When the 2017 MLB scheduled was released the first game I circled on my calendar was the May 27th match-up between the Mets and Pirates at PNC Park. It was an opportunity to see my favorite team in my favorite park while bringing my family along for the ride. To date I’ve attended Mets road games in Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Milwaukee, Atlanta, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Houston with success. There is nothing like walking out of “enemy” territory with a road win. Despite the Mets early struggles in the 2017 I was hopeful for a good showing in the Burgh but the Pirates had other ideas. [Read more…]
A Baseball Honeymoon by Rachel Greenhouse
My name is Rachel Greenhouse and I met my husband Cole Greenhouse online. We began talking and connected over our love of sports. Cole’s been a baseball fan for much of his life, while my fandom started in high school. I am a huge Red Sox fan, while Cole is a die-hard Cardinals fan. What a great rivalry! [Read more…]
Cincinnati – Day 1
It’s been 12 years since my visit to the Queen City. I’ve been planning this trip since September when the 2016 schedule was released (My Christmas Day). The ride from Lebanon was pretty boring although I did have the opportunity to visit Rachel’s old home in Barnesville, Ohio.
The Reds and Mariners played their second of a three game series. Felix Hernandez shut the Reds down for 6 innings and got the win behind Leonys Martin and Franklin Gutierrez home runs. The Reds looked awful sending the 38,200 in attendance home unhappy.
After the game I walked through downtown Cincinnati and found what might be the best ice cream in America, Graeters. It’s a must visit if you’re in town. Hopefully the Reds will play better on Sunday.
Welcome to Ballpark Nerd!
“Did you watch the game last night?” I asked one of my first-grade classmates as we cleaned our classroom chalkboard. It was April 27, 1988 and I had spent the previous night watching the New York Mets defeat the Atlanta Braves 13-4; it was the first time I could remember watching a Major League Baseball game. Ralph Kiner and Tim McCarver introduced the game into my life that night and it has been a significant part ever since. I will also remember 1988 as the year I began wearing glasses. The last thing I wanted as a 7-year old was to stand out in any way. Despite my teacher calling me The Professor it did not take long for my classmates to start calling me a nerd.
“We should do something fun before we graduate.” I suggested to my friend Mike. It was June 2002 and we were two semesters away from graduating college and subsequent entrance into the real world. MasterCard had a commercial at the time where a father and son attended a ballgame. The narrator mentions how much tickets, concessions and souvenirs cost however the time spent together and experience were priceless. It was with that idea in mind that Mike and I decided to begin touring the 30 Major League Ballparks. We have spent the last 15 years traveling across North America creating priceless memories throughout our 39 Major League Ballpark visits while bringing many friends and family along the way. I wish I could go back to first grade and let my classmates know that I am a nerd. I am a Ballpark Nerd.
“Why Ballpark Nerd?” With all the baseball, ballpark and travel information available online, why spend time on this one site? I would suggest it’s because I have put in the time over the past 15 years researching all the ballpark sites and resources available and am confident Ballpark Nerd is the one site to handle it all. My goal is promote the experience of passing through the turnstiles, a new ballpark, a new city, a new adventure. Ballpark Nerd is a way to preserve these experiences and share them with fellow baseball fans and Ballpark Nerds around the world.
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