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. 

Trip to T-mobile Park: Seattle Mariners

On my trip to Seattle in 2011, I stopped for a ballgame at Safeco Field, which has been renamed T-mobile Park in 2019. This stadium has a retractable roof and has served as the ballpark of the Seattle Mariners since 1999. There is a statue to Ken Griffey, Jr, outside the home plate entrance to the park. There are also bronze plaques to famous greats who played for Seattle, like Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr, and Ichiro Suzuki.

The Seattle Mariners compete in the American League West. The Mariners are an expansion team established in 1977. This franchise has never won the World Series and have never captured the American League pennant. They are nicknamed the “M’s”, which they did use in earlier version of their logo.

The 2023 Mariners (88-74) are in that position of being good but not good enough to make the post season.  Their rivals, in the AL West division Houston Astros and Texas Rangers, seemed to steal the playoff spots available, that would have been theirs if Seattle played a bit better in the last games of the season.  Mariners get to watch as their division rivals, Astros and Rangers, make their postseason runs.

Tropicana Field: where Tampa Bay Rays call home

When I went to St Petersburg, FL in 2011, I stopped at “The Trop,”  aka Tropicana Field (a multi-purpose domed stadium ) to watch baseball. This arena used to house the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning, so previous name was Thunderdome (1993 - 1996), until they moved to better digs in downtown Tampa. To say I was underwhelmed is putting it lightly. The Trop opened in 1990, used as a ballpark since 1998, and renovated in 2014. This ballpark has the smallest seating capacity (42, 735 seats) of all MLB ballparks. It uses Shaw Sports Turf for its field.  This ballpark is located 24 miles away from Tampa (largest population in area), so it is a drive to get there.  Unique features are the catwalks, the slanted roof (indoor only arena, non retractable), and interior environment with a warehouse feel and an aquarium with stingrays in outfield.

Yesterday, the Tampa Bay Rays were swept by the Texas Rangers at home in wild card round. Attendance at this postseason game on Oct 4, 2023 was 20,198 fans, the lowest playoff attendance  since 1919.  The Tampa Bay Rays, founded as an expansion team in 1998 (known as Tampa Bay Devil Rays), compete in the American League East division with Yankees and Red Sox. They have 2 American League pennants (2008, 2020), but no World Series titles.  I sincerely feel for this franchise, for they waited 3 decades for a team. It seems like the Rays have outstanding regular seasons (eg. winning records, over .5 ball), but time after time do not have enough to get to the end goal, winning a championship. 

 This 2023 team which is now out of it as of yesterday illustrates my point. The team has playoff caliber pitching, but I do not think they have the offense or a big star to depend upon. Is it because Tampa Rays do not want to win? Tampa Bay has reached an agreement recently to build a brand new baseball only stadium for the Rays in St Petersburg. Now my question is will building it cause people in area to support the team. If the Rays do not spend the money to attract big stars (creating offense), it will be more of the same. They will get in the playoffs but only make a ripple. The Rays are a good team but stuck in the middle (good, not great).  How depressing if you are a Rays fan!

Cincinnati Reds and the Great American Ball Park

On the day before postseason starts, let me talk about the Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati. On the shores of the Ohio River, this ballpark has served as the home of the Cincinnati Reds since 2003. This September, this team was at the cusp of qualifying (82 wins - 80 losses), but they did not qualify for the  wildcard this season. The current roster has 6x all-star  Joey Votto, first baseman who may or may not be retiring from baseball this season due to injuries. Votto has played as a  Red since 2007. He told reporters if he could not play to the best of his ability that can help the Reds win, he would rather retire than play injured. In the last year of his contract, it may be his last season.

I visited the Great American Ball Park in August 2013. The Brewers starting pitcher, Marco Estrada, baffled the Reds with his change-up and his other pitches. Estrada had seven shutout innings with only one single allowed. Score was 1 (Reds) to 3 (Brewers). Reds lost the game.

