Trout Dominance To Lead The American League?

Opening Day has finally arrived.

After a lengthy off-season that saw huge free agent signings from James Shields, Giancarlo Stanton and Max Scherzer, along with the mega San Diego Padres/Atlanta Braves only 24 hours ago, the season is surely one not to miss. There are numerous questions heading into this season regarding who will be the contenders come October, will there be another surprise late season playoff rush similar to the Kansas City Royals and how will the returning Alex Rodriguez be received.
Let's take a brief look at the American League and what there is to expect.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

Reigning AL MVP Mike Trout heads a revitalized Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim coming off a 99 game win season prior to being swept in the ALDS by the eventual AL Champion Kansas City Royals. The offensive combination of Trout, Albert Pujols, Cole Calhoun and upcoming CJ Crohn is sure to complement the starting rotation. Questions headed into the season is the returning future ace, Garrett Richards coming off a season-ending knee injury in Boston, the state of Josh Hamilton and whether or not CJ Wilson can return to form.

The Seattle Mariners are the Angels surefire competition in the division this year with the additions of Nelson Cruz and Seth Smith to an offense that already includes Robinson Cano, Dustin Ackley and Kyle Seager. The balanced batting order providing protection to Cano will provide the Angels toughest competition and run support to the rotation headed by Felix Hernandez. Don't be surprised to see Taijuan Walker make a run at the AL Cy Young Award this year. Billy Ball continued in an offseason frenzy that saw the Oakland A's rebuilt through multiple trades and free agent departures. Did you really think the likes of Jon Lester and Jeff Samardzjia would stick around this season? I didn't. The team who dominated the West in consecutive years provide offense in acquired DH Billy Butler that they will lack following the trades of Yoenis Cespedes and Josh Donaldson.

The Houston Astros look to finally climb their way out of the cellar by adding free agents Evan Gattis and Colby Rasmus who will provide protection to Jose Altuve and the constant Home Run threat Chris Carter. Last but not least, how will Prince Fielder and Shin Sin Choo perform in their second year with the Texas Rangers?

The West is the Angels division to lose, but don't be surprised if the Mariners are knocking on the door deep into the summer months.

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

The Detroit Tigers look to continue their dominance of the American League Central following a fourth consecutive division title. Questions are aplenty in Motown heading into Opening Day this season. Max Scherzer departed for the Washington Nationals, David Price is signed through the end of 2015 and will Justin Verlander could start the season on the DL? The starting rotation was considered baseballs best two years ago has seen the departures of Scherzer, Doug Fister, Rick Porcello and Drew Smyly, with the addition of David Price in a trade last year is a s state of uncertainty just like its aging bullpen. Yoenis Cespedes provides a needed offensive bat to provide support to starts Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez who are entering the season coming off recent injuries. This is where a future star in J.D. Martinez can step up and provide additional support.

The Kansas City Royals shocked Major League Baseball en route to a World Series appearance against eventual champions, San Francisco Giants. The departures of "Big Game" James Shields, Nori Aoki and Billy Butler in free agency netted little in return of an aging starting pitchers Edinson Volquez and Chris Young presents a need for Yolando Ventura to have a breakout season for any hope in returning to the post season. Look for the Royals to compete in a division that could once again be wide open.

Much like the Cubs, the Chicago White Sox had a busy off season signings of Jeff Samardzjia, David Robertson, Melky Cabrera and Adam LaRoche are sure to add a much needed offensive threat that the White Sox look to continue following the success of Jose Abreu in 2014. The biggest question this year for the White Sox is the health of ace Chris Sale who will start the season on the Disabled List. Corey Kluber heads up the Cleveland Indians following his CY Young winning season. Still many questions going into the season for the Tribe. Michael Brantley heads up the offensive workload that is set to continue well into this season following a run at the AL MVP last year. Then there are the Minnesota Twins to made news in the off season wit the feel good story following the re-signing of Torii Hunter, signing of Ervin Santana and departure of Michael Cuddeyer. The Twins have failed to reach the post season since winning the Central in 2010 due to numerous injuries from key players. Rising star Brian Dozier looks to head up a subpar lineup that includes 2009 MVP Joe Mauer.

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

The Boston Red Sox on paper are the clear favorite to run away with the American League East this season. Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez join a roster that already contains "Big Papi" David Oritz, Dustin Pedroia and Mike Napoli that is sure to be a force to be reckoned with. Hanley Ramirez provides a star presence in the shadows of the green monster that has been missed since Manny Ramirez departed long ago for the Dodgers. Returning to the Red Sox this season is former pitcher, Justin Masterson who makes up a new look rotation that includes Clay Bucholz and fellow off-season acquisitions Wade Miley and Rick Porcello. The Red Sox appear to be all-in for another run at the World Series title following a dismal 2014 season.

Reigning AL East champions, the Baltimore Orioles will miss the weapons of Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis who departed in the off season, but will welcome back star Chris Davis following a suspension and down year of production. J.J. Hardy and Matt Weiters will begin the season on the disabled list. The success in 2015 for the Orioles depends on the health of Manny Machado, Chris Davis and how the starting rotation will fare heading into a long summer.

The once powerful New York Yankees said goodbye to longtime captain Derek Jeter last season, opening up the position to Didi Gregorious. A roster of aging stars presents many questions headed into Opening Day. How will Alex Rodriguez fare following his season-long suspension for 2014, is Mark Teixeira still a threat at the plate and how will the starting rotation fare? Don't count out the Toronto Blue Jays as a sleeper team in 2015.

