Don't forget to swing hard, in case you hit the ball.  ~Woodie Held
Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too.  ~Greg, age 8
Ballparks 15-30
TRAVEL NOTES: Ballparks 15-30... 

Ballpark #30 October 2, 2009- (Baltimore, MD)-  Oriole Park in Camden Yards is the last stop on our 30 MLB ballpark tour. We love to see the home team win, but tonight was especially important to make our home team win record .500. In the midst of a losing season, a rainy evening and a practically empty ballpark, the Orioles came through with a fantastic game vs. Blue Jays to a blowout win of 13-7. Was it the rain dance? Or the blessing of our bambina, Sofia? Oriole Park, most notably Camden Yards, was the first modern version of the throwback architecture to classic ballpark structures of the early 1900's. Many other parks would soon follow with the same type of feel and ambiance using brick facade and steel much like our favorite classics, Fenway Park (Boston), Ebbets Field (Brooklyn) and Wrigley Field (Chicago), to name a few. This park is a one-time railroad center turned baseball-only facility and became the home of the Baltimore Orioles in 1992. The main entrance to the park displays a statue of the legendary Babe Ruth, whose Baltimore roots earned him the title of official greeter at Camden. George Herman, the Babe's father, had a little business called Ruth's Cafe on Conway Street and Little Paca, now center field at Oriole Park. We arrived early. After all, it was our last stop and we had to meet local  WBFF Fox 45 for an interview for the evening news. There are plenty of public lots around we paid $12. The cost can go upwards of $30 the closer it gets to game time. The park is located in downtown Baltimore, just walking distance from the waterfront, which offers great shopping and dining nearby for pre and post game tailgating. Inside the park, the "Left Field Club Picnic Perch" offers a nice picnic area to sit and eat your hotdog. Or if you prefer grab some ribs at Boog's Barbecue located along Eutaw Street in the park. The owner, "Boog" Powell was a former first baseman in MLB for the Orioles from 1961-1974 and now hangs out at his restaurant signing autographs. We got one! If you want to meet other former Oriole players they usually come in for autographs Mondays and Thursdays. What made this game memorable: Our last stop. Bumping into the Oriole bird who gladly posed with Sofia for a picture. 

Ballpark #29 September 29, 2009 (Philadelphia, PA)-This town certainly showed us the love. Philadelphia embraced our journey and appreciated a Phillies win during our visit to their ballpark. “Was baby Sofia the lucky charm?” the local news wondered. The Phillies had lost to the Astros the night before and would face them again tomorrow, but tonight they just had to win to have a chance at clinching their third straight NL East title. This town loves their Phillies. Citizens Bank Park was dressed in red to cheer on their defending World Series champs. Citizens Bank Park is beautifully crafted. An open outfield provides a fantastic view of the Philly skyline and the open-air walk-around concourses give you uninterrupted view of the park for when you decide to get up to grab a Philly cheesesteak sub! The "Phanatic Phunzone" located by the first base gate is perfect for little kids 8 and under, like Sofia, and the "Phanatic Attic" houses an 8-foot fiberglass Phanatic. Guest services does give out a beautiful "First visit to the Park" certificate. Back on the field. Citizens Park features a bowl-style seating which means you are basically 23 feet below street level. This design was inspired by the classic Baker Bowl and Connie Mack Stadium. But perhaps the best known item at the park is the neon Liberty Bell which towers 100 feet above street level and puts on quite a light show after every Phillies home run. How clever! Tonight it was on fire! Home runs and a grand slam had the fans on their feet twirling rally towels given out at the entrance and boasting a Phantastic Philly victory over the Astros 7-4. The following night, it was lights out for the Astros who lost to the Phillies in a 10-3 blowout. The Phillies clinched the NL East Title. Congratulations Phillies, you can thank Sofia later;-) What made this game memorable: Watching the bell sparkle over and over celebrating Phillies home runs and ultimate win!


