Part III
Those of you who follow this blog closely know we are on a lifetime quest to visit all 30 major league baseball ballparks. We are not in any rush to see them all as soon as possible, and it is kind of fun to take this journey slowly to savor baseball trips and avoid them blending into one blurry memory. By the time we hit ballpark #30, some of the visited stadiums would have been replaced with new modern fields. The Atlanta Braves have already moved to the new Truist Arena since our trip to Turner Park in 2014. Anyway, two posts listing the first 10 visited ballparks are here (Part 1 and Part 2). And I am happy to report that we are now halfway through the project.
11. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
We chose a very hot July day for baseball in Philadelphia. The Cubbies were taking on the Phillies, and the city was melting. The heat advisory was in place, and on our way to the game, we felt how the concrete sidewalk radiated intense heat. The ballpark had several cooling stations, but they provided only temporary relief. At the arena, we did our usual ritual of walking around, trying to take in as many details as possible about the stadium and the local team's history. The stadium had one of the best kids’ areas, and little ones took full advantage of it by throwing and hitting baseballs, running around bases, and even doing rock climbing, totally oblivious to the heat. The Cubs won the game in extra innings, but the thing that we remember the most was one particular T-shirt.
As we approached the stadium, we started to notice people wearing T-shirts saying, “I f***ing hate this place”. And it wasn’t just one or two fans. The T-shirt was ubiquitous, with street vendors selling this T-shirt design on every corner. This was clearly some sort of reference, and while we did not know what it was, we could only assume it had something to do with Philadelphia fans’ reputation of being insufferable. And our assumption was confirmed, but in a way we did not even imagine. I opened YouTube on my phone and typed “I f***ing hate this place”. I expected to see a video of a fan of a visiting team not having a good time at Citizens Bank Park. But it turned out the miserable experience at the ballpark was had... by the Phillies own player! In a game against the Mets earlier that season, the Phillies’ third baseman, 25-year-old Alec Bohm, committed three throwing errors in a row. When he finally fielded a ball, the crowd erupted in a wild cheer, giving him a mocking standing ovation. The camera zoomed in on Bohm, and everyone could see him mouthing the now-famed phrase. The Phillies fans loved it. Not only did they take no offense, but they also accepted it as a badge of honor and fully embraced it. Later that year, Bohm redeemed himself by advancing with the Phillies to the World Series, which was played at a much colder Citizens Bank Park in November.
12. Petco Park, San Diego
Petco Park reminded us of Wrigley Field and Pittsburgh’s PNC Ballpark as it is set in the middle of a neighborhood and provides great views of the city’s skyline. Before the game, we stopped by the Padres Hall of Fame to learn about the history of the team, including the upset of the 1984 Cubs in the National League Championship Series. The Padres fell short in the World Series that year and to this day hold the title of the oldest team without winning a World Series title. The ballpark is very cozy. We had great seats in the upper deck over home plate, but it looks like there are no bad seats in the house. The ocean is also just steps away, so you have this nice breeze blowing into the stadium, and we also enjoyed a walk along the waterfront after the game.
The thing that I remember the most about Petco Park, though, is paying an incredible $30 for a michelada! I know California is expensive, but still…. Trying to get to our seats in time before the first pitch, I ordered my favorite Mexican drink and then hastily swiped my credit card without even looking at the final price. It was only when we settled in our seats that I realized that for the second time in my life, I bought a $30 drink. The first time was when I ordered a mojito at a swanky rooftop restaurant in Bangkok, where I similarly swiped my credit card without even looking at the price first. Oh, well … you live, you learn. Or, in my case, I learned nothing from my prior experience.
13. Target Field, Minneapolis
Target Field was probably my favorite ballpark we visited so far. If Petco Park reminded us of Wrigley Field just a little bit, Target Field was a very close copy of the Friendly Confines. Because it is a relatively new arena, built in 2010, it is modern and quite comfortable. It is as if Wrigley Field was built in the 21st century and all its shortcomings were addressed: no obstructed views, lots of space, etc. When we ran into the local team’s mascot, TC Bear, who immediately reminded us of Cubs' Clark, the comparison to Wrigley became even more evident. Food options at Target Field were also fascinating, reflecting the city’s rich immigrant history: hot Indian dishes, Eastern European fare, and even a Hmong food joint. The day we visited Target Field, the Twins hosted the Rockies and lost in a very close game, but local fans were not super upset. I know it is a cliché, but the fans were Minnesota nice: mellow and friendly. Everyone was there to have a good time, and nobody hated the place, be it players or spectators.
15. Comerica Park, Detroit
This past weekend, we went to Detroit to see the Cubbies taking on the Tigers. Comerica Park was the only remaining ballpark within a reasonable driving distance from Chicago that we had yet to visit, so, a summer weekend trip to Detroit was a no-brainer. I made these plans back in January. However, what I did not realize when I planned the trip was that both the Cubs and the Tigers would be entering the weekend as top teams in their respective leagues. Online people were even buzzing about a potential World Series matchup. The hype around the series was real and running high.
Unfortunately, the Cubs won only one out of three games in Detroit, and the game that we attended was the Cubs’ worst out of three. The Cubs’ inept performance on the field did not spoil a visit for us, though. Comerica Park is a great baseball stadium and was a nice place to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday. The view from the upper deck of the city’s many Art Deco buildings constructed during Detroit’s heyday of the 1920s is probably the ballpark’s best feature.
What was a little bit over the top at Comerica Park was its entrance. Do you really need that many statues of tigers, Detroit? I get it, the team’s name is Tigers, but the gates look more like the entrance to the Detroit Zoo than a baseball stadium. Oh well… it’s probably not that bad, and I am just venting because the Cubs lost.