The Cincinnati Reds are baseball’s  first professional franchise. The Reds are proud of their history.  Their Hall of Fame and museum is adjacent to the park. Also, there are statues of ballplayers playing an imaginary baseball game. This scene depicted catcher Ernie Lombardi, first baseman Ted Kluszewski, and outfielder Frank Robinson. The ballfield is famous for “The Gap”, a 35-ft wide break in the stands between home plate and third base.  This gap provides views into stadium from downtown. In centerfield, one can view smokestacks reminding people of steamboats, which shoots fireworks, flash lights, and/or emit flames depending upon what occurred in the game (strikeout, homerun, Reds win). 

In the 1970s, Reds won back to back World Series (1975, 1976) as the “Big Red Machine”, composed of  Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, and Pete Rose. Near the stadium, there  is a rose  garden that symbolizes Pete Rose’s record breaking 4,192nd hit  (because ball landed around this area from Riverfront “Cinergy field” stadium, ballpark from 1970 to 2002).

The Reds (originally Red Stockings) were a charter member of the American Association in 1881 before joining the National League in 1890. The Reds are currently in the National League Central. This franchise has won the World Series 5 times (1919, 1940, 1975, 1976, 1990) and captured 9 National League pennants. Watch for the Reds. Next year, the Reds may be in the conversation when you talk about the postseason.

Wrigley Field: Home of the Chicago Cubs

I visited Wrigley Field, a stadium on the North Side of Chicago,  in the summer of 2016.  This is the home of the National League’s Chicago Cubs. Chicago has two MLB franchises: the Cubs (National League team) and the White Sox (American League team).  The ballpark first opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for Chicago Whales of the Federal League, which closed after 1915. The Cubs took over the stadium.  The first MLB game was against the Cincinnati Reds on April 20, 1916.  The Chicago Cubs were bought by William Wrigley Jr, chewing gum CEO, in 1921. 

The ballpark was renamed Wrigley Field in 1927. Wrigley Field, the second oldest park in the majors, was named a National Historic Landmark in 2020. What is unique about Wrigley are its ivy-covered brick outfield wall, the hand turned scoreboard, the red marquee sign in front of stadium, and Wrigley rooftops (spectators have views from neighborhood rooftops behind the outfield).  

Wrigley Field is situated in the neighborhood, so you prefer not to drive. Parking is very limited.  Public transit or walking is the best method to get to the park on game day.  The Cubs compete in the National League Central. Founded  in 1876, the Cubbies have 17 National League pennants and  were declared World Series champions 3 times (1907, 1908, 2016). The championship in 2016 was the end of the longest championship drought (108 yr) in North America. 

The current Cubs in 2023 were in the playoff race in early September until they lost their mojo late in the season, being swept by Braves and losses to Brewers. This allowed the upstart Miami Marlins to overtake the Cubs and Diamondbacks in wild card race. By Sep 30th, the Fish clinch the #2 wildcard spot in NL (which means the Marlins play the Phillies in Wild Card series). The Cubs are in the miserable position of being on the outside of postseason contention.  

Progressive Field: Home of Cleveland Guardians/Indians

I visited Progressive Field in August 2014.  The ballpark was renovated after my visit, so all the changes they made later I did not see.  The team was still called the Cleveland Indians, on my visit.  For the park itself,  I was not that impressed. It does have a nice view of Cleveland’s skyline. The ballpark has an area called Heritage Park, featuring 27 plaques of great Cleveland  players. It also has statues of players, like Jim Thome (who played for Phillies late in his career).

The original name of the field was Jacobs Field (first opened in 1994), so many refer to Progressive Field as “The Jake”. It was renamed in 2008. A unique feature of the ballpark are 19 vertical light towers that match the smoke stacks in Cleveland’s industrial zone (3 behind scoreboard, 6 behind first base, 6 behind third base, and 4 in right field).

Since being established in 1901, this team has won 2 World Series (1920 and 1948) and 6 American League pennants. The team’s name was changed to Guardians in 2021.

Comerica Park: Home of the Detroit Tigers

Located in downtown Detroit, Michigan,  Comerica Park has a feel of an amusement park with the ballpark right in the center. It features a tiger carousel, a Ferris wheel (picture being inside a baseball), and a water feature in centerfield (choreographed to music).There are no upper deck seats, so you have a clear view of Detroit’s skyline  from your seat.