Russell Martin, Josh Donaldson and Justin Smoak join a roster that is ready to pounce with power from Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnarcion. The Jays will be without former closer Casey Janssen who departed for the Washington Nationals and Marcus Strohman who is on the 60-day disabled list. Then there are the Tampa Bay Rays. The team who has produced quality starting pitchers and offensive power is without former ace David Price who was traded at the deadline to Detroit, multi positional player Ben Zobrist and ex-manager Joe Madden in the off season for the Chicago Cubs. New manager, Kevin Kash brings a line-up headed by star Evan Longoria, Desmond Jennings and Asdrubal Cabrera. Known for making late season pushes for the playoffs, this season will be an unknown for the Rays. Hopefully they can finally lock in a new stadium deal in hopes of bringing in prized free agents.

PREDICTIONS

AL West - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
AL Central - Detroit Tigers
AL East - Boston Red Sox
WILD CARD - Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles

A National Dominance Of The Mid-Summer Classic

National League dominance at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game will continue following the announcement of the Washington Nationals hosting the 2018 edition of the mid-summer classic. Traditionally, the All-Star game has followed a rotation where the American and National League stadiums host the game every other year since the mid-1960s.

The criteria for hosting the game has followed a course of newly built stadiums and stadiums that haven't hosted in some time being awarded it. Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati will host its first All-Star game later this year since 1988, while San Diego's Petco Park will showcase their beautiful downtown stadium. The Miami Marlins will host the cities first ever All-Star game at Marlins Park in 2017, while the game makes its return to our nations capital in 2018 at Nationals Park. Washington hasn't hosted the classic since 1969 when the Senators played at RFK Stadium.

Following the announcement of the 2018 host stadium, many questions still persist for stadiums that have yet to host it, or haven't in decades. The Tampa Bay Rays Tropicana Field is the only stadium that has yet to host the All-Star Game. Given the recent announcement that the team is still struggling to find potential sites for a new stadium in the Tampa Bay area, it is unlikely that the team will land the game until a new stadium is built.

While the All-Star Game is the showcase of Major League Baseball's best, 35-years have passed since the legendary Dodgers Stadium has hosted the game. Many would assume that given the recent upgrades to the stadium that is home to the reigning National League and CY Young winner, Clayton Kershaw, would make perfect sense as a future host stadium, 2019 any beyond.

Baseball returning to Montreal?

In an announcement made earlier today by Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, a new stadium must be in place for any chance in bringing the sport back to Montreal.

The key is for an adequate facility in Montreal that could support baseball over the long haul. The Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds are scheduled to play a two-game exhibition series on April 3-4, just days before the start of the regular season following the successful exhibition games at Olympic Stadium in 2014 between the Blue Jays and New York Mets.>

For baseball to return, but succeed in Montreal, commitment and dedication must be put in place in hopes to lure an existing franchise back to the city that failed to draw over 1 million fans in its final seven seasons prior to relocating to Washington D.C. as the Nationals.

The Expos joined the National League in 1969 as MLB's first franchise based outside of the U.S. Acquiring stars like Gary Carter, Pedro Martinez and Vladimir Guerrero, the franchise struggled when the Canadian dollar lost value and efforts to leave Olympic Stadium for a modern facility failed.

Dealing with their own struggles to build a new stadium, the Tampa Bay Rays have recently been linked to the Montreal market, even though team owner Stuart Sternberg has stated that he insists on making baseball in Tampa Bay work. The Rays, locked into a deal with Tropicana Field until 2027 would have to pay the city if they leave their current home.

Time will tell, whether in the present or future on the state of baseball in both Montreal and Tampa Bay.

Forget Hot Dogs and Beer, MLB Teams debuting 2015 offerings

The classic days where hot dogs and beer once dominated ballpark food is facing stiff competition courtesy of the daring but new offerings that several teams from coast-to-coast are debuting. 1902 was the year, a cold April day in at New York Polo Grounds during a Giants game. Under pressure from losing money selling cold sodas and ice cream, a concessionaire Harry Mozley Stevens sent a salesman to buy up all the dachshund sausages they could find, and an equal number of rolls. An hour later, the hot dogs were being hawked at the game. As history dictates, a new American tradition was born.

Over 100 years later, the hot dog still rules the ballpark food empire. With the growing ticket prices and the average persons appetite, MLB teams alike are hard at work creating, debuting out of this world offerings that will cost you close to what you paid for your seat. Last year, I authored an entry that briefly focused on mouth-watering hamburgers, sausages and yes, french fries. Incase you missed that article, it can be read at this link.

Seven days is all that separates the beginning of the 2015 MLB season. Outrageous contracts ink have now dried, promotional items have been unveiled and the lasting effects of a long Winter season have since melted to give us the ballpark gem we have come to love. There is just one last thing missing, the ballpark food debuts for this season.

"Don't mess with Texas" is the perfect introduction as everything is better in Texas, well when it comes to food including BBQ. Last year, the Rangers debuted a perfect-game heavy rotation with their "Beltre Burger" and the "Choomungous", both items that required a fork, knife and many excess napkins just to devour. Both of these food offerings caught my eye during my trip to Ameriquest Field last year that were made fresh in an area of the ballpark that made Souplantation look like it belonged in the Minor Leagues. Chicken and corn are two items that have always complemented each other on a menu, but combined as one? The Chicken-fried corn on the cob deep fried in buttermilk batter comes served on a stick with a lime for a very reasonable price of $5.00. Not sure yet if this is something I am willing to try but you never know until trying it!

