8. Fenway Park - August 12, 2016

This was my final baseball visit of the 2016 season. Unlike some of the others, this was a little easier to plan. All I had to do was take a day to drive to Boston, watch a game and come home. However, with the history behind the city, I had to spend more than one day in Boston.

I somehow ended up talking my brother into joining me on this trip. Our hotel was in Southborough, about 35 minutes away from Boston, not too bad. We spent a couple of days exploring the city, checking out some historical areas, visiting the Samuel Adams brewery and met up with an old friend later that night. All of this lead to Friday night, the night this trip was built around.

The view of the infield from my seat (with a little pole in the way)

Our check-out time was around 11 am, so we had a couple of hours to kill before the game. If you ever go to a Boston Red Sox game, take mass transit. The area gets so crowded with cars and the parking garages hike the prices up so much on game day.

After almost an hour (I may be exaggerating) of driving around, we settled on a $50 lot. And, of course, while walking around we found a cheaper lot.

My brother and I walked for I don't know how long. We walked through a park, into the city and saw their Holocaust Memorial. We then stopped at a pizzeria to eat before the game. After all of that, we still had plenty of time to kill. We grabbed the tickets, made our way to the stadium and waited for the gates to open.

Once inside, the stadium looked like an old warehouse. I've seen the inside plenty of times in movies (The Town and Ted, to be specific), but to see it in person was pretty cool.

The week we visited was the week the sun felt like it was 10 feet away. We bought a couple of waters outside the stadium and held our own during the game. We got to our seats and waited patiently. The one thing I regret is not going to the top of the Green Monster and take in that view. Maybe next time.

The game got off to a hot start. Jean Segura hit a lead-off triple, but was later tagged out. Rickie Weeks hit a two-run home run. In the bottom of the first, Hanley Ramirez hit his first of two three-run home runs. They scored another run off a single.

The Red Sox scored another four runs in the bottom of the second. The first came off a David Ortiz single and Hamirez hit his second home run right after that. As a Yankees fan, I kept my fandom to a minimum, but I was amazed at his performance.

The legend, "Big Papi" David Ortiz

The Arizona Diamondbacks scored a couple of more runs throughout the game. Ortiz hit a home run in the bottom of the seventh. In a quick lapse in judgment, I got up with the rest of the crowd and cheered the home run.

It was his last season, so it was pretty cool to see it in person. This was my first time seeing the Red Sox live. My brother took a picture and sent it to my mom. I was surprised I was let in my house when I came home.

The Red Sox sent out David Price, who had one of the best starts of his season. He went eight innings and gave up three runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out eight. The Diamondbacks started Patrick Corbin. He was pulled after 1.2 innings, and I don't blame the manager for doing it.

We left after the eighth inning. The game was over and we had a long drive ahead of us.

The city of Boston is amazing. If you plan on visiting Fenway Park, you need to make a week out of it. Whether you like history, beer or just plain architecture, there is so much to do. Fenway is a great example of the both history and architecture. The only downside is similar to what I said about Oriole Park, the pillars holding up the second tier obstruct the view of the infield and outfield for many fans.

This was the final stadium I visited in 2016. The schedule for the 2017 has been released and I already began planning my trips for next season. Thank you all for reading along and I look forward to the adventures 2017 can bring.

7. Oriole Park at Camden Yards - July 24, 2016

I spent most of Saturday visiting the historical monuments and museums. It was definitely an experience I recommend taking part in.

After that, I packed all my stuff and made my way to Camden Yards. Correction, Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The stadium is located right off Highway 395 and across the street from M&T Bank Stadium where the Ravens play. After following cars around a neighborhood like cattle being led to slaughter, I found a cheap $10 lot. I had a bit of a hike ahead of me, but I'd rather save the money and walk.

If you enter the stadium from left field, you are greeted with a walkway full of shops. Just walking around the stadium, you get a historic feel. The name alone brings back some great memories. There are team stores, restaurants and more to enjoy before you get to your seat and enjoy the game. I didn't spend a lot of time out there. For a 1:35 game, it was over 100 degrees out. Or at least it felt like it.

My view down the third base line.

There was a Jim Palmer jersey giveaway for the first 10,000 guests 16 and over. That's a weird age limit for a jersey. Why can't a 10-year-old get a jersey?

