Finished my Quest: Dodgers Stadium

 Success achieved! I went to all 30 MLB parks as of 2024.  I visited Dodgers stadium (1962), the 3rd oldest behind Wrigley (1914)  and Fenway (1912), on May 2-4, 2024.  This cathedral of baseball  is located in  the Elysian Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Traffic to go to this park is horrendous for it is surrounded by freeways and there is no easy way to get there by public transit unless you wait for Dodger Express. Dodgers have a no tailgating rule as well.

The stadium is considered a pitcher’s park (eg. 13 no hitters happened here, 2 of them were perfect games) and is the  largest baseball stadium in the world by seat capacity (56,000 seat capacity).  Anytime you put seats in; you have to remove equal amount of seats. This stadium is the home ballpark of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a national league team in NL West. The LA  Dodgers are a highly lauded franchise. Most teams have not been as successful at developing talent, paying highly talented players, and winning games  as much as the Dodgers.

Tommy Lasorda, Hall of fame manager, called Dodgers stadium “Blue Heaven on Earth”  and said he would bleed Dodger Blue if cut. Famous dodgers include: Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Mike Piazza, Oral Hershiser, Fernando “El Toro” Valenzuela, Clayton Kershaw, Steve Garvey, Don Drysdale, and Don Sutton.

 Vin Scully, the voice of Dodger baseball for 67 years, was known for his play by play commentary (1950 to 2016). His iconic phrase, “It’s time for Dodger baseball” starts every Dodgers home game.  The street  where Dodgers stadium lies, was renamed after him. 

On this trip, I went to 2 games, Dodgers vs Braves, from 2 vantage points ( in field near 3rd base and in upper reserve section overlooking 1st base) and fit in a comprehensive ballpark tour.  I happily saw the Braves lose (3-4 Dodgers,  2-11 Dodgers). As a Phillies fan,  it is good when  any NL team beats your hated rival soundly. That team is your friend until you play them head to head,  then you are back to being foes.

The first night was one in which the game had to go to extra innings, until the Dodger rookie hitter Andy Pages hit a single winning the game in the 11th. The second night was a pitching masterclass by Tyler Glasnow, Dodger pitcher, with an offensive explosion by Dodgers lineup (eg, Max Muncy hit 3 HRs that night, Shohei Ohtani hits too). 

On the tour of the stadium, I learned that Dodgers was named after the fans that had to dodge trolleys as they attended games.  Dodgers name fits on the jersey, rather than Trolley Dodgers.  This team started in 1883 in the American League, then renamed Brooklyn Bridegrooms (as of 1890) switching to National league, until finally settling on the name Dodgers in 1932. Once upon a time, the Dodgers had a bitter rivalry with Yankees (for they were in same city), for Dodgers have played in World Series 7x against Yankees.  The Yanks beat them 5 in a row in the 1950s, until Brooklyn Dodgers finally won against the Yanks in 1955.

In Brooklyn, Dodgers  only won one World Series in 1955. In LA, Dodgers have won 6 times (1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, 1988, 2020). They have won National  League  pennant 24 times. The present day rivals are the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres. They are inner state rivals so when these teams play there will be a battle.

Of interest, outside the stadium there were two notable statues, Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax, in  centerfield. Also, because of location, stadium was designed to be earthquake resistant and was built into a natural ravine.  It is the only stadium that I know of in which you enter from the top and head down to the field. The awesome view of downtown LA and San Gabriel Mountains gives those who attend Dodgers games amazing views. On a clear day, you can see the Hollywood sign.  Dodgers stadium is the only stadium in the National  League with symmetrical outfield dimensions.  If you like symmetry, the field is noteworthy for all baseball fans.

 No matter which team you route for, baseball is fun when the fans are invested.  I like when fanatical fans show up in Dodger gear, in this case.  Win or lose the home fans cheer for a win. Because of the long baseball season, you need to marvel how a hitting/non-hitting streak, great or poor defensive play, or a pitcher dealing (meaning the pitcher has his good stuff rather than throwing meatballs over the plate) or not,  can change the game. 

There are 9 innings with  27 outs per team for a regular game. How the team does  and which team has scored more would decide whether the fans go home happy after a win or disappointed after a loss.

Play ball. I will be watching as a baseball fan. It is only May.  There is lots of baseball to see.

My last thought to ponder:

“There are three types of baseball players: Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen and those who wonder what happens.” – Tommy Lasorda

Is this not the case for life in general? You choose to be a player in your life, an observer, or a person oblivious.  Choose wisely.

Bought my tickets to Dodgers game: on my way LA

 I waited until 10:00 am PST on Feb 2, 2024 to get those tickets to a Dodgers game at Dodgers stadium in May.  After being put on the virtual waiting list, I was able to grab a ticket to May 3 and another ticket to May 4.  Dodgers will be playing the Braves, so it should be an exciting game.

