This page is dedicated to the ball parks that I have visited over the last 50+ years. Since baseball is my favorite sport, I will concentrate on baseball parks.
The first one that I saw a game at was the original Yankee Stadium, back in 1957. I don't remember too much about it, other than the Yankees playing the Chicago White Sox, and we sat near the Yankees' bullpen in the bleachers. Since Whitey Ford was my favorite Yankee that year, I was in heaven when I ended up a few feet from him and got to say hello to him. I would go to games there in later years, all the way up to 1971 when I saw the Yankees play the Milwaukee Brewers. I would not return to Yankee Stadium until 1993, 17 years after it re-opened following a major renovation. Since then I try to go to a game there at least once every few years. Ticket prices make it difficult to go more often.
The second ball park that I saw a game at was the Polo Grounds, which was the home of the New York Mets for their first two seasons (1962 and 1963). My dad and I went once each in those years and saw the Milwaukee Braves one year and the St. Louis Cardinals the other year. Unfortunately, I don't remember which year was which.
When Shea Stadium, the Mets' first home, opened up in 1964 I now had a park 15 minutes from my home. Needless to say, I went to games fairly often in the first two years. I can remember seeing the Mets play the Houston Astros, the Cincinnati Reds, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Chicago Cubs, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the San Francisco Giants. At one game in 1964 I got there 2 hours before game time and was able to have 6 players sign a baseball that I had. The players and coaches were:
•West Westrum
•Sheriff Robinson
•Ed Kranepool
•Joe Christopher
•Larry Bearnarth
•Bob Taylor
I also participated in a Banner Day in 1964, when the Cubs came to town and was able to walk around the warning track, past the dugouts, and back into the stands with a hastily made banner saying that the Mets will clobber the Cubs. For some reason I went to games sporadically over the next several years, only going once or twice - or not at all - between 1966 and 1969. I went to Shea a few times in 1970 and would not return until 1980.
I would get hooked again on ballparks in May 1983 when my brother in law got us free tickets to a Mets-Dodgers game and I suddenly remembered all of the good times that I had all of those years ago.
Since 1983 I have gone to a ball game at least once a year,with the exception of 1995 and 1996 (after the strike in 1995, and time constraints in 1996). Since 1997 we have also taken in minor league parks, as well as major league games in other cities. As of 2010, besides Yankee Stadium, Shea/Citifield and Long Island, we have seen games in Boston, Norwich CT, Toledo OH, Chicago, Fort Wayne IN, Brooklyn NY, and Staten Island NY.
Here are photos of Yankee Stadium. The 3 of us went on June 9, 2009 in the first season of the brand new Yankee Stadium,located across 161st Street from the original one. The Yankees played the Tampa Bay Rays and won.
Since I never brought a camera to any trip to Yankees Stadium before 2009, I do not have any of my own pictures of the Stadium, either before or after its 1970's renovation. The two below show what it looked like, at the original location.
Once the Mets moved into their own new ballpark, Shea Stadium, in 1964 I could go to games often. Unfortunately, like with Yankee Stadium, I did not bring cameras to any games before 2001 (see my http://newyorkbaseball.homestead.com/longisland.html on Homestead for 2001 pix). But here are some 2004 shots at or near Shea Stadium.
Shea Stadium was demolished in 2009 and replaced by Citifield that same year. It is located literally right next to where Shea was. On May 7, 2010 I went to a game there when the Mets played the San Francisco Giants and won. Here are some photos.
Scroll to the 7th inning stretch for links and the guest book
Bethpage Ballpark (formerly EAB Park, then Citibank Park and then Suffolk County Park) is the home of the Atlantic League's Long Island Ducks. I have seen them play at least once each year since 2000 (their first season) and have also gone to Suffolk County Park for blood drives and the QSAC game (Quality Services to the Autism Community). There is a link to those pages on Homestead at http://newyorkbaseball.homestead.com/qsac_game.html.
