Tony Gillen

The Road to Bristol

July 30, 2025

Cincinnati Reds vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

The plan to watch the Cincinnati Reds play at Bristol Motor Speedway started ten months in advance. The plan to watch the Reds for my second visit to Great American Ball Park started when Shohei Ohtani was scheduled to start. The game also marks my third different ballpark watching the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Seat Selection

Section 523 Row R (Upper level behind home)

With the Cincinnati Reds in contention for a Wild Card spot against the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the reigning Most Valuable Player Shohei Ohtani starting on the mound, great seats at a great price on SeatGeek are going to be hard to come by.

Still, this seat from the upper deck behind home is shaded for a 7 p.m. start time in July and offers a great view of the river and Kentucky.

Ballpark Food of Choice

Skyline Chili Cheese Dogs

Skyline Chili is all over Ohio and so it is fitting you would also find it at Great American Ball Park. When you do have Skyline Chili, accept that their ‘chili’ is not really chili but more of a ground beef mix. Topped with cheese on top of hot dogs, it makes for a great hot dog option for any ball game.

Game Highlights

My biggest reason for making it to this game is to watch Shohei Ohtani pitched. After spending the all of 2024 and the first season of 2025 exclusively in the designated hitter role, Ohtani is slowly being worked in a starting pitcher role. For this game, Ohtani would pitch 3 innings before getting replaced with bases loaded in the top of the 4th. (Ohtani would still continue to play as the designated hitter.)

The game remained 2-2 through the 8th inning until Spencer Steer’s 2-run triple. Steer would eventually score on a single from Will Benson to lead to a 5-2 Reds win over the defending World Champions.
Back in the Heart of Texas

May 30, 2025

Texas Rangers vs. St. Louis Cardinals

A second trip to Texas brought an opportunity to meet up with some friends from last year, a deeper look at a ballpark, and a rare game with the roof open.

A second stadium tour on the Big Texas trip

Ernie and I are in Day 4 of a six-day six-ballpark trip that started in Albuquerque and the second on taking the stadium tour. (I will post another time about the Big Texas trip.) I enjoy taking the ballpark tour when I have a chance and the tour of Globe Life Field did not disappoint. Great insight on the history of baseball in the Arlington area, peeks at premium areas, and even a stop at the public address announcer’s boot and a chat with Chuck Morgan highlight the tour.

Ballpark Features

Last year, I stopped by the Nolan Ryan statue at the north entrance. This year, I caught others I missed, including the Ivan Rodriguez statue at the south entrance, the Mickey Mouse 2011 All-Star Game statue, and the 2023 World Series trophy.

Open Roof

During the tour, we had a discussion about opening the roof and what it would take, including accounting for the change of air pressure between inside and outside. No decision had been made at the time of the tour whether the roof would be open. I’m told in late May, temps usually get to the 90’s. (It was 90+ degrees the day before in Houston.) Fortunately, temperatures for most of Texas has been in the low 80’s and that is good reason for Globe Life Field to open the roof shortly after the gates opened.

Seat Selection

Section 226 Row 9

For today’s game, we have ADA seats in the upper level on the first base side. With the roof open for the game, the feel of the cool breeze enhances that viewing experience.

Ballpark Food of Choice

Brisket Eggrolls

Last year, I had the Boomstick and was not able to finish. While it was tempting to take on the challenge, I opted for something new.

Brisket is all over Texas, including at Daikin Park in Houston and any Buc-ee’s massive convenient stores. The Brisket Eggrolls offer its own unique way of serving Texas brisket.

Highest Place in the Park

Probably the most underrated feature of the ballpark, but go out to the centerfield area and look for the stairs or elevator to go to the very top. From there, you will have an uninterrupted view of the field. The view is even better with the roof open.

Game Highlights

The Rangers dominated over the Cardinals with a 11-1 win. Marcus Semien had a career game with a 4-for-4 night, a 4th inning home run, 3 RBIs, and a stolen base. Wyatt Langford hit a 2nd inning 2-run home run and Sam Haggerty and Josh Jung each has 3 RBIs.
Hot Night at the Ice Box

May 29, 2025

Houston Astros vs. Tampa Bay Rays

A first stop at the ballpark formerly known as Minute Maid Park brings the ballpark count to 28.