The game didn't even start and I was sweating through my shirt. I grabbed a water on my way to the seat. Again, why can't people just sit in their purchased seats the first time? I don't get why people decide to just plop wherever they feel like it when they sure as hell know they will have to get up eventually.

When I bought my ticket, I was scouting the stadium layout and noticed something strange. There was a large overhang from the second deck for the back rows on the first level. Pillars and the sections themselves obstructed the view of a lot of people. Fly balls were hard to judge once they reached a certain height.

The starting pitchers were Corey Kluber (Cleveland) against Vance Worley (Baltimore). I was excited to see both teams. The Indians were 16 games over .500 before the game and competing in the American League Central. The Orioles were just as good at 56-40.

Cleveland has some young stars like Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez to pair with veterans Mike Napoli and Jason Kipnis. The Orioles have sluggers Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo.

Orioles stars Manny Machado and Adam Jones

While the score doesn't reflect it, there was a lot of excitement throughout. The Indians struck first with a double and sac fly in the fourth inning to go up 2-0. The Orioles responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning.

Jonathan Schoop (pronounced scope) hit a solo home run in the fifth. The Indians tied it up in the top of the eighth. The Indians brought in closer Cody Allen to bring this game into extra innings. That would not be the case.

Pedro Alvarez reached on an error by the catcher. With two outs, Pinch hitter Nolan Reimold hit a walk-off home run to left field, sending Orioles fans home happy. That was my first time experiencing a walk-off hit, let alone a home run, so I got caught up in the moment, even though I was wearing a Yankees hat.

The game time was 2 hours and 46 minutes. Oh, I forget which batter, I think Trumbo, but someone lost grip on their bat and it flew into the stands. It later happened again, this time on the third base side.

On my way out of the stadium, I opened up Pokemon Go (remember that game) and caught some uncommon Pokemon. I bought another water bottle and made it to my car. Even though I made a wrong turn, I was able to get onto the highway and begin my drive home. I made it back minutes before eight o'clock and was able to watch WWE Battleground.

Before you ask, I did grab a hot dog with fries. Again, it's a great ballpark food. I added chopped onions and mustard. It could have been cooked a little longer. I like some grill marks on my dogs, but it could have been worse.

Though my view was blocked a little, I had a good time at the park. I had a good view of the infield. I do recommend buying tickets for an upper section so this doesn't happen to you. Overall, Camden Yards has a historical presence that you can't ignore. I would easily go back to this stadium, with better seats next time.

There is one more ballpark I visited in 2016. I'll post that visit sometime next month.

6. Nationals Park - July 22, 2016

Planning to visit Philadelphia was easy. I can drive there pretty much any day I want. It's traveling to these next two stadiums that was the problem.

I wanted visit both Maryland ballparks in one trip. While it's not too far, about 3 hours, I didn't want to take more time off of work.  So, trying to find that one weekend when both the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles were home was difficult. The same goes for Chicago, but I have to wait until next year for that.

The view from my seat in Section 222.

I was able to find one weekend towards the end of July that worked. The Nationals played a Friday night game and the Orioles played a Sunday afternoon game, and then I would make my trek back home.

I strategically booked a hotel in the middle of both cities, so I didn't have to drive a ridiculous distance to either stadium. Getting to the hotel wasn't too bad, just a lot of traffic. There seems to be a theme here.

I made it to my room at around 3:30 PM, the game started at 7:05 PM. I unpacked, charged my phone a bit and left at 5:00 PM. And luckily I left at that time because getting into Washington D.C. was not fun.

I finally parked, about 45 minutes before game time, in a lot that charged $30 for parking. And that wasn't even the most expensive. I recommend taking mass transit when visiting Nationals Park.

The stadium looks nice on the inside, but there's nothing memorable about it from the outside. If you look towards left-center field, the stadium is flanked by two large parking garages. Compared to some stadiums, like the ones in Pittsburgh and St. Louis, with a nice city backdrop, Nationals Park was a big let down.

As far as my seat, I had a very good view. I sat in Section 222, down the first base line. However, I wouldn't consider this a level-200 seat. The way the stadium is laid out, the even sections are upstairs and the odd-numbered ones are down. This should technically make this a level-300 seat.

