Road Trips in Review: 2012
Over the past nine seasons, I have visited 174 Minor League ballparks (many of them more than once). This is the third 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
2012
2012 was quite like the years that preceded it. I announced my itineraries one at a time, piecing them together throughout the season. I did not yet have a logo, and I still did not have a smart phone. My material was still almost exclusively comprised of blog posts and MiLB.com articles; the latter had yet to fully evolve into the standalone character sketches that they would soon become. It was also the last year of my Flip Cam usage with my video content being limited to player interviews conducted before the game. You can look through those HERE.
But 2012 wasn’t just more of the same. In June of that year, I was diagnosed with celiac disease. I announced the diagnosis in early July, while floating the idea of having a “Designated Eater.” This concept — in which I recruit an individual to consume the ballpark food that my gluten-free diet prohibits — was put into effect late in the season and remains to this day.
Trip #1: The Sunshine State
CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL BLOG POSTS FROM THIS TRIP.
April 27: Clearwater Threshers (Bright House Field)
MiLB.com: While I did not file a story from the Threshers game, earlier in the day I visited Minor League Baseball headquarters in St. Petersburg. My story on the historical tidbits I found therein: Exploring the Minors’ past and present
April 28th: Fort Myers Miracle (Hammond Stadium)
MiLB.com: This story incorporates observations from Clearwater, Fort Myers and Charlotte (see below): FSL ballclubs thrive in different ways
Also: Earlier in the day, I made a stop at JetBlue Park (Spring Training home of the Boston Red Sox). The next morning, I visited Fort Myers’ Terry Park.
April 29: Charlotte Stone Crabs (Charlotte Sports Park)
April 30: Lakeland Flying Tigers (Joker Marchant Stadium)
MiLB.com: Flying Tigers more than a nickname
Before leaving Lakeland, I visited Henley Park. The Flying Tigers ended up spending a season there while Joker Marchant was being renovated.
May 1: Daytona Cubs (Jackie Robinson Ballpark)
MiLB.com: Daytona Cubs foster die-hard fandom
I also attended the Cubs’ 10:30 a.m. game the following morning.
May 3–4: Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Community Maritime Park)
MiLB.com: Blue Wahoos soaking in the local love
More Pensacola material can be found HERE.
(I was in a Pensacola hotel room when I found out that Adam Yauch died. I broke down crying.)
ONCE AGAIN: CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL BLOG POSTS FROM THIS TRIP.
Trip #2: Oklahoma-Arkansas-Missouri-Tennessee-Arkansas
I went on this trip having just been diagnosed with celiac disease, but did not observe a gluten-free diet. It was, for me, a last hurrah.
CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL POSTS FROM THIS TRIP
June 7: Oklahoma City RedHawks (Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark)
MiLB.com: Overseas play tricky for Minor League vets
In the above story, I interviewed Mike “The King” Hessman!
June 8: Tulsa Drillers (ONEOK Field)
MiLB.com: Tucker a special agent for fireworks
June 9: Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Arvest Ballpark)
MiLB.com: ‘Thunder Chickens’ ‘Natural’ fit for club; Naturals’ canine a ballpark celebrity
June 10: Springfield Cardinals (Hammons Field)
MiLB.com: Springfield baseball’s a world unto itself
June 12: Memphis Redbirds (AutoZone Park)
MiLB.com: Memphis treats: BBQ nachos, Miller
June 13: Jackson Generals (Pringles Park)
MiLB.com: Generals’ path to title a unique, wet one
June 14: Arkansas Travelers (Dickey-Stephens Park)
MiLB.com: Travelers interns live, work in ballpark
ONCE AGAIN: CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL POSTS FROM THIS TRIP
“TRIP” #3: One-offs in Lowell, Trenton, Brooklyn Staten Island and Lehigh Valley
On July 1, I traveled to Lowell, Massachusetts, with my friend (and noted ballhawk) Zack Hample. The Lowell Spinners had agreed to let Zack attempt to catch a ball that was dropped from a helicopter.
July 1: Lowell Spinners (LeLacheur Park)
Blog posts: Stop, Drop and Lowell; Pastry Pugilism and Dirt Dentistry
MiLB.com: Hample tries to catch history in Lowell
July 28th: Trenton Thunder (Arm and Hammer Park)
Blog: A Frankfurter Chauffeur to the Bloodmobile; Crab Fries, Cheese Balls and Tribute Bands
August 2: Staten Island Yankees (Richmond County Bank Ballpark)
Blog: A Quiet Evening of Leisure
August 4: MCU Park (Brooklyn Cyclones)
Blog: Beach Bums and No Buns
August 10: Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Coca-Cola Park)
Blog: Banging Heads and Headbanging; Guest Post: IronPigs Zen in Lehigh Valley
August 14: New Britain Rock Cats (New Britain Stadium)
Blog: From Marinara to Air Guitar
MiLB.com: Exploring the Ballparks of the Northeast
Trip #3: The Pacific Northwest
CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL BLOG POSTS FROM THIS ROAD TRIP
8/18: Eugene Emeralds (PK Park)
MiLB.com: Ems make quick work with diamond
8/19: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Volcanoes Stadium)
8/20: Yakima Bears (Yakima County Stadium)
MiLB.com: Homer yields more than a pair of runs; Bears have mixed feelings in final days
8/21: Tacoma Rainiers (Cheney Stadium)
MiLB.com: Old and new combine in Tacoma
8/22: Everett AquaSox (Everett Memorial Stadium)
MiLB.com: AquaSox an odd tale of frogs and men
8/23: Vancouver Canadians (Nat Bailey Stadium)
MiLB.com: ‘Nooner’ or night, Canadians thriving
ONCE AGAIN: CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL BLOG POSTS FROM THIS TRIP