Because I am in LA, I will also be going on a ballpark tour of the stadium a day before the Dodgers play.  That means I will be in Dodger country for 4 days straight.  

I am excited to see this last park, thereby accomplishing my task of seeing all MLB ballparks.  It is 4 months away, but February means pitchers and catchers report to Spring Trainng in either Arizona or Florida.  I may have to think of another quest to go on.  It is something to think about in the coming weeks.

Game 7: NLCS for Phils

 Can you believe after 141 years, this is the first Game 7 in Phillies franchise history?  

I am watching the game from home, rather than at the Bank.  Both of the championship series, National League and American League, had to go to a Game 7.  The team that wins the 7 game series moves on to the World Series, for the honor of winning the commissioner’s trophy.  The Texas Rangers punched their ticket yesterday, by beating the 2022 Champs, Houston Astros. Either Diamondbacks or Phillies will move on after today’s game to the World Series; the losing team ends their season.

I am anxious, but will pay attention to every strike, ball, hit and run.  Hopefully, Ranger Suarez pitches a good game and the offense wakes up. Go Phils!

Update: Unfortunately, Phils bats were not there tonight. Credit goes to the Arizona bullpen. The main guys in Phils lineup could not get base hits.  We left so many players stranded in a 4-2 game. NLCS series was a terrible time to get into a slump. The Pitching was there (eg. Wasted good start by Wheeler and solid bullpen); the offense let us down.  It reminds me of the time we lost to Cardinals in divisional round in 2011. We could not hit and play fundamentals (singles, RBIs). I am disappointed, but I still support my team and love the game.  I am waiting until single game tickets go on sale for the LA Dodgers. Once they are available, I will book a trip to my 30th MLB ballpark, Dodgers Stadium.

Houston Astros home stadium: Minute Maid Park

 I visited Minute Maid Park  on Oct 1, 2022 in downtown Houston. The ballpark was first named Enron Field then changed its name when Coca Cola subsidiary Minute Maid bought naming rights. This stadium with a seating capacity of 41, 168,  has a retractable roof and was opened in 2000. At the Juice box (nickname for park), the park’s design integrated the former Union Station building’s main concourse. Also, a large model train is seen in the stadium as a homage to the former station.

There are statues of Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio in the Plaza of the ballpark. On the Phillips 66 Home Run porch, the stadium features a classic gasoline pump that displays the total number of Astros home run hits since the park opened.  

The Houston Astros are an American League West team, having moved to American League from spending 51 years in the National League. The Astros have 2 World Series titles (2017, 2022) and are perennial favorites in the playoffs. The Astros  have reached American League championship 7 years in a row.

The Astros were established as the Houston Colt .45s and entered as an expansion team in 1962. They once were a team on the bottom of the standings, now they are in the conversation year after year. The 2023 Houston Astros are one win away from returning to World Series to face the National League pennant winner, if they beat Texas Rangers in Game 6 of ALCS in Houston. They have players like 2B Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman, and strong pitchers, like Justin Verlander and Christian Javier. 

This team is formidable, but I think they are beatable if you do not let them get momentum. They are comeback experts.  We will see next week which team of the 4 teams is left standing. I favor the Phils  but we will see how it plays out.

Texas Rangers: Globe Life Park (old)

The Texas Ballpark, renamed Choctaw Stadium (formerly Global Life Park), was the home field of the Texas Rangers, from 1994 until 2019. Located in Arlington, Texas, it was built in a retro style with no retractable roof. Those at the ballpark had to suffer the 100 degree Texas heat and humidity during those summer games. This became an issue for attendance (who would watch a game in such high uncomfortable temperatures), so management had to act. In 2020, Global Life Field, air-conditioned with a retractable roof, was built south of the old one and became the NEW ballpark of the Rangers in 2020.

The old stadium, that I visited in October 2015, was a beautiful park with its  brick and red granite walls. They had a hall of fame area honoring great Rangers, like Nolan Ryan, Ivan Rodriguez, and Adrian Beltre. As a baseball park, it was considered a hitter’s park, due to the high temperature, relatively short fences, and wind patterns in the park. At my afternoon game, Cole Hamels, former Phillies pitcher, started for the Rangers against the rival team, the Los Angeles Angels. Hamels pitched a three-hitter, his first complete game since being acquired at end of July. Rangers scored 9 runs; Angels scored 2. This game clinched the AL West title for the Rangers on the last day of the regular season. 

Fast forward to October 2023, the postseason is underway. The Rangers just lost to Astros in Game 3 at Global Life Field, now the 7-game series is 2-1.  Rangers and Astros are currently in the American League Championship (ALCS) series.  This series will be decided by which pitcher can keep the runs low, compared to their competitor, and which team can score more.

Texas Rangers have never won the World Series, have reached the series twice in its history, and compete in the American League West division. Deriving their name from the law enforcement agency, Texas Rangers, was established in 1961 as Washington Senators, an expansion team. In 1971, Senators moved to Texas and renamed themselves the Texas Rangers. 