The game itself was entertaining, despite it being my third time seeing the Nationals in the last calendar year. Washington welcomed in the San Diego Padres, another team I already saw. The starting pitchers were Luis Perdomo (SDP) and Tanner Roark (WAS).

Nationals star hitter, Bryce Harper

Padres right fielder Matt Kemp kicked things off with a solo home run in the first inning. The Nationals came back with two runs, including a solo homer by Jayson Werth. Kemp later his a 3-run home run in the top of the 5th. Daniel Murphy hit a home run of his own in the eighth, but it wasn't enough as Padres won 5-3.

In what seems like a regular part of these reviews, I had a hot dog from the park. Hot dogs are the easiest food to eat while walking around the stadium. The one that I had wasn't bad. It had a nice crunch and went well with chopped onions and mustard. No ketchup on hot dogs!

Getting back to my room was not as bad as getting to the game, but it still sucked. I had to drive around this neighborhood just to get to the highway. Drivers were pulling out in front of other drivers, blocking the opposite lane of traffic. Once you read my review of Fenway Park, you'll understand my hatred for traffic if you don't already.

Of the two stadiums I visited on this trip, I liked this one for a couple of reasons. One, my view was a lot better and two, it wasn't as hot out. The stadium was a little too bland for my liking. There weren't any memorable features to the stadium like many others.

If you're in the area, check out Nationals Park. Other than that, I wouldn't go out of my way to visit this park.

5. Citizens Bank Park - May 17, 2016

Once the 2016 MLB schedule was released, my trip planning became more serious.

I was looking at most of the East Coast teams, seeing which teams are available to me and how I can maximize the most of a single trip. Considering my location, Jersey Shore, I'm quite surprised I didn't get to Citizens Bank Park earlier. It's only a 90-minute drive from my house.

About a month into the season, both the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins were not in a good position. The Phillies are clearly rebuilding and the Marlins have two star players. It wasn't the most exciting matchup.

The big difference about this trip is who I went with. It wasn't by myself or with either of my parents. This time, it was with my brother.

We were sitting lower, seven rows from the wall.

My brother played baseball growing up, like me. We're on the same softball team, too. But, over time, he grew out of the sport and watched basketball and football. I watch those sports as well, but there's just something about the game of baseball that intrigues me. So, the fact that we was actually joining me on this trip was pretty cool.

I got home from work and we left right away. We made pretty good time, considering we had to make one extra stop. He wanted to get a Philly Cheesesteak. I've been to both Pat's and Geno's before (I prefer Pat's), but he hasn't. I parked, horribly, and we got the cheesesteaks wit' onions. They were good. We then got to the stadium and walked around the concourse before getting to our seats. It was raining, but the ushers were nice enough to wipe our seats off beforehand.

We were sitting down the third base line, allowing us to see the Marlins warming up. I had to point out most of the Miami players as he wasn't caught up on current rosters. He did know a couple, Martin Prado, Giancarlo Stanton and Ichiro. As far as the Phillies went, he didn't know any. I barely knew who the starting lineup was.

The game started hot, with the Marlins getting a single and double, but left them stranded. Phillies prospect Tommy Joseph scored the first run with a home run to left, barely making it over the wall. Philly pitcher Vince Velazquez didn't last long, only five innings but struck out 10. The Phillies won 3-1. By the time the game ended, my brother and I were standing in center field. Now, that was a view. We left as soon as the final pitch was thrown.

During the game, there were a couple of foul balls hit near us, but nothing reachable. Later, a ball ricocheted off the second deck siding and bounced back towards our section. My brother, like the outfielder that he is, ran to the row next to us and lined up to catch it, but it went over his head and the ball girl caught it. He then somehow convinced her to give him the ball. He was really happy. Mind you, he's 23 years old. The fact that he was getting into the game made me happy.

The Libery Bell in center field

The stadium was nice. Again, it's a big East Coast stadium. Multiple tiers, bleachers where you wouldn't think seats are and people standing in the outfield. Unlike other stadiums I've visited, the second deck did not overhang and the seats were angled enough that you could see over the person in front of you.

Another cool thing is the liberty bell in center field. After each Phillies home run, it lights up and "rings." Realistically, the lights move back and forth to simulate the bell ringing.

