Ballparks
From the time I was young, I've been in love with Major League Baseball. My Uncle Bo took me to my first game when I was five. I was bit to young to remember it and Bo didn't keep any momentos of the occasion, but it was a Cincinnati Reds game in Riverfront Stadium in 1978. So I watched Johnny Bench, George Foster, Dave Concepcion, et. al., at the tail end of the Big Red Machine era.
But baseball truly began for me on July 14, 1982, when my father took me to a day-night doubleheader at Three Rivers Stadium as the Pittsburgh Pirates swept the Montreal Expos. It was in Willie Stargell's last season. He made one appearance that day and was intentionally walked. As the four pitches (from Bryn Smith, in case you were wondering) were tossed to Pops, 25,000 fans stood and cheered the long-time leader of the Buccos.
The roar reached a crescendo when, after Stargell reached first, he was replaced with a pinch runner. He tipped his cap to the crowd as he exited. I was hooked.
As many Major League fans will do, I've begun collecting ballpark visits over the years. When the occasion permits, I write a bit about them. Here is my current list:
Total Ballparks Visited: 22
- PNC Park - Pittsburgh Pirates
- Three Rivers Stadium - Pittsburgh Pirates
- Great America Ballpark - Cincinnati Reds
- Riverfront Stadium - Cincinnati Reds
- Miller Park - Milwaukee Brewers
- Wrigley Field - Chicago Cubs
- Busch Stadium (Old) - St. Louis Cardinals
- Busch Stadium (New) - St. Louis Cardinals
- Minute Maid Park - Houston Astros
- Veteran's Stadium - Philadelphia Phillies
- Shea Stadium - New York Mets
- Citi Field - New York Mets
- Nationals Park - Washington Nationals
- Turner Field - Atlanta Braves
- Pac Bell Park - San Francisco Giants
- Coors Field - Colorado Rockies
- Fenway Park - Boston Red Sox
- Yankee Stadium (Old) - New York Yankees
- Oriole Park at Camden Yards - Baltimore Orioles
- Tropicana Field - Tampa Bay Rays
- Comiskey Park - Chicago White Sox
- The Ballpark at Arlington - Texas Rangers
I've also had the honor of watching several games at minor league statdiums around the country as well. This is as close to a complete list as I can muster. I'm sure I missed a few:
Minor League Parks Visited
- Slugger Field - Louisville Bats (AAA)
- Cardinal Stadium - Louisville Redbirds (AAA)
- Knights Stadium - Charlotte Knights (AAA)
- Hoover Met - Birmingham Barons (AA)
- Rickwood Field - Birmingham Barons/A's (AA)
- Smokies Stadium - Knoxville Smokies (AA)
- Applebee's Field - Lexigton Legends (A)
- Pfitzer Stadium - Potomac Nationals (A)
- W.C. Hambley Athletic Complex - Pikeville Cubs, Brewers (A)
