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, Kansas City, Field of Dreams, the College World Series, and the London Series. Now I was back in the States at Citi Field - a place I refer to as "Fred Wilpon's Brooklyn Dodgers Obsession" - with Mrs. Nomad. From the 7- Line heading out to Citi It's become an annual Nomad family tradition to go to Citi Field. We're Mets fans and its a great place to see a game or two. I rank it high on my list of best ballparks. Citi may also be the best ballpark for food in the major leagues. Unfortunately, as much as I love the place and the team, this may be my last visit to Citi for what could be a very long time. As I will explain in my next post, I'm saying Farewell to Citi. Mets Fan For Life I've been a Mets fan most of my life. As I recount in my "Why Collect Ballparks," I've been intrigued with this beguiling team since my father took me to Shea Stadium for the first time in 1965. My family had moved to St. Petersburg, Florida and the Mets opened a training complex across from my school, Azalea Junior High. I remember riding my bicycle to watch them play the newly minted Montreal Expos in 1969. Later that year, I was in Mr. Wilson's Earth Science class when the Principal announced that this team of assumed misfits had won the World Series. A few years later, we moved back to New York City and I started following my cousin and sister to Shea Stadium and the rest is Nomad history - check out the post, you'll enjoy it. Merchandise....7 Line Army and Alonso t-shirts The point is I love my Metsies. Through thick and thin I start the season with high, usually, delusional hopes and then by July I understand the epic tragedy that reality presents. The Mets usually aren't that good. But I digress, I liked going to Shea Stadium and love Citi Field. Fred Wilpon's Brooklyn Dodger Obsession Fred Wilpon is obsessed with the Brooklyn Dodgers of his youth. He was born in Brooklyn and went to high school with Sandy Koufax. His fondest memory is likely his beloved Dodgers finally winning the World Series in 1955 when he was 18. Wilpon went to Lafayette High School with Sandy Koufax and they remain good friends. Interestingly, they both played on the school's baseball team. I've read that Wilpon was the pitcher and Koufax played first base. If true, I consider it an eery preview of Wilpon's way of getting most things related to baseball backward. Of course, Koufax would become a hall of fame pitcher. Wilpon became a notoriously bad team owner. Citi Field is supposed to honor both of the Met's National League predecessors, the Giants, and Dodgers. However, while it has…

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 bad. We had a difficult time seeing the Kansas City Royals and Museums but maintained our sensibilities and made it to the next day. Friday Night - Look at The Tickets! Somewhere between the raindrops, standing ovations, beer, and tornado warnings, Nomad, the Younger decided to check the next day's schedule. "So the game starts at 1:10 tomorrow?" "Nah," I respond, "they play tomorrow night." Sweetly, yet forcefully persistent, Nomad the Younger explains that if they are playing on Saturday night, someone should tell the Royals. "The Royals are playing at 1:10." Yes, an unforced error by the Nomad. The Kauffmans Here's the problem. The plan was to go to the Negro League Museum and the game, and we don't have any extra time. Thus, we need to squeeze both into Saturday so that we can see the Field of Dreams movie site on Sunday. We can't delay because I need to get to the College World Series on Monday. Not to mention the younger Nomad has a plane to catch. OK, no problem. It's a three and a half-hour drive to Kansas City, give or take. We'll leave at 6:30 and be in Kansas City by 10:30, see the museum and make it to the game by 1:00. Who cares if we are a little late? Saturday Morning - The Drive From Hell Another inaccurate, overstatement. Hell is probably worse, and I've never heard about rain in Hell. The stories I hear refer to fire and heat, not SUVs and pouring rain. As we leave, it starts to rain. Then it starts to rain harder. For a while, the rain stops, and we begin to make good time. As we talk, the sky starts to darken into an eerie purple. The sky continues to darken, then darken some more. Soon it was the color of eggplant or the center of a nasty bruise. The purple sky correlates with the wind blowing wildly. I grip the wheel while we look for tornados, houses blowing over, or a woman on a bicycle flying through the sky. Then the heavens open and sheets of rain pour down. This is the type of storm that windshield wipers won't solve. The wipers simply push water back and forth, the water coming down too fast to actually keep the windshield clear. Inside Kauffman Stadium We crawl along - following other slow-moving vehicles. We're creeping our way through a creepy, artificial night caused by clouds, wind a rain. Finally, I can't take it anymore, and we take the next exit looking for shelter. The hoped-for shelter is "Ozarkland." Roadside America describes Ozarkland as "a gift shop/tourist trap." The description is a tad harsh. There are cute knickknacks, what looks like fantastic fudge and the bathrooms are clean. Most of all, the patient salespeople who let a couple of wet nomads hang…

