Well, boys, it's a round ball and a round bat and you got to hit the ball square. ~ Joe Schultz, 1969
Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too. ~ Greg, age 8

Ballpark Reviews... 

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BALLPARK #30 - October 2, 2009 (Baltimore, MD) Oriole Park in Camden Yards is the last stop on our 30 MLB ballpark tour. We love to see the home team win, but tonight was especially important to make our home team win record .500. In the midst of a losing season, a rainy evening and a practically empty ballpark, the Orioles came through with a fantastic game vs. Blue Jays to a blowout win of 13-7. Was it the rain dance? Or the blessing of our bambina, Sofia? Oriole Park, most notably Camden Yards, was the first modern version of the throwback architecture to classic ballpark structures of the early 1900's. Many other parks would soon follow with the same type of feel and ambiance using brick facade and steel much like our favorite classics, Fenway Park (Boston), Ebbets Field (Brooklyn) and Wrigley Field (Chicago), to name a few. This park is a one-time railroad center turned baseball-only facility and became the home of the Baltimore Orioles in 1992. The main entrance to the park displays a statue of the legendary Babe Ruth, whose Baltimore roots earned him the title of official greeter at Camden. George Herman, the Babe's father, had a little business called Ruth's Cafe on Conway Street and Little Paca, now center field at Oriole Park. We arrived early. After all, it was our last stop and we had to meet local  WBFF Fox 45 for an interview for the evening news. There are plenty of public lots around we paid $12. The cost can go upwards of $30 the closer it gets to game time. The park is located in downtown Baltimore, just walking distance from the waterfront, which offers great shopping and dining nearby for pre and post game tailgating. Inside the park, the "Left Field Club Picnic Perch" offers a nice picnic area to sit and eat your hotdog. Or if you prefer grab some ribs at Boog's Barbecue located along Eutaw Street in the park. The owner, "Boog" Powell was a former first baseman in MLB for the Orioles from 1961-1974 and now hangs out at his restaurant signing autographs. We got one! If you want to meet other former Oriole players they usually come in for autographs Mondays and Thursdays. What made this game memorable: Our last stop. Bumping into the Oriole bird who gladly posed with Sofia for a picture. 

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BALLPARK #29 - September 29, 2009 (Philadelphia, PA) This town certainly showed us the love. Philadelphia embraced our journey and appreciated a Phillies win during our visit to their ballpark. “Was baby Sofia the lucky charm?” the local news wondered. The Phillies had lost to the Astros the night before and would face them again tomorrow, but tonight they just had to win to have a chance at clinching their third straight NL East title. This town loves their Phillies. Citizens Bank Park was dressed in red to cheer on their defending World Series champs. Citizens Bank Park is beautifully crafted. An open outfield provides a fantastic view of the Philly skyline and the open-air walk-around concourses give you uninterrupted view of the park for when you decide to get up to grab a Philly cheesesteak sub! The "Phanatic Phunzone" located by the first base gate is perfect for little kids 8 and under, like Sofia, and the "Phanatic Attic" houses an 8-foot fiberglass Phanatic. Guest services does give out a beautiful "First visit to the Park" certificate. Back on the field. Citizens Park features a bowl-style seating which means you are basically 23 feet below street level. This design was inspired by the classic Baker Bowl and Connie Mack Stadium. But perhaps the best known item at the park is the neon Liberty Bell which towers 100 feet above street level and puts on quite a light show after every Phillies home run. How clever! Tonight it was on fire! Home runs and a grand slam had the fans on their feet twirling rally towels given out at the entrance and boasting a Phantastic Philly victory over the Astros 7-4. The following night, it was lights out for the Astros who lost to the Phillies in a 10-3 blowout. The Phillies clinched the NL East Title. Congratulations Phillies, you can thank Sofia later;-) What made this game memorable: Watching the bell sparkle over and over celebrating Phillies home runs and ultimate win!

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BALLPARK #28 - September 22, 2009 (Queens, NY) Our visit to Citi Field gets us two steps closer to completing our 30 Ballparks and a Baby tour of all 30 MLB ballparks. Easy to get to by subway or railroad, the new home of the NYC Mets is another baseball park inpired by the old Ebbets Field. This new ballpark replaces Shea Stadium, home of the Mets since 1964. (Read Citi Field vs Shea Stadium) Shea has been demolished to furnish additional parking for Citi Field. The new park features a red brick exterior with majestic arches that adorn the entrance.  Its most prominent feature lies inside with a grand rotunda dedicated to Jackie Robinson. Although the Mets have not been having a winning season, they still counted on over 37-thousand fans who showed up to see them play the Atlanta Braves. It was Hispanic Heritage Night and the sound of a Mariachi band entertained the fans outside, while inside the Mets' lineup sported “Los Mets” (Spanish for "the Mets") on their jerseys. Security was tight at the ballpark due to the UN General Assembly taking place this week in NYC. The staff was very friendly and polite. “Enjoy the game!” they all told us. Our friend, Stu joined us and we went to our seats in the outfield right in front of the JumboTron. You won’t go hungry at this park. The variety of foods is as different as the city itself. One of their most popular places is the Shake Shack located on the Field level. The line can get long, but its well worth it. You can grab a seat in the outdoor patio of the Field level, which was built to have a 360-degree walk-around circulation around the park. We have seen this trend in other modern ballparks. Citi Field also features a Sports Fan Fest section for kids which has a kiddie field, batting cages and other activities. Tonight was memorable because our family was featured on the JumboTron and 1-800 FLOWERS.COM gave us a beautiful flower birthday cake and a gift card to celebrate Sofia’s 7 months of life! We finally met our Twitter friend Stephanie, which was a treat for us! It was an evening of all things great except for the loss of the home team. The Braves took the win 3-1. What made this game memorable: Our ballpark “Big Screen” debut! 