Ballpark #28 September 22, 2009- (Queens, NY)- Our visit to Citi Field gets us two steps closer to completing our 30 Ballparks and a Baby tour of all 30 MLB ballparks. Easy to get to by subway or railroad, the new home of the NYC Mets is another baseball park inpired by the old Ebbets Field. This new ballpark replaces Shea Stadium, home of the Mets since 1964. (Read Citi Field vs Shea Stadium) Shea has been demolished to furnish additional parking for Citi Field. The new park features a red brick exterior with majestic arches that adorn the entrance.  Its most prominent feature lies inside with a grand rotunda dedicated to Jackie Robinson. Although the Mets have not been having a winning season, they still counted on over 37-thousand fans who showed up to see them play the Atlanta Braves. It was Hispanic Heritage Night and the sound of a Mariachi band entertained the fans outside, while inside the Mets' lineup sported “Los Mets” (Spanish for "the Mets") on their jerseys. Security was tight at the ballpark due to the UN General Assembly taking place this week in NYC. The staff was very friendly and polite. “Enjoy the game!” they all told us. Our friend, Stu joined us and we went to our seats in the outfield right in front of the JumboTron. You won’t go hungry at this park. The variety of foods is as different as the city itself. One of their most popular places is the Shake Shack located on the Field level. The line can get long, but its well worth it. You can grab a seat in the outdoor patio of the Field level, which was built to have a 360-degree walk-around circulation around the park. We have seen this trend in other modern ballparks. Citi Field also features a Sports Fan Fest section for kids which has a kiddie field, batting cages and other activities. Tonight was memorable because our family was featured on the JumboTron and 1-800 FLOWERS.COM gave us a beautiful flower birthday cake and a gift card to celebrate Sofia’s 7 months of life! We finally met our Twitter friend Stephanie, which was a treat for us! It was an evening of all things great except for the loss of the home team. The Braves took the win 3-1. What made this game memorable: Our ballpark “Big Screen” debut ! Visit the Mets at Citi Field>>

Ballpark #27 September 17, 2009- (Boston, MA)- Fenway Park is a landmark in Boston located along Yawkey Way right in the heart of the city. Named after Tom Yawkey who bought the club in 1933, Fenway Park stands proudly in the neighborhood. From the outside, you can’t even tell you are walking by a ballpark. It’s red brick exterior blends effortlessly, as though it has been here for almost a century; and it has. The 97-year old park opened in 1912, and has since engraved itself in baseball history with the best players and unforgettable moments in the sport to make it one of the favored ballparks of baseball fans young and old. For us, it was a first as a family. Only Wrigley Field in Chicago comes close to a ballpark of this historic proportion. Everywhere you look there is something that says, you have arrived in Red Sox Nation. The famous “Green Monster”, the manual scoreboard, and the lone red seat are just a small part of what makes this ballpark one of our most memorable ballpark visits. (Read more Fenway Facts) Where else can you get a hot dog served on Wonder Bread? Or chow down on chowder from your seat? Fenway has been nicely renovated throughout the years. Getting to this classic park will cost you if you drive. There are public lots that start at $22 dollars and can cost upwards of $30 the closer you get to game time. Still its worth it. We were invited to go on the field and watch batting practice. “Big Papi” David Ortiz, stretched and chatted with his pals, Jason Bay was up to bat and Kevin Youkilis signed autographs, while baseball fans stood by hoping to personally meet their favorite player. Sofia loved the experience! OK. She may not know she is watching batting practice, but she thinks the crack of a bat is amusing. Today the Red Sox are playing the Angels. After batting practice we were escorted by a Red Sox Ambassador who showed us around the park. As you walk around, vintage ads painted on the brick take you back to another era in baseball and you can still find the old wooden seats in the Grandstand section. Yawkey way is a popular hangout even during the game. The street is buzzing with entertainers and fans coming in and out of restaurants and shops. During the 3rd inning kids can go across the street to the Team Store to meet “Wally”, the other green monster, and the team mascot. But this park loves green in more ways than one. This is the only facility where we have seen staffers making their way through the stands picking up plastic soda and beer cups from the fans for recycling. It is part of their efforts to “green” this park. We love that! This ballpark has undergone significant renovations throughout the years, and despite a few efforts to construct a new park for the Red Sox, Fenway fans refuse to tear down their beloved ballpark.  You can go on a tour of Fenway for $12 and $10 for children. On this night, the Red Sox came close to defeating the Angels, but fell short 4-3. What made this game memorable: Batting practice and coming face to face with the famous "Green Monster". Visit the Red Sox at Fenway Park>>

