Take Me Out to the Ballgame

"Juuuuust a bit outside…" Many people may remember this movie line from the film Major League as Cleveland Indians announcer Harry Doyle gives his play by play commentary from the booth. Some may recognize Harry Doyle as Bob Uecker, commonly referred to as "Mr. Baseball." The role came easy to him considering that for the last 38 years he has been the announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers. Bob Uecker began his professional playing career in 1962 when the Brewers were the Milwaukee Braves.

When the Milwaukee Braves decided to move to Atlanta, it took only five years before baseball came back to the city. The Brewers moved into the same stadium that the Braves vacated, Milwaukee County Stadium. The Brewers played here until 2000 when it was replaced with the modernized Miller Park. The stadium was used in Major League as the Cleveland Indians stadium which must have made it that much easier for Bob Uecker to play his role in the movie.

Today the Brewers play their home games at Miller Park, named for the Miller Brewing Company. Although there are other stadiums with retractable roofs, Miller Park is the only with a fan-shaped convertible roof. The roof opens from the center and out toward first and third base simultaneously which allows for opening and closing of the roof within ten minutes. The roof mostly consists of glass panels which allows for natural grass to grow on the field.

The park is right off Interstate 94. There is plenty of parking around the ballpark and it is very easy to get in and get out. There is not much waiting in traffic and from the time we got back to our vehicle and on the Interstate, it literally took five minutes. The ballpark is tailgating friendly. The parking lots open three hours prior to the game and all tailgating must end an hour after the ballgame begins. The ballpark provides tailgate bins in the parking lot for people to discard their charcoal. Parking prices are extremely cheap compared to some ballparks where they can reach around $25-$35. By purchasing in advance, you can park in general parking for $8 and preferred for $12. You can buy on the day of and the highest you will pay is $18 for preferred parking for a weekend game.

Sports Illustrated rated Miller Park as the best ballpark based on value per dollar spent. That was no truer than once we got to our seats. I spent $40 for a ticket on the club level. A long escalator takes you to the club level where we were greeted with carpeted floors and air conditioning in the concourse. Suites lined the hallways with concession stands intermingled. We got to our seats which were located behind home plate and under a covered canopy. We avoided the sun and the temperature couldn’t have been better. We didn’t even have to leave our seats to get food as our section included a wait staff.

That brings up another interesting aspect of this ballpark which is food. They sell the typical brats, nachos, hamburgers, but they sell foods that I haven’t seen at other ballparks. Instead of ordering a brat, I opted for the Chorizo Sausage while my wife had me searching the ballpark for Fried Cheese Curds. I even noticed that you can order shaved corned beef, but it is pretty pricey at $9.75. Their prices are very reasonable for everything else and even the beer is only $4.50 as compared to Yankee Stadium, where it cost me $8.25. As you may have guessed, they only serve Miller products.

Just to the left of the scoreboard in the outfield is the "Kalahari Splash Zone." Every time the Brewers hit a home run, the mascot, Bernie Brewer, slides down the water slide where a steady stream of water shoots up into the air. Sadly, I was not able to witness this since the St. Louis Cardinals held the Brewers to one hit and making this the shortest ballgame that I have ever attended, just over two hours.

Also surrounding the scoreboard is the Ring of Honor, which honors those players in Brewer history who have had their numbers retired. To date there have only been four players to be honored with this distinction, those being Paul Molitor, Robin Yount, Rollie Fingers, and Hank Aaron. Along with Jackie Robinson’s #42 which has been retired by all Major League teams, the Brewers have conferred a unique honor on Bob Uecker. To recognize his fifty years in baseball as player and announcer, they have placed a "50" on the Ring of Honor.

In the middle of the Preferred parking lots is Helfaer Field, a little league baseball field. Some may wonder why there is a little league baseball field there. When Milwaukee County Stadium was demolished to build Miller Park, a portion of the stadium was kept, specifically, home plate. The home plate of Helfaer Field used to be home plate for County Stadium. Now a piece of history has been preserved.

My first trip to Busch Stadium was back in 2005, the last year of what was then called Busch Memorial Stadium. Baseball season had all but ended when my best friend and I descended on the city. Busch Memorial Stadium had been the home to the St. Louis Cardinals since 1966 replacing Sportsman’s Park. As the historic 2005 season came to a close, the stadium continued to offer tours until the demolition began in November. We showed up for the tour and I was wearing a Chicago Cubs shirt that is prohibited in St. Louis (or so they want it to be). I wore it for my wife, who is a diehard Cubs fan, and if there is any team that Cubbies hate more than the White Sox, it is the Cardinals. The feeling is mutual though as our tour guide made a smart comment about my shirt every chance he got.

