Nationals Park, 2011

#15

I went here in June 2011. On the way to Chris's graduation in NY, we spent a couple days in DC, and caught a game here while at it. This was a day game and was very overcast. It was inter league time. They were playing the Seattle Mariners and won 1-0 on a 9th inning walk-off single. The Nats were in the process of one of their best streaks since being in Washington, like 18 of 20, and when I got back to the hotel later Jim Wriggleman stepped down as manager. Something to do with his contract, but still weird.


We will hit this park again on a future trip with Shawn, but this one was with my wife. I knew I would be driving through the area, the Nats were at home, so I wasn't gonna pass it up. The scoreboard is really nice here. It is probably even more impressive at night or at least on a day that isn't overcast. The park doesn't seem to have a bad seat in it.


This is the Red Porch and Red Loft restaurant and bar in CF. Since there is nothing to eat around the outside of the park, and I mean nothing, we had lunch at the porch when the gates opened. It was good food and reasonably priced, especially for a ballpark. Being that the park has been open since 08', you would think they had a few places to grab a bite outside the park. NOT!




One thing I was looking forward to was the "Presidents race". Alot of people consider these things cheesy, but I think it gives each park a bit of personality.
At Nats park, the presidents walk around the park before the game and during the game as well, which is really cool. They were at the CF gate when the gates opened and were walking around. My wife wouldn't go near them, she was a bit freaked out. They are over 8' tall so I guess I understand. Supposedly, Teddy R has never won a race, and he had the lead more than half way through, and then he looked like he just ran out of gas. I got pics of all of them up close, but only put Teddy in the post.


The Nationals do not have a lot of history in DC, but do have their former namesake for history, but unfortunately most of the HOF players from the Expos made their name in other cities.
The following statues at Nationals park are of players from former teams that played in Washington like the Senators.
Frank Howard- Senators


Joshua Gibson- Wasnington Grays- Negro League


Walter Johnson- Washington Nationals 1920-27

Turner Field, 2011

Mets-9/16
My last regular season game of 2011. Going to try to hit a playoff game if the Braves make it in, which they should. It was "Star Wars night" at Turner tonite. This was my last game with Chris also, and it was a bit chilly, 60 by game end. The Mets won 12-2, and it could have been worse. There were 20 hits by the Mets. Below, on the scoreboard, is David Wright as Darth Vader and he was very evil tonite going 3-5 with 2 HR and 6 RBI.


Dodgers-9/2
We went to the Braves museum for the 1st time. It was pretty cool. Dont know why I never went in all the trips to Turner, but it was fun to do before the game. I took a few pics, and below is one of the old uniforms from when they were the Boston Braves. The Braves blew a 5-0 lead to lose 8-6 to the Dodgers.


Giants-8/16
The Bravos won this one on a 11th inning walk-off, 2-1, after winning the previous night with a 9th inning comeback. Martin Prado hit a single and pushed Brooks Conrad across for the winning run. If only the Giants could score a couple of runs.

Cubs-8/12
The Cubs game was also Bobby Cox's Jersey retirement night. This was pretty cool to be at. I only wanted to see the Cubs, but this added to the experience.


This is Bobby Cox's # after the ceremony.


They had the field painted for the Ceremony and game.
The Chik-fila cow with another new saying.



Oh, thats right, the Cubs were here too. Well, at least in uniform, they got blown out 10-4, out hit the Braves and got killed. Typical Cubs.

Phillies-5/13
I went to this game with my future brother in-law Justin. I won these tickets through work, and they are great seats, about 20 rows right behind the Braves dugout. This is the first MLB game I've been to in 2011. I will be going to many more this summer with the trip and the Cubs here in August. Phils beat the Braves 5-4.


This is also the first game I have gone to with my DSLR camera. Fun stuff. Cant wait to take it on the road trip!


The Braves statue of liberty that was from the 2008 all-star game at Yankee Stadium. Each team had one and I believe they took them back to thier own parks. I saw the one in KC last year, I will have to start looking for these. There is also a Mickey Mouse from the all-star game in 2010 in Anaheim. Kinda cool.





The Bud pavillion. I have hung in there a couple of times, although it is tough to watch the game from in there. Below is the Chik-Fila cow and Coke bottle. They change the cow's sign alot. There are some older pics of it in my older Braves posts.

Bethany's Parks

Here is a list of the parks Bethany has been to. These are in the order she visited them, not in any type of rank.

1. Turner Field
2. Wrigley Field
3. Coors Field
4. Citi Field
5. Nationals Park
Thats more than a lot of people can claim. For a chaser, its not a lot, but for a casual fan it's pretty good.

I have seen all 30 teams play live, although not all at their home park. That will come in time. Bethany has seen 11 teams play live. Hopefully she can someday see all 30 teams play live. Here is who she has seen so far.

NL
Cubs
Braves
Mets
Marlins
Nationals
Rockies
Padres

AL

Red Sox

Twins

Mariners

Orioles

As of the end of the 2012 season, she has been to 18 ball games total. 

Shawn's Rankings

This is a list of the parks Shawn has been to and his Rankings. I will keep this updated as he adds more parks.