Ballpark #26 September 9, 2009- (Bronx, NY)- The old Yankee Stadium is an institution in baseball, but the new Yankee Stadium has the potential to become just as much of a landmark as the house that Babe Ruth built. The present and the past stand face to face. The 86 year-old old Yankee Stadium is just steps from the new, more grandiose version of itself. Outside, they tried to maintain a bit of the old ballpark staples such as the arches, team flags and the ballpark dimensions have remained the same, but there are many other features that set it apart. More leg room, cup holders, cushioned seats, family-style restrooms, more than 11-thousand square feet of team stores and a scoreboard to die for. (See Stadium Comparison chart) Inside, this ballpark is sleek and modern. People moving about just like NYC streets. High ceilings, white walls, and a huge TV screen greets you at the Great Hall of the facility. Food. Lets talk about food. Nathans hot dogs are just the beginning. From sushi to Cuban food, all you can eat eats abound. Food is such an attraction the park has featured “Guest Chef" appearances throughout the 2009 inaugural season. Mayor Bloomberg has made sure you know your caloric intake at the park. If that doesn't hold you back from scarfing down a dog vs a burger the prices will. A hotdog goes for $6 and a water bottle will cost you $5. The park offers great ballpark tours starting at $15. We bought Sofia a Yankee shirt with the name "Jeter" plastered on the back with the hopes she would bring good luck to the shortstop who was slated to tie or beat Lou Gehrig's all time New York Yankees hit mark.  It took more than 70 years, but there we were to watch Derek Jeter match the NY Yankees record 2721. We think it was the shirt.Yankees took the last-minute win against the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2. What made this game memorable: New ballpark. New record. 

Ballpark #25- September 3, 2009- (Toronto, Canada)- We have been here before. Last summer Roberto and I visited Rogers Centre to watch the Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay when we were expecting our baby.  As fate would have it, just a year later, we are back at Rogers with baby Sofia in tow. This multipurpose ballpark is in downtown Toronto. Outside, it’s not your typical ballpark. No red brick, no wrought iron structures or gates. It is mostly enclosed. I say mostly, because this facility has a retractable roof.  It was open today. The most famous feature of the park though, is the CN observation deck which towers above the field.  Another interesting feature about this park is the Renaissance hotel that offers rooms overlooking the field. The “Kids Zone” is not spectacular, but the ballpark is a nice one. Although the Blue Jays were playing the Yankees, the park was not filled to capacity. The Yankess took this game 10-5. What made this game memorable: Coming back to the ballpark a year later with little Sofia on this great family ballpark tour. Visit the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre >>>

Ballpark #24 -August 28, 2009- (Detroit, MI)- Comerica Park is Detroit. Located downtown, this park is rugged and aims to please. Huge stone tigers on the roof and grounds of the main entrance and 80-foot long baseball bats establish that you are Tiger territory. This park gets a thumbs up for the best amusement area for children. Where else have they built an amusement park inside the park!? There is the "Fly Ball' Ferris Wheel cozy enough for mom, dad and three siblings or three of your closest friend. Walk over to the Big Cat Court and you'll find a carousel of tigers of course! Both are $2 per person and wheelchair accessible. Kids 14 and under ride for free. If you plan to go with kids who are mobile please consider the Tigers wristbands which records the child's seating location in case you loose your cub, this aids in reunited kids with their parents. You can get them at Guest Services. This is also where you can get a "First Visit" certificate for the kids. As you walk through the corridors of the park you are treated to what they call a pedestrian museum which holds a collection of Detroit Tigers baseball memorabilia. The park also features a center field musical fountain. The atmosphere at this park is good. Detroit fans are true fans. They sport their tiger gear, foam paws and all. Little girls wear their tiger ears and my little girl sported some feline print slippers. The park was packed with 39, 296 fans who came to see the Tigers vs Tampa Bay Rays. This is also the first time we've seen fans huddle to watch the game outside through the fence. Center Field, right past the Statue Gallery, has a great view of the game. Things can get a little crazy right as football and baseball seasons overlap. Comerica is located just steps from Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions. We were caught in the whirlwind of the end of the football game and the beginning of the baseball game. Parking was about $10 for baseball vs the hefty $45 dollars football fans have to pay for parking in the same lot. Is this Detroit? The Tigers lost 3-1 to the Rays. What made this game memorable: You won't soon forget the mammoth stone tiger statues that greet you at this park.Visit the Tigers at Comerica Park>>>


