Tips on big ol ballpark tour?

April 26, 2007 1:43 AM

Looking for tips and advice on East Coast ballpark tour.

So, for father's day/my birthday, my Dad and I decided to treat ourselves to go to a ton of the classic ballparks on the east coast as well as some random ones.

Our itinerary as it stands now is:

May 26 - BAL
May 27 - NYY
May 28 - BOS
May 29 - NYM
May 30 - PHI
May 31 - WAS
Jun 1 - PIT
Jun 2 - CLE
Jun 3 - CHC

They are all night games (excluding the Yankee and Cub games). The schedule for those games is pretty much set in stone at this point. Travel times (at least to us) look feasible. We are currently planning on renting a car but if other options are available (train?), we would be open to it.

I know some MeFites have to have done something similar to this. Let me know your experiences from trips like this. What should I look forward to/dread/cherish. Thanks!

posted by bigcheesegump to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (16 answers total)

I spent most of my younger Summers on roadtrips with my dad, where he was "writing a book" about ballparks. This meant a lot of notetaking, picture taking, sneaking into ballparks, night games, day games, half games, etc.

I'm not sure exactly what kind of advice you're looking for, to be honest. But I'll just put a few things out there.

For the New York games, take the subway to and from. Parking is going to be terrible, and there's nothing quite like being on a train going home in a car backed with people who all just came from the game. Especially if the Mets/Yankees just won.

Stadium food now often tries to reflect local cuisine. You're not limited to hot dogs and ice cream anymore (although, you can of course still get that). If I'm remembering correctly, the Baltimore stadium has pretty good crab cakes and corn on the cob. Of course, all stadium food is over priced, c'est la vie.

Be sure to take a camera. It sounds like it's going to be a great trip, so be sure to document it!

Sorry the advice isn't more specific.
posted by piratebowling at 5:19 AM on April 26, 2007

The driving times of Washington-Pittsburgh-Cleveland are definately doable. And is a much wiser decision than doing Philly-Pitt.

Specific to PNC Park, try to get tickets facing the field, avoiding outfield reserved and bleacher reserved. Technically there isn't a "bad" seat in our new stadium, but I much prefer to see the view of the city skyline as well as the field.

Foodwise, you should look for the "Smorgasburgh" - its a specific section focused on local foods. You should really try a Primanti Brothers sandwich (here in the 'burgh we put fries on everything) and some Quaker Steak and Lube wings (I recommend the Louisiana Lickers).

There is a new Springhill Suites directly across from the park, bonus is that you can park there and not have to deal with stadium parking and walk over. If you choose to stay downtown, they generally close the Clemente Bridge during games for pedestrian access. And if you want to stay across the river at Station Square, you can take the ferry over and back.

You're taking the trip of my dreams. Have a fantastic time - I'm sure you're going to find many of us are green with envy.
posted by librarianamy at 6:16 AM on April 26, 2007

At Camden Yards, I've got a soft spot for Boog's Barbecue, operated by O's legend Boog Powell.

If you'll have belongings with you, you might want to check the security rules at each ballpark; some will let you carry a backpack in, some (like Yankee Stadium, last time I was there) won't.

And since you're driving from Washington to Pittsburgh, see Fallingwater!
posted by escabeche at 6:26 AM on April 26, 2007

I've got to laugh at the idea of RFK being on the tour of "classic parks". If it were me, I'd save a small bit of driving and hit a Frederick Keys game on my way to Pittsburgh rather than try to park in D.C. where they typically run out of hot dogs by the 3rd inning. The minor leagues have that unique appeal.

And yeah, Boog's Barbecue, mmm.
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 7:05 AM on April 26, 2007

If you do go to the Nationals game, consider parking your car at one of the end of line Metro stops and taking the subway in.
posted by and hosted from Uranus at 7:10 AM on April 26, 2007

The Washington Nationals offer $5 tickets at RFK, and with the miserable crowds they are getting of late you can then sit just about anywhere you want in the stadium.

Try the Beef Brisket at the "Food Court". Expensive, but very good.
posted by worker_bee at 7:31 AM on April 26, 2007

Get the best insurance they'll let you buy for the rental car.

Eat dinner somewhere before you get to every ballpark. Nine days on an Aramark diet may be fatal (and could bankrupt you). Also, the next day's farts in the rental could strain your relationship with your Dad.

Dress in layers, since you'll hit a lot of weather you don't expect. Carry a waterproof windbreaker, for instance, in case of rain.

Always try to catch batting practice at the park. It's a very special time at every ballpark as it slowly wakes up and fans trickle in.