BACON! Anytime the word bacon is mentioned, it creates dialogue. It has quickly become a household item found in hamburger patties, Blood Mary's, toothpaste and in ice cream. For a price of $8.25, Candied Bacon is yours to take home inside of a Rangers mini helmet. The Danish bacon pieces are coated with a layer of cinnamon and chili powder.

The Kansas City Royals Advanced-A affiliate, Wilmington Blue Rocks step up to the plate combining sweet, salty and savory all into one. The Krispy Kreme Bacon HotDog Donut with raspberry jelly is sure to rack up the RBIs this season and the taste buds for those fortunate to live in the Delaware area.

Nachos on a stick? Yes, the Milwaukee Brewers join the show this season with their take on the classic ballpark food, nachos. They come layered on a cardboard tray, team helmets and in a plastic bag, but how about on a stick? The meat stick filled with refried beans, crusted in Doritos and topped with sour cream and cheese sauce will surely salivate the thirst of those inside Miller Park that will make a trip to Milwaukee worth it.

This is only a small bite at the bold new items debuting this season at ballparks this season. Anything is possible these days and until next time..

Scrapbooking: Keeping Your Ticket Stubs

Ever since I was a young kid, I have always been a fan of collecting interesting and unique items from trips that I go on. It can range from a shot glass from each state or country that I visit, newspaper headlines or ticket stubs/items from each professional sports venue that I have visited. While unfortunately, there are some items that I probably will never sadly find from trips when I saw the famed Oakland A's Bash Brothers (Mark McGwire / Jose Canseco) take on Cal Ripken Jr.'s Baltimore Orioles or the World Cup 1994 match between the United States and Columbia at the Rose Bowl. Yes, that infamous game that many still remember 20 years later for the magnitude that it had.

The other day, I was going through all of my ticket stubs and found quite the collection that I have accumulated over the years from sports, concerts, movies and trips. I snapped a quick photo of a few with my camera that are shown below.

In that photo are tickets from the following few:

Yankee Stadium on my 30th Birthday - Derek Jeter became 10th all time on the MLB Hits List that night

Fenway Park Tour during the 100 Years Celebration

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat when Kobe and Shaq were still team mates

NY Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles last year - Will be the last time I ever see Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter on the diamond

Houston Astros vs. Florida Marlins - 2005 game in Houston that showcased a very young Miguel Cabrera while still a Marlin

NY Mets stub from the game they played against the Washington Nationals in NYC on the 12th anniversary of 9/11.

What I've Visited (So Far)

It has been a very quiet year for visiting new stadiums, ballparks and arenas in 2014. After a busy 2013 that took me to Detroit, Toronto, Baltimore, Seattle, Washington DC and a brief few hours in NYC, this year has been an off year. Fortunately, later this year I will be crossing off two more MLB ballparks.

With that, I took a look back at what I have visited, so far.

MLB BALLPARKS


Arizona Diamondbacks - Chase Field - Visited 2012
Baltimore Orioles - Oriole Park at Camden Yards - Visited 2013
Boston Red Sox - Fenway Park - Visited 2011 and 2012
Brooklyn Dodgers - Ebbets Field Location - Visited 2011
Chicago White Sox - Comiskey Park - Saw by air 2003, have yet to visit in person
Chicago White Sox - Spring Training Facility - Visited 2012
Detroit Tigers - Comerica Park - Visited 2010, 2013
Detroit Tigers - Tigers Stadium - Visited 2013
Houston Astros - Astrodome - Visited 2005
Houston Astros - Minute Maid Park - Visited 2005
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - Angels Stadium - Home Ballpark
Los Angeles Dodgers - Dodgers Stadium
New York Mets - Citi Field - Visited 2012
New York Yankees - New Yankees Stadium - Visited 2011, 2012
New York Yankees - Old Yankee Stadium Grounds - Visited 2011, 2012
Oakland A's - O'Co Coliseum - Visited 1991
Philadelphia Phillies - Veterans Stadium - Visited 1996
San Diego Padres - Jack Murphy Stadium/Qualcomm Stadium - Visited 1996
San Diego Padres - Petco Park - Visited 2012, 2014
San Francisco Giants - Candlestick Park - Visited 1991
Seattle Mariners - Safeco Field - Visited 2002, 2013
Toronto Blue Jays - Rogers Centre - Visited 2013
Washington Nationals - Nationals Park - Visited 2013

NFL / NCAA STADIUMS



Arizona Cardinals - University of Phoenix Stadium - Visited 2008, 2012
Baltimore Ravens - M&T Bank Stadium - Visited 2013
Buffalo Bills - Rogers Centre - Visited 2013
Chicago Bears - Solider Field - Saw by air 2003
Detroit Lions - Ford Field - Visited 2010, 2013
Houston Texans - NRG Stadium - Visited 2005
Indianapolis Colts - Lucas Oil Field - Visited 2010
Michigan Wolverines - Michigan "The Big House" Stadium - Visited 2013
New Orleans Saints - Superdome - Visited 2006
New York Giants/Jets - MetLife Stadium - Saw in 2013
Oakland Raiders - O'Co Coliseum - Visited 991
Philadelphia Eagles - Veterans Stadium - Visited 1996
San Diego Chargers - Qualcomm Stadium - Visited 2007
San Francisco 49ers - Candlestick - Visited 1991
Seattle Seahawks - Century Link Field - Visited 2013
UCLA Bruins - Rose Bowl - Home Field
USC Trojans/Los Angeles Rams - The Coliseum
Utah Utes - Rice-Eccles Stadium - Visited 2006
NFL Pro Bowl - Aloha Stadium - Visited 2001
NCAA Fiesta Bowl - University of Phoenix Stadium - Visited 2008, 2012