1. Wrigley Field- Awesome location awesome feel very small seating.

2. Yankee Stadium- History otherwise a dump.

3. Fenway Park- Great overall, a little tight, awesome grass, Yawkey Way.

4. Camden Yards- GREAT ALL AROUND!

5. PNC Park- The approach, the skyline view, not a bad seat in the house.

6.  Busch Stadium III - interchangeable with 7& 8, awesome cityscape with arch, great oldtime architecture pretty women second to Kauffman.

7.  Comerica Park- great approach,  beautiful park great cityscape.

8. Kauffman Stadium- surprised by this stadium really enjoyed the Dry Duct and fountain, great walkway in outfield, best scoreboard!

9. Citizen Bank Park- Nice scoreboard, a couple of obstructed views, awesome concourses, didn't like moving around the city.

10. Turner Field- old faithful fun for playoffs pretty southern girls, great patio.

11. US Cellular Field- Lower bowl cool not fan friendly seating policy dont get caught down here at night.

12. Progressive Field (The Jake)- good downtown location been so long since there.

13. Great American Ballpark -nice location nice exterior cool steamboat very sterile feel.

14. Miller Park- beautiful outside boring inside.

15. Skydome- dome, enough said... cool location next to CN tower easy access to a fantastic downtown.

16.  Exhibition stadium - multipurpose stadium was there when I was 12.

17. Tropicana Field - I didn't even have to ask Shawn how he felt about this one. I'm quite sure it was gonna be at the bottom.

Shawn on our trip to the old Yankee Stadium in its final season.

Chris's Rankings

This is the list of parks Chris has been to, and his ranking. It was a long time ago that he was at Yankee Stadium, and someday he might understand what it stood for and the history of it.



1. Comerica Park - Tiger statues, beautiful park set up, and scoreboard.

2 Wrigley Field - Classic feel, park layout, don't like obstructed views.

3. AT&T Park - Coke & glove statues, bay atmosphere, awesome layout.

4. Progressive Field - Light stansions, cool graphics, great park set-up.

5. Angel Stadium - Awesome outside structures, rock structure in outfield, tailgating.

6. Dodger stadium - Gorgeous inside, blah outside, secluded from city, restricted movement.

7. Miller Park - Sweet park, the home run slide, awesome tailgating.

8. Oakland Coliseum - Beautiful inside, had a great baseball feel.

9. Petco Park - Beautiful inside and out, warehouse, "park inside the park".

10. U.S. Cellular One Ballpark - Restricted movement in park.

11. Turner Field - It might be higher ranked if I didn't hate the braves so much.

12. Yankee Stadium(old) - Hard to remember, I was just a kid

Busch Stadium III, 2010

#14

This was the last of our 3 game trip for 2010. I have talked about the look of a stadium as you approach it. This one is sweet. I love the red brick and the small details are nice. Its also cool that there is an elevated crosswalk right across the street which makes for a great place to take pics. The statues spread across the front and the clubhouse shop are sweet. I was surprised that I saw almost zero Cubs stuff for sale there. I saw more in KC than in Busch. I'm sure there are a lot of Cubs fans that live in the area, plus they visit there 3 trips a year. Overall this was one of the nicest parks I have seen. The Cubs won 9-7 and took the series. Too bad we cant beat the Bucs and Stros!


The views from everywhere in the stadium were great. You can see the arch in the background from almost everywhere, except the outfield bleachers, while watching the game. It gives you something to look at between innings. Site lines were fantastic. We moved up around the 8th inning to about 8 rows up right near 3rd base. We went over there for a few pics and the usher said, "just go sit down there if you want" and we didn't want to disappoint her. The game was a sellout but a lot of empty seats. Maybe due to the heat, and the fact that the Cubs are not in the race. Plus a lot left early. The Cards fans were very cordial, but I did see a lot of "Cubs bashing" t-shirts. I wonder if they wear them all the time or just to Cubs games?I also saw a lot of mixed couples, you know half Cubs half Cards.


The scoreboard here was pretty nice. Lots of detail around it, Including all their pennants above it on the right. I have to be objective when I go into enemy territory I guess, and it didn't bother me, but when I look at it now, I have to admit it makes me jealous. They also have their retired numbers under the main board, including the microphone for Jack Buck. The clock with the Bud and team logo surrounding it is pretty sweet as well.


Here is Shawn at Busch. We agreed that this was the nicest of the 3 we went to on this trip. Plus we went to the arch after the game which was cool as well.


There are 10 small statues in front of the main gate, and while full size statues are sweet, these are very well done. I put together a collage of them. They are as follows L to R, 1st row- Enos Slaughter, Dizzy Dean, Ozzie Smith, Red Schoendienst, Stan Musial; 2nd row- Lou Brock, Bob Gibson,George Sisler, Rogers Hornsby, and James Bell. There is also a large statue of Stan Musial at the 3rd base gate. I guess he would be considered their greatest since he has 2 statues? Whats gonna happen when Albert retires, does he get 2?