Ballpark # 23- August 25, 2009- (Milwaukee, WI)- The thunder rolls outside and the crowd cheers inside Miller Park. An overcast day gave tailgaters just enough time to barbeque and drink Miller beer before the storm rolled in. The seven panel fan-shaped convertible roof opens and closes in just 10 minutes. It was closed tonight to protect us from the rain, but who was protecting the Brewers? Fifth inning and the Reds are on top 3-1. Bernie the mascot hangs out by the Kalahari Resort Splash Zone in left field  for an opportunity to go down the yellow slide if the Brewers score a home run again. Around here #28 Prince Fielder is  king. Fans wear foam crowns that say "Prince" on them, but the crowd pleaser every time are the sausage races. Tonight the Polish sausage won but back in April 6, 2001 when the park opened the Bratwurst won  the race. So it's no surprise that the main eats at this park are the sausages. There are five kinds: Italian, Polish, hot dog, Bratwurst and the Mexican chorizo. We had a Brat, which I hear is the most popular and very good! The sausages ate so popular out here people buy shirts with the sausages them! The park is a nice one. Located just off the highway the traffic can get pretty bad coming in and out of the park. They have plenty of general parking. Today we paid $8 for parking. The exterior of the park is made of red brick and wrought iron. Inside, the place is hopping like a train station. We headed to guest relations where Sofia got a certificate and a couple of other goodies to take as a token of our visit. Fans sporting their Brewers  gear scatter right before first pitch. The Milwaukee Brewers Walk of Fame is located on the plaza outside Miller and commemorates some of the greatest names in Milwaukee Brewers baseball history. It starts near the statues of Hank Aaron and Robin Yount. You can also check out "Autograph Alley", an exhibit featuring autographed baseballs by baseball legends. Baseball tours here start at $8. The crowd cheers "let's go Brewers" , the team just scored and the mascot is happy. The Brewers score in the bottom of the ninth and the Reds bring in ex-Brewer Felix Cordero to close the game, but the Brewers score again. Pressure is on the Prince again, and he manages to get a man on third. The storm had gotten worse and the stadium closed the side panels. during the 4th iining and now It was really hot and muggy. The crowd is up and excited. Will the Brewers recover from this hangover? Nope. After four extra innings and an extra sausage race, (where the polish sausage won again) the Brewers lost to the Reds 8-6. What made this game memorable: This is definitely longest game so far! Total game time: 4hrs 24 min. Sofia was a trooper, though. She hung on til the bitter end. Visit the Brewers at Miller Park>> 



Ballpark # 22- August 21, 2009- (Chicago, IL)- The New Comiskey Park (a.k.a.) U.S. Cellular Field is Charles Comiskey’s new “ Baseball Palace of the World” in Chicago’s South Side. Located across the street from where the old Comiskey Park used to stand, this is a fun modern baseball facility although the location leaves much to be desired. The Sox played the Orioles, but that was not really the main attraction because tonight was Elvis Night. The long awaited annual event in its fourth year, that attracts hundreds of fans of “The King”. Men and women sporting replicas of Elvis’s gold plated glasses with sideburns and all, grown women swooning over Elvis entertainers, and kids too young to know Elvis rocking to his music. The event featured a blow-up Elvis face, showgirls, fireworks and flying Elvises did not disappoint. For us, dressing Sofia up in the famous white eagle Elvis suit made our baseball night. We were supposed to meet a Chicago Tribune  photographer who was going to take pictures of us for the story featuring our journey that was running on the Saturday paper. Once the photo shoot was over, we decided to go for a hot dog and some peanuts. Classic baseball. This park has an area for the kids called Comcast Fundamentals, and you can even check in your pet; Seriously! If you happen to loose your cell phone, this park is the place to do it. U.S. Cellular Field has a store to buy cellular products; Ofcourse! The scoreboard explodes when the team scores. If you go, you may want to take your picture in the “Chicagoland Plumbing Council Shower”. A carry-over from old Comiskey Park and a fan favorite. Near Section 160 under the Vienna Sausage sign. These fans love to tailgate before the game and dress in White Sox gear and in black and white. There is not much to do after the game on the South Side. That is a drawback. Tonight, the lonely Orioles fan cheered on his team to a victory over the Sox 5-1, but I don’t think anybody noticed over the "Return to Sender" Elvis track. What made this game memorable: Sofia in an Elvis suit!