Busch Memorial Stadium was being replaced with Busch Stadium (or Busch Stadium III). Work had already begun dismantling the stadium in preparation for its eventual demise. The New Busch Stadium, as it was also called, wasn’t moving very far. The new stadium is actually being built on the same footprint as Busch Memorial Stadium. It was explained by our knowledgeable tour guide that the stadium was rotating. The outfield would become the new infield and vice versa. The new stadium would open up in the outfield to expose the St. Louis Arch and the city skyline.

Outside the stadium bronze statues honor the many great Cardinals who helped St. Louis become a successful franchise. The greats such as Lou Brock, Stan Musial, Dizzy Dean, Bob Gibson and most recently Ozzie Smith along with others are forever immortalized. The stadium itself was host to six World Series and three of those the Cardinals became World Champions, with the most recent in 2004. Busch Memorial Stadium was the site of Mark McGwire’s 62nd home run that eclipsed Roger Maris’s single season record. Whatever the views of McGwire and the steroids era of baseball, 1998 was an exciting year as McGwire and Sammy Sosa of the Cubs raced to break the record.

Perhaps the most interesting fact that I took away from the tour is how Busch Stadium acquired its name. The owner, Gussie Busch, whose family owns Anheuser-Busch, bought the team in 1953. He wanted to name the ballpark, Budweiser Stadium, after their flagship brand of beer. However, Major League Baseball did not want to be associated with alcohol. He asked the commissioner could he name the ballpark Busch Stadium after the family name. The commissioner agreed. A few weeks later Anheuser-Busch introduced Busch beer. It looks like Gussie Busch got what he wants after all.

I revisited Busch Stadium in 2009, this time during baseball season. They were playing the Chicago Cubs and emotions were high and tempers can sometimes flare when these two teams meet. Tickets sell out way in advance for this series which is why I was ecstatic when I got two tickets. The timing was perfect. The series just happened to be during my wife’s birthday and being a die-hard Cubs fan, she loved nothing more than to taunt the Cardinals fans with her Cubs gear.

We had perhaps some of the best seats that I have ever had at a baseball game. We were in the first row right inside the right field foul pole. We were so close we could literally reach out and touch the outfielders. We were even greeted with a visit from Fredbird, the St. Louis Cardinals mascot. The Cardinals took an early lead but the Cubs held close until Albert Pujols hit a grand slam in the seventh inning.

The stadium offers excellent views from home plate of the city skyline and the St. Louis Arch. Parts of the old Busch Memorial Stadium have been preserved in the new stadium. The old scoreboard hangs near the gift shop showing all of the baseball scores around the country when the last game was played in Busch Memorial Stadium.

St. Louis has a good metro system with a stop right at the ballpark. We stayed at the Marriott Renaissance near the airport since the rates were a lot cheaper than in the city. There is a metro stop at the airport that will take you to the stadium. The metro ride will take about thirty minutes from the airport.

After the game, pop into one of the many pubs and grab a beer. However, ordering anything other than Anheuser-Busch products might get you a funny look.

Being married to someone who is a Cubs fan can sometimes scare you. Although Chicago has two baseball teams, the other being the White Sox, it is probably better to just refer to them as the other team. Every time I say White Sox, it almost looks as if my wife is about to turn into Linda Blair from the Exorcist. Cubs fans in general are like this. Although they haven’t won a World Series title since 1908, they are some of the most passionate fans in all of baseball. The Cubs have come close such as in 2008, but nothing compared to the pain felt when their cross-town rival won the World Series in 2005. Cubs fans are quick to remind you of 1908 and with every new season bring new hope.

The Cubs ballpark is Wrigley Field, named after William Wrigley, the chewing gum magnate who once owned the team. Built in 1914, Wrigley Field is the second oldest ballpark in baseball behind Boston’s Fenway Park. It is also one of the few ballparks that haven’t given in to corporate America. Ballparks are changing their names to acquire more revenue as the White Sox did by changing Comiskey Park to US Cellular Field. The fact that the Cubs haven’t sold out even when its owner, the Chicago Tribune, was trying to get rid of it to generate some more revenue is impressive.