NHL / NBA / NCAA ARENAS



Anaheim Ducks - Honda Center
Boston Bruins - TD Garden - Visited 2012
Chicago Blackhawks - United Center - Saw in 2003
Detroit Red Wings - Joe Louis Arena - Visited 2010, 2013
Houston Rockets - Toyota Center - 2005
Los Angeles Clippers - LA Sports Arena
Los Angeles Kings - Staples Center
Los Angeles Kings - The Forum
Michigan Wolverines - Crisler Arena - Visited 2013
New York Rangers - Madison Square Garden - Visited 2011, 2012
Philadelphia Flyers - The Spectrum - Saw in 1996
Phoenix Coyotes - Jobing.com Arena - Visited 2012
Seattle Supersonics - Key Arena - 2002
Toronto Maple Leafs - Air Canada Centre - Visited 2013
Toronto Maple Leafs - Maple Leafs Garden
Utah Jazz - EnergySolutions Arena
Washington Capitals - Verizon Center
NHL Hockey Hall of Fame - Visited 2013

Food For Thought: A Look at MLB Stadium Food

In my last entry, I spoke about the benefits of touring MLB ballparks across the country and in neighboring Canada. Taking these tours will leave even the simplest fan of baseball satisfied with the hope of a return to the ballpark. If you missed the entry, you can read it here.

A trip to the ballpark can never be complete without taking in all of its senses. From the fresh cut outfield grass to the newly delivered store merchandise and last but more importantly, its variety of food offerings. To the average fan of the game who attends one or two games a year it's simple, hot dogs, peanuts, nachos and beer. These very same items can be found at dozens of stands and hawkers through-out the ballpark which is what separates them from it's truly unique items. Moving away from tradition and into the future, ballparks around the league are cooking up fresh and innovative grub that will be sure to catch anyone's eye.

Hot Dogs and Burgers



The most common food item consumed on a nightly basis is the ballpark classic, the hot dog. It's a cheap, inexpensive item that has become legendary in the game of baseball, most notably by the classic Dodger Dog for those who prefer to stick with tradition rather than what's new. Combining tradition and innovation, the future looks promising as teams are capitalizing on the changing tastes of their fans by creating new items that is sure to cater to ones appetite.

Prior to the start of the 2014 season, the Arizona Diamondbacks unveiled their D-Bat Dog, an 18-inch corn dog stuffed with cheddar cheese, jalapenos and bacon, served with a side of fries for a price of $25.00

"This is really about providing our fans with new options each year, and in the case of some of our larger items, it's really about sharing with the family," said D'Backs team president and CEO Derrick Hall regarding the D-Bat Dog.

The Texas Rangers hold the distinction of creating the $25.00 hot dog when they created "The Broomstick", a 2-foot hot dog smothered in chili, nacho cheese, jalapenos and onions in 2012.

If it's a burger that you are after, be prepared for the unexpected! While many ballparks are going the conservative route by forming partnerships with established chain restaurants (Jack In The Box, Carl's Jr. and Ruby's), Tampa Bay, Texas and Washington DC are creating their signature burgers with a twist.

Tampa Bay Rays Fan vs. Food Burger
Price: $30.00



Anyone who finishes this 4-pound burger and a pound of fries will receive 2 tickets to a future Rays game and a shirt.

Texas Rangers Beltre Burger
Price: $26.00



A pound of beef combined with a half pound of bacon, onions, cheese, and chips on a pretzel bun.

Looking for a quick snack between innings?

So you decided to eat before the game or still might be hungry from lunch? These unique snacks are your best bet depending on which city you are in.



Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Baltimore Orioles): Crab Waffle Fries

Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City Orioles): Royal bacon blue fries

Safeco Field (Seattle Mariners): Oyster po'boy sandwich

US Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox): Chicken and Waffle Sandwich

The MLB Stadium Experience: Touring The Ballparks of Baseball

So you're new to the game of baseball?



Major League Baseball is a sport that has become a world wide event that features a diverse talent of professional players from all across the world. Day in and day out from March until the conclusion of the World Series in October, the fans of the sport can catch a game in 30 different ballparks across the country and in neighboring Canada. The 30 teams that make up MLB have played in ballparks, each unique to its team that have undergone transformations from small ballparks that seat up to several thousand fans to the newer versions that can boast attendance of 55,000 fans in a single game.

Never expect to see the same ballpark twice

The ballparks of baseball are designed in a variety of layouts that include

Modern - Angels Stadium, Dodger Stadium, Kauffman Stadium, U.S. Cellular Field

Retro Classic - AT&T Park, Busch Stadium, Citi Field, Comerica Park, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Yankee Stadium

Retro Modern - Chase Field, Great American Ballpark, Miller Park, Minute Maid Park, Safeco Field

Jewel Box - Fenway Park, Wrigley Field

Contemporary - Marlins Park

Multipurpose - O.co. Coliseum, Rogers Centre, Tropicana Field

All of these ballparks, a signature to the teams that call them home offer unique elements on display for the frequent and new fans to the game. While one look at a stadium during the game can be enough for the average fan, it's the diehards who go further to tour the ballpark for a small fee.