The Brooklyn Cyclones are the Mets' farm team in the New York Penn League, a short season A level league. Their park, MCU Park (formerly KeySpan Park) is located in Coney Island at the site of the former Steeplechase Amusement Park. The Parachute Jump is incorporated into the park, and is just beyond the right field foul pole. Ellen and I went to a game with he St. John's Alumni on August 21, 2005. The Cyclones played the Aberdeen Ironbirds and won. Hall of Famer Juan Marechal was a guest and threw out the first pitch. He also signed autographs (I only got to say hello to him, and take his picture). There are more pictures and a longer story at this site: www.Brooklyn43.cyclones.homestead.com
MCU Park and the Parachute Jump
The Staten Island Yankees are the Yankees' New York Penn League affiliate. Ellen, Eileen and I first went to see the "Baby Bombers" on August 12, 2007 at Richmond County Ballpark. Their opponent was the Jamestown Jammers, and Jamestown won 3-1. We would go back a year later (August 10, 2008) to see them play Williamsport, but the game was rained out. We did manage to admire the 3 skylines (Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Jersey) and watch ships go by. Since we had rain checks, we returned on the 16th to see them play the Vermont Lake Monsters. Staten Island won, 6-1. There are more photos and essays at http://brooklyn43cyclones.homestead.com/SIYankees.html
I did go to two games at the Polo Grounds to see the New York Mets in each year that they were using the park. Like the other New York parks at the time, I did not bring a camera so I have no photos of my own. To the left is a photo from the game on October 3, 1951 - the one that Bobby Thomson would end with "the shot heard around the world"
We have featured the ballparks in the New York City area that I have been to. Now it's time for a seventh inning stretch before we visit the ones that are out of town.
In the photo gallery above we have 4 photos from 2004: Ellen and me after a game; the stands at an interleague (Mets vs. Tigers) game; the scoreboard from that interleague game; Shea Stadium from the left field stands.
The first ballpark outside of New York City that I saw a game at was Boston's Fenway Park in 1990. Eileen was 4 months old, so this ballpark visit was going to be a solo one. We arrived in Beantown on the afternoon of July 17, 1990 and right after we settled into our bed & breakfast, I walked over to Fenway to buy a ticket for myself. I asked for anything that was available, and it turned out to be near first base. This would allow me to stare at the Green Monster and the Citgo sign when I returned at game time that evening. Once I got there I bought a program / scorecard and settled in. During the game I spoke with Red Sox fans, who don’t hate New York, only the Yankees (they even forgive the Mets for the 1986 World Series). The Red Sox’ opponents that night were the Minnesota Twins. It was a low scoring game, Boston won 1-0. What made it memorable was that the Twins scored TWO triple plays against the Red Sox in one game! It’s the only time that this ever happened. So I had the privilege of watching baseball history that evening.
As with other ballparks, I did not bring a camera so there are no photos of mine here.
Eileen's very first professional ball game, and Ellen's and my first minor league game, was in Norwich CT on August 19, 1997. The 3 of us went on vacation to Mystic Seaport and decided to see a ball game as a side trip. So we drove the 20 miles from Mystic to Norwich's Dodd Stadium to see the Yankees AA team play the Harrisburg Senators. The Navigators ended up winning the game that evening. Since 1997, the Navigators changed their name to the Connecticut Defenders (after the submarine base and the submarine factory near New London) and in 2009 moved to Richmond VA. Dodd Stadium is now home to the Connecticut Tigers, the Detroit Tigers' New York Penn League affiliate.
Click on each team's logo for a link to its web-site
In 2001 the 3 of us went to Chicago to attend my cousin's wedding. Unfortunately, the day that we arrived in Chicago (August 30, 2001) was the day that the Cubs played the last game of their homestand so we did not get a chance to see a game at Wrigley. however, the next day we took the Red Line to Addison Street and walked over to Wrigley and took pictures, including from one of the rooftop bleachers across the street. The White Sox were in town, but their games were in the evening - at the same time that we were at the rehearsal dinner and then the wedding reception. So we did not see any games in Chicago that year - only the ballparks. There is a photo gallery from our visit to Wrigley Field. We only drove past the White Sox' park on the Interstate so I did not get a chance to take pictures.
On August 18, 2009 we would return to Chicago, and this time we planned our arrival to coincide with when a team would be in town. This time it was the White Sox. No sooner did we check into our hotel then I headed to the Grand Street Station to take the Red Line to 35th Street and buy 3 tickets ($38.00 each, talk about sticker shock). Then I went back to the hotel and we ate dinner and then hopped the Red Line to US Cellular Field to see the White Sox take on the Kansas City Royals - a main rival. Our seats were near the field level at the right field foul pole. The Sox went ahead in the early innings, but Kansas City eventually took the lead and won, 5-4. There is a photo gallery of that day following the Cubs' gallery.
Chicago 2001: three photos in front of the Harry Caray statue at Wrigley (located at the corner of Addison and Sheffield); the main entrance (Clark & Addison) and on the rooftop bleachers
Chicago: by 2009 I had purchased a digital camera and never left home or hotel without it. In the gallery we have a sculpture outside US Cellular Field of batters; the ballpark from the 35th Street subway station; 2 shots of me at my seat; the game in progress (the Sox are on the field); Ellen and Eileen at the batter sculpture; and me at the batter sculpture.