Wrigley Field is located in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. Most Chicagoans can even tell you the exact address of Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison, by heart. In the movie The Blues Brothers, Elwood even listed his address on his Illinois driver’s license as 1060 W. Addison. Recognizing Wrigley Field is easy even if you have never been to Chicago. Countless movies and television shows have used the famous marquee from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to Perfect Strangers.

Other noticeable aspects of Wrigley Field are the ivy covered outfield wall. As the season progresses, the ivy grows so fast that the wall is completely covered. It is not uncommon for a baseball to get lost in the ivy thereby forcing the umpire to declare a ground rule double. There are also many high-rise buildings surrounding Wrigley Field. On the rooftops, there are bleachers to accommodate more seating. These seats are privately owned and are not regulated by the Chicago Cubs.

A good tip is to buy tickets well in advance. When the Cubs play the White Sox or their other big rival, the St. Louis Cardinals, tickets are gone within minutes of them going on sale. Another good tip is to avoid driving to Wrigley Field. Parking is sparse and the cost of parking is expensive. A better option is take the "El" train as the Red Line stop at Addison is about a block away from Wrigley Field. After the game, grab a beer at one of the many bars surrounding Wrigley.

My first game here was with my wife when they played the Baltimore Orioles, who I have been a fan for since I was a kid. With my wife decked out in her Chicago Cubs shirt and me in my Orioles jersey that left only my son. Sure enough, he was sporting his Cubs overalls. Although we were a house divided that day, I took pride in the fact that my team won 7-5.

With the coming of spring, the flowers begin to bloom, the weather becomes warmer, and the crack of the bat sounds as a baseball sails 350 feet for a homerun. My spring begins with Opening Day and lasts until October. Baseball is America’s pastime. Professional baseball was formed in America in 1869 and continues to draw more crowds every year. More and more players are coming from countries such as the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Japan proving that the game of baseball is a global sport.

Baseball has had a colorful history, some good and some bad. Baseball players such Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, and Cy Young have revolutionize the game of baseball. Most of the baseball records set during that era are slowly being broken giving this generation the chance to see history made. I watched my favorite player Cal Ripken break Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played record. Gehrig held the record for 56 years until September 6, 1995 when Cal Ripken played his 2,131st game shattering a record that many people claimed unbreakable.

Baseball has also had a dark side, with the earliest and most famous incident, the 1919 Black Sox Scandal. Eight players of the Chicago White Sox were paid to lose the World Series. The eight players were banned from baseball for life. In the 1980’s, while Pete Rose was manager of the Reds, it was determined that he betted on baseball. He was banned for life and every attempt to be reinstated has been denied. Major League Baseball has seen eight strikes during their history, but none worse than the 1994 strike which caused the World Series that year to be canceled, the first time since 1904. Baseball continues to be haunted by steroids and other illegal substances. The Mitchell Report, Barry Bonds and BALCO, and Jose Canseco’s book which implicated other players alleged to have use steroids have put a black cloud over baseball.

Going to a baseball game is more than just an event, it is an experience. One of my travel goals is to visit as many different ballparks as I can. This journal, like my Presidential Treasures journal, is a continuing journal in that I add to it as I visit more sites. To me it is an experience watching a game while munching on a hot dog, drinking a cold beer, and singing “Take me out to the Ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch. I enjoy admiring the different ballparks as each one is unique in its history, architecture, and their signature trademarks such as Atlanta’s Tomahawk Chop.

As a Baltimore Orioles fan, my team has been through ups and downs, more downs than ups. But with each new year, there is renewed hope that this is the year that they will go all the way.

Quick Tips:

Baseball fans are passionate about their teams and many times that passion can turn very heated especially with a rival. Fans have been known to throw things onto the field thereby delaying the game. MLB rules state that the visiting team are allowed to clear the field until order is restored. It is the umpire’s discretion, but if after fifteen minutes, the game has not resumed, he can call a forfeit and the win goes to the visiting team.

It is common to have rain delays in baseball games except if you play in dome stadiums such as the Twins, Blue Jays, and Astros. Refunds are not given out for games cancelled due to rain or other inclement weather. However, you are allowed to go to the rescheduled game and many teams will allow you to swap your ticket for another game. A regulation game is when 4 ½ innings have been played if the home team is ahead and five innings if the visiting team is ahead. If the game is delayed before the game is started, the manager of the home team has the authority to call the game. Once the game is started, it is the umpire’s decision. The umpire must wait at least thirty minutes to see if conditions improve but it is usually longer. If the game has to be rescheduled, it will be either be a doubleheader or set for the next time the two teams will meet.