Visitors locker room at Fenway Park

The average fan who will attend the game in said city will generally arrive at the ballpark between 30-45 minutes prior to the first pitch. This will allow enough time to visit the concession stand and make your way to your assigned seat. Depending on the game, the fan will spend about 75% - 80% of the duration of the game in their assigned seat when not making the trip to the restroom, beer stand or merchandise location. The rest of the time is left spent walking the concourses to take a souvenir photo or visiting the Field Level, if not leaving the game early depending on the score. Unknown to many are the hidden gems that provide the full value of what the ballpark is truly about. This is where I learned that the ballpark tour provides these priceless artifacts.

During the past three years, I have spent countless hours visiting ballparks across the country in planes, cars, trains and buses that has taken me to 15 of the 30 current MLB ballparks. As a tip to anyone reading this, I cannot stress the importance of researching the ballpark prior to leaving. This avoids any scenarios that could arise including the tour being sold-out or not offered the day that you would be in town. Buy your tickets before you leave home and do your research! If you are traveling by car or train, leave yourself enough time to see the host city soaking up its local culinary and historical spots between the tour and ballgame. Tours generally occur late morning 10:00AM through 3:00PM depending on the team so this is another reason why I stress to do your research. Get yourself accustom with the stadium by knowing the best stadium food that the stadium has to offer and the must see traditions, like Bernie Brewer sliding down a beer-mug style slide following a Brewers home run.

Ballpark Tour Benefits

The ballpark tour itself is the crown jewel of the experience you will have during your visit. As I mentioned earlier, if you choose to arrive to the game an hour prior to the first pitch, you will only have so much ample time to explore every corner and smell of the stadium it has to offer. Spending the money, between the price of $6.00 - $25.00, depending on the team, for the ballpark tour provides you many rare opportunities to access portions of the stadium that many are unable to reach without the team tour guide. Here you have the opportunity to visit the field, a private suite, the press box, press room and other points of interest.


Playing field at Safeco Park

Depending on the home teams schedule for the day, options can either be huge or very small on what you will experience on the tour. Legendary Fenway Park in Boston is the best example of this that I can provide for you. While on a vacation in 2011, I took a brief tour of Fenway Park on 4th of July weekend with my family. Unknown whether or not the weather played a factor, the Red Sox tour guide took us to the press box, Green Monster and the Budweiser Patio in right field. The tour itself was very worth the price. A year later, I once again made my way to Fenway Park while on vacation in Boston. Once again, I was able to visit the same locations as I did the previous year, but this time I was lucky enough to set foot on the playing field after briefly visiting the away team dugout prior to visiting the locations that TED and The Town were filmed in. Two separate tours of Fenway, two unique views of the ballpark I was able to walk away with.


Visitor dugout at Fenway Park

Still Not Sold?

Here is a quick glimpse of a few highlights from my tours:

Yankee Stadium
Monument Park, Yankee Stadium playing field and the Yankees Hall of Fame that contained over 100 signed baseballs, several World Series trophies and dozens of priceless artifacts including Thurman Munson's locker still in tack.
Interested in taking a tour of Yankee Stadium? Read about my tour here

Comerica Park
MotorCity Casino Hotel Champions Club containing Miguel Cabrera's Triple Crown Award, 1984 World Series trophy and Justin Verlander's Cy Young and MVP awards
Comerica Park tour recap

Safeco Field
Field and dugout access and the team president suite that includes a rock with an inscription from the team owner (Nintendo of America) who's desire was to keep the MLB in Seattle after the team departed for Milwaukee
For more information regarding Safeco Field, click here


Miguel Cabrera's Triple Crown Award

Conclusion

Whether you are a fan of the game or just learning it, the ballpark tour is your best option to really experience everything that it ha to offer. Spend the money, arrive early, leave satisfied. As of this entry I have visited 15 of the current 30 MLB stadiums along with several past stadiums and sites where they once existed including Ebbets Field, Tiger Stadium, Veterans Stadium and old Yankee Stadium.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

History was made in Baltimore, Maryland on April 6, 1992 when the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball opened their new ballpark, Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The ballpark that would be known as "The Ballpark That Forever Changed Baseball" would spark a trend in construction of traditional, outdoor ballparks built in downtown locations through-out the U.S. Prior to its completion, big league ballparks were designed as multi-purpose "cookie cutter" stadiums that could host baseball and football games in one central location. These stadiums were featured in Seattle (Kingdome), Minneapolis (Metrodome) and Philadelphia (Veterans Stadium) that were cost efficient for the stadium but not friendly to the fans.

Camden Yards was built on the land that once served as the rail yard for B&O Railroad Camden Station. Paying homage to its predecessor, the former B&O Warehouse dominates much of the ballpark view located in right field. The warehouse has since been converted into Orioles team offices, the team store and several restaurants located along the Eutaw Street entryway.

The Eutaw Street entrance, located between the stadium and warehouse is closed to vehicle traffic. Prior to the scheduled start of the ballgame, fans can explore this part of the stadium without needing a ticket to the game. Many shops and restaurants line one side of Eutaw Street to the other including Dempsey's Brew Pub and the Orioles Team Store. Most notably located along Eutaw Street are small baseball-shaped bronze plaques marking the spot where home run baseballs landed. This began following Mickey Tettleton's home run on April 20, 1992 that has still continued through the 2013 season. Former Seattle Mariner and Cincinnati Reds great, Ken Griffey Jr., holds the distinction of the only MLB player to ever hit a home run off the B&O Warehouse during the 1993 MLB All-Star Game Home Run Derby. If you're planning on visiting Eutaw Street for a 7:00 pm game, make sure you arrive before 4:00 pm as the street temporarily closes in preparation for that evenings game.

