Ballpark Road Trips in Review: 2010
Over the past nine seasons, I have visited 174 Minor League ballparks (many of them more than once). This is the first in a series of posts, providing a season-by-season account of my “On the Road” Minor League Baseball experiences.
2010
I began writing for MiLB.com during the 2005 season, which was the first year the site existed. Over the next four years I established my “business and culture of Minor League Baseball” niche, and during the 2009 season I became a full time employee. In 2010, I began embarking on road trips to see the places I was writing about.
I didn’t have much of a methodology during this, my first season on the road. I cobbled itineraries together one at a time, and wrote about my experiences with a rushed, everything-is-on-a-deadline sort of approach. It all started in April, when I visited the Mobile BayBears to cover the opening of the Hank Aaron Childhood Home and Museum.
Aaron was one of seven (!) Hall of Famers in attendance, and I was (to my knowledge) the only national reporter to cover the event (which I did for both MiLB.com and MLB.com, armed only with a notepad, digital camera and a Flip camera).
April 14th-15th: Mobile BayBears (Hank Aaron Stadium)
MiLB.com: Stars help christen Aaron Museum; BayBears well-versed in Aaron Lore; Hank Aaron Museum Guide
Blog post: I’ve Got You BayBears
During this visit to Mobile, I interviewed Bob Feller, Rickey Henderson, Bud Selig and Hank Aaron. I attempted to interview Reggie Jackson, but, in stereotypical Reggie Jackson fashion, he put his hand over my Flip cam and slowly pushed it away. Unfortunately, all these interviews are now dead links on the internet and I no longer have the original files.
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In looking back at these old posts, it’s quite startling the extent to which I was flying by the seat of my pants. On May 31st, I announced my next road trip. It began on June 1. Strangely enough, I went back to Alabama before moving on to Tennessee, Georgia and, finally, South Carolina.
June 1 — Birmingham Barons (Regions Park)
MiLB.com: Taking a tour of Rickwood Field
Blog: Past and Present in Birmingham
June 2–15th Annual Rickwood Classic at Birmingham’s Rickwood Field
Blog: Wrapping up Rickwood
MiLB.com: Rickwood Field elicits fond memories
June 3 — Huntsville Stars (Joe Davis Stadium)
Blog: Mingling with the Stars in Huntsville
MiLB.com: Rogers proves to be a shining star
June 4 — Chattanooga Lookouts (At&T Field)
I also visited the Lookouts’ former home of Engel Stadium:
Blog: Looking out for the Past in Chattanooga; Rained Out in Chattanooga
MiLB.com: Group aims to restore Engel Stadium
June 5 — Gwinnett Braves (Coolray Field)
Blog: In Gwinnett to Win It
MiLB.com: G-Braves quickly finding their niche
June 6 — Greenville Drive (Fluor Field)
I also visited the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum, located across the street from the ballpark.
Blog: The Banned Plays On in Greenville; The Drive Ends in Greenville
MiLB.com: A bit of Boston in the South; Greenville boasts ‘Shoeless’ Museum
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The following month, I hit the road once again. This time around, I stayed relatively “local” to my New York City home. Apart from Harrisburg, I don’t think I stayed at a hotel at any point during this trip. I just crashed on the couches and in the guest bedrooms of various friends and family.
July 10th: Lakewood BlueClaws (FirstEnergy Park)
Blog: Greetings From First Energy Park
MiLB.com: BruceClaws show Spirit in the Night
July 11th: Reading Phillies (FirstEnergy Stadium)
Blog: The Wizard of Ostrich in Reading
MiLB.com: Crazy Hot Dog Vendor a hit in Reading
July 12th: Williamsport Crosscutters (Bowman Field)
Blog: Boomer Looms and Love Blooms in Williamsport
MiLB.com: ‘Cutters, Spikes offer stark contrast
July 13th: State College Spikes (Medlar Park at Lubrano Field)
Blog: A Walking Sundae Matinee in State College
July 14th: Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Coca-Cola Field) hosting Triple-A All-Star Game)
Blog: Hogging the Spotlight in Lehigh Valley
MiLB.com: IronPigs prove to be perfect hosts
July 15th-17th: Attended mascot camp in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Blog: Character Development in Central PA; Giorgio the Bloggerman Slaughtered in Harrisburg
MiLB.com: Mascot training a sweaty, tiring process
July 17th: Harrisburg Senators (Metro Bank Ballpark)
Blog: Capitol Improvements in Harrisburg
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The following month, I kept things even more local by visiting the two ballparks in New York City proper.
August 24th: Brooklyn Cyclones (MCU Park)
Blog: Rained Out in the Playground of the World
August 27th: Staten Island Yankees (Richmond County Bank Ballpark)
Blog: A Ferry Good Night in Staten Island
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My travels weren’t over yet. On September 1, I announced my final trip of the season. Keeping true to my “seat of the pants” style, the trip began the following day.
September 2nd: Omaha Royals (Rosenblatt Stadium)
Blog: A Muddy Hello and Teary Goodbye in Omaha
MiLB.com: Royals end Rosenblatt era in style; Omaha team excited for new home
September 3: Iowa Cubs (Principal Park)
Blog: First Pitches, Ferocious Franks and Freedom of Speech in Iowa
MiLB.com: Ryno, I-Cubs offer unique attraction
September 4: Burlington Bees (Community Field)
Blog: Back to the Basics in Burlington
MiLB.com: Community means a lot in Burlington
September 5: Quad Cities River Bandits (Modern Woodmen Park)
Blog: Cash Crops and Backdrops
MiLB.com: Bandits play on ‘Field of Dreams’
September 6: Kane County Cougars (Elfstrom Stadium)
Blog: The Season Goes Kaboom in Kane County
MiLB.com: Cougars provide fans with fireworks
