[B]aseball is diffracted by the town and ballpark where it is played...Does baseball, like a liquid, take the shape of its container?"
Blog Posts
The Glory That is Detroit’s Comerica Park
There are three statues down the block from Detroit’s Comerica Park, whose striking boldness herald the serene beauty of the ballpark. Not that, that was
Morning at the Mission – Chase Field
“Well I hit the rowdy road And many kinds I met there And many stories told me on the way to get thereSo, on and
“Barreling” in Colorado
My last trip of the regular season was a whirlwind through the West. Seven days, six games, in five ballparks: On Thursday, September 16th, I
Back to Florida – St. Petersburg
April’s Lost Weekend I had to find way my way back to Florida. My first trip to Florida was early in my summer’s thirty stadium
Pittsburgh’s Working Class Icons
Pittsburgh isn’t fancy, but it is real. It’s a working town and money doesn’t come easy. I feel as much a part of this city
Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory
“The pitcher has got only a ball. I’ve got a bat. So the percentage in weapons is in my favor, and I let the fellow
On To Cincinnati
Day two of my five days drive through Ohio, to Louisville, and finally, Pittsburgh. I was on my way to Cincinnati. These were possibly some
Return to Cleveland
As my trip entered mid-August, I’d been on the road (off and on) for five months. I’d already traveled to Spring Training, Mexico, London and
Fenway Park – Baseball’s Nirvana
As July turned to August, my trip of a lifetime was entering the final stretch. In the five months since my trip started at Spring
Promises, Promises – Miller & Comiskey
After our three day Wrigley Field sojourn, Mrs. Nomad and I visited Milwaukee’s Miller Park and Chicago’s Guaranteed Rate Field. If you go, to either
Wrigley Field – The Friendly Confines
Do they still play the blues in Chicago When baseball season rolls around? When the snow melts away, do the Cubbies still play In their
“Someday the Orioles Will Deserve Camden Yards”
Historic Camden Yards There is a statue of young George Herman Ruth, Jr., at the intersection of Eutaw and West Camden Streets. He is looking
“America’s Most Hated Stadium”
”it is perhaps America’s most hated sports stadium. Players and coaches deride it. The Oakland Raiders are fleeing it. The lights are breaking, mice are
On to California
California, preaching on the burning shore California, I’ll be knocking on the golden door Like an angel, standing in a shaft of light Rising up
One More Ride For The Nomad
They were hiding behind hay bales, They were planting in the full moon They had given all they had for something new But the light
Go West Young Man
Take off the parking brake Go coasting into a different state And I’m not looking forward to missing you But I must have something better
The Little League World Series
On a beautiful, sunny, late summer afternoon I’m sitting on a hill in northern Pennsylvania watching 12-year-olds demonstrate the perfection of the game. Welcome to
Target Field – Minnesota Nice
Hot Dogs I started July’s five-ballpark trip around the Midwest with two games at Minneapolis’ Target Field. From there, I continued to Chicago for three
A Visit to Yankee Stadium
In my last post, I belabored the “why the new Yankee Stadium should never have been built” point of view. Now that I have that
The House That George Built
I saw three games at “New” Yankee Stadium, the so-called “House That George Built,” as my 19th ballpark of the summer. It wasn’t my first
Cleveland Rocks!
Yes, and emphatically, Cleveland Rocks! Cleveland is one of those underrated “rust belt” cities that I never thought got its due. Some only know it
Farewell to Citi Field
I ended my previous post about Citi Field saying that I couldn’t go back. As I was, sitting in this ballpark I love and watching
Fred Wilpon’s Brooklyn Dodger Obsession
Mrs. Nomad and I made the Subway Series at Citi the last stop on my Midwest Odyssey. The two-week-long odyssey took me through St. Louis,
London Series
Surprisingly, I let good sense take precedence over my ambition and I decided to play it safe. I was in Omaha on Wednesday morning, roughly
College World Series
The morning after we visited Field of Dreams, I dropped Nomad The Younger off in Des Moines and then drove a few hours to Omaha,
Field of Dreams
Pictures of the Day Here are pictures of the fun adventure to Dyersville, where Nomad the Younger and I visited the site of our favorite
Museums at 18th & Vine
After the aborted game at Kauffman Stadium, we headed downtown to the Negro League Museum. The museum is in the Museums at 18th & Vine
Kansas City – Royals and Museums
Day Two on the “Midsummer Odyssey.” The day I pondered my existence and walked the tightrope between sanity and insanity. No, stop! It wasn’t that
Homecoming in St. Louis
On Thursday, June 20th (my wedding anniversary), I started my 10,000 miles “Midsummer Odyssey” to the Midwest and London. During the 14 day’s journey, I
Deep in the Heart of Texas
After Friday’s travel and a late-night watching the Braves, my alarm chirped me awake very early Saturday morning. I needed to catch a flight to
Cooperstown Dreams
Mrs. Nomad and I first visited Cooperstown almost 40 years ago, the week before she made the dangerous and somewhat dubious decision to become Mrs.