Visit the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field>> 

Ballpark #21- August 16, 2009-(Minneapolis, MN)- The announcer comes on and says its 73 degrees outside and 70 inside the Metrodome; And with that, the game against the Indians begins. The Metrodome is completely covered and Twins fans like it that way. It was overcast today and some told us they liked knowing they don't have to worry about the weather at the Metrodome especially since they have to travel many miles to get there. But the advertising for the new Target open-air stadium in 2010 is plastered all over the Dome. Catchy phrases such as: countdown to outdoor baseball, "Countdown to farmer- tanned vendors", "real grass stains", "skyline sunsets" and "starry nights"  now decorate the interior. Vendors who sell team memorabilia warn "all sales final"! Outside the park there was much fanfare. Sunday is family day and everyone is out and about with their kids. A staffer was getting a table ready for an autograph opportunity. We got in line and Sofia got her baseball autographed by Twins pitchers #49 Jeff Manship and #52 Brian Duensing. The team has a nice following. The fans dressed in blue and red boasted their team colors. The corridors are hopping with food vendors. We looked for a team store, but the Dome doesn't have one. "The new one will," says the vendor. Back inside, the Twins score a homerun and the crowd goes wild. Fake fireworks go off. But at the top of the third things go south and the Indians score back to back homeruns. Silence at the Dome. Twins coach comes in to  find a new pitcher and to the tune of Sam and Dave's,  "Hold on, I'm coming",  he brings in #28 Jesse Crain to save the day. However, in spite of a couple of changes in pitchers after that the Twins could not recover and lost 7-4. You can view the status of construction of the new Target Field via webcam (More) What made this game memorable: First autograph session and attending a baseball game at the Metrodome before the Twins move to the new Target Field in 2010. Visit the Twins at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome >>

Ballpark #20- August 13, 2009- (Denver, CO)- Stormy weather rocked Coors Field today, but not enough to deter the Rockies from delivering a win against the Pirates 10-1.  Maybe it had something to do with the  altitude or the effect thin air has on pitching (More). Opened in 1995, this ballpark is one of the nicer ones. Located in lower downtown Denver, an area with a mix of apartment residences, restaurants and small businesses. We parked in a stadium lot for  $10. The stadium is made of red brick and dark green wrought iron and has a great view of the Rocky Mountains in the first base and right field areas. the center field bleacher section is informally called "the Rockpile". The purple seats in the stadium put you at a mile high in the air. If you decide to leave your seat you can get good eats for cheap. They have value items like $2.50 hot dogs and fountain soda but only at some of the concession stands , so look around. Dinger the Dinosaur was available for pictures and autographs in the third inning and we were given a nice stadium pin  at Guest Relations for Sofia's first time visit to the park. Funny story: When they were digging for construction of Coors Field, they actually found some dinosaur fossil bones and the park was almost named Jurrasic. Instead, they decided the mascot should be a dino. A neat feature in this park is a wall behind center field with live pines and a fountain that comes on when the Rockies score a home run. Another neat feature is that Coors has gone green and is one of the MLB's Green Stadiums. Up at 5,277 feet, the Rockies are using an array of 46 panels to power their Coors Field LED scoreboard. There is a picnic area called the Rock Pile and plenty of Coors beer to go around of course! However, you will also find the Blue Moon Brewery, ( Belgian-style beer widely distributed by Coors) is adjacent to the ballpark and you could enter it through "The Sandlot" restaurant. Although many fans wore  purple and black we did not see many fans wearing Team gear. At our seats a little boy wearing a spiderman mask and his little brother gave Sofia the ball they had received from one of the players in the bullpen. His Dad said he was teaching them about Karma and good deeds for others. Seemed to work for the boys. Shortly thereafter they were given another ball by a Rockies player in the outfield. What made this game memorable: Watching the lightning and thunder roaring over the field as the Rockies scored a home run! Visit the Rockies at Coors Field>>


