PNC Park: Let's Go Bucs!

We missed out on a major experience for this ballpark as we did not park our car across the river so we could walk across the Roberto Clemente Bridge to the game. However this park might be one of my favorite experiences so far.

Initially it did not seem like it was going to work so nicely. Carter and I decided that since the Pirates are perennial losers it would not be hard to get tickets at the gate. Oops…when arrived at the ticket office to inquire about seats the lady told us the game was sold out. Really? Carter did some fancy talking and we ended up with obstructed view seats in the outfield with concession money included on our ticket. (not a bad deal considering we were planning on eating in the park anyway)

Once we got inside, we headed toward the Primanti Bros. This restaurant was all we heard about from everyone. We both got the cheesesteak sandwich famous for being topped with french fries, coleslaw & tomatoes.  We are not sure this location in the park stands up to one of their neighborhood locations, but it was pretty decent.

That being said the backdrop views make you forget everything else. Between the Pittsburgh skyline, the river, and the prominent yellow bridges it was magnificent!  The people were friendly and the park was easy to get around. This park was easily accessible from downtown - we drove from the hotel where we stayed. 



And one more thing....it was at this park that my inspiration for the name of this blog came from. On the screen the announcers flashed something about a southpaw. I quickly turned to Carter with a questioning look. "A left-handed pitcher." So even though I have yet to have a cracker jack at a game I figured old school baseball terms are cute. :)

Safeco Field: The Retractable Roof Baseball Stadium

This stadium visit sort of fell into our laps and also solidified the reality of our dream of attending all the baseball parks at the same time. My grandparents surprised my family with a cruise to Alaska in the summer of 2011. Our ship was leaving from Seattle so my family decide to head to Seattle two days early to see the city before boarding the boat. My mom had a small gift card she was trying to use at Barnes and Noble and stumbled onto a cheap tourist guide for Seattle. As she began reading it she saw that one of the suggestions for Seattle was seeing a Mariner’s Game at Safeco Field. Carter practically started salivating when he heard this and the rest is history. There was no way we were leaving Seattle without that field under our belt.

It was super easy to get the stadium via public transportation and breathtakingly pristine upon arriving. Come hungry because Safeco Field has an excellent variety of food. Who needs the classics when you have choices like clam chowder, salmon sandwiches, sushi, chocolate-covered strawberries, garlic fries, wok-fried noodles, and an open pit barbecue? I just had to have the garlic fries, whose intoxicating aroma can be savored for miles.

We sat in the cheap seat in the upper deck, but I’m glad we did. The upper deck provides incredible views both inside and outside the ballpark. We could see the surrounding mountains, water and skyline.

Another significant mention about this stadium was Carter and I could walk freely all over. It was so cool because it did not matter where our seats where as we roamed all over into the nooks and plazas taking pictures and surveying the game. A huge plus! 

Wrigley Field: Home of the Cubs

On a trip with my parents and brother to Chicago my husband, Carter suggested we all make our way to Wrigley Field for a Cubs game. I believe his words were something like “it’s a classic stadium and to not attend a game while in Chicago would be sin.”

I must say going to the stadium via the red line “El” was an experience. The closer we got to the park the closer we got to the people as the trains were packed so tightly I could smell the people on either side of me. As I looked over at Carter a huge grin plastered on his face I felt as if I was truly helping Carter make a pilgrimage to “baseball fans’ heaven.”

Upon arriving at the park, it felt like the entire neighborhood of Wrigleyville flooded the streets and the excitement was infectious. As we made our way into the stadium, it was clear the stadium lacked modern amenities. The confines were friendly for example compact seats forcing your knees to jam into the row in front of you. The historic charm of ballpark made me forget any facility woe. I was in awe of the manual scoreboard and ivy-covered outfield walls. Another eye catcher was the special and unique rooftop seats on the nearby buildings.

Turner Field: The DIrty-Dirty

Paying homage to our hometown, we must start with Turner Field: home of the Atlanta Braves. Being from Braves Country, I can't help but feel partial to the team I grew up and my first baseball game as a child. Carter and I both share separate memories along with joint memories of our Atlanta Braves. In fact one of our very first dates what to see them play in the middle of August. We sat in the outfield sweating and trying desperately not to move in effort to try to stay cool. Nothing is better than a cold diet coke swimming in ice or a Minute Maid Lemon Slushy on a hot Georgia Night.

The Dirty-Dirty? I don't know just something he and his friend Matt made up on the way to a game. Now whenever we pass Turner Field on the highway we do a special salute involving fist pumping and throwing duces to our hometown field.

How does Turner Field Measure Up:

·     Ballpark Concessions: 3

o  My food exposure here is limited. As a child we would pack a lunch before heading to the park. As an adult, Carter would have us get the free designated drivers drinks.

·        Stadium Architecture and Views: 2

o  Let’s be honest not the prettiest views and little breezes to get the air flowing.

·     Fan participation: 5

o  These are my people. Braves fans are the best.

·     Overall: 3.33 

Baseball: A Gentleman's Game

     Baseball has long been called "A Gentleman's Game." Baseball is a leisurely game of both teamwork and individualism. Baseball has a set of formal rules along with unwritten rules that baseball fans and players try to abide by. 

     Our baseball challenge is no different. Because watching a Major League Baseball game is a different experience from one stadium to the next, Carter and I have a set of rules that we have agreed to follow in order to make this challenge possible. 

1.            Carter must attend the stadium in order to count. 

2.            One picture of either Carter or I in the stadium.

3.            Must try the customary item or the best restaurant in the park for snacks/meals.

4.            Following attendance of the park we must rate each park according to a scale of 1-5.

5.            The scale will be used for the following categories:

◦      ballpark concessions: A trip to the ballpark wouldn't be complete without a juicy hot dog and a cool coke.

◦      Stadium Architecture and Views: styles and sights included while looking out at the field.

◦      Fan participation: Any game is more fun with an electric crowd and fervent fans. 

◦      Overall: quality and enjoyment

Ok, lets play ball!

Dreams: How His Dream Become Our Dream

       I knew my husband loved sports, especially baseball. After being married only a short time Carter began slowly dropping hints about how amazing it would be to see all the baseball fields in the USA.
   "Does that not sound like a blast or what?" Carter would enthusiastically burst out from time to time.
    "Um, sure honey. That sounds like a wonderful dream for you," I would say with a slow smile on my face.
     I began thinking about what going to every baseball field in the country meant and what that would look like for me. The sliver lining of attending all these games meant that we would have to be doing quite a bit of travel.  If we were going to attend all these fields we may as well check out the cities while we are there. In addition to seeing all these cities, I might as well find something about the ballparks I could enjoy and look forward as well. I settled on finding the unique foods each of these ballparks had to offer.
     Somewhere in the swirl of all these thoughts and conversations we began our journey and now that we have already see 5 of these parks....I guess we are really making this dream a reality.