During the 2012 season, Camden Yards celebrated its 20th anniversary. To celebrate the anniversary, the Orioles organization unveiled six bronze statues of the six Orioles greats who have had their numbers retired by the organization. Each statue was unveiled in separate ceremonies through-out the 2012 season. Prior to the unveiling of his statue on September 29, 2012 in the stadium, Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson was honored with a statue depicting him preparing to throw the baseball to first base. The statue that most notably is gray in color with the exception of a gold colored baseball glove is located on Washington Boulevard 300 feet from the Camden Yards statue of Baltimore native Babe Ruth.

Food options are a plenty when visiting Camden Yards. The ballpark provides a wide variety of offerings including Boog's BBQ, Beers of the World, Dempsey's Brew Pub and Restaurant and Eutaw Market. During my trip I took in a quick bite to eat at Dempsey's after exploring Eutaw Street. Dempsey's is a sports-themed restaurant open year round that is located inside of the former B&O Warehouse building. The restaurant named after the Orioles great Rick Dempsey features Orioles memorabilia and displays of the on-field accomplishments of the 1983 World Series MVP and Orioles Hall of Famer. If you decide to take in a meal at Dempsey's, you are treated to a spectacular view of Camden Yards while being surrounded by TVs showing other games happening around the league.

I was fortunate enough to visit Camden Yards on September 12, 2013 after taking an overnight bus after seeing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Center the night before. The game that I would be seeing later that evening would have historical value as it would be the final game at Camden Yards for future Hall of Famer and New York Yankees great, Mariano Rivera, who would be retiring at the end of the season. After several rain and lightning delays, the game got underway just after 8:30 that night. Given the significance with Mariano Rivera being at Camden Yards for the final time, a short ceremony honoring the MLB legend took place prior to the game. The Orioles presented Rivera with a sculpture depicting a baseball shattering a bat.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards historical facts:
Major League 2 (1994) a movie about the Cleveland Indians was filmed here while Progressive Field was under construction
Named the number 3 ballpark in the U.S. by Trip Advisor in March 2013
First major league ballpark to have an outfield wall made up entirely of straight wall segments since Ebbets Field
September 6, 1995: Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive games played streak of 2,130 games.
September 6, 1996: Eddie Murray hit his 500th career home run exactly one year after Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive games played streak
August 22, 2007: The Texas Rangers Ramirez hit is 500th career home run
May 8, 2012: Josh Hamilton tied the MLB record for home runs in a game with 4
August 19, 2008: Fastest ballpark to reach 50 million fans in history. Took only seventeen seasons to reach the mark.
1993 MLB All-Star Game

Rogers Centre - Toronto Blue Jays

A day after visiting Tiger Stadium and Comerica Park in Detroit, I made my way to Toronto, Ontario, Canada for the day. I had one main agenda for the day, the Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. Ever since I began my tour of the MLB stadiums, I always imagined that Rogers Centre would be the last one that I would visit given its geographical location to the other 29 stadiums. Rogers Centre was stadium number 13 of the 30 active that I would be visiting in order to complete the circuit. Before going into the experience, let me provide some quick history of the stadium.

Rogers Centre, originally known as Skydome is a multi-purpose stadium located in Toronto, just steps from the famed CN Tower. Before the Rogers Centre, the Toronto Blue Jays played nearby at Exhibition Stadium from 1977 - 1989. Given that the ballpark was an outdoor stadium located relatively close to Lake Ontario, problems arose over the years where weather played a major factor through-out the season, most notably the only major league game played with the field covered entirely in snow on April 7, 1977, the Jays first game there. Following many ill fated weather plagued events, the demand came for a domed stadium closer to downtown Toronto. After years of searching for a new site, one was located at the base of the CN Tower near Union Station, a major Canadian railway yard.

The Rogers Centre finally opened on June 3, 1989 with the first baseball game held on June 5th. It was the first major North American sports stadium with a fully functional retractable roof. According to the tour guide, the roof is made up of four retractable panels, the last one in a stationary position which takes 20 minutes in length to fully open. The stadium is one of two remaining MLB ballparks still using an artificial field, other being Tampa Bay and the only one without a dirt infield. Also unique to Rogers Centre is the Renaissance Hotel that is located within the stadium that includes 348 hotel rooms, with 70 of them overlooking the field.

Prior to the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim later that day, I took a brief tour of the stadium for a price of $16.00. The Rogers Centre stadium tour begins at Gate 4 only a few feet from the base of the CN Tower. Our tour guide, Kayla quickly ushered the three of us into the friendly confines of the Rogers Centre to begin the tour. The first stop on the tour was just shy of the right field foul pole at the end of the first base line. Rogers Centre holds the distinction of being the only MLB team to not have the traditional foul pole in favor of yellow mesh nets. These nets were created so those sitting in that part of the ballpark wouldn't have an obstructed view of the game.