Jack Buck has a statue on the first base side. He was an all time great announcer and deserves this. When are the Braves and Phils going to follow suit?

Kauffman Stadium, 2010

#13

This was game 2 of our 3 game trip in 2010. This is a beautiful ballpark and a great place to watch a game. They recently did a remodel, and I was not there before that, so I cant compare. I can say that the concourses are roomy, it is a beautiful layout, and the site lines are great. One of the updates was that they added seats in the outfield and standing room space under the fountains (see below) called the pepsi party porch. It was 2 levels of standing room and being right under the fountains on a hot day is nice because you get the mist from them when they are on. This area was packed and anyone can hang there. There is not much to look at from the exterior view, but it is still a beautiful stadium. With the updates, it should be around a long time, and is a diamond in the rough.


The scoreboard here is very impressive. It has been recently updated with new video and is sharp. It is a lot bigger than it seems in pictures. I was pumped about seeing it, because it is a neat feature at the park, and it still blew away my expectations. The pics do not give it justice.


The statues here are nice and spread around the standing room area in the outfield. They are George Brett, Frank White, and Dick Howser.






We moved up to the third base line around the 8th inning here as well. This pic is at night and we chose Teixeira just for Beau (Shawn's wife). He is her favorite Yankee. You can see the quality of the scoreboard here.



The Yankees won 8-3, and A-Roid hit 3 A-bombs while going 4-5. We didn't get to see Mariano, because of the score, but did see Jeter and Jorge.

Great American Ballpark, 2010

#12

Was here in August 2010, the 1st of a 3 game trip. The view coming up to the park wasn't great. It hides a little where it is at. I know that sounds crazy with a huge ballpark, but I guess if you have been there, you know what I mean. The main entrance is kind of bland, although there are some cool statues there(see below). Although once you get inside it is very nice. The site lines are great. The field is beautiful. The steamboat replica in right/center field is kind of the signature of the park, and it is impressive. Fireworks shoot out of the smokestacks when a Red hits a HR. The Reds were playing the Marlins and won 7-2.


Here you see a close up of the stacks. You can stand underneath them and watch the game, and there are misters and fans that blow on you. And a great view as well. Pretty convenient when you start to melt after the 1st inning on a hot day. This was HOT. 96 degrees and sunny. Our seats were 4 rows up from the field in left center, and I think they were the last two seats in the stadium to get shade relief;). These misters are in a couple places and very nice. We moved up to the third base line around the 7th inning here and I just missed a foul ball. It hit my hand but I couldn't get a grip on it. The guy behind me got it when it hit the ground, but gave it to his kid, which is what I would have done anyway. Maybe I need to invest in a glove so I dont break a finger?


The scoreboard here is pretty basic. Nice, but basic. It isn't overpowering and gets the job done. I had a great time chatting with the Reds fans, even though I was completely decked out in Cubs gear. Of course it helped that I let them know I hate the Cards!


The statues in front of the stadium are below, and in order are Ted Kluszewski, Joe Nuxhall, Frank Robinson & Ernie Lombardi. These four Crosley Field stars are shown in the middle of a game, with Robinson hitting off of Nuxhall and Kluszewski on-deck. I know that Pete Rose can't be in the HOF but the park is on Pete Rose Way, and they don't have a statue of him?.







While we were waiting to go into the park, Shawn and I were discussing the 1990 reds. The "nasty boys" came up and all we could think of was Rob Dibble, and ??? Myers. We asked several fans and employees if they could name them, and nobody could come up with the 3rd. One lady got Randy Myers after we said the last name. At least we weren't the only ones that couldn't get it. The 3rd was Norm Charlton.

Progressive Field, 2010

#11

Went here at end of June 2010. It was a great night for baseball. The stadium was very nice, but not filled even close to capacity, but with the way the Indians have been playing lately, no surprise there.


Heritage park, located out beyond the center field fence, is a neat bit of history about the Indians. It has plaques for alot of players, even if they are not HOF or retired numbers with the club. There was 1 statue of Bob Feller by the left field entrance. Cool statue, but it should be either out front or near the Heritage Park, IMO.







The stadium has a pretty nice scoreboard. I have been looking a lot more at the scoreboard set-up when I go to parks lately. Wrigley is so basic, and manual of course, but still one of the best, not that I dislike the new styles. Some get a little overzealous with the advertising, but something has to pay these guys salaries.


I had on my (Cubs) Kerry Wood jersey hoping to see him pitch in the game, and he came in for the save in the top of the 9th. The Indians shot down the Jays 2-1. It was good seeing one of my favorite Cubs come through at the game, even though he wasn't wearing Cubs gear.


I went to this game with my brother in-law Pat, nephew Sean, and my son Chris. Pat got us great seats on the 1st base line, right behind the dugout about 8 rows up. Close enough that when Jays 1B Lyle Overbay threw a ball into the stands in between innings, I caught it. I gave it to Sean right away, and the look on his face was priceless. I hope I just made a lifelong baseball fan. This was the third park that I have been to a game to with Chris. Yankee Stadium, Turner and here. Hopefully he can go next year on the trip with us.