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BALLPARK #27 - September 17, 2009 (Boston, MA) Fenway Park is a landmark in Boston located along Yawkey Way right in the heart of the city. Named after Tom Yawkey who bought the club in 1933, Fenway Park stands proudly in the neighborhood. From the outside, you can’t even tell you are walking by a ballpark. It’s red brick exterior blends effortlessly, as though it has been here for almost a century; and it has. The 97-year old park opened in 1912, and has since engraved itself in baseball history with the best players and unforgettable moments in the sport to make it one of the favored ballparks of baseball fans young and old. For us, it was a first as a family. Only Wrigley Field in Chicago comes close to a ballpark of this historic proportion. Everywhere you look there is something that says, you have arrived in Red Sox Nation. The famous “Green Monster”, the manual scoreboard, and the lone red seat are just a small part of what makes this ballpark one of our most memorable ballpark visits. (Read more Fenway Facts) Where else can you get a hot dog served on Wonder Bread? Or chow down on chowder from your seat? Fenway has been nicely renovated throughout the years. Getting to this classic park will cost you if you drive. There are public lots that start at $22 dollars and can cost upwards of $30 the closer you get to game time. Still its worth it. We were invited to go on the field and watch batting practice. “Big Papi” David Ortiz, stretched and chatted with his pals, Jason Bay was up to bat and Kevin Youkilis signed autographs, while baseball fans stood by hoping to personally meet their favorite player. Sofia loved the experience! OK. She may not know she is watching batting practice, but she thinks the crack of a bat is amusing. Today the Red Sox are playing the Angels. After batting practice we were escorted by a Red Sox Ambassador who showed us around the park. As you walk around, vintage ads painted on the brick take you back to another era in baseball and you can still find the old wooden seats in the Grandstand section. Yawkey way is a popular hangout even during the game. The street is buzzing with entertainers and fans coming in and out of restaurants and shops. During the 3rd inning kids can go across the street to the Team Store to meet “Wally”, the other green monster, and the team mascot. But this park loves green in more ways than one. This is the only facility where we have seen staffers making their way through the stands picking up plastic soda and beer cups from the fans for recycling. It is part of their efforts to “green” this park. We love that! This ballpark has undergone significant renovations throughout the years, and despite a few efforts to construct a new park for the Red Sox, Fenway fans refuse to tear down their beloved ballpark.  You can go on a tour of Fenway for $12 and $10 for children. On this night, the Red Sox came close to defeating the Angels, but fell short 4-3. What made this game memorable: Batting practice and coming face to face with the famous "Green Monster". 

>Visit the Red Sox at Fenway Park

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BALLPARK #26 - September 9, 2009 (Bronx, NY) The old Yankee Stadium is an institution in baseball, but the new Yankee Stadium has the potential to become just as much of a landmark as the house that Babe Ruth built. The present and the past stand face to face. The 86 year-old old Yankee Stadium is just steps from the new, more grandiose version of itself. Outside, they tried to maintain a bit of the old ballpark staples such as the arches, team flags and the ballpark dimensions have remained the same, but there are many other features that set it apart. More leg room, cup holders, cushioned seats, family-style restrooms, more than 11-thousand square feet of team stores and a scoreboard to die for. (See Stadium Comparison chart) Inside, this ballpark is sleek and modern. People moving about just like NYC streets. High ceilings, white walls, and a huge TV screen greets you at the Great Hall of the facility. Food. Lets talk about food. Nathans hot dogs are just the beginning. From sushi to Cuban food, all you can eat eats abound. Food is such an attraction the park has featured “Guest Chef" appearances throughout the 2009 inaugural season. Mayor Bloomberg has made sure you know your caloric intake at the park. If that doesn't hold you back from scarfing down a dog vs a burger the prices will. A hotdog goes for $6 and a water bottle will cost you $5. The park offers great ballpark tours starting at $15. We bought Sofia a Yankee shirt with the name "Jeter" plastered on the back with the hopes she would bring good luck to the shortstop who was slated to tie or beat Lou Gehrig's all time New York Yankees hit mark.  It took more than 70 years, but there we were to watch Derek Jeter match the NY Yankees record 2721. We think it was the shirt.Yankees took the last-minute win against the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2. What made this game memorable: New ballpark. New record. 

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BALLPARK #25 - September 3, 2009 (Toronto, Canada) We have been here before. Last summer Roberto and I visited Rogers Centre to watch the Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay when we were expecting our baby.  As fate would have it, just a year later, we are back at Rogers with baby Sofia in tow. This multipurpose ballpark is in downtown Toronto. Outside, it’s not your typical ballpark. No red brick, no wrought iron structures or gates. It is mostly enclosed. I say mostly, because this facility has a retractable roof.  It was open today. The most famous feature of the park though, is the CN observation deck which towers above the field.  Another interesting feature about this park is the Renaissance hotel that offers rooms overlooking the field. The “Kids Zone” is not spectacular, but the ballpark is a nice one. Although the Blue Jays were playing the Yankees, the park was not filled to capacity. The Yankess took this game 10-5. What made this game memorable: Coming back to the ballpark a year later with little Sofia on this great family ballpark tour. 

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BALLPARK #24 - August 28, 2009 (Detroit, MI) Comerica Park is Detroit. Located downtown, this park is rugged and aims to please. Huge stone tigers on the roof and grounds of the main entrance and 80-foot long baseball bats establish that you are Tiger territory. This park gets a thumbs up for the best amusement area for children. Where else have they built an amusement park inside the park!? There is the "Fly Ball' Ferris Wheel cozy enough for mom, dad and three siblings or three of your closest friend. Walk over to the Big Cat Court and you'll find a carousel of tigers of course! Both are $2 per person and wheelchair accessible. Kids 14 and under ride for free. If you plan to go with kids who are mobile please consider the Tigers wristbands which records the child's seating location in case you loose your cub, this aids in reunited kids with their parents. You can get them at Guest Services. This is also where you can get a "First Visit" certificate for the kids. As you walk through the corridors of the park you are treated to what they call a pedestrian museum which holds a collection of Detroit Tigers baseball memorabilia. The park also features a center field musical fountain. The atmosphere at this park is good. Detroit fans are true fans. They sport their tiger gear, foam paws and all. Little girls wear their tiger ears and my little girl sported some feline print slippers. The park was packed with 39, 296 fans who came to see the Tigers vs Tampa Bay Rays. This is also the first time we've seen fans huddle to watch the game outside through the fence. Center Field, right past the Statue Gallery, has a great view of the game. Things can get a little crazy right as football and baseball seasons overlap. Comerica is located just steps from Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions. We were caught in the whirlwind of the end of the football game and the beginning of the baseball game. Parking was about $10 for baseball vs the hefty $45 dollars football fans have to pay for parking in the same lot. Is this Detroit? The Tigers lost 3-1 to the Rays. What made this game memorable: You won't soon forget the mammoth stone tiger statues that greet you at this park.

