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.