While making our way through the area containing the suites, Kayla went into detail about the origins of the Rogers Centre and how the name was chosen for the original name, the Skydome. Chosen as part of a province wide "name the stadium" contest in 1987, the Skydome was chosen from 150,000 entries from 12,897 different names. Eventual winner, Kellie Watson, was drawn from a barrel containing over 2,000 entries that contained the name "Skydome." For winning the contest, Kellie was awarded with lifetime seats behind home plate including concerts.

During a brief visit to the media center and press box, Kayla shared several interesting facts about Rogers Centre including its playing field and rotating seats. Depending on which event will be at the stadium, whether baseball, football, soccer or a concert, the lower seating bowl can be reconfigured to accommodate the event. Beneath the seats is a track that can quickly transform the Rogers Centre from a 49,000 seat baseball stadium to a 53,000 seating capacity for football games. While learning about the seating capacity, the grounds crew was just below us hard at work getting the playing field ready for that evenings game. Much to my surprise, I didn't expect to see a grounds crew hard at work preparing the field at 11:30am for a 7:00pm game. Sure, I have been to many ballparks, but never have I seen work commence this early for a game. The Rogers Centre holds the distinction of having the only MLB pitchers mound that can be stored below the playing field and doesn't contain real dirt until it's placed on it prior to the first pitch.
Our last stop on the tour was the playing field that took us behind the center field wall and into the spacious outfield. The playing field, like Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay is the only one to use an artificial surface and the only one without a dirt field. To reduce the amount of time converting the field, a roll-based Astroturf was installed prior to the 2010 season. Rogers Centre previously used FieldTurf from 2005 - 2010 that took about 40 hours to remove for concerts.

If you plan on eating while at the game, there are plenty of options including your standard hot dogs, burgers and peanuts stands located through-out the stadium. Located near Gate 5 is a family friendly food stand containing everything from pizza to burgers, sandwiches and many more options. Do you prefer to eat before or after the game? The area between the Rogers Centre and Air Canada Centre provides several options including sports bars, Subway, Mexican, pizza and a pita restaurant that specializes in Schwarma wraps.

ROGERS CENTRE FACTS:
Home to the NBA's Toronto Raptors from 1995 - 1999
1992 and 1993 MLB World Series
WWE WrestleMania VI in 1990 and WrestleMania X8 in 2002
UFC 129 on April 30, 2011 that set a UFC attendance record of 55,000 seats after the previous number of 42,000 were sold-out on the first day

Maple Leaf Gardens - Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is an historic arena that was constructed as an arena for ice hockey. Considered one of the "cathedrals" of ice hockey, the arena was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League from 1931 - 1999. From 1932 - 1967, the Leafs won 11 Stanley Cups while playing at the Gardens.

The Gardens opened on November 12, 1931 with the Maple Leafs losing to the Chicago Blackhawks by a score of 2-1. Five years later, the Gardens would play host to the first NBA game in history between the Toronto Huskies and New York Knicks. During the 1990s, the owners of the Gardens considered a number of new sites to replace the arena as it had become to small and lacking in revenue-generating luxury boxes.

The Maple Leafs eventually moved to nearby Air Canada Centre that they share with the Toronto Raptors of the NBA.

Canadian Retailer, Loblaw Companies and Ryerson University agreed to turn the Gardens into a joint grocery store and athletic centre for both companies.

MAPLE LEAF GARDENS FACTS:
Toronto Maple Leafs won 11 Stanley Cups while playing in the arena
Site of the first NBA game on November 12, 1931
Only North American venue to host The Beatles during their three tours
First arena in the NHL to have separate penalty boxes on November 8, 1963
Only Elvis Presley concerts outside of the US on April 2, 1957
First NHL arena to have Plexiglas inserted in the end zones of the rink in the 1946 - 1947 NHL season

Comeric Park - Detroit Tigers

Comerica Park is an open-air ballpark located in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It serves as the home of the Major League Baseball Detroit Tigers organization, replacing historic Tiger Stadium in 2000.

One day after visiting the legendary football stadium, "The Big House" in nearby Ann Arbor, I had a few hours to explore the Detroit area before heading to Toronto that evening. The city of Detroit is known by two familiar nicknames, The Motor City and Motown, while also going by popular 20th century nicknames, including Hockeytown after the legendary Detroit Red Wings NHL franchise and Detroit Rock City after the popular KISS song. Comerica Park was part of a revitalization plan for Detroit that included the construction of Ford Field, home to the Detroit Lions of the National Football League.

Several minutes after arriving to Comerica Park, I had purchased my ticket for the tour of the ballpark and met the tour guide, Stanley. Since the tour wasn't scheduled to begin for several minutes, I took turns sharing baseball stories with Stanley and his fellow tour guide. As I came to find out, one of them used to live in the same city as I do, so talk about a small world after all. Much to my surprise, the tour guide took off his Detroit Tigers 2012 American League Championship ring off and let me take a look at it. Never did I think on this day here I would have been given permission to physically touch but get to see the Tigers 2012 ALCS ring as close as I did. Sure, I've seen various awards through-out the past few years, but this was amazing!

The tour kicked off a few minutes later as our tour group proceeded into the part of the stadium nicknamed, "The Jungle." This area of the park is located within the Pepsi Porch picnic deck between the 100 and 200 levels. The next area that we visited on the tour was a living tribute to Detroit Tigers legends that could be compared to the New York Yankees "Monument Park" at Yankee Stadium. Ty Cobb, Al Kaline, Hal Newhouser, Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg and Al Horton have individual statues dedicated to them, each made in a unique way that the player was known for in their playing time.