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 made six stops, visited three MLB ballparks, and saw eight games. A somewhat exhausting and exhilarating adventure with Mrs. Nomad and Nomad the Younger traveling with me at times. The first stop was to see Albert Pujols homecoming in St. Louis. Albert PujolsRic Tapia/Icon Sportswire The Nomads lived in St. Louis for a short time when the youngest one was an infant. So, a trip back was a bit of a homecoming. That night's game was a more critical homecoming for Cardinals' fans. The mighty Albert Pujols was returning to St. Louis for the first time since he joined the Angels in 2011. I planned the trip to St. Louis to coincide with the game as I wanted to see the crowd’s reaction. Prince Albert Pujols will enter the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, possibly unanimously. I can’t imagine anyone voting against him. Mariano Rivera’s election last year broke the silly rule that no one can be elected into the Hall unanimously. I’m guessing Derek Jeter will also be unanimous when he is elected next year. Certainly, Pujols deserves to be a unanimous selection also. Albert Pujols connects on his 3000th career hit. Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports Accomplishments A brief list of his accomplishments in his 19-year career: 2001 Rookie of the Year2005, 2008 & 2009 Most Valuable Player2006, 2011 Member of World Champion St. Louis CardinalsTied with Alex Rodriguez for most seasons with 100 RBI (14)32nd player to achieve 3,000 hits in his career4th player to achieve 2,000 career RBI9th player to hit 600 career home runsCurrently ranks 6th on the career home run list4th player to record both 600 home runs and 3,000 hits Leaving, Anger and Reconciliation Cardinals fans were angry when he turned down a lucrative offer from the Cardinals and accepted an offer from the Angels. For example, at spring training, I saw a boy’s Pujols jersey with the number 5 covered in duct tape. My opinion was that he should continue his legacy in St. Louis and win a few more championships. After all, he had a chance to have his statue next to the great Stan Musial if he stayed. On the other hand, Pujols says that he did not feel appreciated in St. Louis. That he felt "more appreciated" by the Angels' owners. Any anger from the time Albert left had certainly dissipated by the time he returned. The organization shared a highlight reel, and the crowd showed its appreciation every chance they could. There were standing ovations each time he came to the plate. They cheered some more when he left the game, replaced for a pinch-runner in the 7th inning. Rain and The Old Haunts On Friday morning, after I worked on my blog, I took a short walk to the Gateway Arch. I wanted to check it out before I…

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 Dallas/Fort Worth for three games “Deep in the Heart of Texas.” The first two with the Rangers in Arlington and then one in Houston to see the Astros. Including Atlanta, I saw five stadiums in four days that represented a few different design concepts. One was a clear favorite. The reason I scheduled the entire weekend in Arlington was that the Astros wouldn't be in town until Monday. OK, why not stay in Arlington and watch another Rangers game? It would be more convenient than flying back to Houston later. However, I must have good Karma. It poured on Saturday; the game was delayed a few hours. So much so, I lasted just a few innings. I went back on Sunday, a great day with beautiful weather. Five Stadiums During the four-day trip to Atlanta, Arlington, and Houston, I visited five stadiums. Each had a different "something-something." SunTrust Park SunTrust Park My first stop was Atlanta's SunTrust Park. As mentioned in my previous post, SunTrust is a charming new ballpark where they built a community "Boomtown," adding fun and commercial activity. Its biggest fault is that they encourage racially insensitive behavior that has no place in polite society. All other esthetics are excellent, except they are new, and the feel walking through Boomtown is like walking down Main Street at Disney. Fun, but a tad artificial. Minute Maid Park Houston's Union Station houses the team store, the other building is Minute Maid Park My last stop was Houston's Minute Maid Park. It was quite the opposite of SunTrust as it is firmly ensconced in Downtown Houston. Moreover, it incorporates the century-old Union Station, and so it fits somewhat nicely into the neighborhood. Inside, Union Station's main concourse is used as Minute Maid's main lobby. Brick and other design elements help retain the Union Station flavor throughout the first floor of the stadium. The Astros didn't need to build a Boomtown, the facilities were already there. It does not feel artificial. In short, I liked it a lot. In the middle of the trip were three stadiums in Arlington. AT&T Stadium AT&T looming over the Nolan Ryan Expressway next to Globe Life Park The Dallas Cowboys play in AT&T Stadium - sorry, l know football should not be mentioned during baseball season. However, AT&T was near my hotel and Globe Life Park - where the Texas Rangers play. It looms over the landscape like a huge, football-shaped edifice that reminds me of an alien spaceship landing in the middle of a parking lot in suburbia. I imagine scientists, soldiers, and citizens surrounding it looking so small in comparison. They have this look of wonder. "What is it?" "Are there living beings inside?" "Can they communicate?" "Do they mean good or harm?" Globe Life Park Globe Life Park If you stand in the right spot, you can…