>Visit the Tigers at Comerica Park

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BALLPARK #23 - August 25, 2009 (Milwaukee, WI) The thunder rolls outside and the crowd cheers inside Miller Park. An overcast day gave tailgaters just enough time to barbeque and drink Miller beer before the storm rolled in. The seven panel fan-shaped convertible roof opens and closes in just 10 minutes. It was closed tonight to protect us from the rain, but who was protecting the Brewers? Fifth inning and the Reds are on top 3-1. Bernie the mascot hangs out by the Kalahari Resort Splash Zone in left field  for an opportunity to go down the yellow slide if the Brewers score a home run again. Around here #28 Prince Fielder is  king. Fans wear foam crowns that say "Prince" on them, but the crowd pleaser every time are the sausage races. Tonight the Polish sausage won but back in April 6, 2001 when the park opened the Bratwurst won  the race. So it's no surprise that the main eats at this park are the sausages. There are five kinds: Italian, Polish, hot dog, Bratwurst and the Mexican chorizo. We had a Brat, which I hear is the most popular and very good! The sausages ate so popular out here people buy shirts with the sausages them! The park is a nice one. Located just off the highway the traffic can get pretty bad coming in and out of the park. They have plenty of general parking. Today we paid $8 for parking. The exterior of the park is made of red brick and wrought iron. Inside, the place is hopping like a train station. We headed to guest relations where Sofia got a certificate and a couple of other goodies to take as a token of our visit. Fans sporting their Brewers  gear scatter right before first pitch. The Milwaukee Brewers Walk of Fame is located on the plaza outside Miller and commemorates some of the greatest names in Milwaukee Brewers baseball history. It starts near the statues of Hank Aaron and Robin Yount. You can also check out "Autograph Alley", an exhibit featuring autographed baseballs by baseball legends. Baseball tours here start at $8. The crowd cheers "let's go Brewers" , the team just scored and the mascot is happy. The Brewers score in the bottom of the ninth and the Reds bring in ex-Brewer Francisco Cordero to close the game, but the Brewers score again. Pressure is on the Prince again, and he manages to get a man on third. The storm had gotten worse and the stadium closed the side panels. during the 4th iining and now It was really hot and muggy. The crowd is up and excited. Will the Brewers recover from this hangover? Nope. After four extra innings and an extra sausage race, (where the polish sausage won again) the Brewers lost to the Reds 8-6. What made this game memorable: This is definitely longest game so far! Total game time: 4hrs 24 min. Sofia was a trooper, though. She hung on til the bitter end. 

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BALLPARK #22 - August 21, 2009 (Chicago, IL) The New Comiskey Park (a.k.a.) U.S. Cellular Field is Charles Comiskey’s new “ Baseball Palace of the World” in Chicago’s South Side. Located across the street from where the old Comiskey Park used to stand, this is a fun modern baseball facility although the location leaves much to be desired. The Sox played the Orioles, but that was not really the main attraction because tonight was Elvis Night. The long awaited annual event in its fourth year, that attracts hundreds of fans of “The King”. Men and women sporting replicas of Elvis’s gold plated glasses with sideburns and all, grown women swooning over Elvis entertainers, and kids too young to know Elvis rocking to his music. The event featured a blow-up Elvis face, showgirls, fireworks and flying Elvises did not disappoint. For us, dressing Sofia up in the famous white eagle Elvis suit made our baseball night. We were supposed to meet a Chicago Tribune  photographer who was going to take pictures of us for the story featuring our journey that was running on the Saturday paper. Once the photo shoot was over, we decided to go for a hot dog and some peanuts. Classic baseball. This park has an area for the kids called Comcast Fundamentals, and you can even check in your pet; Seriously! If you happen to loose your cell phone, this park is the place to do it. U.S. Cellular Field has a store to buy cellular products; Ofcourse! The scoreboard explodes when the team scores. If you go, you may want to take your picture in the “Chicagoland Plumbing Council Shower”. A carry-over from old Comiskey Park and a fan favorite. Near Section 160 under the Vienna Sausage sign. These fans love to tailgate before the game and dress in White Sox gear and in black and white. There is not much to do after the game on the South Side. That is a drawback. Tonight, the lonely Orioles fan cheered on his team to a victory over the Sox 5-1, but I don’t think anybody noticed over the "Return to Sender" Elvis track. What made this game memorable: Sofia in an Elvis suit!