Each team maintains its own websites to give you all the information you need about the team, buying tickets, and getting to the ballpark. You can also link to the teams’ website through www.mlb.com.

Pricing for games can vary on a number of different factors. The price range can depend on where you are sitting as seats behind home plate are the most expensive. Also, most teams have premium games reserved for interleague play and rivalries. Some of the biggest rivalries in baseball are Yankees-Red Sox, Yankees-Mets, Cubs-White Sox, Cubs-Cardinals, and Dodgers-Angels.

The baseball season runs from April-September. Preseason begins in March and the postseason is in October. The regular season consists of 162 games. Every July for one week is All-Star Week. A different ballpark is selected to host it each year. Events such as the Homerun Derby and the All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball game highlight the week with the All-Star Game at the end pitting the best players of the National and American League against each other.

If you find yourself near a ballpark in the off-season and still want to visit, most if not all, offer tours that will give you a behind the scenes look at the stadium that takes you into the clubhouses, dugouts, press box, and many other areas off limits during a game.

Best Way To Get Around:

All of the stadiums are situated in large metropolitan areas. While some ballparks have more parking than others, public transportation is usually the best avenue to get to the stadium.

Up until 1954, St. Louis was home to two major league baseball teams. The Cardinals which still call St. Louis home and the Browns, who realized that two teams in St. Louis was one too many. The Browns were forced out of St. Louis and the team was relocated in Baltimore, soon to become the Baltimore Orioles. From 1954-1991, the Orioles played at Memorial Stadium, which was demolished in 2001. Memorial Stadium saw the best decades of Orioles baseball during the 60’s and 70’s. 1966-1983 are known as the "Glory Years" of Orioles baseball with the majority of those years coming under the supervision and management of Earl Weaver. During those years, the Orioles won three World Series titles (1966, 1970, 1983) and six American League pennants and five American League East Division titles. However after winning the 1983 World Series title, the team has taken a gradual downturn. In 1988, the Orioles lost their first 21 games to set a Major League record ending the season at 54-107. After nearly 40 years in Memorial Stadium, it was time to move.

Nineteen ninety-two began a new era in Orioles baseball with opening of Camden Yards. A retro style ballpark which incorporated designs from baseball’s most famous ballparks, such as Ebbets Field, Crosley Field, Polo Grounds, Forbes Field, as well as some present day ballparks. Camden Yards has since gone onto influence other new ballparks around the country. The first game played in Camden Yards was on April 6, 1992 against the Cleveland Indians, which the Orioles won 2-0.

Camden Yards is situated in downtown Baltimore with the city skyline towering in the background. Looking out from home plate, the right side of the stadium is flanked by a long warehouse. The present day site of Camden Yards used to be a major rail station for the B&O Railroad. The warehouse was once used by the B&O and instead of tearing it down, it was incorporated into the design of Camden Yards and today it houses the executive offices of the Orioles. Ken Griffey Jr. made history during the 1993 All-Star Game by being the only person to hit the warehouse while batting during the Home Run Derby.

Between the stadium and the warehouse is Eutaw Street, a pedestrian only street located within Camden Yards. In order to walk down Eutaw Street on game day requires a ticket to the game, however on non-game days, the street is open to everyone, but the stadium is gated. Eutaw Street has many different restaurants and shops to peruse while waiting for the game to begin. Eutaw Street also has two "Standing Room" only areas where fans can watch the game if the stadium is sold out. Those areas are also a great place to try to catch a home run ball. Fans have lucked up catching a home run ball while walking down Eutaw Street. The organization places a small bronze plaque embedded on the ground for each home run ball that hits the street.

Seating prices are very reasonable with tickets ranging from $15 to $55 and prime games (such as Yankees or Red Sox) from $20 to $80. While there are parking lots around the stadium, the parking fees are high and there is no guarantee that you will be able to park there. Camden Yards is conveniently served by the Baltimore Light Rail which also has a stop at BWI airport. The MARC commuter rail also has a stop at Camden Yards for those coming from Washington D.C. The price of those tickets is far cheaper than paying to park and without the hassle of fighting game day traffic. Walking is another great option if you happen to be staying near the Inner Harbor. The Inner Harbor is Baltimore’s iconic landmark and is filled with restaurants, shops, museums, and hotels. Camden Yards is only a few blocks from the Inner Harbor.