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, I've just returned from Baltimore, so now my number is eleven. I rank SunTrust third behind San Diego's Petco Park and Baltimore's Camden Yards out of the eleven. The Park There is a lot to like about SunTrust. SunTrust Park and The Battery SunTrust is a pretty and comfortable brick ballpark with good sightlines and food. Additionally, it is connected to "The Battery" a commercial area built along with the stadium that offers bars, restaurants, and hotels. It's a great reason to avoid Atlanta's horrible traffic and go to the park early for dinner and a few beers. The combination of the stadium and The Battery is very profitable for the Braves. In the park’s first year, revenue grew by 47% to $124M. Entering The Battery Fountains in The Battery The area is also suitable for out of town visitors. I stayed in a hotel just a short 15-minute walk to SunTrust. I could have stayed closer, but the hotels in the Battery are not cheap. Celebrating Team History They do history right at SunTrust. It has a Hall of Fame area with a statue of Hank Aaron in the center. Hank is next to a "sculpture" of the number 755 built out of 755 baseball bats. 755 is, of course, the real - my opinion home run record. It also displays the Braves' 1995 World Series trophy. It is the only championship trophy awarded to a team from Atlanta. Like the Dodgers that sell Brooklyn hats, the Braves sell Milwaukee hats in the Team Store. Home Run Bat Statue The Babe's Uniform (center) Hammerin' Hank Milwaukee Braves Hats Food - Hot Dogs The food is good too. With many local restaurants represented at the ballpark, I had my requisite hot dog at H&F Burger and was pleased. H&F has another location in the Ponce City Market, near midtown Atlanta. It's grilled, with a good bun and I added onions and relish. There is no brown mustard, but Atlanta is not alone in that area. H&F Dog Pimento Cheese Patty Additionally, "Taste of Braves Country" the Braves offer delicacies influenced by different parts of the South. So, after my hot dog, I tried the Pimento Cheese Patty Melt, evidently a staple in South Carolina. This is a grilled hamburger patty with melted pimento cheese on marble rye toast. Never heard of pimento cheese? That discovery is worth a trip to the South - book now. The Team is Good! A visit to the park does not just entail history, food, and beer. They also play baseball there. After, "tanking" for a few years they have amassed a group of great young players that will be a force to be reckoned with for a long time. The Organist I hear the organist play “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” when one of the visiting players…

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 to San Diego, about a three-hour drive. The next morning, after I spent a lovely evening in Petco Park, I drove back to Los Angeles. That night I visited the venerable Dodger Stadium. No offense to Dickens, but it is somewhat a "tale of two cities" - certainly two ballparks. Dodger Stadium is one of the oldest ballparks, and Petco Park is one of the newest ones. Both have their charms. It's also not "The best of times and the worst of times," in terms of the teams. The Dodgers have won the National League pennant the last two years and want to go back and finally win it all. On the other hand, the Padres have experienced bad times but are rapidly improving. They have a lot of good young ballplayers and are starting to win. Let's call it "The best of times and the getting better times." Petco Park Petco Park opened in 2004 and is one of the youngest ballparks. Only six are older. It is a gem! Petco Park on a Cloudy Day The Gaslamp District Gaslamp District - Outside Petco Park The park is situated near the harbor and the Historic Gaslamp Quarter which is full of bars and restaurants. An excellent place to meet friends and have drinks and dinner before the game and drinks after it. It is advertised as the "West Coast's premier entertainment district" with "rich Victorian architecture and history." Additionally, there is a pedestrian promenade that connects the area with Petco's "Park at the Park" a vast area behind the stadium. This area is where ticketed fans can hang out and relax. It’s also where a beautiful statue of Tony Gwynn is located. Tony Gwynn Statue A few things that I like in a ballpark: The park's look and feel are similar to the surrounding area. Petco's exterior isn't Victorian, by any means. In fact, its sandstone and stucco exterior was patterned after the sandy colored San Diego cliffs and beaches. However, it seems to fit the area nicely. Additionally, incorporating the Western Metal Supply Co. warehouse in the design helps to incorporate the surrounding area. The park incorporates a commercial district nearby where fans can hang out before and after the game. The Gaslamp District provides more than enough bars and restaurants. The commercial area should precede the ballpark. Better that, than an area built when the park is. Turning the concept into a mall of sorts. Those built with the stadium are better than nothing but not as good as if the area exists already. I stayed at the Horton Grand Hotel in the heart of the District. It was inexpensive and a quick walk to the ballpark and harbor. The room was a suite, with a bedroom, a sitting room and bath. Not bad for less than $200, but I was only…

