Featured Blog Posts – July 2009 Archive (16)

Dow Diamond - Midland, Michigan

Want to see a great minor league ballpark? Go to the one in Midland, Michigan - Dow Diamond - Home of the Great Lakes Loons. Opened in 2007 when the franchise moved to town the park has fire pits in the outfield to keep people warm, 168 solar panels that produce enough energy to power the scoreboard for a year, and much more. Check out my full report on the… Continue

Added by Matt Nelson (35) on July 29, 2009 at 10:01pm — No Comments

15 of 30 Ballparks visited to date

On Sunday July 26, 2009 we completed a 3 day/3 ballparks stint. We visited the Diamond Backs Chase Field, Angels Stadium, and Dodgers Stadium. At this point we have visited 15 of 30 MLB ballparks.

We now head to San Diego to Petco Park for Friday's game.

For more details check us out at:
www.30BallparksandaBaby.com
Facebook: http://tiny.cc/FB_30Ballparksandababy

Added by 30 Ballparks and a Baby (31) on July 29, 2009 at 9:55am — 1 Comment

9 GAMES AFTER 7 GAMES/RAIN EVERYWHERE

I am at the first week through this now 24 day quest. I have made it to every 1st and last pitch of all the games except for having to put Detroit to the 14th of August making the streak attempt 30-24 now. Every day I have been fighting the rain and today in Baltimore was no different. Thundershowers hit Baltimore from the time I landed today. Luckily they all subsided and I made another game. I have STL WED and the most pivotal double header left on thursday with CINCY/CWSOX. If i make both… Continue

Added by Chuck Booth (35) ALL 30/23 DAYS! on July 28, 2009 at 10:36pm — No Comments

Help a Ballpark Chaser win a MLB/DIY Mancave

Hey Everyone,

After watching this video many of you will know how big of a Yankees fan I am....

Follow the link below and watch the video I entered in the DIY/MLB Man Caves Sweepstakes.

It Only takes a minute to vote but my love and passion for the Yanks is obviously thrown in this video.

Thanks Everyone

VIDEO…

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Added by Miguel Rodriguez on July 26, 2009 at 4:00am — 6 Comments

Let the 2nd half began

Glad the Astros finally got over .500 to begin the 2nd half on a good note. 3 more in LA, then home for the Cardinals for 3 and real shot to cut into their 3 game lead.

In the second-half of last season the Astros had the best record in the league, and here's an amazing stat -- every year since 1997, their second-half record has been better than their first-half record. They've had a losing record after the All-Star break only once in the last 12 years.

Good to see tight… Continue

Added by Dutch Van Duzee on July 17, 2009 at 10:34am — No Comments

What a scare--streak almost foiled before started!!

So, I am sitting in my car at work when I decided to check on VISA balance for the upcoming trip, (any ballpark chaser dreads the '$200" minimum buy in at the car rentals so it is good to plan ahead), when I realized my Visa Card was gone. Also someone decided to buy a bunch of gas on it. The bottom line is I started to panic since it was my only credit card. I start the streak in 6 days, but I am starting my vacation tomorrow in Vegas. Luckily my card issuing company is going to send it to a… Continue

Added by Chuck Booth (35) ALL 30/23 DAYS! on July 16, 2009 at 2:30pm — 1 Comment

DREI'S SLIDESHOW....ST. LOUIS MAY 2005 AND MAY 2006

Hey everyone, it's been awhile since i've posted here. With the all-star game coming up tomorrow in St. Louie, I thought I might share with you a my slide shows here from my trip to St. Louis in May of 2005 and August of 2006 of both old and new Busch Stadium. In '05, my buddy Josh and I had an opportunity to see our Dodgers do battle with the RedBirds in old Busch's last season and returned in '06 to see their rival Cubs in the new digs. I'm sure all of you have heard how great a baseball town… Continue

Added by Dre Diaz on July 13, 2009 at 4:32pm — 1 Comment

Thanks For The Welcome Notes

Good to be among friends. Speaking of visiting a lot of ballparks, I just this morning discovered Dr. Seth Hawkins, a retired professor from Minnesota, whose major league ballpark visits number in the seventies! He's been to the handful I've missed since the 1950s. Google his name for more info. He goes by "Dr. Fan," and has gotten a fair amount of press. I reached out to him this morning via a baseball group he belongs too, and hope to hear back. If he responds, I'll try to recruit him to… Continue

Added by michael schwartz (71) on July 10, 2009 at 8:45am — 1 Comment

Hello Everybody!

Glad to be among fellow ballpark chasers. I am 66 and starting visiting major league ballparks in the 1950s with my dad. One of the few benefits of old age (besides senior discounts) is that I got to visit many first generation ballparks before they were replaced by newer stadiums mostly during the 1960s and 70s. Sad to say I missed Braves Field and Sportsmans Park. I've since seen all the second generation ballparks and am now visiting the newest parks as they open up. Just saw games at Yankee… Continue

Added by michael schwartz (71) on July 10, 2009 at 6:05am — 3 Comments

Veterans Memorial Stadium - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Check out my review of Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids by clicking here. The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate for the Angels.…

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Added by Matt Nelson (35) on July 8, 2009 at 11:01pm — No Comments

Moonlight Graham Gravesite

I was recently passing through Rochester, Minnesota and had a chance to stop by and check out the gravesite of Archibald "Moonlight" Graham. Find directions to the site and photos here.

Added by Matt Nelson (35) on July 8, 2009 at 9:04am — No Comments

Chicago trip

In a couple of weeks my wife and I are going to Chicago and catching a White Sox game at US Cellular Field on Thursday afternoon and then a Cubs game at Wrigley over the weekend. For those who have been there, can you share where to go around the ballparks in Chicago for restaurants, souveniers, atmosphere, etc. Thanks!

Added by Mike Bal (12) on July 8, 2009 at 6:55am — 5 Comments

Inaugural Baseball Hall of Fame Classic

I attended the inaugural Hall of Fame Classic in Cooperstown on Father's Day Weekend. It was a baseball fan's dream. With the likes of Bob Feller, Brooks Robinson, Ferguson Jenkins, Paul Molitor, Phil Niekro, Jeff Kent, Bill "Spaceman" Lee, et al, there were the makings of a "classic" weekend. I almost forgot to post a link here to my blog entry. If you're interested, check it out at Roger's Baseball Blog.

Added by Roger Ratzenberger (44) on July 7, 2009 at 6:48pm — No Comments

how I became a Ballpark Chaser Part 2 (Second Swing At Record)

A few days later a flight crew fell ill landing into Chicago and they could not fly to Toronto for an early morning flight. My mom was supposed to meet me in toronto for an afternoon game versus the Yankees. I could have driven to Cleveland to make up the game a few days prior but I chose family. I still had a shot for 30-27 with some luck. There were four doubleheaders left, although I had to put it to three doubleheaders when I saw the changing of the schedule would have cost a thousand… Continue

Added by Chuck Booth (35) ALL 30/23 DAYS! on July 2, 2009 at 11:30am — No Comments

How I came about chasing my dream of seeing all ballparks Part 1

Over four years ago I was listening to the "Jim Rome Show" in my hometown of White Rock BC Canada, when he had a special motivational guest speaker come on named "Jim McClaren". I often thought I had a difficult life at that point until I heard his story. Jim, was an all 'American' guy in the mid eighties, playing football in college and aspiring to make it in Hollywood. He stood Six Foot Five And weighed almost 300 pounds. He had life by the tail, until he was riding his bike in New York City… Continue

Added by Chuck Booth (35) ALL 30/23 DAYS! on July 2, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments