2nd different ballpark watching the San Diego Padres
3rd different ballpark watching the Boston Red Sox
The final game of the seven-day, seven-game Southwest baseball road trip would give us the first series of Xander Bogaerts facing his former Red Sox club.
Seat Selection
Section 225 (Second level right field corner)
For this Red Sox series, there was definitely not any chance of getting a discount. The cheapest tickets for the Saturday game was $60 for Gallagher Square standing room. Fortunately, a work perk got me free tickets.
Highlights of the Game
Tonight’s game was the only one of the road trip in which the away team won.
Ballpark Food of Choice
Seaside Market Tri-tip Nachos
The Tri-tip Nachos were highly recommended long before our visit so I made my way to looking for these specifically. The line was long but it was worth the wait.
We drove back to the Los Angeles area to Anaheim for the sixth game of our seven-day, seven-game Southwest baseball road trip.
2nd visit to Angels Stadium (Last visited 2019)
4th different ballpark watching the Minnesota Twins
Seat Selection
Section 245 Row SA (Right field)
The sections in right field offer a view of the game that feels out in the open, especially on those cool California nights. At the top of the sections, you will find the Angels retired numbers.
Ballpark Features
Ballpark Entrance
The main entrance on the southwest corner of Angel Stadium features two oversized Angels helmets and Mickey Mouse statues from the 2010 All-Star Game displayed.
Big A
The ‘Big A’ stands in the parking lot east of the ballpark and right along the Orange Freeway and serves as the recognizable landmark for visitors traveling through Anaheim. Previously, the landmark had stood inside the ballpark as part of the scoring display in left field but was moved when the stadium was renovated in 1996.
Ballpark Food of Choice
Sausage Mac and Cheese Bowl
This was a try something different kind of a day.
Game Highlights
We were hoping our hometown Minnesota Twins could pull of the win but the Angels had control of the whole game.
With San Jose being our home base for the northern park of the fourth game of the seven-day, seven-game Southwest baseball trip, we took the CalTrain along the western side of the San Francisco Bay.
Seat Selection
Section LB129 (Lower left third base side)
The Black Friday sale the Giants ran made affordable $15 seats easy to up at.
Highlights of the Game
Unlike the previous three games on the trip, the Giants would get the win without needing a walk off.
Ballpark Food of Choice
Lumpia and Filipino Lemonade
While Oracle Park is known for their garlic fried, the lumpia provides a Filipino alternative.
3rd different ballpark watching the Arizona Diamondbacks
Leaving Los Angeles, we took the six-hour drive to San Jose and then the BART to Oakland for the third game of our seven-day, seven-game Southwest baseball road trip.
Seat Selection
Section 242 (Second level center field)
If Dodger Stadium was the most expensive stop on the trip and packed, Oakland Coliseum was the cheapest stop and mostly empty. $10 no fee tickets put us on the Treehouse level and pretty much any seat we want. The low attendance allowed us to make friends with the ushers and security the whole game.
Highlights of the Game
Surprisingly, this A’s/Diamondbacks contest would also go 12 innings and really have us cut it very close to making the last BART ride back to San Jose.
Ballpark Food of Choice
If the Brooklyn Dog is the best ballpark hot dog, whatever I ate at Oakland Coliseum was the worth.
The second day of our seven-day, seven-game Southwest baseball road trip took us to Chavez Ravine to cheer for my hometown Minnesota Twins.
While we had tried to keep costs for each game reasonable, Dodger Stadium was our opportunity to spend big with a pre-game tour followed with all-inclusive seats right along the outfield wall.
1st visit to Dodger Stadium (MLB Ballpark #17)
2nd different ballpark watching the Los Angeles Dodgers
3rd different ballpark watching the Minnesota Twins
Seat Selection
Section LHRDC (All-inclusive Home Run Seats)
The most I’ve ever spent for a game, the Home Run Seats are rail seating along the outfield wall with access to any choice of food and unlimited snacks and drinks.
The Home Run Seats are a premium option at Dodger Stadium with rail seating along the outfield wall and all-inclusive service with options for most ballpark foods and unlimited snacks and drinks. The proximity to the field make these seats idea for pregame batting practice as well as home runs just reaching the wall.
Ballpark Food of Choice
Dodger Dogs and Brooklyn Dogs
Dodger Stadium is known for their Dodger Dog, which is your typical pork hot dog. The Brooklyn Dog is the all-beef version. As far as ballpark hot dogs go, I recommend the Brooklyn Dog when in Los Angeles.
Game Highlights
While the Dodgers had the clear advantage and the lead for most of the game, the Twins kept coming back and forced extra innings. The Dodgers would get the win in 12 innings on a bases loaded walk.
This stop in Phoenix marked the first game of a seven-day, seven-game baseball road trip through the American Southwest. Chase Field will also be the first of two stops watching the Giants on this trip.
1st visit to Chase Field (MLB Ballpark #16)
2nd different ballpark watching the Arizona Diamondbacks
1st different ballpark watching the San Francisco Giants
Seat Selection
Chase Field
Section 205 Row 10 (Club level first base side)
The 200-level, also called Diamond Level, provides wide seating and added legroom. Ticket holders with Diamond Level access to the Suite Lounge for additional food options and have a direct connection to the adjacent parking garage for easy entrance and exit.
Anyone considering Diamond Level tickets might want to consider buying their tickets through Costco. Costco offers ticket specials for most MLB teams and visitors can buy ticket Diamond Level tickets at a value price.
Ballpark Food of Choice
XL Footlong Sonoran-Style Dog
The Sonoran Style Hot Dog is unique to Chase Field. Inspired by the Mexican and Southwestern heritage of the area, these hot dogs are topped with beans, bacon, Pico de Gallo, mustard, and mayo. The Sonorans are a must try to hot dog aficionados.
Game Highlights
The Diamondbacks and Giants were tied for most of the game but a Lourdes Gurriel walk off single brought a 2-1 victory for Arizona.
4th different ballpark watching the Cincinnati Reds
On the final weekend of the regular season, we decided to take an impromptu trip from Minneapolis to Chicago to finally see Wrigley Field. We did not get to Wrigley when we were in Chicago in May so we had to make up for it. This game would also be the 3rd time in 2022 that we would watch the Cincinnati Reds.
Friday Games
Fridays are unique in Wrigleyville in that the Cubs always play those games at 1:20 p.m. For the end of the week, it is a refreshing change of pace to start the weekend with baseball in the sun.
Seat Selection
Section 321R (Upper deck 1st base side)
For the best infield seats both lower deck and upper deck, look for seats in the 100 or 300 sections. These sections will be in front of the pillars that surround the ballpark so you will not have to deal with any obstructed views.
Ballpark Features
Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame
The Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame can be found underneath the outfield bleachers. The Hall of Fame has plaques display of all of its members as well as memorabilia and relics throughout Cubs’ history.
Foods at the Ballpark
Italian Beef and Sausage
Wrigley Field has your typically ballpark fare. I do recommend the Italian beef, Italian sausage, or the combined Italian beef and sausage right off the grill.
Parking and Transportation
The area around Wrigley Field has very few options for parking.
The Metro Red Line also runs right next to Wrigley Field. If you want to avoid traffic, use public transit and take the Metro Red Line to go to the game.
Hotels
There are some hotels near Wrigley Field that can make for a convenient walk to the game.
Hotels in downtown Chicago are typically nearby the Metro line, which makes it convenient to take the train to the game.
Hotels by Chicago Midway Airport can be a more affordable option for places to stay when visiting Chicago, but you will either need to drive to the ballpark or take an Uber or Lyft.
The final leg of the three-day, three-game trip brought me to Progressive Field. Cleveland was also the setting of the Cleveland Air Show, which takes places annually on Labor Day weekend.
In addition to the air show, Cleveland also experienced a heavy amount of rain and rain would delay the game midway through for about four hours.
2nd visit to Progressive Field (Last visited in 2018)
1st ballpark watching the Seattle Mariners
Ballpark Features
Heritage Park
Heritage Park, in the outfield plaza, honors Cleveland’s past within various statues, including Hall of Famer Jim Thome.
Flo
Just like the park’s namesake, Flo from Progressive can be seen all throughout the park with various advertising, signage, and scoreboard displays.
Seat Selection
Section 553 Row F (Upper level behind home plate)
The upper level behind home plate offers a clean bird’s eye view of the field.
1st visit to Great American Ball Park (MLB Ballpark #14)
3rd ballpark watching the Cincinnati Reds
3rd ballpark watching the Colorado Rockies
The trip to Cincinnati happened before off an ad for cheap flights. Cincinnati would then be the first stop of a three-day, three-game Cincinnati trip that would include Pittsburgh and Cleveland.
Ballpark Features
Reds Hall of Fame
The Reds Hall of Fame can be found just outside the main gates at Great American Ball Park. The Hall of Fames houses many pieces of Reds memorabilia. It also includes a dedicated display honoring Pete Rose’s 4,256 hits that span three floors.
Make time for the Reds Hall of Fame and the tour of Great American Ball Park.
Seat Selection
Section 128 (Behind the 1st base dugout)
For non-marquee matchups, tickets for seats close to the field can be very affordable.
Ballpark Food of Choice
Bourbon Lemonade
Great American Ball Park has your typical ballpark fare. Unique to the ballpark fare are the Kentucky bourbon drinks popular to the areas, including the Bourbon Frozen Lemonade.