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 the Blue Jays and relax a bit. From a trip planning perspective, I wanted to get this one out of the way. The Rogers Centre is domed so the weather wouldn't be an issue. Why not get the trip done before the schedule got crazy? As it turned out, the trip was just at the right time. It was relaxing, fun and rejuvenating. Mrs. Nomad and I have always had fun in Canada, and this trip north of the border was no different. Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s first weekend in the show was an added plus. Vlad Guerrero Jr. - Ken Griffey Jr. or Clint Hurdle? When we drove north on Friday, I was feeling much better. So much so that I suggested that we try and see Friday night's game too. After all, it was Vlad Jr.'s first game. However, I got the look - not that Mrs. Nomad doesn't like baseball - but this was an overly aggressive idea. We were both tired. "Discretion is the better part of valor" is my new motto. So, instead of testing fate, we decided to have a quick dinner and watch the game on television. Predictably, I fell asleep in the middle of the game and missed Vlad Jr.'s ninth-inning double and Brandon Drury's home run to win the game. Hazel Mae is a member of a seemingly excellent Blue Jays' broadcasting team and seems to be a good reporter. So, I mean no offense. However, she said something on Friday that struck me as odd. While recounting how Vlad Jr., a weak fielder, was working diligently on his defensive skills, she said it was his "next step on the road to greatness." I thought about Clint Hurdle. Then I thought about Ken Griffey Jr. Each had a different career arc, and the appropriate question is “which road is Vlad Jr. on?” Clint Hurdle My first memory of Clint Hurdle was the cover of the March 28, 1978 issue of Sports Illustrated. Clint was on the cover - smiling broadly. The headline read “This Years Phenom.” Unfortunately, Clint was anything but a can’t miss rookie. He missed badly. Clint Hurdle - "This Year's Phenom" In ten years, he hit only 32 home runs, batted a mediocre .259 and only played more than 80 games in two seasons. He had a severe back injury that affected his play for a long time. He partied and may have battled alcoholism. Some suggested that they rushed him to the majors too quickly. Hurdle is now the very successful manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Happy with his life and apparently the saga of his playing days a distant memory. Ken Griffey Jr. I don't remember when I first noticed Ken Griffey Jr. It may have been his broad smile or the way he casually wore his cap backward. Possibly it was…

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 to St. Petersburg and catch the Rays. On Sunday, I'd drive back to Miami and fly home. In so doing, I would visit two ballparks I'd never been to before and have some fun. The resulting post would discuss why Florida's baseball franchises are troubled and my thoughts on the ballparks I visited. That didn't happen. Instead, it was a lost weekend in Florida, and I never made it to St. Petersburg. A Rough Start My game day flights leave early, around 6:00 AM, which means that I am up around 4:30 and out by 5:00. Thus I expect to be tired all day. Friday was no different. I landed in Miami around noon, got to my hotel and promptly slept until it was time to go to the game. This is not the way I roll. I might be tired but never so much that I require an afternoon nap, no. However, I felt odd, out of it and very tired. That night, after the game, I was up every couple of hours with stomach issues. Marlins Park in Miami By Saturday morning I knew I was in trouble. I was a little dizzy, felt feverish my stomach was still bothering me, and I was somewhat short of breath. , I wondered if the pneumonia I had the previous week was back, even though I thought I felt better on Thursday. I didn't want to drive to St. Petersburg, and I considered taking a train. I didn't know they had trains between Miami and Tampa. The timing for the train wouldn't fit my schedule so I "soldiered on." I left the hotel around 10:00 and started driving north. Soldiering On "Soldiered on?" Isn't this going to be the trip of a lifetime, every baseball fan's dream? Yes, the journey of a lifetime and something I desperately want to do. However, that doesn't mean that every day will be enjoyable and the travel easy. There will be days when I don't have it all together when things don't go smoothly. Moreover, there is no turning back. Thirty ballparks and 42 stops is not a goal, it’s a commitment I've made to myself, and I don't plan on failing. Which means I will need to push myself at times, and so I did. The drive seemed to be going fine. When I was about 100 miles out, going west on I-75 and just entering the Everglades, I decided to take a break at a rest stop. My sense was that rest stops would be few and far between, so it was a good time to stop. I didn't realize how sick I was until I got out of the car and stood up. When I did so, I felt dizzy and didn't think I had the energy to walk the 100 feet to the men's room.…