Kick Off with the Pre-game Tour

Ernie and I are in Day 3 of a six-day six-ballpark trip that started in Albuquerque and the first stadium tour of the trip. (I will post another time about the Big Texas trip.) If you can make time for it, take the ballpark tour. In this case of the pre-game tour, we end the tour with about thirty minutes in the right field seats for batting practice before the gates open.

Seat Selection

Section 212 Row 9 (Honda Club Level)

Club Level seats are not usually on my radar but SeatGeek showed me an offer I couldn’t refuse. The seats were just the perfect level for the game.

Of course, since it is called the “Honda Club Level”, you can catch on Honda being heavily featured.

Ballpark Food of Choice

Brisket Burger

The Honda Club Level offers some of the better options for ballpark foods including this Brisket Burger, a burger topped with brisket, jalapenos, and red onion.
Twins in Milwaukee

May 17, 2025

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Minnesota Twins

A friend in Madison, a card show in Milwaukee, and my Minnesota Twins going for 13 straight all on one Saturday.

Seat Selection

Section 118 Row 13 (Behind home)

I call these the best seats I’ve every had for a Twins game. American Family Field marks the 5th away ballpark in which I’ve watched my hometown team. I would not have spent as much as I did for these seats for a regular season game if it had been any other team playing but the view and the energy of the game is well worth the price.

Game Highlights

The Twins started the scoring in the first inning with a solo home run from Ryan Jeffers. From there, the Twins continued to dominate the Brewers to earn their 13th consecutive victory, which would be their longest win streak of the season.
All in a Day’s Work

May 10, 2025

Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue Jays

Fly in to SEA, take the ballpark tour, explore the city, meet up with a friend at the game, and fly back home all in a 24-hour span.

Single Day Trip

In trying to visit all 30 Major League ballparks, I’ve learned creative ways to hit some of these ballparks. With T-Mobile Park having the longest distance from any other MLB ballpark, it’s not feasible to make it as part of a multi-ballpark road trip.

However from MSP, there are many options to fly to SEA in the morning, watch a game, and fly back home right after.

Getting Around

The Sound Transit Link light rail makes public transportation from the airport through Seattle very convenient. A $6 day pass allows me to travel multiple times throughout the day from the airport to T-Mobile Park to other areas of Seattle and back.

For a single day trip, light rail is the most affordable and convenient option to get around Seattle.

Legends Statues

Like most Major League ballparks, T-Mobile Park immortalizes its legends with statues outside the park. Edgar Martinez stands outside the first base entrance while Ken Griffey Jr. stands outside the home plate entrance.

Ballpark Tour

The tour of the ballpark offered some peeks at place you won’t normally see as a fan during the game, such as the press box.

Most teams offer ballpark tours so take advantage when you can to enhance your ballpark experience.

All-Star Club

Section 9 Row 3

One added bonus for me is meeting up with my friend, Jeremy, for the Mariners game. Jeremy, who lives in Seattle, knows many of the perks of T-Mobile Park and one of the perks is the All-Star Club, an all-inclusive section on the suite level that premium food options.

Ballpark Pass-port Stamp

Just as with my trip to Detroit in April, I have the pleasure to meet up with other Stampeders, including those who call Seattle home and those visiting, to exchange custom stamps.

Game Highlights

I had heard in past years that Canadians come from across the border to pack the Mariners/Blue Jays series every year. However, this season is different with the Blue Jays not having as strong of a presence as I have heard previously.

The game started with Mariners right fielder, Leody Taveras catching all three fly outs in the first inning. The Mariners would open the game with a three run lead but the Blue Jays would come back with a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning. What was looking like a close match up through would bust open with three Blue Jays runs in the eighth inning. The Blue Jays would defeat the Mariners 6-3.
Opening Day in the Motor City

April 4, 2025

Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox

For the first time, I attend an Opening Day and it only happens because my son wants to watch live professional football.

Michigan Spring Break (or the last family vacation)

My oldest is graduating from high school and, to be honest, I don’t know if there will ever be another family vacation. I love taking my kids out on vacation but, at some point, they become adults and will want to be taking their own vacations. Take advantage of the time you have with your kids while you can.