SunTrust Park, The Braves and “The Chop”
Atlanta’s SunTrust Park was the eighth ballpark I visited. By the end of the weekend, I had been to ten. As I write this piece,
Back to California – A Tale of Two Cities
Monday morning, I headed back from Mexico. I flew nonstop from Monterrey to Los Angeles. When we landed, I promptly rented a car and headed
Two Days in Mexico
Part of my goal for this summer is to experience as much baseball as possible. As such, I couldn’t pass up the Mexico Series. This
The Angels of Anaheim
Over six days, I saw five games in four ballparks on a trip through Southern California and Monterrey, Mexico. My first stop was Angels Stadium
North of the Border & Vlad Guerrero Jr.
I needed an excellent rebound from the Lost Weekend in Florida. Luckily, I planned an early season trip with Mrs. Nomad to Toronto to see
A Lost Weekend In Florida
I planned to fly into Miami on Friday afternoon and see the Marlins that night. On Saturday, I’d drive the three and a half hours
A Cold Night in Philadelphia
They said it would be warmer. I was thinking early 60’s, a lovely spring night. Then I heard it was going to be windy. So,
My Father and Jackie Robinson’s First Game
I’d like to believe my father’s story about attending Jackie Robinson’s historic first game. Of course, this was the game where Robinson, Branch Rickey and
Let The Great Hot Dog Challenge Begin!
A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz. Humphrey Bogart Hot dogs and baseball seem to go hand in hand, even
Opening Day, The Tale of Two Cities, and The Great Hot Dog Debate
On Thursday, many teams played their first game with 161 more to go. I visited the first stadium of 30 I will see this season.
Spring Training – Heroes, Passion, and Surprises
Monday Morning. I arrived home on Saturday, and now I am evaluating my first trip of many planned for this season. What did I learn
Spring Training – “For The Love Of The Game”
Middle Innings The game falls into three distinct phases. In the first couple of innings, you are enjoying your new surroundings, savoring the first beer
Spring Training – “Beware of Darkness”
Saturday morning was cloudy – and the clouds never really went away. Not an auspicious start to Spring Training in normally sunny Florida. We found
Spring Training – “The Best Week of the Year”
“Life Begins Anew!” When my father was alive, he would call on that special February day and exclaim: “Life begins anew – the pitchers and
The Business of Baseball – Part One
“Baseball is too much of a sport to be called a business and too much business to be called a sport.” Philip Wrigley Bryce Harper
Is Baseball Like A Liquid?
I’ve always been intrigued by Thomas Boswell’s question, “Does baseball, like a liquid, take the shape of its container?” From the ballparks that I have
Hitchcock, Suspense and the Designated Hitter
“There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.” -Alfred Hitchcock- I’m likely not the first person to suggest that a
Let The Children Play – Why Support Youth Baseball?
I’m new to blogging. However, I understand that bloggers refer to key, foundational posts as “cornerstone content.” In my opinion, the cornerstone content for the
Itinerary – “The Refuge Of The Roads”
My Quest – My itinerary will help me find my new way. As I mentioned in my first post: “I needed a change, I couldn’t
Why Collect Ballparks?
“The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball.” As I said in my previous post, I plan to take a break and
From Irrelevant to Relevant
Becoming Irrelevant – Why does one decide to travel across three countries to experience baseball in every way imaginable except for actually playing the game?
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