tagged w/ Ballpark Tour
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A ballpark's personality is defined as much by its street music as its architecture, signature hot dog, or the team that plays on the field. At Busch Stadium, our basecrawlers meet four competing musicians with one thing in common — their instrument of choice is a saxophone. But this is really no coincidence. People here have a passion for rhythm and blues that rivals their love for the St. Louis Cardinals.A ballpark's personality is defined as much by its street music as its... more
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The quest to hit all 30 Major League ballparks in a single season takes a minor detour to the World Series. It's the College World Series, that is, where the top eight teams in America have gathered at Rosenblatt Stadium to battle for a national championship. This spectacle in Omaha draws thousands of Nebraskans and Iowans who love the game more than any particular team. Other fans, meanwhile, seem to love the festivities surrounding the event more than they do baseball itself.The quest to hit all 30 Major League ballparks in a single season takes a minor detour... more
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Planning a 10-week, 17,000-mile road trip through 38 states to see one game at every Major League ballpark is a massive undertaking. This basecrawl happens to be framed around three weddings – one for each of our travelers. No sooner has the game in San Diego ended when our basecrawlers begin an all-night push to Denver so Nolan isn’t late to a rehearsal dinner and a reunion with his girlfriend. Game No. 7 takes our team to Coors Field and a battle of the beers. But while everyone appears to be riding a “mile high,” stunning news is about to completely alter the nature of this baseball road trip.Planning a 10-week, 17,000-mile road trip through 38 states to see one game at every... more
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Ever wonder why certain people root for certain ball clubs, or why a baseball fan's sex drive fluctuates with the ups and downs of his favorite team? As the quest to hit all 30 ballparks in one season continues, our basecrawlers use their stop at Petco Park to take a look at the physiology and psychology of fan behavior. The San Diego Padres are playing Daren's beloved Mets, and our native New Yorker sees his mood swing like a batter taking a hack at a Jake Peavy fastball.Ever wonder why certain people root for certain ball clubs, or why a baseball... more
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The "Dodger Dog" is one of baseball's most notorious franks, and our designated basecrawl connoisseur is eager to sample this and rank it against the other hotdogs he's already devoured. Nolan is famous for his gargantuan appetite, and as these baseball fans tackle game No. 5 on their basecrawl Nolan tries to take on the entire Dodger Stadium menu with a comical — and critical — look at the cost of ballpark food. The "Dodger Dog" is one of baseball's most notorious franks, and our... more
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Pushing down the California coast, the next stop on this basecrawl is Angel Stadium where a monkey rules supreme and our travelers drift back to a time when baseball was a child's game. Feeling nostalgic, our basecrawlers — all former card collectors — also head to a modern-day baseball card show in an attempt to reconnect with the past. They are surprised to learn just how much the trading card industry has changed since the Tom Seavers gave way to the Tim Lincecums, and boys grew up to be men.Pushing down the California coast, the next stop on this basecrawl is Angel Stadium... more
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The San Francisco Giants offer some of baseball's most head-scratching spectacles, particularly the "splash hit" and the kayakers who lurk around AT&T Park. For this third stop on their baseball road trip, our basecrawlers jump into the San Francisco Bay in an attempt to score a rare and valuable souvenir. A splash hit is a home run that clears the right-field fence and lands in a pocket of the bay known as McCovey Cove, and the lengths some "ballhawks" go to obtain one combines a high degree of innovation and obsession. Meanwhile, our basecrawlers discover the departure of Barry Bonds has had a profound impact on the mood in San Francisco, especially at one local business that has seen its revenue take a dive as fewer balls are hit into the bay. The San Francisco Giants offer some of baseball's most head-scratching... more
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When Troy was 7 years old, a professional baseball scout gave him a business card and made a tacit promise: "Call me in 11 years and I'll give you a personal tryout for the Oakland A's." During a stopover in Portland, Oregon, our basecrawlers are pleasantly surprised to learn that Troy's father has kept the business card after all these years. The scout’s benevolent act forever impacted a young boy's dreams and hopes, not to mention who he'd cheer for during the course of his childhood. Many, many years later, our basecrawlers attempt to hunt down this influential figure in Troy's life as they head toward Oakland Coliseum and the second stop on their baseball road trip.When Troy was 7 years old, a professional baseball scout gave him a business card and... more
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Three friends set out on a 10-week baseball road trip to all 30 Major League ballparks.vThe first chapter of this basecrawl takes our travelers to the Pacific Northwest and the home of the Seattle Mariners. For one basecrawl participant, it's a return to his childhood pastime. More than 15 years have passed since he saw his last Major League Baseball game at Seattle's Kingdome. Meanwhile, another one of our other basecrawlers seems a bit too eager to disappear on his buddies, inviting his girlfriend to the first of 31 games and tainting what was supposed to be a male-bonding experience.Three friends set out on a 10-week baseball road trip to all 30 Major League... more
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