Generally, when taking a stadium road trip, my rule of thumb is to attend a game every night.  The day is usually dedicated to traveling to the next city for a game. Prior to last year, I did some of my road trips alone.  Then last year, I met someone online through a personal ad and began dating him.  After we had exchanged a few e-mails, he told me he also had an interest in baseball stadiums and also maintained a stadium website (www.ballparkreviews.com)  Talk about a coincidence!  After that, my stadium road trips were taken with him.  This past February, we got engaged in Cooperstown and we will now be continuing our stadium journeys together, but maintaining separate websites, of course!  We even occasionally take separate stadium road trips since he is a little bit further along (actually, A LOT further long) than I am as far as the number of parks visited.

Last Summer,  we took a 7 day trip out to Southern California and went to 7 stadiums.  One of my favorite parks out in southern California is Sam Lynn Ballpark in Bakersfield.  Sam Lynn Ballpark is the only park that faces the setting sun, which means evening game times need to be moved until after the sun sets.  The game I attended had 808 fans in attendance with a game time temperature of 106 degrees, which made the team name of the “Blaze” seem very appropriate.  Sam Lynn Ballpark is one of those types of parks which has dedicated season ticket holders and fans that are really into the game.  The fans who go to a “Blaze” game are going for one reason….to watch baseball.  They aren’t going for silly on-field contests, promotions, or just to eat concessions.  They are going because they have a love for minor league baseball at its purest.  I have found that some minor league parks can get way too carried away with their wacky promotions and contests, thus taking the focus away from the game.  These types of parks tend to have atmospheres which are not conducive to actually paying attention to the game.  While these parks might be nice places for families, they are not the types of parks I would prefer to watch a game, unless I enjoy the constant barrage of sound effects, kids who can’t sit still, and annoying advertisements in between each pitch.  I recently wrote an entry on these types of parks in my blog which can be accessed through my site, www.baseballstadiumreviews.com.

Speaking of minor league baseball at its purest, Damaschke Field in Oneonta, NY is another park that I enjoy very much.  Just like Sam Lynn Ballpark, Damaschke Field offers a relaxed atmosphere to watch a game.  Instead of fans tackling each other for t-shirts being thrown into the crowd, you might actually see fans keeping score. Instead of kids jumping around on inflatables in a play area, kids are actually watching the game.  Damaschke Field doesn’t even have a liquor license, that’s how pure the place is!  You go there for one thing….baseball.

I tend to enjoy the parks that have some kind of distinguishing characteristic which sets them apart from the other parks I have visited.  For example, Greer Stadium, home of the Nashville Sounds, has the best scoreboard ever!  The guitar shaped scoreboard is definitely the most unique scoreboard I have seen in my travels.  I also find it interesting to see the architecture of stadiums when other structures are assimilated into the design of the stadium.  For example, the Western Metal Supply Co. building in Petco Park in San Diego and the B&O Warehouse at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

Sometimes it’s not what’s inside the ballpark that makes it a unique, but it’s what is around the park.  For example, the bridges in the background of PNC Park in Pittsburgh have to be the best backdrop in Major League baseball.   Also, I love the mountains in the background at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore, California and the Gateway Arch beyond the outfield wall in Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

This week, Brian and I will be heading out on a 10 day trip to visit 10 stadiums.  The trips will include visits to US Cellular Field, Miller Park, Comerica Park, Wrigley Field, and a few minor league parks.  Stay tuned to my website, www.baseballstadiumreviews.com for photos and reviews.  I also maintain a Facebook page, so become a fan of my site using Facebook.

Thanks to Ticket to the Game for allowing me to post a guest entry!