Just like Citi Field, there is nothing to do around the stadium. Citizens Bank Park is in a sports complex with Lincoln Financial Field (Eagles) and Wells Fargo Center (76ers and Flyers). You can walk a few miles to the historical part of Philly, but that's about it.

Overall, I liked Citizens Bank Park a lot. It was very spacious and the field was nice. It did help that I had a nice view of the field. I didn't check out the food situation since we ate before the game and my brother brought peanuts into the field, which the staff didn't seem to have a problem with. All in all, definitely check out the field, just maybe wait a couple of years until the Phillies are contenders again.

4. Citi Field - October 3, 2015

This trip to the second New York park was another random one. I remember talking to my parents in our living room about something, obviously. Somehow the topic of baseball was brought up.

It was getting towards the end of the 2015 regular season. The New York Mets were competing for the National League East title and my dad, a Mets fan, was excited because his team was finally better than the New York Yankees. My mom and I didn't want to hear it, but I guess I was a little happy for him.

Our left field seats

So, with about a month left in the season, I looked to see what games we could potentially go to. The only one that would work with both of our schedules was the October 3 game against the Washington Nationals. Yes, I would be seeing the Nationals for a second time this year. It definitely won't be the last.

Getting to Citi Field was horrible. Unlike my mom, my dad loves driving in the city. We haven't lived in New York since 1991, but somehow my dad still knows his way around more than he does where we currently live. I don't get it. Anyway, there was just so much traffic. I'm not sure what is worse, LA or New York traffic.

We finally got to the stadium and it was freezing. The wind was whipping through the parking lot and at our seats in the outfield. I was prepared, but an extra hot chocolate definitely helped.

This was the second game of a day-night double header. As a result, the Nationals trotted out their second string squad. With Wilson Ramos or Yunel Escobar being the biggest names in the starting lineup, you'd think they would have a hard time winning the game. The Mets didn't put out their best lineup either, but they had some better hitters.

Actually, quite the opposite happened. The Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer pitched a no hitter.

Remember what I said in the Dodgers game about jinxing no-hitters? This time, though, it didn't make a difference. We were all talking about it. I could see other fans glancing at the scoreboard as they murmured about the possible feat. He missed the perfect game by one base runner, reached on error. He struck out 17 on 109 pitches. Just amazing.

The Mets starter, Matt Harvey, wasn't bad either. One run allowed on four hits and struck out 11 in six innings.

The view from my second visit to Citi Field

As far as the stadium goes, which is what this whole blog is about, it was nice. The outfield concourse was nice as I was able to see the game while waiting for food. If you're walking behind home plate, the field is blocked, as I saw when I visited Citi Field the following April for my dad's birthday.

The only downside to visiting Citi Field is that there is nothing around the stadium to do. It's surrounded by parking lots. There's a train, highway and side streets. There are no real restaurants or landmarks to visit while waiting for the gates to open. If you plan on making a day out of this, I'd park in the city and take the train to and from the stadium.

Similar to what I said about Yankee Stadium, Citi Field is big. There are four levels of seating, but it doesn't look like any section hinders your view of the field. It just proves that the East Coast loves their baseball, 41,000 people were in attendance for this game. Just the fact that I saw Scherzer's second no hitter of the season made this a special event.

Citi Field is nice. The home run apple is still in center field and there are some nice tributes to the Mets legacy around the stadium, but once you sit down, it just doesn't seem that special. Maybe that's why I jokingly call it "Shitty Field."

3. Dodger Stadium - August 12, 2015

So after the Padres game ended, I got in my car and began driving to Dodger Stadium. My GPS said it would take a little under three hours to get there. Not too bad, right? Wrong.

I was able to get to the highway and make pretty good time heading up Route 5 (They call their highways "The 5, The 405, etc. which is just weird to me). I then merged onto 73, which led to Route 405 and my nightmare began.

For what felt like six hours, I was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. There were like five different highways that were merging into this one large highway. It was the worst driving experience I've ever had. When people say Los Angeles traffic is bad, believe them.

My view down the right field line.