When I visited this ballpark in 2016,  I was impressed by the 15 ft tiger in the front entrance. The stadium has 40 tigers:  31 tiger heads, 7 tigers at gates A and B, and 2 on the scoreboard. The Tiger motif is used everywhere. There is no doubt that you are in Tiger country.

https://youtu.be/3Q-dOLgsmbY?si=8cXdsNDFdDOgtKd3

Detroit Tigers have won the World Series 4 times (1935, 1945, 1968, 1984) and have captured the American League pennant 11 times. The great Tiger players (eg. Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg, Al Kaline) are remembered along the concourse. Because they play in the American League Central division, they compete against the Twins, Guardians, White Sox, and Royals. Established in 1894, the Detroit Tigers are the oldest continuous one name, one city franchise in the American League. 

In 2022, Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tiger from Venezuela, became the 3rd player in history with a career batting ave above .300, 500 home runs, and 3,000 hits, joining the likes of Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. This past month, Miguel “Miggy” Cabrera is doing his final tour as a Detroit Tiger and has hit 511 home runs (3,170 hits) through Sept 24, 2023. He will retire after 2023 season, but he plans to continue working with Tigers organization. He spent 5 yrs with Florida Marlins (won World Series championship as a rookie); the rest of his career since 2008 has been with Detroit Tigers. I like seeing the crowds of people fight to see him as he makes his last days as a baseball player memorable.

The Tigers are in the building mode currently as of 2023, but I give them props for having a pretty stadium for baseball fans to visit.

Sunny Petco Park: San Diego Padres

My next stop to talk about on my personal stadium tour was my visit to Petco Park in sunny San Diego, CA.  I went to this stadium in late September 2019.  Here is a franchise that spends the money (eg. Juan Soto, Manny Machado), but is just short in reaching and winning the World Series.  They have  quality pitching, with starter Blake Snell (probable 2023 Cy Young winner for NL, has 2.38 ERA, 15-9) and starter Yu Darvish (on injured list).  Unfortunately for Padres fans, they have not yet gotten the gold ring.

Petco Park, opened in 2004, is a beautiful ballpark in downtown San Diego.   It is the home of the San Diego Padres. When I went to a game with my mom, we used light rail to make it to the game. Future hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw of the LA Dodgers threw a nice game. Dodgers beat the Padres (1-0).  The Dodgers-Padres rivalry is epic.  Both teams play in same division and (as of Sept 2023) LA Dodgers seem to be ahead in wins vs their interstate rival. 

While we watched the game, you have a view of the bay and the San Diego skyline.   The ballpark revitalized the East Village area, and is located across Harbor Dr. on Tony Gwynn Dr.  The Western Metal Supply Co. Building, which is a historic landmark, was rehabilitated and  incorporated in stadium design, rather than demolished. Petco Park differentiates itself  by moving away from traditional retro-style red brick and green seats. Instead, the park is clad in Indian sandstone and stucco. The exposed steel is painted white and 40,209 seats are dark blue.  It evokes the sandy color of San Diego cliffs and beaches, the blue representing the ocean, and the white representing the white sails of boats (often seen in San Diego bay). They have a huge left-field video board. A ship’s whistle is sounded and torches in center field are lit, when Padres hit a home run. The stadium has been described as a pitcher’s park, because of the dimensions of the outfield.

Founded in 1969, the Padres compete in the National League West division. They have won 2 NL pennants (1984 and 1998), but have not yet won the World Series. The Padres adopted their name from the Pacific Coast League team from 1936, which is Spanish for “fathers” and refers to Spanish Franciscan friars who founded the city in 1769.

Milwaukee Brewers: Trip to American Family Field

 The Crew once again clinched the National League Central Title, guaranteeing  #3 spot in 2023 playoffs, even though the Cardinals beat them earlier that day. The Milwaukee Brewers (nicknamed “Crew”) won the title by default because the Cubs lost to the Braves (6-7). Qualifying for playoffs at end of 162-game season means every game counts if you factor in the calculations of positioning. The good part of this particular scenario is that Phillies clinched wild card on same day with a win against Pittsburgh Pirates. With Cubs losing hours later against Braves, the Phils have #4 spot in playoffs secured. Yay!

