Monday, April 27

Happy holidays to you and yours. My gift to you is this, the Baseball Traveler newsletter. Your gift to me is taking the time to read it. It's an advantageous arrangement for both parties. Let's talk about Minor League Baseball.

Ladies and gentlemen, here it is: My final ballpark report of 2025. There'll be more where this came from beginning in Spring 2026. Thanks for rolling through another season with me.  

The Show Before the Show podcast, hosted by Tyler Maun, Sam Dykstra and Benjamin Hill (me), is the official podcast of Minor League Baseball. This was a milestone year, as we celebrated our 10th anniversary and 500th episode, capping it off with a Show Before the Show theme night at the Somerset Patriots' home of TD Bank Ballpark.

This theme night came about because, well, we're shameless. After repeatedly advocating for a Minor League team to host a podcast theme night at the ballpark, the Patriots -- led by senior VP of marketing Dave Marek -- got in touch and offered to actually do it. From the initial communication through gameday execution, their attention to detail was superb.

For one glorious day in June, this was our Central New Jersey office. (The episode we produced covering our time with the Patriots can be found HERE).

The Patriots were established in the independent Atlantic League in 1998, with TD Bank Ballpark opening the following season. In 2021, as part of a larger reorganization of Minor League Baseball, they became the Double-A affiliate of the Yankees. Given their location, preexisting branding and front office sensibilities, it feels like the role they were born to play.

The Patriots' name was inspired by their area's Revolutionary War history (which also inspired their recently announced Semiquincentennials alternate identity). The Van Horne House, utilized during the Battle of Bound Brook, is located across the street from the ballpark's third-base side.

The Patriots put together a jam-packed itinerary for the day, which included Sam, Tyler and I sitting in on their daily front office meeting. There was a lot to go over; the scheduled game was now a doubleheader and rehabbing Yankees Giancarlo Stanton and Marcus Stroman were scheduled to play.

For lunch we went to the Golden Diner in Bound Brook, a logical choice when you're visiting a team with a New Jersey Diners alternate identity.

The Golden Diner was the perfect choice for a hearty steak and eggs lunch, and a reminder of why the New Jersey Diners alternate identity has been so successful: It celebrates local, independent businesses across the state, encouraging fans to support the places and people that make their community special. Let this serve as a reminder to support your local diner.

Throughout both ballgames, Sam, Tyler and I interviewed various ballpark characters and took part in a wide array of in-game activities. One of the highlights was a "live" podcast segment, broadcast over the PA between games. 

When it came to between-inning games, Sam and Tyler were novices. This wasn't my first rodeo, however.

Sam couldn't stay upright no matter how hard he tried. First, he went down in the Pony Hop, with an "assist" from Tyler.  

The Dizzy Bat Race was more of the same. Better luck next time, Sam.

It was a bit surreal, engaging in such high jinks while frequently crossing paths with Major League Baseball's active leader in home runs.

During the second game I broke away from my podcasting brethren and met up with not one but FIVE designated eaters. It was their job to consume the ballpark cuisine that my gluten-free diet prohibits.

From left to right we have Phil O’Donnell, Brad Buchholtz, Eric Adams, Emma Teti and Fred Riess. 

Yes, I usually only have one Designated Eater. But since this was a special evening, and since the Patriots were being so accommodating, I went ahead and said "yes" to everyone who emailed me asking for the "job." Shoutout to food and beverage VP (and fellow "Weird Al" Yankovic fan) Mike McDermott for putting together a tremendous spread, which included a build-your-own hot dog bar as well as a triumvirate of scintillating items.

The Jersey Diner Burger is a double patty tapped with Case's pork roll (don't call it Taylor Ham) and American cheese on a waffle bun.

The Red, White and Blue Chicken Sandwich, created in partnership with local eatery 22 West Tap and Grill, is topped with roasted red peppers, white mozzarella and blue coleslaw. 

Another of the team's local partners is Prima Pizza Kitchen, who churn out picture-perfect pies.

If you're unable to make it out to TD Bank Ballpark, bring it into your living room via the broadcast booth. Steven Cusumano (right) and his partner Joe Puccio were on the call in 2025, and within the course of this action-packed evening they found the time to include me, Tyler and Sam on the game broadcast.

One of the Patriots' many acts of generosity on the evening included setting aside a suite for The Show Before the Show friends, family and co-workers. My son Harry, rocking a hat featuring San Jose Giants mascot Gigante, had a great time. 

By the end of the evening, Harry all was tuckered out. We all were. Thanks to the Patriots for hosting The Show Before the Show Night, and, once again, check out our episode from Somerset HERE. 

I hope you enjoyed my ballpark road trip recaps this season, featuring in-depth coverage of 19 teams. (I have now visited 190 Minor League ballparks in my professional career, many of them multiple times.) While some peripheral road trip content is still to come, this newsletter will now pivot to offseason news, Minor League history, overviews of unique facets of the industry and, yes, your feedback.

Have a question related to Minor League Baseball that you'd like to see answered in this newsletter? It can be related to anything mentioned above, or whatever strikes your heart's fancy. The weirder the better. Get in touch: benjamin.hill@mlb.com

I always look forward to hearing from you. 

Speaking of reader feedback... Back in October, I shared an email I received from a reader named Ben B. It read, in part:

If one were to attend a game at every Minor League affiliate of a Major League franchise in a single season … would you dub that feat a "home run?" 

I asked readers to come up with an original term to describe this accomplishment. Here are some of your responses; use the one that you like best and perhaps it will work its way into the lexicon.

I came up with something that sounds a bit like the title of an episode of the "Big Bang Theory" (if you're familiar): The Professional Baseball Organization Classification Gradation Excursion Cycle, or the PBOCGEC. 

It's a mouthful, but any Designated Eater could handle it. A big road trip requires a big title for an accomplishment like that. – Don G

How about Bought the Farm, Minors Sweep, Farm Slam, Cleared the Bench or Getting Straight A-AA-AAAs. – Doug B.

Of course, it's FarmStormin'. – Doug P.

Farmall, a play off the tractor's name. – Joe C.

Round Tripper – Charles F.

That's right: Thank you for reading and stay tuned for further 2025 editions of this newsletter. Get in touch anytime, and please recommend the Baseball Traveler to others who may enjoy it. Finally, please follow me on Instagram (@thebensbiz), X (@bensbiz) and Bluesky (@bensbiz.bsky.social). Happy Holidays! 

Contact Benjamin Hill

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