I finally got to the stadium just before 7pm, the game time was 7:10. I parked in a $5 lot and walked up a long hill to get to the stadium. I'd rather walk than sit in my car waiting to get to a closer lot. Even with this, I missed the first inning of the game. Most of it was because of traffic, but Clayton Kershaw throwing 13 pitches in the first inning had something to do with it.

I got to my seat and let out a loud exhale because I was finally at the stadium. The Dodgers were facing Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals. Again, I purchased my ticket from Scorebig.com, this time for only $18. I was heckling Harper for most of the game.

The game was flying by. It wasn't until the bottom of the third when a pitcher faced more than three batters. Kershaw had a no-hitter going until the top of the sixth when Michael Taylor hit a double to center field. I could hear people talking about it, which jinxed it. The first rule about a no-no is that you don't talk about the no-no. He would allow just three hits over eight innings.

As for the stadium, it was quite the opposite of Petco Park. There are no outside attractions near the stadium. You can still see the game from the concourse, but was closed off on the other side. These West Coast stadiums seem very small compared to the majority on the East Coast. There aren't as many levels and not many seats in the outfield.

Something I didn't mention in my last visit was food. I had a bag of peanuts and a hot dog (I think) at Petco Park. At Dodger Stadium, I took things to another level. I had what they called the Frito Pie dog. It was a hot dog topped with chili, cheese and, of course, Fritos and some garlic fries on the side. As much as my stomach hated me, I ate the whole thing.

My attempt at a panoramic picture of Dodger Stadium

The game ended with Kenley Jansen coming in and closing the game for the Dodgers. Thanks to Kershaw's dominance, the game lasted just two hours and 20 minutes. That means, I spent more time in my car getting to the stadium than I spent in the actual stadium. I'm not complaining, but I am complaining.

I got back to my hotel in a reasonable time, which concluded my long day. The next time I do a double header, I plan on going to two stadiums much closer to each other.

As for this stadium, it's alright, but nothing extravagant. Leaving the stadium, I saw the LA skyline, which was nice but I wish you could see it from the stadium, similar to the arch in St. Louis. Overall, it was a good experience and the food was what baseball food should be - calorie-filled and delicious.

2. Petco Park - August 12, 2015

This was the trip that got the ball rolling.

The idea to "start" the journey in California is a weird one. It was a year before that three of my good friends decided to go to Los Angeles for a week. I've never left the East Coast for any reason. I have no recollection of being on an airplane. This is something I wanted, I needed to do.

I work at a major electronics retailer. There's not many left, so you can make a pretty good guess as to which one. I had a lot of vacation time that I didn't think I would be using. So, before the holiday preparation began, I took a week's vacation to get away. As to where, that wasn't decided yet.

The view from my seat down the left field line.

I was scrolling through travel websites for where to go and prices. Then, I thought back to my friends' trip and decided to go to San Diego. I chose San Diego over LA, San Francisco or any other city in California is because of the pricing and location. And I made the right choice.

So, I had the hotel and the flight booked, my rent a car waiting for me and my baseball tickets in my hand. I boarded the plan and off to San Diego I went.

I spent the first couple of days in San Diego driving around and sightseeing. I obviously went to the Zoo. I was there for over five hours, but that's not why you're reading this.

The San Diego Padres were facing the Cincinnati Reds. It was a 12:40 afternoon game. It was a beautiful day. Petco Park was easy to get to, and it's a very nice stadium. Compared to the two ballparks in New York, this was very wide open. If you are walking around the concourse, you can look outside and see the beautiful city around you.

What you can see walking around the concourse.

The game went by pretty quickly, lasting just under three hours, but it was a good game. I saw then-Reds closer Aroldis Chapman. Both Matt Kemp and Joey Votto hit home runs. James Shields got rocked in this game, five runs in 6.1 innings.

I'm not sure if it's because of the time of day, midday on a Wednesday, or the Padres were not a good team, and still not, but the stadium was empty. All but three sections up top was empty.

Even though I wasn't sitting at field level, I had a good view of the field. And for $25, I'm not going to complain.

Around the ninth inning, I got up from my seat and decided to leave, but I hung around until the final out. That is something I would soon regret because I had a long trip ahead of me to get to my next game.

Overall, despite the lack of fans or success from the team, Petco Park is a great stadium. I had a really good time in San Diego, so much so that I almost didn't come home.

