The countdown is officially on. In exactly 30 days, my epic stadium-hopping journey will reach its ultimate milestone. After years of travel, thousands of miles, and countless ballpark hot dogs, I am ready to complete my quest to visit all 30 Major League venues.
And I’ve saved a truly special place for last: Truist Park in Atlanta.
On Friday, July 3rd, Truist Park will officially become Ballpark #30 on my list. The Atlanta Braves will be hosting the New York Mets, and I couldn’t have picked a more meaningful matchup or stadium to cross the finish line.
Coming Full Circle: From Minnesota to Atlanta
If you’ve been following Touch All 30, you know my heart belongs to my hometown team, the Minnesota Twins. But long before I was waving a Homer Hanky in Minnesota, I was a die-hard Atlanta Braves fan.
Back then, there was one player who stood above the rest for me: Dale Murphy. He was my absolute favorite player growing up, and his legendary MVP years are what cemented my early love for the game.
Because of that, I’m celebrating my 30th stadium in the grandest way possible. On July 3rd, I will be participating in the Dale Murphy MVP Experience! I’ll be watching the game from a private luxury suite right alongside Murph himself, getting a VIP tour of the stadium’s Monument Garden, and hanging out with a true baseball icon. To go from a kid cheering him on from afar to sharing a suite with him as I complete my 30-ballpark journey is a total full-circle moment.
The Road to Atlanta (And a Few Minor Pitstops)
Of course, you can’t have a Touch All 30 road trip without stretching out the itinerary. My journey down south kicks off on Monday, June 29th, with a stop at historic Wrigley Field in Chicago to watch the Cubs take on the San Diego Padres.
From there, I’ll be spending Tuesday and Wednesday breaking up the drive by checking out some incredible minor league parks in Memphis and Nashville (because you can never look at too many baseball diamonds, right?).
A Crossroads for America 250
Once the big milestone is checked off on July 3rd, my itinerary hits a fascinating fork in the road for Independence Day, and I’m looking at two completely different—but equally awesome—paths to finish the holiday weekend before heading back to Minnesota.
Option A: The Reliving History Route
If I stay in Atlanta for the game on Saturday, July 4th, I’ll be sitting in the stands for the 41st anniversary of the legendary “Rick Camp” game. For casual fans who might not remember, on July 4, 1985, the Braves and Mets played a wild, rain-delayed, 20-inning marathon that didn’t end until 3:55 AM—highlighted by a legendary 18th inning home run from relief pitcher Rick Camp.
The Southeast’s larget fireworks show after the game is also a bonus to celebrate American 250.
If I stay for this anniversary game, I’ll head home via Kansas City on Monday, July 6th to catch the Royals vs. Phillies at Kauffman Stadium.
Option B: The Family Get Together Route
The alternative is to skip the July 4th game and head up to Tennessee to visit my family for the holiday. Family time is tough to beat, and this route gives me a bonus ballpark on the way home: I’d stop at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Sunday, July 5th to watch the Reds host the Baltimore Orioles.
Either way, it’s going to be an unforgettable week of baseball, nostalgia, and milestones.
Are you heading out to any ballparks this summer? If you were in my shoes, would you stay for the historic July 4th anniversary game in Atlanta or take the road trip up to Cincy?
Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube as I document the final stretch to 30!