All this news makes me nostalgic about my trip to the American Family Field,  ballpark of the Milwaukee Brewers. When I went in August 2014 to Miller Park (former name of the ballpark, located in  Milwaukee, Wisconsin),  the Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates (4 - 3) that day. Ryan Braun was in the lineup. Mike Fiers, called up from Triple-A,  was  the winning pitcher, his fourth straight start. He  held Pirates to two hits in seven innings. 

The ballpark has a fan-shaped retractable roof. The grounds have statues to legendary players Robin Yount (Shortstop), Hank Aaron (Designated Hitter) as well as the Hall of Fame radio broadcaster Bob Uecker.  The Milwaukee stadium honors the Milwaukee Brewers and the Milwaukee Braves. Brewers have a number of former or active great baseball players, like Christian Yelich (outfield), Ryan Braun (left fielder), and Prince Fielder (1B). The Crew seems to routinely get into the playoffs, but tend to get eliminated by the eventual World Series winner (eg Cardinals in 2011, Nationals in 2019, Braves in 2021).  That must be tough, but as a fan of the 2008 Phillies team that beat the Crew in the 2008 NLDS, I do not feel that much guilt.

The Milwaukee Brewers were so named for the city’s association with the brewing industry. The franchise was originally founded as the Seattle Pilots, an expansion team in the American League, but they left Seattle for Milwaukee after 1 season. The team has been called the Brewers since 1970.  In 1998, they joined the National League. The Brewers appeared in the World Series only once in 1982. This team is one of only 6 current MLB teams (Rangers, Rays, Padres, Mariners, Rockies, Brewers) that have never won the World Series. 4 of the 6 have a chance to win  it all in 2023, as long as they qualify and get through October.

Chicago White Sox: the Other Team in the Windy City

The next stadium I will discuss is the home of the Chicago White Sox. When I  visited the ballpark in Aug 2009,  it was called U.S. Cellular Field. Located on the South Side of Chicago, the baseball-only park has been renovated multiple times and has been christened three times, originally called Comiskey Park II (1991-2002), then later U.S. Cellular Field (2003-2016), and then most recently Guaranteed Rate Field (2016-present). The picture below is Comiskey park on opening day, April 18, 1991.

The Chicago White Sox team, established in 1894 as part of the American League (AL), gets overshadowed by the other team, the National League’s Chicago Cubs, especially in recent years when the crosstown Cubs in late Sept 2023 are playing for a playoff spot. What I remember about the stadium is that I was in the upper level (high up) with an unobstructed view of the field.  The game was between the White Sox and the Cleveland Indians. Home team lost; final score was 2 Sox - 6 Indians. I noted that the ballpark has one of the highest decks in baseball. Since 2001, stadium was retrofit to include a multi-tiered concourse beyond center field, adjusting the fences to make the outfield less symmetrical, the removal of 6600 seats at the top, and creating luxury suites. Before this renovation, the ones in upper deck could not venture anywhere else in park, such as lower deck concourse. This renovation helped in allowing movement between the areas.

This historic team, one of the 8 charter franchises in AL, won the World Series three times (1906, 1917, and 2005) and the AL pennant seven times.  The name, Chicago White Stockings, was shortened to White Sox in 1904. This stadium did recognize its great players, such as Paul Konerko (1B), Ted Lyons (starting pitcher/manager), Billy Pierce (starting pitcher), Frank Thomas (1B, DH), Mark Buehrle (starting pitcher), and Carlton Fisk (catcher). Also, there are pictures of the “Black Sox” scandal (when 8 White Sox players fixed game to lose 1919 World Series to Reds, thus being banned from MLB for life).  It took the White Sox 87 years to win the World Series, the 2nd longest MLB championship drought of all time, after the Cubs’ 107 seasons.

