Baseball Cities Tour

July 29th – Another weather threatened game. We arrived in Baltimore early and it seems everyone else did as well. We like to get there early to take pictures and walk around the outside and surrounding area. Here there were lines outside the gates 2 hours before they opened. We decided to follow the 60 Baseballs painted on the sidewalks from the Sports Legends at Camden Yard to the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum. We returned to the stadium shortly after the gates opened and found our seats just in time for the grounds crew to start putting the tarp on the field. There was a 42-minute rain delay but then they were able to complete the full 9 innings but the home team lost the game.

July 27th – We were a little worried about getting this game in. The forecast was for Thunderstorms but we went prepared – rain jackets and umbrella in hand. Fortunately the lightning did not start until late in the game. This is one of the few parks we have been to where I wish we had different seats - we couldn’t see the Liberty Bell and it “rang” for Pat Burrell’s home run in the 2nd inning – other than that, they were fine. Home team won!

It was hard to get a good picture of this stadium. If you have ever seen a Blue Jays game on TV, you know there are hotel rooms that face the ball field. Before the game as we walked around trying to get picture of the stadium, we saw the Canadian Idol show setting up to film. Inside the stadium, they have vending machines for baseball cards-that was something different. It was also different to see the people watching from their hotel rooms. The CN Tower literally towers over the field. From where we were sitting, we could watch the elevators going to the top. Although the stands never looked full, the attendance was 30,640.

July 20th – What a ballpark! Looking at the stadium from the outside, there is no doubt as to what team plays there – Tigers are everywhere and it is beautifully done. Once inside the stadium, we enjoyed walking around the statutes in the outfield honoring Willie Horton, Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg, Charlie Gehringer and Al Kaline. From there we walked around to the Home Plate entrance where we found the Big Cat Court, which is a food court just inside the entrance with a Detroit Tiger Carousel in the center. Of course I had to ride it!! This was the start of the Negro League Weekend and the Tigers were honoring Norman “Turkey” Stearnes. His family members were presented a plaque before the game and through the evening various “Did you know facts” were shown on the Jumbotron. For example, Country Singer Charlie Pride played in the Negro Leagues for the Birmingham Black Barons and the Memphis Red Sox in the early 1950’s. The game got off to a great start with Gary Sheffield hitting a home run in the first inning but the Royals would not be denied.

July18th – We were afraid this might be our first rainout but it turned out to be a hot, humid cloudy day and the game was completed without any weather problems. It was Indians Lunchbox giveaway day for those under 14 and it was also Super Cuts Haircuts for Charity day. This was a first for us – haircuts at the ballgame but why not. The stadium is very nice and we enjoyed walking through Heritage Park in the outfield, which is like a hall of fame for the Indians. It was a colorful day a the ballpark as there were many daycare and summer camp groups in attendance and most groups had colored T-shirts to identify their charges. Everyone enjoyed the Hot Dog Derby – I believe Onion won. Unfortunately the home team lost. After the game, we walked to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and enjoyed walking around there before leaving the city.

July 16th -This is a beautiful stadium with a great view of downtown Pittsburgh and the Allegheny River. The scoreboard in the outfield is another unique one-for each game they show not only the score but also the number of outs and when players are on base. Before the game, the Seneca Valley High School Baseball Team was honored at home plate. They are the 2007 PIAA “AAAA” State Champions. Ronald McDonald threw the ceremonial first pitch, as it was McDonalds Monday Scratch-off night. Mrs. T’s Pierogies Race was held at the end of the 5th inning and after one of the other innings the mascots tossed hotdogs into the crowd. The actual game was the longest one so far – it started at 7:05PM and it was 9:47PM before we reached the 7th inning stretch!

July 12th - On our way from Cincinnati, Ohio to Mercer, PA, we drove through Akron, Ohio and happened to go right by the Soapbox Derby Headquarters so we had to make a stop. There was some press event going on at the finish line so we didn’t spend too much time but we were able to get some pictures without interfering with whatever was going on. Just so happens that in the same area is the Lockheed-Martin Airship Air dock, so we got a picture of that as well.

July 7th – We arrived at the ballpark early and instead of having our traditional hot dog and beer, we decided to have burgers at the Mr. Machine restaurant in the outfield. This is another of the newer ballparks and it is nice. Once thing that surprised me though, was that for a new park it did not have a very big scoreboard for the other games going on. It was a promotion night, so we received a Brandon Phillips’ mesh jersey (Brandon Phillips is the 2nd baseman). This team has 3 mascots - Mr. Redlegs, Mr. Red and Gapper. There is a party pavilion in the outfield in the shape of a Riverboat. The smokestacks are where they shoot most the fireworks from to celebrate a Reds’ homerun and a victory. This time, I got the picture.

June 29 - July 5 - We stayed in a campground right in the city so we were close enough to walk downtown and enjoy the sights. We walked to Union Station, then to the Arch, took a ride on the Riverboat – Tom Sawyer and visited the Old Courthouse. We also went to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery and took their tour. On both the 3rd and 4th, we were able to enjoy the fireworks from our campsite. There was so much more to see & do in this area but there just wasn’t time.

July 2nd – What a beautiful night for a ball game – the weather was perfect! Busch Stadium is a nice new stadium in downtown St. Louis with a great view of the Arch. They have a great electronic scoreboard that doesn’t show just the score – for some of the games, you can actually see who is at bat, if there are runners on base and how many outs there are. It was Little League night so the team’s mascot led the little leaguers around the field before the game. The home team won so there were a few fireworks after the game, but I was so into the game that I did not have the camera ready to get any pictures of them.