Be ready to tip the attendant at Camden when he wipes off your seat for you. Always ATM before you get to the park, a lot of parks make this hard or expensive. Choose one souvenir that you'll buy at each ballpark, like a mini-bat or a team hat. Even though you're tired and it's a blow-out, stay until the final out. Wear a glove. If you catch a ball, instantly flip it to a kid nearby. The TV announcers will say what a great guy you are, and someone will buy you a cold one. During batting practice, as you wander around, keep an eye out for beer vendors that sell good beer. At a lot of parks, all but one beer vendor will sell Coors/Miller/Bud, and one guy will have imports. Know where that guy is. Always pee when the home team is at bat. Be sure to explore the underbelly of Fenway. The suggestion to take the train to NYY is very wise.

Wear sunscreen!

I haven't been this jealous of someone in my whole life.
posted by popechunk at 7:39 AM on April 26, 2007

Be sure to explore the underbelly of Fenway.

Take an official tour of Fenway Park.

[Note: Advance ticket sales are not available. Walk up sales are encouraged; The last tour on a game day is an abbreviated tour.]
posted by ericb at 7:47 AM on April 26, 2007

You should try to catch at least one minor league game. They're cheap, you get closer to the field, the between-innings entertainment is very quaint, and it's a hell of a good time.

As for Boston...you have tickets, right?
posted by one_bean at 7:51 AM on April 26, 2007

You can Amtrak the first six games of your trip easily, reliably, and predictably -- but it will cost you. But see if they have specials or AAA rates that make it more sensible. I'm not sure if you can but if you could make it more geographically coherent, you could much more easily Amtrak it. All but CLE and PIT have subway access but I'm not sure about them, they might. You might just like not having to deal with traffic for the entire Northeastern portion of your trip and train it and take subways from the major train stations (possible in NYC, BOS, PHIL, WASH, and Baltimore (although here you would more probably walk or take a $10 cab).

Whether to call the Eastern baseball stadiums "classic" is debateable. Yankee Stadium, Shea, and Fenway are clearly classics. RFK is in its own way. But, the rest of really young and new. If you were to do this trip in a couple years only Fenway and Wrigley would be your classic stops. :(

Pretty soon there will have only been about 5-6 stadiums in all of major league baseball built before 1990! (One fewer if the Twins get their new stadium or not.)
posted by skepticallypleased at 9:41 AM on April 26, 2007

Minor league:
Rochester NY has probably the nicest minor league park I've been to. Not really on your way, but if your itinerary changes...

The Pawtucket (RI) Red Sox have rabid awesome fans - close to Boston and definitely worth going if you can get tickets.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:00 AM on April 26, 2007

Bring a couple Rob Neyer books and The Big Show by Patrick and Olbermann (solely for Olbermann's list of 100 ballpayers that belong in the HOF) in the car to generate some discussion. Get to Camden Yards and Fenway Park early to hang out in the little plazas/streets they close off pre-game. You'll have a neat opportunity to compare the two parks -- Fenway has been almost entirely re-done by Larry Lucchino and Janet Marie Smith, the same people that drove the construction of Camden Yards. In contradiction of my normal "Don't Park in Boston" advice, parking at Fenway is actually not to bad -- every business in the area open up every paved inch they own. You'll pay over $20, but it is worth it. Just make sure you don't let them block you in.
posted by Rock Steady at 10:00 AM on April 26, 2007

Oh, and I forgot to ask -- can I come?
posted by Rock Steady at 10:30 AM on April 26, 2007

Pretty soon there will have only been about 5-6 stadiums in all of major league baseball built before 1990! (One fewer if the Twins get their new stadium or not.)

It's opening in 2010.
posted by hootch at 10:44 AM on April 26, 2007

At a lot of parks, all but one beer vendor will sell Coors/Miller/Bud, and one guy will have imports.

WAY true at RFK, for sure. Camden Yards is much better in that respect; it's usually easy to get good brews there, at only a tiny bit more than the swill. RFK is definitely set up to be the temporary home of the Nationals--they've never gotten around to upgrading the food and drink offerings, and there are some seats with obstructed views. There's nothing in the immediate neighborhood, either (well, except my house). It's an easy, safe walk from the Metro, but driving's not a nightmare, if you go that route.
posted by MrMoonPie at 11:59 AM on April 26, 2007

Oh -- and when at Fenway check out the Cask 'N Flagon before or after the game. It'll be crowded, but is part of Red Sox Nation tradition.

You might enjoy visiting some of the Boston Red Sox fan blogs before, during and after your visit: Boston Dirt Dogs, The Joy of Sox, Over the Monster and The Soxaholic.
posted by ericb at 3:05 PM on April 26, 2007