I did not find this ballpark that unique. The ballpark was  standard fare, with Kentucky bluegrass covering the field. No wonder the team is looking to get a new stadium in the coming years, once the lease expires. The talk is that the team may move to the suburbs of Chicago or move to Nashville. The 2023 Chicago White Sox are under .50 ball. You know your team is desperate for attendance when Chicago White Sox announced $1.00 lower level tickets and free parking for Thursday’s White Sox-Diamondbacks 1:05 pm game (9/28/23). Going back to .50 ball should be the goal, rather than nearing 100 losses and probably firing manager at end of season. It is a sad state of affairs in South side of Chicago.

PNC Park: the Home of the Pittsburgh Pirates

On the western end of Pennsylvania along the North Shore of Pittsburgh lies PNC Park, the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, since 2001.  This park is next to the Allegheny River and has a view of downtown Pittsburgh.  What is unique about PNC  Park is the liberal use of limestone in the building’s fascade, a riverside concourse, and the steel work around building. The park’s playing surface is Tuckahoe Bluegrass. Drainage system beneath field can handle 14 in of rain per hour. The seating capacity, 38, 496 seats, is the second smallest of any MLB park (the smallest being Fenway). PNC Park has a reputation as a pitcher’s park, with a deep left field and a 21 ft wall in right field (called Clemente wall).

The Pittsburgh Pirates have won 5 World Series (1909, 1925, 1960, 1971, 1979). Originally called Pittsburgh Alleghenys at founding in 1881, the team joined the MLB in 1887 and part of  National League division. The Pirates at the start of the 20th century was considered among the best teams (with Hall of Famer, Honus Wagner). In 1970s, the Pirates had a resurgence behind Roberto Clemente. In 2023, the Pirates have been on the bottom of the standings. This team currently have the 6th longest World Series Championship drought.

The park pays tribute to Roberto Clemente, great Pirate player, by naming the adjacent (6th street bridge) after him. From my seat in 2006, I could enjoy my clear view of the field and enjoy local eateries, like Primanti Brothers.  Seats are angled toward the field and aisles are lowered to give fans improved views of the field.  At 51 ft, the batter is closer to the seats behind home plate than the pitcher.  The majority of seats ( appr. 28000) are on the 1st level. Also, with the exception of bleachers, all seats at park offer a view of Pittsburgh’s skyline.

The present Pirates as of 23 September 2023 was mathematically eliminated from 2023 playoff contention. This did not stop the Pirates from coming behind from a 9 run deficit to beat the Cincinnati Reds, a team fighting for a playoff spot. This was the largest comeback in franchise history. I enjoyed that the Pirates showed a flare of no quit this late in the season.  See link for highlights: https://youtu.be/TpBFLbSIz34?si=AHtmEQIhxYUgWV_P

Kaufman Stadium: Home of Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals have been at Kaufman stadium for 51 years as of 2023. Called the K by locals, this stadium, opened to fans in 1973, has become one of the beloved ballparks in Missouri.   It has been renovated over the years.  The artificial turf was replaced by grass in 1995. The LED video display board is the tallest in baseball and has 3.5 million pixels. 

One unique feature of this ballpark is 322-ft water spectacle  featuring cascading water, that shoots out water during homerun by Royal.  The outfield was pushed back in 2004 season to make it one of the most spacious parks. In fact, Kaufman has the 2nd most playable field square footage in the Majors (behind Coors field in CO). 

The Royals are a MLB team in the American League Central division, founded as an expansion team in 1969 when Athletics (played in Kansas City from 1955 to 1967) left KC for Oakland. The Royals have won 2 World Series (1985 and 2015). The name “Royals” pays homage to the American Royal, a livestock show, horse show, rodeo, and championship barbecue competition held in Kansas City annually since 1899. The Royals have their share of greats, like  George Brett, Whitey Herzog, and Frank White. Their greatest rivals are the St Louis Cardinals (I-70 series).

When I visited Kaufman Stadium in August 2018, the Royals played the St Louis Cardinals.  The Cardinals won (St Louis Cardinals 8 - Kansas City Royals 3). What I liked about this game was the resilience on the Royals team.  They had a losing record (under 0.5). Despite that, the opponent had to bring their A game to beat them at their home park.