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BALLPARK #21 - August 16, 2009 (Minneapolis, MN) The announcer comes on and says its 73 degrees outside and 70 inside the Metrodome; And with that, the game against the Indians begins. The Metrodome is completely covered and Twins fans like it that way. It was overcast today and some told us they liked knowing they don't have to worry about the weather at the Metrodome especially since they have to travel many miles to get there. But the advertising for the new Target open-air stadium in 2010 is plastered all over the Dome. Catchy phrases such as: countdown to outdoor baseball, "Countdown to farmer- tanned vendors", "real grass stains", "skyline sunsets" and "starry nights"  now decorate the interior. Vendors who sell team memorabilia warn "all sales final"! Outside the park there was much fanfare. Sunday is family day and everyone is out and about with their kids. A staffer was getting a table ready for an autograph opportunity. We got in line and Sofia got her baseball autographed by Twins pitchers #49 Jeff Manship and #52 Brian Duensing. The team has a nice following. The fans dressed in blue and red boasted their team colors. The corridors are hopping with food vendors. We looked for a team store, but the Dome doesn't have one. "The new one will," says the vendor. Back inside, the Twins score a homerun and the crowd goes wild. Fake fireworks go off. But at the top of the third things go south and the Indians score back to back homeruns. Silence at the Dome. Twins coach comes in to  find a new pitcher and to the tune of Sam and Dave's,  "Hold on, I'm coming",  he brings in #28 Jesse Crain to save the day. However, in spite of a couple of changes in pitchers after that the Twins could not recover and lost 7-4. You can view the status of construction of the new Target Field via webcam (More) What made this game memorable: First autograph session and attending a baseball game at the Metrodome before the Twins move to the new Target Field in 2010. 
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BALLPARK #20 - August 13, 2009 (Denver, CO) Stormy weather rocked Coors Field today, but not enough to deter the Rockies from delivering a win against the Pirates 10-1.  Maybe it had something to do with the  altitude or the effect thin air has on pitching (More). Opened in 1995, this ballpark is one of the nicer ones. Located in lower downtown Denver, an area with a mix of apartment residences, restaurants and small businesses. We parked in a stadium lot for  $10. The stadium is made of red brick and dark green wrought iron and has a great view of the Rocky Mountains in the first base and right field areas. the center field bleacher section is informally called "the Rockpile". The purple seats in the stadium put you at a mile high in the air. If you decide to leave your seat you can get good eats for cheap. They have value items like $2.50 hot dogs and fountain soda but only at some of the concession stands , so look around. Dinger the Dinosaur was available for pictures and autographs in the third inning and we were given a nice stadium pin  at Guest Relations for Sofia's first time visit to the park. Funny story: When they were digging for construction of Coors Field, they actually found some dinosaur fossil bones and the park was almost named Jurrasic. Instead, they decided the mascot should be a dino. A neat feature in this park is a wall behind center field with live pines and a fountain that comes on when the Rockies score a home run. Another neat feature is that Coors has gone green and is one of the MLB's Green Stadiums. Up at 5,277 feet, the Rockies are using an array of 46 panels to power their Coors Field LED scoreboard. There is a picnic area called the Rock Pile and plenty of Coors beer to go around of course! However, you will also find the Blue Moon Brewery, ( Belgian-style beer widely distributed by Coors) is adjacent to the ballpark and you could enter it through "The Sandlot" restaurant. Although many fans wore  purple and black we did not see many fans wearing Team gear. At our seats a little boy wearing a spiderman mask and his little brother gave Sofia the ball they had received from one of the players in the bullpen. His Dad said he was teaching them about Karma and good deeds for others. Seemed to work for the boys. Shortly thereafter they were given another ball by a Rockies player in the outfield. What made this game memorable: Watching the lightning and thunder roaring over the field as the Rockies scored a home run! 
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BALLPARK #19 - August 9, 2009 (Seattle, WA) This stadium is one of four retractable roof fields in the MLB. Located in downtown Seattle, the location is not spectacular. You have to walk over train tracks to get to it and there was some construction going on while we were there. Qwest Field, home to the NFL's Seattle Seahawks is located right beside it. Although Seattle is known for its constant downpours, Mother Nature was good to us today and we did not experience rain, but in true Seattle style, it was overcast. The roof was retracted for the game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Inside, there is a wide variety of foods from sushi to chocolate covered strawberries on a stick called “Shishkaberries”.  We ate some garlic pizza. Yummy. Morgan the Moose, mascot of the team is one of the most lively ones we have seen. He likes to call out fake plays during the game while he walks through the crowd. Morgan has his own little hut complete with a backdrop of a fireplace and portraits on the wall where kids can come in to meet the mascot and take photos at scheduled times during the game.  Sofia met the moose and was intrigued by his snout. Safeco doesn’t have anything that would distinguish it from any park except its retractable roof. Outside, a huge metal glove greets the entrance which makes for a nice photo op. Detailing of metallic baseball players run along the gates. The staff at this park was very friendly and Sofia received her first time visit to the park certificate at Guest Relations. Today was Sunday and like most parks, it was the day for the kids to run the bases. For the first time I ran the bases with Sofia, although after making a huge line that wrapped around all the way up to the 3rd level she didn’t make it to home base awake! The Mariners played a great game against the Tampa Bay Rays and won 11-2 with a Grand Slam. What made this game memorable: Finally getting to run the bases with baby! 
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BALLPARK #18 - August 7, 2009 (San Francisco, CA) Location, location, location ! The Giants have this down pat. This beautiful stadium right on the bay aims to please. AT&T Park is considered the best park of all by Giants fans of course and they will fight you for it. Can't say I blame them. They had to share their old venue Candlestick Park "The Stick" with their football team SF 49ers since 1971 who still plays there. Now the Giants boast a state of the art stadium complete with a beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay. We got there early to meet with reporter Amy Hoffman from ABC 7 news. Our seats were located in a bleacher section nearest to the bay called the Cove. That's exactly what it feels like seagulls and all. Right behind us towers pour a cool water mist over the fans when the Giants score a homerun. What identifies this park is a giant baseball glove and coca cola bottle that sit right above left field. The cola bottle is actually a slide called the guzzler. There are fans if all ages at this park but there is definitely a party atmosphere at this park like no other we gave been to. The corridors are packed at all times with folks out and about. The lines to the bathrooms are incredibly long at times, but move fast. The even promote an "Express" bathroom located in various points. Not sure what makes these "express" restrooms, maybe a location with less foot traffic. The food of choice at this park are the garlic fries- excellent! But they offer a smorgesboard of good eats including a $15 crab meat sandwich and hot chocolate and churros to keep you warm from the chilly breeze that comes in from the bay. When the game ends, the seagulls invade the field in search for food. It's quite a sight to see! Today they were giving out bobbleheads of the official announcer of the Giants Jon Miler and a couple of people tried to buy them from us and one actually traded us one of Moises Alu. The official mascot is Lou Seal,  but it made a brief appearance on the field. I don't think the fans seemed to mind especially since they may have adopted one of their players as the team mascot. The fans affectionately call Giants player Sandoval, "Kung Fu Panda" and he I believe has become a mascot of sorts at least for now. People wear panda shirts and hats. At this game, Sandoval was charged with two crucial errors in the 8th inning which allowed the Reds to score critical runs that would lead them to a victory 10-5. What made this game memorable: Nervously watching balls flying our way during batting practice. 
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BALLPARK #17 - August 6, 2009 (Oakland, CA) The Oakland Athletics or A's are lucky to have a great fan following. The Coliseum is a football stadium located in an industrial section of Oakland that transforms into a baseball park in the spring and summer. From a distance it looks just like a Coliseum. It is steps from the BART which is a good way of getting to the park because the only parking available is at the stadium lot for $17. Fans young and old  clad in green and yellow made their entrance proudly showing off their team pride. However, the fans can't be proud of their park. Inside it's all concrete with dark corridors and few places to grab some food. They have a small area created for the kids to play, but not  what you would  see at a baseball- only park. The team mascot is Stomper the elephant who we got to take a picture with Sofia as he walked the corridors, but beware of it's trunk it tends to get in the way when Stomper looks to the side! Today was MUG rootbeer float day, a fund raiser for Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund. Various kiosks with local  radio TV station personalities, newspaper and players and even their wives were there making root beer floats at $2 each. The team raised 25 thousand dollars for the cause. We got to meet radio personalities from KGO 610 AM radio and Rich Wolcoff interviewed Roberto for their AM show. The stadium has done a decent job in making it fit for baseball. Unlike Land Shark Stadium in South Florida, the seats here are more spacious and the layout of the stadium makes it more adaptable to the diamond. I'll be happy when the A's new Cisco Park opens in 2010. What made this game memorable: The KGO morning team greeting Sofia at MUG Root beer float day.
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BALLPARK #16 - July 31, 2009 (San Diego, CA)  This game was a memorable one. Not only did the Padres bring home an 11-7 win, but we caught the first foul ball for Sofia. It also launches the second-half of our 30 ballparks and a baby tour. The park is located in downtown San Diego. There are plenty of restaurants and the park is nestled amongst business, restaurants and brand new condo apartments. Some have a great view of the field. We got there about an hour before the game and were able to find metered parking, which is free after 6pm but people use the trolley, bus and I hear in the future they will be able to use the water taxi. This park does not have an extraordinary exterior, or interior for that matter, but it does have a little park where on “away” games the fans can sit on the grass and watch the Padres on a screen outside. Families hang out there before the game. Kids play catch with their friends and family, and the Petco mascots mill around taking pictures with the fans. There is a small baseball field called “Little Padres” field for the kids. A statue of Tony Gwynn sits outside in Tony Gwynn Plaza in celebration with his induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame with a quote that says “If you work hard good things will happen”-it's also surrounded by personalized bricks purchased by fans, a favorite photo spot. There are concessions outside where you can grab a a Friar Frank at the Friar’s Shack. Did a mention the mascot for the Padres is a friar, a monk, a priest?—yes, this character is pretty funny.  He wears a brown frock and loves to cheer on his team. In this park they race friars from different decades. Today, 70’s friar won.  Once inside , the park is generic. No fancy displays or anything of the sort. Some of the terraces offer great panoramic views of the bay.  I will say the staff is lovely. We passed by guest relations where we saw a staffer who gave Sofia her first visit pin (which now has become a trend- I mean whatever happened to paper certificates?). She was also nice enough to offer her a take home Padres baby ball.While walking  the corridors, we bumped into another staffer curious about Sofia. He gave us some insight on time-capsules buried under the bases.. Hummm, interesting. After grabbing some “Better than kettle corn” popcorn for $5- we went straight to our seats located in the outfield along the third base line. It was also foul ball territory. Will Venable #25 was up to bat and his foul ball came straight to our section, but not before bouncing off a woman’s hand right into our row. Roberto and Sofia went for cover as I slid to get the goods. Mom delivered on this one. What made this game memorable: Catching the first foul ball!