Back to professional football, the UFL Michigan Panthers has a game scheduled in early April at Ford Field. It is scheduled on the same day at the Detroit Tigers’ Opening Day. The trip also give me an opportunity to check out Jackson, Michigan, which is about an hour west of Detroit and one of those small cities that has been recommended for me to explore.

Opening Day Festivities

It’s no doubt that every baseball fan should experience Opening Day. The City of Detroit, in particular, has a lot going on with music and game outside the ballpark and in neighboring Grand Circus Park.

Festivities for Opening Day also means extra traffic and congestion in downtown. Detroit offers lots of parking garages nearby and about all of them allow you to pre-purchase parking.

The gates open two hours before first pitch (they usually open 60-90 minutes before) and offers plenty of time to walk the park, browse the team store, check out ballpark foods, and just hang out.

Unique to Comerica Park are the massive tiger statues that mark the entrances to the ballpark.

Pre-game activities on the field make the first game of the season stand out from any other regular season game.

Seat Selection

Section 139A Row B

We have mezzanine seats on the lower level along the 3rd base side. One distinct trait about this section is that there are only three seats so it was perfect for myself and the two teenagers. Each row has a couple of small tables in front so it’s a great space for our food and drinks and other goodies. Fortunately located just under the overhang, we have plenty of shade during the game and it’s a great view of the game with no obstructions.

Ballpark Food of Choice

The last time at Comerica Park, I got Little Caesar’s. Little Caesar’s is about everywhere at Comerica from the signage in the outfield and the concessions at every turn.

This time, however, is about the coney hot dog. A coney is a hot dog topped with ground beef and onion and, from what I am learning during my time in Michigan, it is a Michigan favorite with about every hot dog place all taking claim as the originator of the coney.

Ballpark Pass-Port Stamp

By this time, I have gotten the pass-port stamp for the past two years. One of the cool opportunities the pass-port program has offered is that I’ve been able to meet other Stampeders in person at many of the games I’ve attended.

Opening Day gives me this opportunity again to meet other Stampeders, share my custom stamp, and talk baseball.

Game Highlights

Jack Flaherty started the game pitching 5.2 innings but two home runs from Kerry Carpenter and one home runs from Riley Greene cemented a 7-2 Tigers win over the White Sox to kick off baseball at Comerica Park.
Mini-STAMPeding in the Brew City

September 28, 2024

Milwaukee Brewers vs. New York Mets

This trip to Milwaukee happened because of a Mini-STAMPede to meet and hang out with other MLB Ballpark Pass-port holders.

I left Minneapolis early that morning for the five-hour drive. We met first at the National Bobblehead Museum before making our way to American Family Field.

Ballpark Features

Bob Uecker Statue

A statue of Bob Uecker sits in the very top row of the upper level behind home plate along with an empty seat wear you can enjoy the game with him.

Seat Selection

Section 410 Row 22 (Upper level first base side)

Originally, I had bought two tickets for lower level right field bleacher but my second person would not be joining me. I posted those tickets on SeatGeek just in case someone would buy them from me. When those tickets sold, I bought the cheaper upper level ticket and made it a walk-the-park kind of game.

Ballpark Food of Choice

Wisconsin Cheese Dog

Wisconsin is well known for its brats and sausages. Likewise, American Family Field has many choices of hot dogs, brats, and Polish. One of them, the Wisconsin Cheese Dog, a hot dog topped with cheese curds was my choice.

Game Highlights

By this time, the Brewers had clinched the National League Central Division and the Mets were fighting for a playoff spot. Still, the Brewers never let up 6-0 win.
Blue Jays vs. Angels

August 22, 2024
- 2nd visit to Rogers Centre
- 5th different ballpark watching the Angels
This is Game 2 of the two-day trip in Toronto. The day before was a walk-the-park day. This day will be a sit and enjoy the game.

Seat Selection
- Section 139 (Lower level down third base line)
This is my value game with a good lower level seat at a good price.