The Toledo Mud Hens play in the International League and are currently the AAA affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. I first heard of them while watching M*A*S*H* and the actor who played Klinger, Toledo native Jamie Farr, always mentioned them, and even wore a Mud Hens tee shirt or jersey while in character. I first thought that they were fictional, but when I saw an article in the Wall Street Journal "plugging" the team's management, I realized that they were real. And that was that until we drove to Chicago in 2001 for my cousin's wedding. Toledo is half way between Long Island and Chicago and we stopped in the suburbs (Maumee OH) for the night. I had wanted to see a game while on this trip, and after we had dinner I drove over to Ned Skeldon Stadium (actually could have walked) and went into the team store to buy a few items. It was the 4th inning of a Mud Hens - Bats game and I was able to get into the park for free. I ended up non the right field side and enjoyed the game, even if Toledo lost to Louisville 8-6. It was one of the last games play at the "Ned" because the Mud Hens moved to their new park - Fifth Third Field - in the 2002 season. Naturally I did not bring my camera, but in the photo gallery I mounted a shot of the old park looking at right field side.
On August 25, 2010 during our Midwest Tour we made sure that our itinerary coincided with the Mud Hens schedule, as we were staying in Archbald OH. We took a day trip to Toledo to first visit the Museum of Art and the MS Willis Boyer, anchored in the Maumee River. Then in the evening we headed to Fifth Third Field for a Mud Hens - Clippers game - the Battle of Ohio. We sat a few rows behind home plate, not far from the Hens' dugout and also in line with the left foul line. I took my camera this time and have several pictures to show for it. Oh yes, the Mud Hens won, 12-11 in 12 innings.
Top Row: Ned Skeldon Stadium; Shawn Roof, Thad Weber, looking towards the outfield from our seats.
Bottom row: Muddy on the Toledo dugout, me at my seat, the MS Willis Boyer, Eileen and me on the Boyer's deck
Unfortunately, the Philies were out of town while we were there, but I did managed to hop the Broad Street subway to the last stop and visit the sports center there (where all four major league teams play). Naturally I brought a camera and was able to take pictures of some of the sculptures outside Citizens Bank Park. Even though the Phils were not in town, I visited the team store and bought a few items for us and our neighbors.
Left: baseball sculpture outside Citizens Bank Park. Right: statue of Mike Schmidt outside Citizens Bank Park.
The Camden RiverSharks play in the Atlantic League (the same one as the Long Island Ducks) at a ballpark called Campbell's Field. It is located on the Delaware River, right next to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. On August 1, 2009 the 3 of us went to Philadelphia on a day trip, with plans to visit The Franklin Institute and then meet my nephew for dinner. Traffic conditions on the New Jersey Turnpike made us run 2 hours late, so we decided to forego the Institute and do other things until dinnertime. I opted to hop the PATCO train across the river to visit Campbell's Field. While there was a game that evening (against the L. I. Ducks) having made prior commitments did not allow me to see the game that evening. However, I did take several pictures of the park, including some of the Ducks at batting practice.
Left to right: the front entrance to Campbell's Field, two views of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge from the stands; three pictures of the L. I. Ducks at batting practice; and the South Jersey Baseball of Fame. It commemorates all baseball players from the 609 and 856 area codes.
We visited the Midwest twice recently, once in 2009 and again in 2010. There were several stops along the route, and among them was Fort Wayne IN. Fort Wayne is the home of the TinCaps, whose moniker is a tribute to pioneer Johnny Appleseed, who is buried in that city. The TinCaps play in the Midwest League, a low level A league. Their current parent is the San Diego Padres. The team's new ballpark, called Parkview Field after a health care company and main sponsor, opened up in 2009, and in each year we got to see a game. On 2009 we drove to the park from where we were staying in Archbold OH, and got there in time to buy 3 standing room tickets (all that was left). Not to worry, we sat right in the concourse behind home plate. This left us with great views of the Fort Wayne skyline, as well as the action on the field. On the field the TinCaps played the Lansing Lugnuts and unfortunately Lansing won by a score of 6-4. The entire 2009 tour is described here: http://billystravels.homestead.com/Midwest-2009.html
Left to right: me in the Parkview Field stands, the 3 of us in the stands, and Ellen & Eileen in the stands with the team store, called the Orchard, in the background
We returned to Fort Wayne a year later and naturally the TinCaps were on our list of things to see. Like 2009, we ended up with standing room tickets for $5.00 each - which I still consider a bargain. Since the ball game was in the evening, on this trip we took in the sights of Fort Wayne during the day, which you can see on another Homestead site: http://billystravels.homestead.com/Midwest-2010.html
In 2010 we took time to walk around the park, and even buy a few items in the Orchard (I got a lapel pin and a set of team baseball cards). This year the visiting team was the Great Lakes Loons, and in the early innings the TinCaps were ahead. But like always, it was too good to last and the Loons ended up winning 6-3. But we still had a good time and hope to return again in a year or two.