Ballpark #19- August 9, 2009 (Seattle, WA)- This stadium is one of four retractable roof fields in the MLB. Located in downtown Seattle, the location is not spectacular. You have to walk over train tracks to get to it and there was some construction going on while we were there. Qwest Field, home to the NFL's Seattle Seahawks is located right beside it. Although Seattle is known for its constant downpours, Mother Nature was good to us today and we did not experience rain, but in true Seattle style, it was overcast. The roof was retracted for the game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Inside, there is a wide variety of foods from sushi to chocolate covered strawberries on a stick called “Shishkaberries”.  We ate some garlic pizza. Yummy. Morgan the Moose, mascot of the team is one of the most lively ones we have seen. He likes to call out fake plays during the game while he walks through the crowd. Morgan has his own little hut complete with a backdrop of a fireplace and portraits on the wall where kids can come in to meet the mascot and take photos at scheduled times during the game.  Sofia met the moose and was intrigued by his snout. Safeco doesn’t have anything that would distinguish it from any park except its retractable roof. Outside, a huge metal glove greets the entrance which makes for a nice photo op. Detailing of metallic baseball players run along the gates. The staff at this park was very friendly and Sofia received her first time visit to the park certificate at Guest Relations. Today was Sunday and like most parks, it was the day for the kids to run the bases. For the first time I ran the bases with Sofia, although after making a huge line that wrapped around all the way up to the 3rd level she didn’t make it to home base awake! The Mariners played a great game against the Tampa Bay Rays and won 11-2 with a Grand Slam. What made this game memorable: Finally getting to run the bases with baby! Visit the Mariners at Safeco Park>>

Ballpark #18- August 7, 2009-(San Francisco, CA)- Location, location, location ! The Giants have this down pat. This beautiful stadium right on the bay aims to please. AT&T Park is considered the best park of all by Giants fans of course and they will fight you for it. Can't say I blame them. They had to share their old venue Candlestick Park "The Stick" with their football team SF 49ers since 1971 who still plays there. Now the Giants boast a state of the art stadium complete with a beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay. We got there early to meet with reporter Amy Hoffman from ABC 7 news. Our seats were located in a bleacher section nearest to the bay called the Cove. That's exactly what it feels like seagulls and all. Right behind us towers pour a cool water mist over the fans when the Giants score a homerun. What identifies this park is a giant baseball glove and coca cola bottle that sit right above left field. The cola bottle is actually a slide called the guzzler. There are fans if all ages at this park but there is definitely a party atmosphere at this park like no other we gave been to. The corridors are packed at all times with folks out and about. The lines to the bathrooms are incredibly long at times, but move fast. The even promote an "Express" bathroom located in various points. Not sure what makes these "express" restrooms, maybe a location with less foot traffic. The food of choice at this park are the garlic fries- excellent! But they offer a smorgesboard of good eats including a $15 crab meat sandwich and hot chocolate and churros to keep you warm from the chilly breeze that comes in from the bay. When the game ends, the seagulls invade the field in search for food. It's quite a sight to see! Today they were giving out bobbleheads of the official announcer of the Giants Jon Miler and a couple of people tried to buy them from us and one actually traded us one of Moises Alu. The official mascot is Lou Seal,  but it made a brief appearance on the field. I don't think the fans seemed to mind especially since they may have adopted one of their players as the team mascot. The fans affectionately call Giants player Sandoval, "Kung  Fu Panda" and he I believe has become a mascot of sorts at least for now. People wear panda shirts and hats. At this game, Sandoval was charged with two crucial errors in the 8th inning which allowed the Reds to score critical runs that would lead them to a victory 10-5. What made this game memorable: Nervously watching balls flying our way during batting practice. Visit the San Francisco Giants at At&t Park>>