Just shy of the player statues is the massive LED video scoreboard that I was informed reaches nearly 10 stories in height, ranking 4th in MLB stadiums. Located at the ends of the scoreboard are two of the eight Tigers statues that are located through-out the ballpark. These tigers eyes light up following a home run or victory for the team.

>Many tours of professional sporting venues always include a brief visit to a "designated suite" on the tour that can be your typical suite that anyone can purchase if they have the money or in some cases, the owner suite. We were treated to the Detroit Tigers Champions Suite on this tour. Four suites were converted into the Champions Suite that contains the legendary Tigers 1968 and 1984 World Series trophies, Justin Verlander's 2011 American League MVP and Cy Young Awards and Miguel Cabrera's 2012 American League MVP Award. In route to winning the 2012 AL MVP Award, Miguel Cabrera left his mark in MLB history becoming the first player since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967 to win the Triple Crown in batting. The Triple Crown Award is located inside the Champions Suite only a few feet from his MVP Award.

Comerica Park contains many artifacts and historical pieces that make up the Tigers history spanning one generation to another. Making up a unique portion of the lower seating bowl is the Tigers Den, special seats that offer in-seat service, VIP hospitality and great views of the ballpark. These seats are are sold as full and partial season ticket plans. Leftover seats are also offered as single game tickets. Stanley informed us to check StubHub should we ever want to sit in these seats.

Our tour of Comerica Park ended with a visit to the press box, visitors locker room and dugout, the training room and playing field. This was the fifth tour I've taken of an MLB ballpark and is one that I won't forget for sometime.

COMERICA PARK FACTS:
Hosted the 76th MLB All-Star Game in 2005
2006 and 2012 World Series
Sold-Out Jay-Z/Eminem concert on September 2nd and 3rd, 2010
Vans Warped Tour annual stop

Tiger Stadium Hollowed Grounds

Tiger Stadium was a stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. On April 20, 1912, Navin Field was opened, the same day as the Boston Red Sox Fenway Park. It hosted the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball team from 1912 - 1999 and the Detroit Lions of the National Football League from 1938 - 1974. The stadium was built on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Trumball Avenue that gave it its nickname of "The Corner." Tiger Stadium as it became to be known in 1961 by team owner, John Fetzer, was previously known as Navin Field and Briggs Field, both after its previous Tiger owners. Under the Tiger Stadium name, the stadium witnessed the World Series titles 1936 and 1984.

Beginning in 1938, the NFL's Detroit Lions began a partnership that allowed them to host their home games at Briggs Stadium until 1974. The Lions eventually moved to the Silverdome in nearby suburban Pontiac. As the 1970s went on, the facility gained a reputation for its aging and obstructed views, but it was still loved by baseball enthusiasts for its historical feel. Despite several attempts to keep Tigers baseball at Tiger Stadium, the final home game was played on September 27, 1999 in a winning effort against the Kansas City Royals. The Tigers moved to their new ballpark, Comerica Park in downtown Detroit leaving Tiger Stadium unused.

Since the Tigers departure, the city of Detroit spent nearly $4 million dollars between 1999 and 2006 maintaining the stadium. The HBO film, 61 was filmed in Tiger Stadium during the summer of 2000.

Partial demolition of the stadium was completed in September 2008, leaving all but the lower deck of the stadium spanning from dugout to dugout that included the upper deck portion. Unfortunately, to those who fought to preserve the

While the stadium may longer be there, a group of volunteers known as the Navin Field Grounds Crew has resorted and maintained the playing field since the spring of 2010.

"The Big House" - Michigan Stadium

Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House", is the football stadium for the University of Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan Stadium was built in 1927 is the largest stadium in the United States with an official capacity of 109,901. The stadium is the third largest stadium in the world. On September 7, 2013, the Michigan vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish football game set a NCAA single-game attendance record of 115,109 at Michigan Stadium. Over the decades, Michigan Stadium has undergone many transformations that has seen the attendance level raise from 82,000 to a capacity of 109,901.

I recently had the opportunity to explore The Big House while on a trip back east. Within a few minutes of entering the stadium, I was standing in the area that houses the legendary Michigan Wolverines locker room and the tunnel, yes that tunnel that the legendary players ran through to get to the playing field. I have been granted access to many sporting venues over the years that had access like this, but as I made my way through the tunnel, the very sight of the field growing bigger and bigger until I set foot on it was unbelievable. The feeling of stepping out of the tunnel and onto the playing field for the first time at The Big House was mind blowing as it gave me a better appreciation for this stadium, its legacy and how awe inspiring it really was.

(The Michigan Wolverine Locker Room)

Next up on the tour were the two structures which houses the new press box, 83 luxury boxes and 3,200 club seats that was part of a $226 million renovation and expansion project for Michigan Stadium that was approved on June 21, 2007 by the University's Board of Regents. Having previously worked in both NCAA/NFL/NHL/MLB/NASCAR organizations, I had an idea of what I would be experiencing but once again, Michigan Stadium stole the show. These two structures which span the west and east sections of the stadium are decorated in Michigan football history from its early beginnings where NCIS star Mark Harmon's dad, Tom Harmon, was considered by many Michigan's greatest football player ever to the 2012 Sugar Football Trophy where Michigan defeated Virginia Tech.

Over the next few minutes, I made my way through the suites and spent some time in the press box just catching in every minute of the stadium that I could prior to departing. Michigan Stadium truly lives up to its reputation as one of the greatest stadiums in the world.