1. Yankees Stadium - August 27, 2009

The journey began almost seven years ago. Though, I didn't know it would begin until years later.

I remember where I was when I found out I would be going to the new Yankees stadium.

Our seats on the third base line

I was at a water park in Seaside Heights with my family and some friends. My dad called my mom and she handed the phone to me. He told me he got two tickets from my cousin who couldn't use them. I was excited to go, obviously.

I was, and still am, a longtime Yankees fan. I've been to the old Yankees Stadium, as told by my parents. But, I was too young to remember it. The only thing I remember is sitting in the top levels, higher than nosebleeds, looking straight down to the field.

This time, this time was much more memorable.

Before getting to the stadium, my dad and I bought subs (hoagies for those in other parts of the country), snacks and drinks to bring into the stadium. Yes, you can bring outside food into the most expensive MLB park, as long as it's in a clear plastic bag. It's a lot cheaper.

My parents grew up in the city. My dad drove up to the stadium, navigating the crowded streets of New York. That's something I wouldn't be able to do. I'm a good driver, but I don't have the patience or aggressiveness to go through the city.

We finally parked, in a lot across from the stadium. I try to park in a lot not too close, it's usually cheaper. We got into the stadium and my jaw dropped. Just the sheer size of it was amazing. This was the first season of the new stadium. The concourse is wide enough to fit a truck. There are banners hanging around, gourmet restaurants, anything you can think of this stadium has it.

We walked around and, since we were early, we decided to go to Monument Park. Now, my dad is a die-hard Mets fan, but he loves the game. He knows all of the legends, from any team. Just seeing the importance and legacy of these players was humbling. Going through all the plaques and statues and quotes, it was a lot to take in.

The legend, Derek Jeter

In my second trip to the stadium, in 2014, my mom and I visited the Yankees museum. It's another memorial, but with a lot more memorabilia. There are signed baseballs, old uniforms, broken bats, trophies, rings. This, I think, is better than Monument Park.

Anyway, after all that, we got to our seat. We were sitting a few rows behind the third base dugout. These were the comfiest stadium seats I've ever sat my butt in. I've never sat this close in a professional field before.

I don't remember much of the game, again, it was seven years ago, but the Yankees lost to the Texas Rangers, 7-2. Ian Kinsler hit two home runs and Chris Davis (yes, that Chris Davis) hit one as well.

I went back to Yankee Stadium two more times after this, they lost both times. Those times, I purchased my tickets through ScoreBig.com. That's where I've purchased all of my baseball tickets. I'm not a paid spokesperson. They have really good deals for a fraction of the price.

If you are on this journey too, you need to make Yankee Stadium a top priority. It's more than a baseball stadium, it's a New York City landmark.

About Me and The Beginning

Hey all!

Thank you for joining me on this journey. My name is Bill Pivetz and I grew up in New Jersey. I write for the fantasy sports website, fansided.com/fantasy, if you need some help. This blog will be dedicated to documenting my travels and experiences while visiting all 30 MLB stadiums.

"Why baseball?" you may ask.

Baseball is a sport I've been around all my life. It started around the age of 4 when I began playing in T-Ball. I actually think it was earlier than that when I mom used to dress me from head to toe in New York Yankees attire. I progressed through all of the levels before it was capped at age 16. I was a member of a couple of all-star teams and travel teams to continue improving. I tried out for my high school team, but the coach already knew the guys he wanted for the team. Oh well.

I also began umpiring for the 11-12 year olds and moved up to the 14-15 age group. It was a great experience that gave me another look at the game and how difficult the major-league umpires' jobs are. I definitely made some mistakes, as I felt under pressure, but it's something I wish I could go back and do.

I've recently got back into baseball, sort of. I joined a men's softball league with my brother and a few of our friends. Just stepping back onto the diamond for what seemed like forever was a great feeling. We didn't win a game, but it just felt right.

So, to the important stuff. The thought of traveling to all 30 MLB stadiums came about last year. I already visited one of the stadiums before getting serious about visit the other 29. This isn't something I can do in one summer, for financial and professional reasons. This will be a trek that takes me multiple seasons to compete, but that's why it's a journey. I want to enjoy every moment for as long as I possibly can.

Without further introduction, here is my first entry into my travels to all 30 MLB stadiums.