Ballpark #17-August 6, 2009- (Oakland, CA)- The Oakland Athletics or A's are lucky to have a great fan following. The Coliseum is a football stadium located in an industrial section of Oakland that transforms into a baseball park in the spring and summer. From a distance it looks just like a Coliseum. It is steps from the BART which is a good way of getting to the park because the only parking available is at the stadium lot for $17. Fans young and old  clad in green and yellow made their entrance proudly showing off their team pride. However, the fans can't be proud of their park. Inside it's all concrete with dark corridors and few places to grab some food. They have a small area created for the kids to play, but not  what you would  see at a baseball- only park. The team mascot is Stomper the elephant who we got to take a picture with Sofia as he walked the corridors, but beware of it's trunk it tends to get in the way when Stomper looks to the side! Today was MUG rootbeer float day, a fund raiser for Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund. Various kiosks with local  radio TV station personalities, newspaper and players and even their wives were there making root beer floats at $2 each. The team raised 25 thousand dollars for the cause. We got to meet radio personalities from KGO 610 AM radio and Rich Wolcoff interviewed Roberto for their AM show. The stadium has done a decent job in making it fit for baseball. Unlike Land Shark Stadium in South Florida, the seats here are more spacious and the layout of the stadium makes it more adaptable to the diamond. I'll be happy when the A's new Cisco Park opens in 2010. What made this game memorable: The KGO morning team greeting Sofia at MUG Root beer float day.
Ballpark #16- July 31, 2009- (San Diego, CA)-  This game was a memorable one. Not only did the Padres bring home an 11-7 win, but we caught the first foul ball for Sofia. It also launches the second-half of our 30 ballparks and a baby tour. The park is located in downtown San Diego. There are plenty of restaurants and the park is nestled amongst business, restaurants and brand new condo apartments. Some have a great view of the field. We got there about an hour before the game and were able to find metered parking, which is free after 6pm but people use the trolley, bus and I hear in the future they will be able to use the water taxi. This park does not have an extraordinary exterior, or interior for that matter, but it does have a little park where on “away” games the fans can sit on the grass and watch the Padres on a screen outside. Families hang out there before the game. Kids play catch with their friends and family, and the Petco mascots mill around taking pictures with the fans. There is a small baseball field called “Little Padres” field for the kids. A statue of Tony Gwynn sits outside in Tony Gwynn Plaza in celebration with his induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame with a quote that says “If you work hard good things will happen”-it's also surrounded by personalized bricks purchased by fans, a favorite photo spot. There are concessions outside where you can grab a a Friar Frank at the Friar’s Shack. Did a mention the mascot for the Padres is a friar, a monk, a priest?—yes, this character is pretty funny.  He wears a brown frock and loves to cheer on his team. In this park they race friars from different decades. Today, 70’s friar won.  Once inside , the park is generic. No fancy displays or anything of the sort. Some of the terraces offer great panoramic views of the bay.  I will say the staff is lovely. We passed by guest relations where we saw a staffer who gave Sofia her first visit pin (which now has become a trend- I mean whatever happened to paper certificates?). She was also nice enough to offer her a take home Padres baby ball.While walking  the corridors, we bumped into another staffer curious about Sofia. He gave us some insight on time-capsules buried under the bases.. Hummm, interesting. After grabbing some “Better than kettle corn” popcorn for $5- we went straight to our seats located in the outfield along the third base line. It was also foul ball territory. Will Venable #25 was up to bat and his foul ball came straight to our section, but not before bouncing off a woman’s hand right into our row. Roberto and Sofia went for cover as I slid to get the goods. Mom delivered on this one. What made this game memorable: Catching the first foul ball!

Ballpark #15- July 26, 2009-(Los Angeles, CA)- Dodger Stadium is a historic landmark in Southern California located in the Chavez Ravine.This ballpark offers the best views in baseball. To the south you can see downtown L.A. and to the north and east fans have a beautiful vista of hilly terrain and lush vegetation. A sign up on the hill says “THINK BLUE” after all, this is L.A. and they like to put signs on hills. The stadium was built in 1962 and is almost half a century old, but is still in good condition. The seats are light greenish/blue and fans don’t like to disappoint. They too sport Dodger blue with pride. This is a no frills ballpark. If you come here, you come to see the Dodgers play. There is no playground, no fancy restaurants not even a mascot. Pure baseball. In fact, the park was rated in Sports Illustrated back in 2003 as the number one playing field by MLB players. The Dodgers plan to refurbish the park. They are calling the renovation which promise modern amenities and environmental features, “The Next 50 Years” (Read More). Dodgers have great pride in their players. Manny Ramirez is their star player and has a section of the left-field wall devoted to him called “Mannywood”. Too bad the Dodgers lost this game to the Marlins a disappointing 6-8.  No Manny Ramirez today. The team has started a new campaign called “This is my Town: Dodgertown” and there are billboards all over the city featuring stars from the entertainment and sports industry from Larry King to their star player Manny Ramirez all the way to Yoda  from Star Wars. This ballpark has hosted its share of historic events: major concerts, Olympics, All Star series, World Series, World Championships, even a visit from Pope John Paul II. Its history speaks for itself, Dodger Stadium is a must-see landmark in L.A. If you go, catch a historic ballpark tour and a Dodger Dog- the best in the League! What made this game memorable: Its the Dodgers! What more do you need? That, and the fantastic view.  Visit the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium>>
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