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BALLPARK #15 - July 26, 2009 (Los Angeles, CA) Dodger Stadium is a historic landmark in Southern California located in the Chavez Ravine.This ballpark offers the best views in baseball. To the south you can see downtown L.A. and to the north and east fans have a beautiful vista of hilly terrain and lush vegetation. A sign up on the hill says “THINK BLUE” after all, this is L.A. and they like to put signs on hills. The stadium was built in 1962 and is almost half a century old, but is still in good condition. The seats are light greenish/blue and fans don’t like to disappoint. They too sport Dodger blue with pride. This is a no frills ballpark. If you come here, you come to see the Dodgers play. There is no playground, no fancy restaurants not even a mascot. Pure baseball. In fact, the park was rated in Sports Illustrated back in 2003 as the number one playing field by MLB players. The Dodgers plan to refurbish the park. They are calling the renovation which promise modern amenities and environmental features, “The Next 50 Years” (Read More). Dodgers have great pride in their players. Manny Ramirez is their star player and has a section of the left-field wall devoted to him called “Mannywood”. Too bad the Dodgers lost this game to the Marlins a disappointing 6-8.  No Manny Ramirez today. The team has started a new campaign called “This is my Town: Dodgertown” and there are billboards all over the city featuring stars from the entertainment and sports industry from Larry King to their star player Manny Ramirez all the way to Yoda  from Star Wars. This ballpark has hosted its share of historic events: major concerts, Olympics, All Star series, World Series, World Championships, even a visit from Pope John Paul II. Its history speaks for itself, Dodger Stadium is a must-see landmark in L.A. If you go, catch a historic ballpark tour and a Dodger Dog- the best in the League! What made this game memorable: Its the Dodgers! What more do you need? That, and the fantastic view.  
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BALLPARK #14 - July 25, 2009 (Anaheim, CA)  Somebody was sure looking over the Angels on this day.  The team won 11-5 against the Minnesota Twins in a game with plenty of excitement.  Angels Stadium definitely has the most artistic  exterior so far. Giant red metal baseball caps greet the fans as they walk up to the entrance with tall palms placed sparingly throughout. Fans seek shade from the California sun under these fantastic structures.  The main entrance to the stadium is embellished with gigantic baseball bats that support the Anaheim Angels sign. The team is currently in mourning after their pitcher, Nick Adenhart  # 34 was killed by a drunk driver and the fans have created  a shrine with baseball items in his honor outside the park (Read More).  The Angels played beautifully, and a sea of red and white fans cheered them on.  But it got even more exciting when a fan ran the field right after the 7th inning stretch. As the security guards were taking him down and putting the shackles on him, the announcer reminded the fans that running the field is now a federal offense and that the young man faced about three-thousand dollars in fines. Today they were giving out rally monkey coin banks with a paid ticket, so Sofia did not get one. The guys at guest relations handed us a first time visit sticker for her, a calendar and a couple of bang sticks instead.  Angel Stadium is home to the 2010 All Star game and they are already starting to promote it. The facility is over forty years old, but the ballpark has received a great facelift and offers modern ammenities. You can get a tour of the park for a mere $3 for adults and $2 for kids. The original Angels metal sign that once stood in the outfield is still on display in the parking lot and tailgaters like to camp under it for shade. The halo above the “A” lights up when the Angels win. Today it was all a glow.What made this game memorable: Watching the Angels rally a fantastic win.. run after run. 
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BALLPARK #13 - July 24, 2009 (Phoenix, AZ) Chase Park is different. The home of the Diamondbacks, or D-backs (the team underwent re-branding in 2007) sheds its skin...when it wants to. The retractable roof is only one of the amazing  features of this park which makes up for the loss to the Pirates 10-3 at this Friday night  game. In the midst of hot, and I mean hot, weather, this  air-conditioned facility maintains the integrity of the baseball experience inside the park. They were giving away D-Back sun visors for cars, which most child fans ended up wearing or holding up to rally their team. We were impressed to see a variety of restaurants including Friday’s  as well as activities for the kids, but that’s not what they’ve done different- after all, most of these modern parks have great eats. The overall experience of this park was a good one filled with “firsts” for us. As we walked in, they had a booth where Diamondback staff was busy creating signs for the fans, but that was just the beginning. The fans are fond of their team, in fact 24, 911 showed up for this match. Most sported red and black, and rattlesnake tails replace foam fingers to rally the Diamondbacks! The park features a private suite with a pool overlooking the right center-field, which we are told has seen its share of home runs –fun! Virtual hot dog races with kids running in place and the use of captioning on the scoreboard for the hearing impaired was a first.  For the kids, the Sandlot and Baxter’s den provide activities such as batting at Futures Field.  We were disappointed we did not get a picture with Baxter, but meeting the organ player, the Diamondback’s “musical mascot” and getting his autograph picture was definitely unique! At this park, kids get a pin for their first-time visit to the park, which is different from the certificates we’ve collected from other parks (although we do prefer the personalized certificate for Sofia).  Outside the park, it is easy to find cheap parking. Located in Downtown Phoenix, there are plenty of lots close to the park. We got there about an hour before the game and parked for $5 in a public lot a couple of blocks from the ballpark. Outside,  giant stone baseballs (which we have seen at other parks) greet the entrance. Red brick and green structural steel best describes the exterior inspired by the Phoenix warehouse district. “Sliders Restaurant” is located right on the premises and many choose to hang out there before and after the game. The park also has  “Value Items” that make the experience affordable . For example  a hot dog for $1.50 and a 12 oz. Pepsi for $1.50 they also offer $5 tickets. It was Fireworks Fridays today and so the stadium retracted. Amazing! It takes approximately four minutes for the roof to completely retract. This was also a first for us.  According to the team, it is similar to the technology used for draw bridges. Interesting fact: On game days, they retract the roof to help the grass grow. Chase Field certainly strives to be different. The Grand Canyon State did not disappoint. We recommend this unique stadium for all it has to offer. What made this game memorable:  Creating a rally sign for Baby Sofia and watching D-back, #27 Mark Reynolds’ amazing catch over the railing.      
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BALLPARK #12 - July 17, 2009 (Dallas, TX) Ok. Everything really is big in Texas! Cliché, I know, but the Rangers are proud of their park and they are big on their love for the Texas Rangers. Unlike Minute Maid Park in Houston, this ballpark is not covered. The temperature was about 93 degrees (refreshing after you’ve spent some time in 100+ degree Texas weather) but that did not stop the fans from attending the game against the Minnesota Twins. Fans cheer on their team with big foam fingers and big foam hats while eating foot-long hotdogs, (which I could not finish). Capacity of the park is approximately 49,115-, but it still doesn’t feel like a huge stadium, Rangers Ballpark maintains the intimacy of baseball. 34, 662 fans attended this game.We arrived early to meet with local CBS station and got a behind the scenes tour of the park. We were taken through the four-story office building located within the "park-home run porch" in right field. The façade of the park is mostly red brick and granite. Moments in time that have defined Texas are set in white stone murals such as man landing on the moon. Images of the Texas Lone Star and the bull are reflected in the décor throughout the park.  Baseball-shaped fixtures accent the perimeter of the upper concourse. Concrete arches and “ranger green” structural steel add a classic touch to the architecture.CBS reporter Joel Thomas pointed out to us that when a player strikes out the “K” in the Ozarka Water billboard light up. If you keep your eye on the Southwest Airlines billboard you will notice the “S” light up for a strike, and the “O” for an out. Overhead fans were installed to cool off the fans in the lower and upper home run porch. Parking is easy-- there are plenty of lots just a few short steps from the ballpark, which is located in Arlington, TX—(close to a Six Flags water park). The new football stadium for the Cowboys is just a couple of blocks away and the locals affectionately call it “the spaceship” because it looks like one and has the two panels that retract on each side.  Back at the park, “Captain”, a horse, who is the team mascot, kicks off the game entering the park on a pick-up truck waving big Texas flag with an entourage of young cheerleaders. Some parks race hot dogs or presidents, or even pierogies. At this ballpark colorful dots race the field. Interesting spots in the park include the Legends of the Game Baseball Museum and the Coca-Cola Youth Sports Park, which is buzzing with activities to keep the kids entertained and there is a water mist running throughout the game to cool you off.  They had fireworks at the end of the game, but Rangers fans did not have much to celebrate- we were bummed to see the the Rangers lose 5-3 to the Twins- Nevertheless, our trip is about memories, and this park ranks as one of our favorites for overall good experience! -What made this game memorable: When“Captain” the mascot walked around the field greeting fans and took Sofia to pose for a picture with her. 
>Visit the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark                 
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BALLPARK #11 - July 12, 2009 (Houston, TX) Minute Maid Park was so much fun!  Located in downtown Houston, the ballpark is the main attraction of that particular area. There is plenty of parking surrounding the venue. We ended up parking for free on the street because it was Sunday. One of four ballparks in the MLB with a retractable roof, Minute Maid did a good job of keeping the fans entertained inside and sheltered from the scorching 103-degree weather outside. The left-field entrance to the park is made of red brick and light green wrought iron which gives it the a classic ballpark feel. They have a nice sitting area with trees and statues of baseball players. Huge baseballs adorn each entry way-but on this day it was just too hot to sit outdoors. As I mentioned in my review for Tropicana Stadium, I like to experience baseball in the open-air, but in this stadium it doesn’t matter. It was built to watch a baseball and it shows. There is plenty of natural light that comes in to make it feel like youare outdoors and the energy inside is fantastic. The park was build adjacent to Union Station.  The railroad was important in the history of Houston and the theme is evident at Minute Maid.  A 19th century replica choo choo train carrying a bunch of oranges,  runs along 800 feet of track and it goes off every time an Astro hits a home run. Sofia loved it! Team mascot, Junction Jack  was busy visiting different sections in the park and posed for a picture with Sofia. The seventh inning stretch included a rendition of "God Bless America", "Take me out to the ball game" and of course,  "Deep in the Heart of Texas" l-There were lots of families there who braved the heat to get to the game against the Nationals.The turnout was great for this game in which the Astros beat the Nationals 5-0. Nats coach Manny Acta got fired that evening. What made this game memorable: Attending our first retractable roof stadium and the cool locomotive! 
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BALLPARK #10 - July 4, 2009 (Miami, FL) The Marlins desperately need a BASEBALL stadium. My home team did a fantastic job this 4th of July of delivering a win 5-3 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.Read more.. An early afternoon storm finally blew over just in time for the 6:10 pm game. A sea of fans wearing patriotic red, white and blue, Marlins caps given out today cheered on the team to a tie for first place in the National League East. However, the venue fell short of the comforts and family atmosphere of a ballpark. After all, it is designed for football. The seats are huddled close together for a capacity of 75, 540 spectators versus the average seating at a ballpark of 38-thousand. The stadium which opened back in 1987, as Joe Robbie Stadium, has since reinvented itself quite a few times. Its also been dubbed Pro Player, Dolphin Stadium and more recently Land Shark Stadium after the lager partially owned by singer Jimmy Buffet. I will say the park is trying to make frozen lemonade out of lemons by providing entertainment during the game, like the all-male dance team the Manatees, the first in MLB. These burly guys put on quite a show with their provocative dance moves. The fans love them. They perform Opening Day, Fridays and Saturdays. Billy the Marlin was also milling around messing with the fans, what a crazy fish! The team is also giving away cash in light of a wicked economy, especially in South Florida. One woman won $2,500 to pay her mortgage. We headed to community relations to see about a first time visit certificate, but found yet another park who has not caught on to the idea. However, they were nice enough to offer to mail one out to Sofia and thought it was a great idea for them to implement. This summer they are providing concerts every Saturday with the hopes of boosting attendance to the games. KC and the Sunshine Band was the headline act for the 4th of July. Disco tunes and fireworks lit up the South Florida sky. After a long battle with the city and county, the new stadium groundbreaking is slated for July 18 and the stadium should be completed by 2012. You can watch the progress via webcam. In the meantime, lets supports The Marlins no matter where they play. I am hopeful that once my team gets a stadium all its own, they will be able to boast a great venue like many other teams we have visited on our journey! Go Marlins! What made this game memorable: Coming back home to watch our Marlins win. Fun with family on the 4th, and stadium stop #10- Just 20 more to go!