Highlights of the Game

The Blue Jays has a much better game against the Angels. The Jays scored five runs in the 2nd inning to take the early lead and kept it throughout the game. The Angels attempted the comeback in the 9th inning with a three-run home run from Nico Kavadas (his first career home run).

Ballpark Food of Choice
- Tater Poutine
For my second Blue Jays game, I had to look for another Canadian food. What’s more Canadian than poutine?
Blue Jays vs. Reds

August 21, 2024
- 1st visit to Rogers Center (MLB Ballpark #26)
- 3rd different ballpark watching the Toronto Blue Jays
- 5th different ballpark watching the Cincinnati Reds
This is Game 1 of a two-day trip in Toronto. I had not intended to go to Toronto when I was making my plans for 2024. However, over the summer I got an ad for cheap airfare to Canada and I jumped at it. I had bought my flight before I knew I was going to Texas for work. If I had known I was going to Texas, I might not have bought the tickets to Canada. Ultimately, I am happy I made the trip to Toronto.

I’d shared in previous posts that I had met Ian from Canada who was watching five of the same games I was attending. I’ll bet meeting up with him at this home ballpar this time.

Unexpectedly, I would also meet up with the creator of the MLB Ballpark Passport program, Tim Parks, who shared that he would be there the day of.

Seat Selection
- Section 525 (upper deck)
When I planned to buy tickets for my two Blue Jays games, I decided I would buy cheap for one game and value for the other. Game 1 was the cheap ticket and a walk-the-ballpark kind of game.

Highlights of the Game

Despite the walk-the-ballpark kind of a game for me, there were still plenty of highlights for me to catch.

The Blue Jays started the game with a 6-0 over the Reds at the end of the 3rd inning. However, the Reds would come back scored two run in the 4th and five runs in the 5th toward a Blue Jays collapse.

During the game, Elly de la Cruz would steal his 60th base in the 5th inning for a rare 20/60 season.

Finally, for the first time in MLB history, four Reds players (Spencer Steer, Noelvi Marte, Jonathan India, and Elly De La Cruz) each hit a home run and stole a base in the same game.

Ballpark Food of Choice
- Maple Bacon Footlong Hot Dog
If you are going to Canada for ballpark food, it’s a good time to find foods that are uniquely Canadian. The footlong hot dog is stopped with maple syrup, bacon crumbles, and cinnamon roll frosting.
Rangers vs. Twins

August 15, 2024
- 1st visit to Globe Life Field (MLB Ballpark #25)
- 2nd different ballpark watching the Texas Rangers
- 5th different ballpark watching the Minnesota Twins
A trip to Texas was not planned when I was deciding which ballparks to visit in 2024. However, a work project brought me to Arlington and that night gave me free time to make the visit to Globe Life Field. The best coincidence of all was getting to see my hometown Minnesota Twins.

I was staying in downtown Arlington, which is not exactly walking distance to the ballpark. Fortunately, there was a local bar that offered shuttles to the game. For a small fee, it was great to go without paying more for an Uber or trying to drive and park.

The first game of the series against the Twins was also Nathan Eovaldi World Series ring giveaway day so I got to go home with a souvenir.

At the ballpark, I got to meet up with a group of Texas Rangers who are Ballpark STAMPeders. Part of my ballpark journey has also included stamping my MLB Ballpark Passport book with each ballpark visit.

Seat Selection
- Section 101 (lower level down third base line)
For an impromptu trip where I do not necessarily care where I sit, I was able to snag a cheap ticket of SeatGeek the morning of the game and the location still left me with a good view of the game.

Ballpark Food of Choice
- The Boomstick
The Boomstick, named for former Texas Ranger, Nelson Cruz, is an 18-inch long hot dog topped with grilled onions, jalapenos, chili, and melted cheese and big enough that it really requires a fork and knife to eat. The Boomstick was the only food I bought for the game and I could not finish it before the end of the game.

Highlights of the Game

The game started with two runs from the Rangers in the 1st inning but the biggest highlight of the game was Kyle Farmer’s hit in the second inning that looked like an inside-the-park home run but was officially a triple and an fielding error to bring in two runs and tie the game. The game remained tied until the top of the 9th inning when a sacrifice fly from Carlos Santana would score the winning run.