The On Deck Circle

Since 2007, some friends and I have been going on an annual baseball road trip to try and eventually see all 30 MLB stadiums. As of 2012, we have had six different members (two constants – myself and Sean), have visited 20 stadiums, and watched 20 games (although we saw 2 at Old Yankee Stadium and none at Shea). While technically we could claim to be done 20 of 30 (cheaply including Shea), it could be as little as 17 (the Yankees, Mets, and Twins have all built new stadiums since we were there). In general, I say I’ve hit 19 (excluding Shea here) but have 13 left to see (the 10 we’ve yet to visit, plus the Mets, Yankees, and Twins). As the maps below will show, we’ve crossed off most of the Eastern teams and just about anything drivable from our home base near Toronto, Ontario. 2013 will pose a challenge as I am now in Vancouver and Sean is in Korea, but we’ll figure it out and update this page year by year.

The Big Picture
 

Home Team Record: 15-5
Total Driving Distance: 18,776km (11,666mi)
Total Driving Time: 197.5 hours
Includes only stadium-to-stadium distances and times, not actual odometer readings, stops, side-trips, etc.

Part 1 – 2007
 

Pittsburgh Pirates – PNC Park – Friday July 20
HOU 2, PIT 1 - Box
Seats: Infield Box, behind Home Plate
Swag: Roberto Clemente pull-over jersey, yellow

New York Yankees – (Old) Yankee Stadium - Saturday July 21 Doubleheader
NYY 7, TBD 3 - Box
NYY 17, TBD 5 - Box
Seats: RF bleachers, Tier Reserved (upper deck) First Base line
Swag: None (broke student)

New York Mets – Shea Stadium - Visit, No Game
 

Boston Red Sox – Fenway Park - Sunday July 22
BOS 8, CWS 5 - Box
Seats: Right-Center Field bleachers
Swag: None (Sox-hater)

Part 2 – 2008
 

Milwaukee Brewers – Miller Park – Thursday May 15
LAD 7, MIL 2 - Box
Seats: Field Infield Box, First Base line
Swag: Brewers hat

Chicago Cubs – Wrigley Field - Friday May 16
CHC 7, PIT 4 - Box
Seats: Terrace Box, Third Base line
Swag: Cubs hat, Alfonso Soriano shoe bag (giveaway)

Cincinnati Reds – Great American Ballpark - Saturday May 17
CIN 4, CLE 2 - Box
Seats: Terrace Left Field
Swag: Reds hat, Brandon Phillips double-bobblehead (giveaway)

Part 3 – 2009
 

Cleveland Indians – Progressive Field - Friday July 31
CLE ,6 DET 5 (13inn) - Box
Seats: Lower Box, Left Field line
Swag: Grady Sizemore bobblehead, Grady Sizemore t-shirt

Chicago White Sox – U.S. Cellular Field - date
CWS 14, NYY 4 - Box
Seats: Lower Reserved, Left Field
Swag: Miller Lite Beer Vendor bobblehead (giveaway), White Sox hat

Minnesota Twins – Hubert H. Humprhrey Metrodome – Sunday August 2
LAA 13, MIN 4 - Box
Seats: Lower level, Left Field line
Swag: None (worst swag stands in baseball)

Detroit Tigers – Comerica Park - Monday August 3
DET 6, BAL 5 - Box
Seats: Infield Box, behind Home Plate
Swag: Tigers hat

Part 4 – 2010
 

Philadelphia Phillies – Citizens Bank Park - Friday June 4
PHI 3, SD 2 – Box
Seats: Field Level Outfield, Left Field
Swag: Roy Halladay Perfect Game plaque

Washington Nationals – Nationals Park – Saturday June 5
CIN 5, WSH 1 – Box
Seats: Left Field Corner, Left Field foul pole
Swag: Stephen Strasburg t-shirt

Baltimore Orioles – Oriole Park at Camden Yards – Sunday June 6
BAL 4, BOS 3 (11inn) – Box
Seats: Club Box, Third Base line
Swag: Matt Wieters t-shirt

Part 5 – 2011
 

Atlanta – Turner Field – Thursday July 7
ATL 6, COL 3 - Box
Seats: Field Reserved, Left Field line
Swag: Jason Heyward t-shirt, Tommy Hanson bobblehead

St. Louis Cardinals – Busch Stadium – Friday July 8
ARZ 7, STL 6 - Box
Seats: Right Field bleachers
Swag: Albert Pujols bobblehead

Kansas City Royals –Kauffman Stadium – Saturday July 9
KCR 13, DET 6 - Box
Seats: Dugout Plaza, First Base line
Swag: Mike Moustakas t-shirt, Mike Aviles bobblehead, Royals hat

Part 5B – 2011
 

Toronto Blue Jays – Rogers Centre – Sunday July 31
TOR 7, TEX 3 - Box
Seats & Swag: We are from the Toronto area and have been to dozens of Jays’ games, sitting just about everywhere, and collecting way too much swag. We chose this game because we had pictures available, and it was Roberto Alomar Hall of Fame Day, so it stands out in our collective memory.
 

Part 6 – 2012
 

Tampa Bay Rays –Tropicana Field – Thursday August 9
TBR 7, TOR 1 - Box
Seats: Lower Box, Third Base line
Swag: Rays hat

Miami Marlins –Marlins Park – Saturday August 11
MIA 7, LAD 5 - Box
Seats: Home Plate Box D, behind Home Plate
Swag: Giancarlo Stanton t-shirt, Marlins hat