Yards of Summer celebrates the many homes of America’s Pastime and the baseball road trip. For photos and information on the parks I’ve visited, see the Minor Leagues, National League, and American League pages.
Dodger Stadium Review/Gallery
Took long enough but finally have Dodger Stadium page up. A beautiful ballpark that television does not do justice. Hope to have Petco Park page up soon to wrap things up from my April trip.
Angel Stadium Gallery/Review
Page is up for Angel Stadium, the first stop on my April trip through Southern California. Like others I’ve talked to, I didn’t have huge expectations but had a great time and came away impressed.
Marlins Park Review/Gallery
Made it to Marlins Park for a game last week while in town for a conference. Photo gallery and review are now available. The park is beautiful with several features that could only work in Miami but work very well there. Hopefully the franchise gets things together and gives fans a reason to come out – it was a beautiful evening with the roof open that saw way too few people in attendance for a great facility in only its second year.
SoCal Trip in the Books; Another Site About the Ultimate Baseball Roadtrip
Just back from a great trip with games taken in in Anaheim, Lake Elsinore (Single A affiliate for San Diego), Los Angeles, and San Diego. Reviews and galleries should be up in a week or so.
While I have been making the rounds to all the MLB parks and some MiLB parks via annual road trips with four or five stops, four guys from Philly decided to complete the entire journey of 30 parks in 30 days. Check out their site at 30ballparks30days.com and pick up their book (it’s up next on my reading list). They also have a video coming out about their adventure. Very cool.
Siebert Field (U. of Minnesota)
Changed things up with a visit to a college ballpark last week. Great time to do it with the opening weekend of the University of Minnesota’s newly renovated Siebert Field. Enjoyed a Big Ten pitchers’ duel with the Gophers topping Ohio St. 1-0. The weather has been terrible this spring but outdoor baseball with a blanket and hot chocolate still beats being in the Metrodome.
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- From RF Corner
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- Scoreboard
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- Behind the Plate
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- 125 years of Gopher Baseball
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- The Squad
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- At the Plate
Opening Day 2013 at Target Field
April 1 at Target Field was a cold way to start out the season, but it was still fun. Twins had their chances but couldn’t do enough damage against Verlander. Here are a few pics.
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- Opening Day Bunting
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- Batter’s Box
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- Reigning Triple Crown Winner
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- Right Field Corner
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- Interesting Player Fact
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- Shadow Across Infield
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- View from Rigth Field
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- Tigers’ Dugout
2013 MLB: The Journey from 1/2 to 2/3
My 2013 baseball schedule is starting to take shape. I’ve currently been to exactly half of the 30 MLB parks, and this year should give me a push past the two thirds mark. Catching up with MBA friends on a So. Cal. trip will take me to Angel Stadium, Dodger Stadium, and Petco Park. Should have a chance to hit Marlins Park when in Miami in May. September vacation includes stops at O.Co and AT&T. Also looking forward to Opening Day (my first) for a return to Target Field.
Recommended Read: Stan Musial (An American Life)
I read George Vescey’s Stan Musial: An American Life over the course of several flights last month, and was just wrapping it up when Stan the Man himself passed away. Vescey covers Musial’s career in great depth but also gives plenty of space to his pre- and post-playing life. Musial is beloved in St. Louis but has largely been ignored over time, at least in comparison to the other star players of his era that played in New York. After this book you’ll have a much greater appreciation for Stan the player and Stan the Man.
Recommended Read: The Works of Roger Kahn
The late ’40s and early ’50s were undeniably a fascinating time in the history of baseball. The players, the managers, the characters…add in the detailed insights of legendary writer Roger Kahn and you almost feel like you are sitting at Ebbets Field. If you want to get a thorough feel for the game and its place in America after WWII, I recommend both The Boys of Summer (which chronicles Kahn’s time as the beat writer for the Brooklyn Dodgers) and The Era: 1947-1957 (in which Kahn meanders from storyline to storyline about a magical decade of baseball in New York).
New Year…Ready for Baseball
My posts were too infrequent in 2012 – got busy with relocating after finishing graduate school. Finally updated site from road trip in April – there are new pages for the minor league parks in Des Moines, Omaha, and Springfield and additional photos on the Miller Park and Kauffman Stadium pages.
For 2013, aiming for a southern California road trip that will include San Diego, L.A., and Anaheim. Also looking to get stops in at San Francisco and Miami during the first half of the baseball season. Maybe get to a few more minor league parks later in the season.
Yards of Summer 