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BALLPARK #9 - June 26, 2009 (St. Petersburg, FL) Tropicana Stadium is the most unique ballpark that we have visited thus far. Named after Tropicana orange juice company, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays is a non-retractable dome stadium. The grounds that surround the stadium are very tropical. The walkway is lined with palm trees and the largest ceramic mural in Florida with a mosaic of sea creatures greets you as you walk up to the entrance. Once inside you walk into a rotunda modeled after the old Brooklyn Dodgers Ebbets Field built back in 1913. If you look down there is a painted baseball diamond on the floor which is a good photo-op. To me baseball games equal the outdoors, so it was difficult getting used to the idea of a ball game indoors; but on a day as hot and muggy as this, I was thankful. There are other dome stadiums in the League, but only the Tropicana and the Metrodome [home of the Minneapolis Twins] are non-retractable. The indoors had an underground mall feel to it and the field itself felt more like a concert arena. It is definitely an interesting experience watching the game in a completely enclosed atmosphere. Like other ballparks, Tropicana had concession stands and restaurants inside the park. As you walk inside the corridors, you can find plenty of entertainment for the kids. You can visit the Ted Williams Museum and the Hitters Hall of Fame. They have batting cages, you are welcome to run the bases post-game on Sundays and get a field tour for the kids for $6. But the favorite attraction by far is Rays Tank which harbors cownose rays, located right behind centerfield where you can pet the animals for free and feed them for $4. Interesting fact: If a player hits a home run into the tank, the Aquarium donates $5,000 to charity. On this night, there was a mixed bag of fans, and they were loud! Every stadium has traditions. At Tropicana, the fans cheer on their team by ringing a metal "cow bell". On this night, the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Phillies 10-4, so there were a lot of cow bells going off. The roof of the dome is lit orange when the Rays win home games. Any guess why? May have something to do with the Ballparks title sponsor: Tropicana Dole beverages. After the game, we were invited to go on the field. Being there is magnificent. You get a feel for what the players see and hear when they are out there. The place looks bigger from the field. Tropicana is the only MLB ballpark with combination Astro-Turf (fake grass) and all dirt base paths. Back inside, people hang out after the game at Centerfield Street Brewhouse near the entrance where Rich Herrera , the official broadcaster for the Rays Radio Network goes live with this post-game show commentary. Sofia had an opportunity to meet him and he told his listeners about our journey. He also lent her his 2008 Tampa Bay Rays American League Championship ring to play with. We were told that many employees got one. And Sofia posed with a couple of people who had them in the park. As you know by now we like to collect certificates stating Sofia's  first visit to each particular park. Tropicana does not provide this yet, Guest Relations says they are working on that for the kids, and handed Sofia a deck of Tampa Bay Rays trading cards instead. If you are a baseball fan, you will appreciate a different way of enjoying the old pastime at Tropicana Field: indoors!  What made this game memorable: Meeting some great fans including Nick Hamel, a 14-year old baseball fan who has spina-bifida and is in a wheelchair, but who's positive spirit is contagious! Nick knows most of the ball players in the MLB and will be writing a book soon on his experience with baseball.  Be on the lookout for it! 