As a loyal Oriole fan, I have treasured every time I have visited Camden Yards. Although, I was only four when the Orioles last won a World Series, I have weathered the storms of losing seasons with only a few playoff appearances. Although the Orioles have struggled over the years, history has still been made for better and for worse. I watched on TV as my favorite player, Cal Ripken Jr., broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game playing streak with 2, 131 games on September 6, 1995. Last year, 2007, as I was watching the Orioles play the Texas Rangers, I witnessed the most lopsided win in baseball history. The Rangers beat the Orioles 30-3, the highest scoring game in 110 years of baseball.

Through the good and bad, winning and losing, I will forever be an Orioles fan. If you ask any fan of a team that failed to make the playoffs or has a losing season, the answer is the same, there is always next year.


Games Watched: May 28, 2005 vs. Detroit Tigers L 3-5

The Philadelphia Phillies is one of the five oldest teams in baseball tied with the San Francisco Giants. The team was first formed in 1883 and was originally known as the Quakers. The following year they added the nickname the "Phillies" and used both names concurrently until 1889. The Phillies attempted to give themselves a new nickname "Blue Jays" in 1943, but it was short lived lasting only two years. Phillies is just a shortened version of Philadelphians. The Phillies is another example of a team that has struggled over the years. Since 1883, the team has won only World Series in 1980 and in 2007 they became the first team in any major sport to record 10,000 losses.

The Philadelphia Phillies in their long career have called five different ballparks home. Starting in 1883 until 1886, they played in Recreation Park, where a historical marker stands today located in a run-down section of the city. The Baker Bowl or National League Park was home from 1887-1938. It was demolished in 1950 and now a car wash, convenience store and gas station reside on the same spot. The Phillies left in mid season and moved five blocks up to Shibe Park or later renamed Connie Mack Stadium. Connie Mack is considered the greatest manager of all time and holds the record for most wins (3,731), losses (3,948), and games managed (7,755) all spanning 51 years, most of those with the Philadelphia Athletics. The Phillies had to share Shibe Park with Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics. The next year in 1954 the Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City and the stadium was theirs until 1970. A church now resides on Shibe Park. In 1971, Veterans Stadium was built to house both the Phillies and the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams played there until 2003 when a new sports complex was being built to house each team separately. A parking lot for the new complex and a marker is all that is left of Veterans Stadium.

The Sports Complex consists of the Wachovia Center which houses the Flyers of the NHL and 76ers of the NBA; Lincoln Financial Field, home to the Eagles of the NFL; and Citizens Bank Park where the Phillies call home. The Sports Complex is located south of the city directly next to Interstate 95. Citizens Bank Park has some similar designs to Camden Yards in Baltimore. Like Camden Yards' Eutaw Street, the Phillies have Ashburn Alley which runs the length of the outfield. Ashburn Alley has shops and restaurants and it opens 2 1/2 hours before game time giving fans plenty of time to eat while watching batting practice. Some of the restaurants include Bull's BBQ, Peace of Pizza, and my favorite Rick's Steaks. Geno's and Pat's Steaks are two famous cheese steaks shops located across the street from each other. Rick is the grandson of Pat's, who opened up his own restaurant amid a family feud. (Read my Historic Philadelphia journal for more info on Geno's and Pat's King of Steaks.) Because of the unique food choices such as original cheese steaks, the Food Network awarded Citizens Bank Park with the Best Ballpark Food in a survey done in 2007.

Having the best food of any ballpark is not the only accomplishment the Phillies can boast. They also have the “best mascot” as voted by Sports Illustrated and Sports Illustrated for Kids. The Phillie Phanatic is a large furry green creature designed in the spirit of Jim Henson’s Muppets. The mascot has a large beak with a tongue that sticks out and can be seen at Phillies games taunting the visiting team.

Tickets range from $16-$50 and parking is around $10. Because of the location of the ballpark away from the center of the city, there is plenty of room to park. However, be aware if there are two different games going on at the same time as parking could fill up quickly. The ballpark is also served by the Broad Street Subway station as well bus service through SEPTA.

