Ballpark Road Trips in Review: 2015
Over the past nine seasons, I have visited 174 Minor League ballparks (many of them more than once). This is the sixth 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; 2013; 2014
2015
The first three months of 2015 were a tumultuous time for me, full of anxiety, frustration and depression. I dealt with it by losing myself within the world of Minor League Baseball, traveling extensively throughout the season and, in the process, leaving my troubles (at least temporarily) behind. The work didn’t suffer, fortunately. 2015 more or less set the template for what my job would become.
2015 firsts included regular About Last Night posts, the first standalone Designated Eater posts, the debut of the Groundbreaking and Subversive Ballpark Joke of the day and, perhaps most importantly, the Ben’s Biz logo.
From Bradenton in April to Portland in September, what follows is a comprehensive overview of my 2015 season “On the Road.”
Trip#1: The Sunshine State
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April 11: Bradenton Marauders (McKechnie Field)
April 12: Tampa Yankees (Steinbrenner Field)
MiLB.com: Warm greetings in Tampa
April 13: Dunedin Blue Jays (Florida Auto Exchange Stadium)
MiLB.com: Dunedin coming to rain rescue
April 14: Jupiter Hammerheads (Roger Dean Stadium)
MiLB.com: At Roger Dean, a season that never ends
April 15: Jackie Robinson Celebration Game at Dodgertown’s Holman Stadium (St. Lucie Mets vs. Brevard County Manatees)
MiLB.com: Dodgertown comes alive for Robinson game; Regan calls memories of Dodgertown; Pierson striving to promote diversity
April 16: St. Lucie Mets (Tradition Field)
MiLB.com: Superfans with sweet presence
April 17: Brevard County Manatees (Space Coast Stadium)
MiLB.com: Anatomy of a scandal promo
April 18: Jacksonville Suns (Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville)
MiLB.com: Bragan enjoying ‘Last Dance’ in Jacksonville; Behind the pitch clock, tricks of the timer
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TRIP #2: More Midwest Meanderings
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May 23: Kane County Cougars (Fifth Third Bank Ballpark)
MiLB.com: “Wild Bill” embodies baseball in Kane County
May 24: Quad Cities River Bandits (Modern Woodmen Park)
MiLB.com: Flood or not, River Bandits are ready to play
May 25: Clinton LumberKings (Riverview Stadium)
MiLB.com: Gimenez’s time in Clinton goes beyond ball; In Clinton, a community with love of Minors
Note: After watching an afternoon doubleheader in Clinton, I drove back to Quad Cities and saw the second game of a doubleheader between the River Bandits and the Peoria Chiefs.
May 26: Peoria Chiefs (Dozer Park)
MiLB.com: Med school can wait for Chiefs’ Thompson
May 27: Cedar Rapids Kernels (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
MiLB.com: The legend of Roady, a Kernels ballpark icon
May 28: Iowa Cubs (Principal Park)
This was not part of my original itinerary. But since the Cubs were playing a day game, I stopped in while en route to Omaha.
MiLB.com: For Cubs, flight delays a lesson in patience
May 28: Omaha Storm Chasers (Werner Park)
MiLB.com: Omaha fans’ tribute celebrates Strawn
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TRIP #3: The Virginias
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June 25: Richmond Flying Squirrels (The Diamond)
MiLB.com: Pitchers are dance sensations in Richmond
June 26: Norfolk Tides (Harbor Park)
MiLB.com: Tides exec Rosenfield sets schedule
June 27: Lynchburg Hillcats (Calvin Falwell Field)
MiLB.com: In Lynchburg, the story of a baseball name; Hillcats’ Roberts started new life in baseball
June 28: Salem Red Sox (Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium)
MiLB.com: Adams embraces role as gossip queen
June 29: Potomac Nationals (G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium)
MiLB.com: Wildest box in Potomac is Ken’s Place
June 30: West Virginia Black Bears (Monongalia County Stadium)
MiLB.com: Views, quirks and pepperoni in West Virginia; Groundskeeper faces different issues in WV
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Trip #4: Deep South in the Deep Summer
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July 28: New Orleans Zephyrs (Zephyr Field)
MiLB.com: Nola feeling right at home in New Orleans
July 29, 30: Biloxi Shuckers (MGM Park)
MiLB.com: In Biloxi, a ballpark (finally) falls into place
July 31: Mobile BayBears (Hank Aaron Stadium)
MiLB.com: Wahoos bat boy or Batman?; In Mobile, Vadakin more than a bat boy
August 1: Montgomery Biscuits (Riverwalk Stadium)
MiLB.com: Biscuits’ popularity goes beyond Alabama
August 2: Mississippi Braves (Trustmark Park)
MiLB.com: In Mississippi, a professor finds his passion
August 3: Jackson Generals (The Ballpark at Jackson)
MiLB.com: Everybody loves Jimmy in Jackson
August 5: Nashville Sounds (First Tennessee Park)
MiLB.com: Take of tour of Nashville’s new ballpark
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Trip #5: New England Nights
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July 11: Vermont Lake Monsters (Centennial Field)
(This was a one-off trip that I later bundled in to my New England material)
August 29: Connecticut Tigers (Dodd Stadium)
MiLB.com: Dodd Stadium: The house Carberry got built; Tigers turn to Stott’s for home-cooked meal
August 30: New Britain Rock Cats (New Britain Stadium)
MiLB.com: Devotees bid adieu to beloved Rock Cats
August 31: Lowell Spinners (LeLacheur Park)
MiLB.com: In Lowell, Dogman barks one final time
September 1: Pawtucket Red Sox (McCoy Stadium)
MiLB.com: Proposed PawSox relocation stirs emotions; PawSox exec discusses proposed relocation
September 2: New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Northeast Delta Dental Stadium)
September 4: Portland Sea Dogs (Hadlock Field)
MiLB.com: Portland’s McCarthy spreading miracles
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