Baseball Road Trips

When I left college I decided I'd get around to see all of the big league ballparks with a buddy.  We did what we could afford those first few years.  Kids and marriage changed priorities (for everyone else) and I only managed 11 by my 40th birthday.  Even though I was shopping the idea around to both family and friends. 

I picked up the pace and have now visited all 30 of the MLB Parks.  It only took 19 seasons.

I learned a little along the way and thought I might try and share some of that.

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Keys:

1. Seats out of the sun (out of the rain too if possible)
2. Parking passes are strongly recommended, ParkingPanda or SpotHero or Parkwhiz or whatever
3. Time of the game matters, you can drive some hours after if a long trip
4. Remember the domes might not be closed
5. LaQuinta Inn often has laundry (letting you travel light)
6. take sunscreen, good sunscreen

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Non-park destinations

1. Hall of Fame in Cooperstown NY
2. Negro Leagues Museum KC, MO
3. Former location of Ebbet’s field, Brooklyn NY
4. Field of Dreams field, Dyersville IA
5. Louisville Slugger Museum, Louisville KY
6. Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum, Greenville SC
7. Bobblehead Museum, Miami FL
8. Babe Ruth grave, Hawthorne NY
9. Jackie Robinson Ballpark (museum) in Daytona, FL
10. Rickwood Field, Birmingham, AL (oldest ballpark in US)
11. Williamsport, Little League World Series - Little League museum
12. Ty Cobb Museum, Royston, GA
13. Yogi Berra Museum, Little Falls, NJ 
14. http://www.beliefnet.com/entertainment/2010/04/baseball-history-in-america.aspx
15. Lefty O’douls, Union Square SF
16. Forbes Field Wall in Pittsburgh, PA
17. Jackie Robinson Sites, Pasadena, CA
18. Former location (and centerfield tree) Ponce De Leon Park (Atlanta Crackers) 
19. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/site-of-sportsmans-park
20. Roberto Clemente museum Pittsburgh 
21. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-last-remnants-of-the-polo-grounds 
22. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilltop_Park#Hilltop_Park_site_now
23. Childhood home of babe ruth in Baltimore
24. Elysian Fields site of first modern ball game New Jersey?
25. Forbes Field wall Pittsburgh

Although the stadium is gone, the site of the greatest World Series home run is recognized on the University of Pittsburgh campus, where the Pirates once played at Forbes Field. It was in the bottom of the ninth inning of the seventh game of the 1960 series when Bill Mazeroski homered over the left field wall, defeating the New York Yankees. The wall's preserved, and every year on Oct. 13, the anniversary of the game, a crowd gathers to listen to the game broadcast. pitt.edu

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/10greatplaces/2015/06/12/baseball-attractions/71002092/