Games Watched: May 11, 2006 vs. NY Mets W 2-0 (Called after 5 innings for rain)

The New York Yankees need no introductions. They are the winningest franchise in baseball history with 26 World Series titles and 39 American League pennants. During the Yankees four straight World Series titles in the late 90’s, they surpassed the Montreal Canadians 24 titles and became the most successful franchise in all of major league sports.

The Yankees were first formed in 1901 as the Baltimore Orioles (no relation to the current team.) After two years, the team moved to New York where they were known as the Highlanders. In 1913, they renamed themselves the Yankees. In 1923, they moved into Yankee Stadium which has served the team until 2008. The team played two seasons (1974-75) in Shea Stadium which is home to the New York Mets, their cross-town rivals.

The stadium is nicknamed “The House that Ruth Built” after Babe Ruth, perhaps the greatest baseball player that ever lived. Babe Ruth had a successful career spanning 21 seasons, 14 of those with the Yankees. Some of the greatest players in baseball at one time or another played with the Yankees. Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra, and Joe DiMaggio are just a few of the greats that have left their mark. The Yankees are not only known for the many wins but also for their owner, George Steinbrenner, with his strict grooming standards and the unchanged Yankee uniform. The Yankee home uniform has been the same since 1936, a white uniform with blue pinstripes, giving the Yankees the nickname “Pinstripes.” The Yankees are also the only team not to put their players’ names on the back of the jerseys.

Yankee Stadium is located in The Bronx at 161st Street and River Avenue. Ticket prices range from $14 in the non-alcoholic bleacher section all the way up to $400 in the Field Championship section. Like everything else in New York, things can get quite expensive. While watching the game from the Tier Reserved MVP seats, a guy next to me ordered four beers. The total came to $33. They don’t even give you the bottle, but instead they pour it into a plastic cup all for $8.25. Rest assured I waited for my beer at the bar after the game.

Parking at the stadium is another price gouge. The parking lots surrounding the ballpark charge on average $25 to park. The easiest way to get to the stadium is by public transportation; taxi, bus, or subway. The subway and bus is probably the cheapest with only a 25 minute subway ride from midtown Manhattan. Taxis will be more expensive. The Yankee Clipper is a ferry service providing transportation from New Jersey to piers near Yankee Stadium. Since I was staying in New Jersey, I attempted to drive to the stadium and it must have been my lucky night, because I found a parallel parking space two blocks away from the stadium. If you plan to drive also be prepared to pay.

Before or after the game, a visit to Monument Park is a must. It is a section of the stadium that includes retired numbers and plaques dedicated to the Yankees greats. For a Cal Ripken fan, I had to admire the Lou Gehrig plaque. Lou Gehrig played in 2,130 consecutive games and was the first player to have his number retired. On the plaque were the words “A man, a gentleman and a great ballplayer whose amazing record of 2,130 consecutive games should stand for all time.” That was until September 6, 1995 when Cal Ripken surpassed it.

Two thousand and eight is the last season for Yankee Stadium. A new stadium is currently under construction across the street and will retain the same name and most of the same architecture. Because of the construction, many of the parking lots are closed so public transportation is encouraged. Yankee Stadium will host the 2008 All-Star Game in their last year. Their final home series will be Sept 19-21 against the Baltimore Orioles, the team that gave birth to a dynasty.

After each Yankee game, fans are treated to Frank Sinatra’s “New York New York” played through the loudspeakers as the stadium empties out. A tradition to continue hopefully in the new Yankee Stadium.

Games Watched: May 13, 2006 vs. Oakland A’s W 4-3

Washington DC has a colorful history when it comes to baseball. In 1901, the Washington Senators was one of eight charter franchises of the American League. The Senators had many well known stars such as Goose Goslin, Sam Rice, and one of baseball’s most talented pitchers, Walter Johnson. However, with the talent of the Washington Senators, they are more remembered for their many years of mediocrity and losing seasons. Nineteen twenty-four saw the only World Series title for the Washington Senators and after 59 years in Washington, it was time to move on. The Washington Senators moved to Minneapolis where they became the Minnesota Twins.

The fans of Washington DC didn’t have time to be upset about losing their team. It was announced that a new expansion franchise would be back in DC in time for the 61’ season. The name of the team would be the Senators, making it seem as if the team never left. The Senators II, as they are sometimes referred, followed in the footsteps of their predecessor, having only one winning season during their ten years in DC from 1961-1971. The owner, Bob Short, probably due to financial problems and unable to find a buyer for his team, decided to move the team. The team was relocated to Arlington, Texas in 1972 to become the Texas Rangers. Since then the Texas Rangers are one of four teams never to have played in a World Series or have won a league championship.