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BALLPARK #8 - June 23, 2009 (Atlanta, GA) With temperatures soaring well into the 90's it was hot on and off the field. The Yankees were in town for this one, but were unable to cool down the Braves who shut out the Bronx bombers 4-0. The Majic of Turner Field is inevitable. This ballpark works hard to supply plenty of ways to make the visit a memorable one. A giant billboard of a baseball and red brick adorns the entrance to this grand ballpark. As you walk in you are greeted with classic 1940's music that automatically puts you in the mood to enjoy old American pastime, but they also offer plenty of modern ammenities and fun for kids to enjoy before and after the big game.  check out their 101 Things to do  at Turner Field. Lets not forget Homer the mascot who made an appearance to greet us at the park. The only thing missing is the "First Visit to the ballpark" certificate. We have been able to get one for Sofia at the Guest Relations Desk at some parks, but Turner Field doesn't have it yet. Thanks to the Braves for donating items for our 30 Ballparks and a Baby Miles for Charity Auction to take place at the end of our tour. All proceeds collected will go to a charity to be determined that benefits girls' sports and education. More info.... What made this game memorable: Watching the Braves and the Yankees at batting practice and the Braves victory, which now puts Sofia's record of home game wins at 5-3. Thanks Atlanta! 

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BALLPARK #7 - June 21, 2009 (Cincinnati, OH) The Great American Ballpark is the first on our second leg of the 30 Ballparks and a Baby tour. Today was very special for us because it was Roberto's first Father's Day and like many other Dads in the park he got to share it with his family enjoying the sport of baseball. The name suits this ballpark well. The atmosphere is definitely baseball. This is not a stadium so big that the field gets lost, it is intimate enough to give you that ballpark feel versus stadium feel. When we got there we went to Guest Relations to pick up a certificate for Sofia for her first visit to the Great American Ballpark. Today was very festive. The park was buzzing with families and fans dressed appropriately to cheer on their REDS. Unfortunately, the REDS lost today's game to the White Sox 4-1.  What made this game memorable: Father's Day in the park ofcourse! 
>Visit  the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark

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BALLPARK #6 - June 4, 2009 (Pittsburgh, PA) This is a spectacular park. With the Roberto Clemente bridge and the Pittsburgh skyline as the backdrop, PNC Park is truly an unforgettable venue. Not to mention the food. I discovered the Pierogie and tasted the best hotdog of all stadiums visited so far. What made this game memorable: Meeting other fans, including a family that was on a baseball journey of their own following the Mets, and another fan who serenaded Sofia with a harmonica on the Roberto Clement bridge.

>Visit the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park

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BALLPARK #5 - June 1, 2009 (St. Louis, MO) Busch Stadium is alot of fun. No doubt Cardinals fans love their team! This evening game was packed. The panoramic view of the St. Louis skyline from the stadium is impressive, especially at night. This one is a very modern stadium, but they still have the old scoreboard on display, which is cool. This is home of the All-Star Game this year and you can feel the energy building up-- everything has the All-Star Game insignia on it--Albert Pujols played that evening and gave the fans quite a scare when he slid into second base and hurt himself. Luckily, it wasn't too bad and he continued to play. The Cardinals lost 3-5 to the Reds. What made this game memorable: We had great seats, right behind the visitors dugout on the third-base line.
>Visit the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium

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BALLPARK #4 - May 31, 2009 (Kansas City, MO) This was the first game after we decided we would visit all 30 ballparks in one season. Kauffman Stadium is located right next to their football stadium. This newly renovated ballpark with its circular ramps and escalators is very family friendly. I especially love the Kauffman Stadium fountains located in the outfield box seats. It was hot and those fountains looked delicious! Sofia got her picture taken with Sluggerrr, the mascot. Royals fans are true blue fans (pun intended). In spite of the less than spectacular season they have had they have a following. Even during a weekday, Kauffman Stadium had a worthy attendance. Up to this game Sofia had a great record of winning games.  What made this game memorable: Roberto and Sofia ran the bases after the game.
>Visit the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium 

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BALLPARK #3 - May 27, 2009 (Chicago, IL) Oh! Wrigley Field. It just breaths classic ballpark. There are 94 years of history here for taking. From its rugged exterior to its old school interior, you can't beat the nostalgia you feel when you are here. For $25 you can grab a tour of the historic ballpark. After the tour you can hang out at the new Captain Morgan Club right outside the park and get 30% off when your show your tour ticket. The Cubby Bear is another historic hangout. But you have to be 21 and over. It gets crazy after the games, so it may be difficult to find a place in Wrigleyville to hang out in with the kids. We ended up walking down Addison Street, and found a family friendly pizza place away from the overwhelming crowds.  If you are feeling adventurous watch the game from the rooftop bleachers across the street from Wrigley. What made this game memorable: Carlos Zambrano's tantrum on the field.
>Visit the Chicago Cubs at WrigleyField

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BALLPARK #2 - May 25, 2009 (Cleveland, OH) Game two found us visiting the Indians vs. White Sox on their home turf, Progressive Field. It was Memorial Day and the Indians were giving away aprons that said "We are with the tribe." The stadium boasts a multi-million dollar scoreboard the largest in baseball. You can purchase a scoreboard message for any occasion.You can also join the 2009 High Achiever Kids Club for free and check out the Indians Hall of Fame in Heritage Park.  What made this game memorable: The Indians seven run comback! Great game!
>Visit the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field

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BALLPARK #1 - May 3, 2009 (Washington, DC) Sofia's first baseball experience was a home run at Nationals Park. Our home park is located in an up and coming neighborhood in Southeast DC. Today they were celebrating Latino Heritage and were giving away free t-shirts with the team insignia in Spanish "Los Nacionales". The Nationals won 6-1 against the Cardinals. Could Sofia be the lucky charm the team needs to have a winning season? What made this game memorable: This was Sofia's first game!
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