I enjoyed my afternoon game in early October, probably because I chose a day in Arlington that was pleasantly 60 degrees. Weather plays a factor when I visit a park. I do not like being uncomfortable as I watch the game. I prefer night games over 1 pm starts. Also, having something to cover  my head is a smart move, which is why I added a Texas Rangers hat to my growing baseball cap collection.  

I sincerely hope Rangers claim the AL pennant, so they eliminate those pesky Houston Astros in the Battle of Texas. If the Rangers play the Phillies, my loyalty switches and lies with my National League Home team, the Phils, in a potential  2023 World Series. If both teams move on, the Phils and Rangers have good hitting lineups. Will playoff pitchers silence the bats of the opposing lineups?  You only know if you keep watching the screen or listening to it on the radio. I  love  this time of year.

Busch Stadium III and the St. Louis Cardinals

 When I went to St. Louis in 2015, I made a pilgrimage to Busch stadium, the home of the St. Louis Cardinals. There is a number of shops, restaurants, and bars near the stadium, which is called Ballpark Village. This stadium opened in 2006 and has a record attendance of 48, 581 people. Many baseball fans especially Cardinals fans consider this Baseball Heaven. This is the team of Stan “the Man” Musial, Bob Gibson, Dizzy Dean,  Scott Rolen, and Ozzie Smith.

The stadium has a retro-feel, offering a panoramic view of skyline with Arch. The food is plentiful, ranging from typical bratwurst to St Louis favorites such as pork steak sandwiches and toasted ravioli. When Cardinals are playing, I felt as if this stadium was hopping and the fans were diehard in their support of their team.  The 2023 Cardinals are two starting pitchers short of making another postseason run. They do have young offensive players, but their pitching needs to improve.

The St Louis Cardinals compete in the National League Central Division. It is one of baseball’s  oldest and most successful professional clubs, established in 1882 as the St Louis Brown Stockings, and renamed Cardinals in 1900. This franchise has won 11 World Series Championships (1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011). The Cardinals are big on playing ball the Cardinal Way, which means developing from minor league talent, playing fundamentals, and working hard. I respect the Cardinals, but I always get an extra jolt of happiness when the Phillies beat them in the divisional round or wildcard (which was the case in 2022 postseason Phillies run).

Oriole Park at Camden Yards: Baseball trip

 I visited Oriole Park at Camden Yards, aka Camden Yards, in July 2022. This retro-style stadium opened in 1992 in downtown Baltimore, which is a couple of blocks away from Inner Harbor and Convention Center.  Camden Yards is the home of the Baltimore Orioles, a team that competes in the American League East division. Chartered in 1901, the Orioles have been World Series Champs 3x (1966, 1970, 1983). The former Baltimore & Ohio Warehouse is seen in the right field, with scoreboard in center and Baltimore Orioles (Maryland state bird) on each side above video display. 

After 2008 season, the park has been renovated, adjusting the left field to reduce the homeruns at the park, adding more concessions, updating video display and scoreboard, and adding standing room area. What I like about Oriole Park is that it is close to Philly, only a train trip away. When O’s (nickname of team) play a team within 3 hours (like Yankees, Nationals, Phillies, or Mets), the fans of the opposing team invade the stadium, especially if home team is not that good. When O’s or the Birds are good, Oriole fans do come out in droves. That area around Camden Yards is  full of orange and black-clad fans. However, in the years of rebuilding, the ballpark became the “home” park of the opposing team. This current 2023  team, which won the AL division East crown, has Baltimore fans back supporting baseball, so it becomes a strong home park for the Birds. Based upon the young talented core and those in the minor league, O’s have a lot to be excited about.

The statues around the ballpark, like hall of famers Brooks Robinson (3B), Cal Ripken, Jr. (SS), and Babe Ruth (local son of Baltimore, minor league-1914 Baltimore Orioles in International League), honors the O’s  of the past. This franchise started as the original Milwaukee Brewers (1901), then moved and became St Louis Browns (1902-1953), then moved a third time and became the Baltimore Orioles (1954-present).

I was fortunate to attend Game 2 of the American League Division Series (ALDS), this past weekend. The Orioles were defeated by 3 by the Texas Rangers (11 Rangers - 8 O’s).  It was a struggle to watch, for O’s pitchers kept walking Rangers players.  If you walk too many players, it will cost you. It did for the O’s in this game, because Texas Ranger player, Mitch Garver, hit a grandslam (all 3 players on base were from walks, unearned runs). The O’s are now down two games in a 5-game series to the Rangers. The O’s are one loss away from being swept in divisional round.  I would not count out the O’s.  If they can find quality pitching in young arms, there is fight in this O’s team, so Rangers better not discount a comeback at Arlington. I am hoping a Game 5 will be played in Baltimore.