It would be 34 years before DC received another baseball team. In 1969, Canada received its first major league baseball team with the arrival of the Montreal Expos. The Expos struggled through most of its franchise history which saw losing seasons and attendance dropping below 10,000. In 2002, Major League Baseball took control of the team with some of their games being played in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 2004, MLB decided not to keep the San Juan arrangement and agreed to move the team to Washington DC. This time the team would not be called the Senators, although they tried. The Texas Rangers still hold the naming rights to the Senators and they refused to release those rights to Washington. The new name would be the Nationals, which has its origins in the two previous DC teams and are nicknamed the “Nats.”

With the arrival of the Nationals to DC, they returned to the same stadium that their predecessor, Senators II, left in 1971. RFK Stadium is just a few miles away from the US Capitol. RFK’s most famous tenants were the Washington Redskins of the NFL who played there for 35 years before moving into a new facility. The Nationals only played in the stadium for two seasons while their new facility, National Park, was being built. Two thousand and eight marked the first season in National Park. The only professional sports teams that RFK still hosts are the DC United, a major league soccer team. The stadium also hosts music concerts as well.

While there are parking lots around the stadium, it is a lot easier and cheaper to take the subway. The metro’s Blue and Orange line both stop at the Stadium/Armory Station. The DC metro system is clean, cheap, and pretty much safe with a dedicated transit police force.

If you still want to visit RFK stadium, you don’t have much time left. With the Nationals already left and DC United slated to move in 2010, there is rumor that RFK will be torn down. The Redskins who moved just outside of DC into neighboring Maryland are in talks with DC officials to tear down RFK and build a new stadium with the prospect of moving back into the District.

Games Watched: July 22, 2006 vs. Chicago Cubs W 7-3

The Atlanta Braves is the oldest continuously playing team in baseball history. However, it would be a long time before they came to Atlanta. The team was originally formed in 1871 as the Boston Red Stockings and along with the Chicago White Stockings, present day Chicago Cubs; they are the only two remaining charter teams of the National League. The team spent 81 years in Boston and went through numerous name changes, Beaneaters, Doves, Rustlers, before settling on the Braves in 1912. The team remained the Braves except for four years when the name was changed to the Bees, but was soon changed back. In 1953 the team moved to Milwaukee where they played for the next twelve years. Then in 1966, it was announced that the Braves would be moving to Atlanta.

The first thirty years the Braves were in Atlanta, their games were played in Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The most memorable event in the ballpark and which has been seen numerous times on television happened on April 8, 1974. Hank Aaron became the all-time home run leader when he hit his 715th homer against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The stadium was demolished to make way for a parking lot for the new stadium. The parking lot contains an outline of the old stadium as well as a plaque that marks where Hank Aaron’s 715th home run ball landed.

In 1996, Atlanta played host for the Summer Olympics. Originally called the Centennial Olympic Stadium, it was built directly across from Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. After the Olympics, it was renovated to accommodate the Braves. The stadium is now known as Turner Field, after the owner Ted Turner, and the address is symbolic, 755 Hank Aaron Drive. (Hank Aaron hit 755 career home runs, making him the all-time home run king. Barry Bonds may be the all time home run king on paper, but to baseball fans, Hank Aaron still holds that spot.)

Before or during the game and even on non-game days, the Ivan Allen Jr Museum and Hall of Fame highlights the history of the Braves and displays their World Series trophies. The museum opens up 2 ½ hours before game time and closes in the seventh inning. Ticket prices range from $6 in the Upper Pavilion to $74 in the Hank Aaron section. I sat in the Field Pavilion with a level view of the ball field and the tickets were only $22. It is a great section to try to catch a home run ball and you are next to the oversized drum that is used to get the home team fired up. The tomahawk chop is a signature trademark of the Braves. Instead of doing the wave, the drum is pounded and the fans began to "tomahawk chop" their team to victory.

Parking is not as bad here as it is at most stadiums. Parking fees range from $8-12. If you prefer to take public transportation, MARTA operates shuttle service to the stadium. The shuttle bus picks up at Underground Atlanta and operates 90 minutes before the game until an hour after the game. The bus ride only cost $2 a person and it was a lot better than having to fight traffic leaving the ballpark.

Games Watched: April 7, 2007 vs. NY Mets W 5-3