Left to right: Ellen and Eileen on the concourse of Parkview Field in the morning; Eileen and me; me in front of the home plate side of Parkview Field shortly before the gates opened for the game; Ellen & Eileen at the home plate side; view of the field and downtown Fort Wayne from our seats (in the concourse behind home plate).
Years ago I considered attending the University of Dayton, but opted for Marist College instead. If Marist was any indication, I would not have lasted too long in Dayton either. However, I would hear about the city thanks to Wright Patterson Air Force Base several years while I was serving. Then in the late 1990's a friend of mine got a job as a professor at the University of Dayton. He had asked Ellen, Eileen and me to come out and visit. We finally were able to in 2001, and again in 2009 and 2010.
In 2001 my friend's wife showed me around the city and we drove past Fifth Third Field, the home of the Midwest League's Dayton Dragons. Since it was late, we did not get out to take any photos. When we returned we all drove down to "the Fraction" and watch some batting practice from the sidewalk (the playing filed is several feet lower than the sidewalk level) and my friend took some photos of me outside the park. Unfortunately our wives and daughters were not as photogenic. Later in the evening the Dragons played the Michigan Whitecaps, but we did not get a chance to go to the game. Maybe next time.
The Dragons are the Single A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.
View of a game at Fifth Third Field, and landscape and portrait versions of me outside the field, with batting practice in the background
That's it until 2012. Hope to visit a few more new parks and add them to my collection in that year.
On Wednesday August 24, 2011 we were on vacation in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. Syracuse is the largest city in the region and is also home to the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League. One of the things that we wanted to do on this trip was to add to my collection of ballparks that I have visited. Earlier in the day Ellen, Eileen and I were visiting some of the Finger Lakes wineries as well as Cornell University. We made certain to be back in the hotel in Seneca Falls by 5 PM so that we could be ready to leave and meet my cousin and her family in the parking lot of the Chiefs' stadium - Alliance Bank Park. It turns out that she ran late and told us to go inside and once we told her where our seats were, she would meet us there (which they did). My ladies and I ended up getting free seats from some ladies giving them out in the parking lot. It was in the second tier - grandstand - but I could not beat the price. They were in line with third base. As always, I bought a program to keep score. This evening the Chiefs' opponent was the Pawtucket Red Sox. Pawtucket drew first blood to lead 1-0 but then Syracuse tied the game. In the 7th inning Syracuse went ahead 3-1 and won by that score.
The Chiefs are the AAA affiliate of the Washington Nationals.
We had also planned to see the Auburn Doubledays (another Washington Nationals affiliate) on August 26 but since Hurricane Irene was threatening the New York City area, we left the Fingers Lakes Region on the morning of the 26th to head back to Long Island. We felt that we should be home to secure our house and also not have to worry about not being able to get onto Long Island.
This is the view of the filed in Alliance Bank Park. The Pawtucket Red Sox are warming up, and the Syracuse ground crew is watering the infield.
On May 6, 2012 we went to Citifield to see the Mets take on the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was a first time that Ellen and Eileen went to a game there. It was also the first time that we saw the Diamondbacks in person. The day was special - Autism Awareness Day. Several youngsters afflicted with the disability were honored at home plate, and one got to throw out the first ceremonial pitch. The actual pitcher for the Mets was R. A. Dickey (#43) who is a knuckleball hurler (and off the field, a literature buff). R. A. lasted into the 9th inning when he was relieved by a succession of two relief pitchers, but the Mets held on to win 3-1 with R. A. as the winning pitcher. After the game we went down to the street level to a sports bar, named McFadden's, located within the ballpark's structure on the 126th Street side. The food was pretty good, and as a special treat, I got to meet former Mets ace Ron Darling, get two autographs from him, and have my picture taken with him. It was a great day for all (except perhaps for Diamondbacks fans).
Eileen and I both brought cameras, so some pictures are mounted below.
Left: me on the Shea Bridge in the center field concourse; right: the 3 of us at the Bullpen Gate in center field
Left: Eileen & Ellen in the stands enjoying the game; right: the Mets' three outfielders.
Inside McFadden's: Eileen at our table; Ron Darling and me as Ron is signing a baseball that I had brought
West Westrum
.gif){kind=small}
