I’ve seen the Giants play at four home parks: Candlestick, Pac Bell Park, SBC Global Park, AT&T Park. But, that’s only two actual buildings. Some folks older than I can claim a fifth ball park (and third building), Seals Stadium.
It felt weird to check the Texas Rangers, given that I’ve never even been to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. But my dad took me to some Senators games in D.C. Stadium back in the day. (It wasn’t RFK stadium yet, since RFK was still alive then.)
I’ve probably seen more games at Memorial Stadium than everywhere else put together, back in the Earl Weaver era.
One–the Cardinals. And probably not the ones you’re thinking of. The Springfield Cardinals.
I didn’t watch baseball in school, either. I did watch the peewee leagues when a kid I knew was on the team, but those don’t really have home stadiums.
The MiLB experience is more pure to me. Fewer overpaid prima dona types.
The time I was at Marlins park I met a player from the Springfield Cardinals and we had a nice conversation. I recognized his last name - it turns out he is a nephew of a writer for my local paper, the San Jose Mercury News. I’ve been to a few MiLB parks, and used to travel to STL frequently for work. I tried to get to Springfield but it didn’t quite fit my routing. It would’ve been cool to see him play.
When I was leaving that job, on my last two business trips I flew in and out of:
Milwaukee, and drove to Miller Park (Brewers - the Giants were there), then Wrigley (Cubs), then Great American (Reds), then all the way across to Kauffman Stadium (Royals - the Giants were there too), then started my week in STL. After that week I drove up to Target Field (Twins) before flying out of Milwaukee.
Houston, and drove to Minute Maid Park (Astros). I was going to then drive to Turner Field (Braves) before going to STL, but work beckoned and I had to change my plans so I just drove to STL and started my week.
So I was able to bag six new parks. Fortunately, STL is centrally located and there were parks nearby (somewhat).
Agreed (if by MiLB you mean Minor League Baseball). More bang for the buck too.
I’ve been to the Portland SeaDogs (Red Sox AA affiliate) dozens of times. It’s a tiny little park but it’s put together well in a cool spot in the city. And now an anecdote:
It was about 10 years ago or so, I was heading out to pick up my kids for a whatever we were going to do that day. On the way, I heard on the radio, having not really paid attention previously, that the SeaDogs were playing for the championship of the league, or division, or whatever (I don’t really know how they do it in AA), game 7. So when I got to my kids house and asked them if they’d like to go if I could get tickets, they were all for it. I call the park and ask if there were any tickets left. Mind, the game was due to start in only a few hours. The lady told me, “plenty. Oh, you don’t need to reserve them, just come on down to the ticket office.”
So we did. I said, “Hello, I would like the three best tickets you have left please.”
The ticket person responded, “Is front row behind the home team dugout, okay?”
“No, we’d like right field bleacher seats behind the pork smoker. Yes, we want those incredibly hard to get and expensive tickets. My credit is okay, so is there form I’ll have to fill out or something to get my hands on these beauties?”
“Well, they cost eight dollars a piece, so if you have twenty-four bucks, you’re good to go.”
The point of the story being, how can you beat a home team game 7 for eight friggin’ clams.
And the SeaDogs won. My daughter got a player’s hat for a souvenir and my son got a game bat. The players were just standing on top of the dug out after the win and they were giving all their shit away. It was fun day.
Just the Indians at old Municipal/Cleveland Stadium, but for about 20 games as a spectator, plus bits and pieces of around 400 during the six years I worked as a vendor.
Yes, minor leagues. See MiLB.com! I am on a mission to visit all of the SF Giants’ farm teams’ stadiums. I have a long way to go.
Great story there, Jack. MiLB is great, too. That’s how baseball is supposed to be!
Spring training is a good experience, too. If you haven’t gone and have access to Phoenix or Tampa in March, it’s an enjoyable time.
Let’s see… grew up in Houston, and saw a couple dozen games (I’m guessing) in the Dome, then moved to Dallas, and I’ve seen maybe 8-10 Rangers games. At some point, went back to Houston and caught an Astros game with my brother and Dad in Minute Maid Park (it was Enron Field then!)
And… on a recreational trip to NYC, my wife and I caught a Yankees game in old Yankees Stadium the year before it was demolished.
I was working and generally was done with my job by the 6th-8th inning ( usually 7th ), so I’d often hang around to watch the end of the game, especially as I had a buddy who didn’t get off until after the game.