In Sept 2023, Royals once again have a losing record (53-102) while their opponent, the Houston Astros  (85-70), are competing for a playoff spot. The Royals know they have a young team, but getting wins (especially series wins) against the defending champion Astros really builds confidence for the future. If your team  cannot be in postseason, beating teams that are competing late in the season is a fun exercise for the young inexperienced Royals.  Watching scoreboards is exciting at the end of regular season, as teams on brink of elimination race to qualify for postseason berths.

Minnesota Twins: Target Field

 The Twins play their home games at Target Field.  I went to Minneapolis, Minnesota to see a game on August 6, 2022. The Minnesota Twins played the Toronto Blue Jays. The Twins won (Blue Jays 3 - Twins 7). The name of the team, Twins,  is a reference to the twin cities, St Paul and Minneapolis. This American League team was founded in 1901, as the Washington Senators.  When they moved in 1961, they changed their name to the Minnesota Twins. As a franchise, they have been World Series Champs 3 times (once as Senators in 1924, twice as Twins in 1987 and 1991).

Target Field is an open air baseball stadium, that opened in 2010. The ballpark is considered a modern take on Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, PNC Park in Pittsburgh, and Oracle Park in San Francisco. The design of stadium uses local limestone, heated viewing areas, and a heated field. There is a pedestrian bridge from the ballpark to downtown. In Minneapolis if you have a good pair of walking shoes, you can walk everywhere downtown. The stadium does not have a roof, but it does feature an enlarged canopy to protect fans from the weather. Inspired by Liberty Bell at  Citizen’s Bank Park (after each home run lights up the Liberty Bell), when a Twins player hits a home run, the Minnie and Paul sign lights up with strobe lights surrounding the Minnesota state outline and Minnie and Paul shake hands.  If you walk around Target Plaza, there are statues of great Twins players (eg. Kirby Puckett, Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Harmon Killebrew, and Kent Hrbek).

The 2023 Twins are a good post season bound team.  They clinched the American League Central title yesterday, but in playoffs that is the beginning of the ride to the World Series.  You have to win at least 2 series (best of 5, best of 7) if not playing in wild card series (best of 3) to even make the World Series. Then, you play a 7 game series against the National League representative to call yourselves the World Series champs.  This year the Twins do not face the Yankees (all Twins fans must be happy about that), who annually seem to eliminate the Twins from the playoffs. The Twins will face (if season ended today) the Houston Astros, who are hungry for a repeat of their 2022 title, at home. It will be a fight.

I can root for this Twins team, as long as it is not against my Phillies. If Phillies are in it, which would mean meeting Twins in World Series, this team’s drought continues. I do not hide my bias.

Boston Red Sox: my trip to Fenway

 Boston baseball fans have a home. In Boston, it is called Fenway Park. This ballpark, built in 1912, is the home of the Boston Red Sox, one of American League’s original eight charter members. The Boston Red Sox have won the World Series nine times. 4 of these championships came in the 21st century (2004, 2007, 2013, 2018). Fenway has hosted World Series 11 times.   This team, founded in 1901,  has a proud baseball history. They had players like hall of farmers, Babe Ruth (traded to Yankees, “curse of bambino”), Ted Williams, and David Ortiz. The biggest rival for Red Sox is those New York Yankees.

When I visited Fenway Park on June 24, 2017, I was impressed by how much Fenway is right in the city. I am used to ballparks being outside the neighborhood. Due to its age and constrained location in Boston’s Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood, those in Boston love their ballpark.

This is the oldest active ballpark in MLB.  The park has unique attributes. The park has the “Green Monster” in left field (37, 167 ft wall, scoreboard manually updated during game, picture of green monster is above), “the Triangle”(quirky part of center field),  and “Pesky’s pole” (foul pole in right field). It is the 5th smallest MLB ballpark by seating capacity: 37, 755 seats. Fenway has been renovated multiple times in its history, but it remains a Cathedral of Baseball. It is also on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Being there to watch a game, you feel close to the action.  The short right field fence (302 ft), narrow foul ground (smallest of any active MLB park), and closer than normal outfield fences make this a hitter’s park.  I enjoyed the game at Fenway.