Take Me Out to the Ball Game...

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of baseball. It should then come as no surprise to anyone that I want to make what's known as the Pilgrimage.

I can hear all the non-fans out there asking what this Pilgrimage is. Well, in short, there are 30 teams in the MLB, and each team has its own home stadium. The Pilgrimage is a journey to each and every MLB baseball stadium in the league.

This journey is particularly difficult for me, since there is no MLB team in the entire state of Louisiana. Nevertheless, I have seen games at four MLB parks and have been to two others.

My very first MLB game was in 1999 at the Houston Astrodome. I honestly don't remember much from the game, but I do remember that I didn't like the roof on the stadium. That's something that continues today. Baseball shouldn't be played inside unless it absolutely has to. Thankfully, the Astros corrected this error when they built their new field, currently under the moniker Minute Maid Park. I haven't been there yet, but I look forward to seeing the Astros play there eventually.

The next game I went to was in 2003, in Atlanta. And let me say right now that Turner Field is incredible. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the stadium was once part of Centennial Olympic Stadium, but I absolutely fell in love with the ballpark. The field dimensions make it a hitter-friendly park, which is always exciting. The backdrop of the Atlanta skyline (including a giant Coke bottle and the 1996 Olympic Cauldron) is excellent. And the fact the Braves are relatively good doesn't hurt the situation. It's on my list of stadiums to return to, if for no other reason to see the awesome video board that was added in 2005.

Three years after my Braves experience, in 2006, I got to visit one of the most storied ballparks in the history of baseball: Wrigley Field in Chicago. Oh man, that stadium is quite something. From the giant manual scoreboard keeping track of all games that day to "White Flag Time," this field has it all. One of the most unique features is the rooftops of apartment buildings around the stadium where fans gather to watch the games. That experience is definitely something I want to do. Additionally, one of the major traditions of baseball was started in this stadium: the singing of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the 7th Inning Stretch. You can credit Harry Caray with that one.

Also in 2006 I passed by the new Busch Stadium in St. Louis. I can't really offer much commentary on games here since I haven't actually been to one, but the stadium does look impressive, and there is an incredible view of the Gateway Arch behind center field. One day I will see a Cardinals game there.

A similar situation occured in 2007, when I got to briefly see AT&T Park, home of the San Fancisco Giants. It killed me to not go in, because I particularly wanted to see the San Francisco Bay out behind right field (and maybe see a splash ball). Alas, I will have to return on another day, it seems.

My most recent MLB game was actually just about three weeks ago. Yes, it was a preseason game, but I'm counting it. And even though I hate the Yankees, I must say that the new Yankee Stadium is one of the finest stadiums in the world. The concourses are spacious, the scoreboards are a healthy mix of modern and classic, and the field dimensions are exactly the same as the old field, even facing the same direction. You could just feel the excitement in the air among the Yankee fans at finally getting a new stadium (something I can sympathize with, as the LSU baseball team just got a brand new stadium of their own). The architects and construction crews did a remarkable job on this stadium, the most expensive one in the world (would you expect anything else from the Yankees though?)

Now if only that construction worker who hid the Sox jersey under the dugout would have kept his damn mouth shut for about six months longer....

So that's my MLB history in a nutshell. One day I will make it to all 30 stadiums. I'll be putting out pieces later on which stadiums I want to visit most and why (hint: the number one stadium on my list rhymes with "hen stay"), so be sure to stay tuned for that. And for you non-baseball fans, I promise I'll post other stuff too.

For now, I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from a great baseball player (even if he was a Yankee), Yogi Berra: "You should always go to other people's funerals. Otherwise, they won't go to yours."

Everybody sleep well and have fun!