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.…

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, there I was with four layers sitting in low 50's weather with the wind blowing. It felt like the temperature was in the 30's. At least that was my impression. I'm just recovering from a bad cold that my doctor told me on Friday might be "pneumonia." A cold night in Philadelphia, indeed, but I had to observe Jackie Robinson Day in a ballpark. These are my impressions of the rather short night. Jackie Robinson Day Remember, I planned to go south in the early part of the season and avoid the cold northeast. I slightly amended my plan because of the Jackie Robinson Remembrance. Los Angeles would have been a better choice. Jackie was a Dodger, and it would be warm in L.A. However, I tied my L.A. trip to the series in Mexico so I couldn't go in mid-April as well. Philadelphia seemed easy - I could drive. The Mets were playing the Phillies, why not go? Highlights Before The Game I needed to remember and celebrate Jackie Robinson in a ballpark, finally. My last post “My Father and Jackie Robinson's First Game” should have made it clear how special I think Jackie is. I had to see everyone wearing the same number 42. And I had to join the baseball community and pay my respects. I didn't drive. I wanted something easier. So, instead, I used some points to fly to Baltimore and drive up to Philadelphia. Baltimore is much more affordable than Philly, and it’s an easy drive to and from. Moreover, I would offset the cost of my rental car by losing a night in a hotel. I was so happy I made that choice. Driving six hours from Rochester to Philadelphia while recovering from pneumonia would not have worked well at all. The Scoreboard Tells The Story It's a beautiful sight. Tonight, the out of town scoreboard that lists the probable pitchers by number only contains the number 42. Oddly, all except for Los Angeles which is showing a number 22. Obviously, a mistake, but I'm standing there saying "WTF Kershaw." Then the players appear wearing number 42 with no names on their backs. We are all equal, no? Honorable mention goes to Bryce Harper who wore UCLA (Jackie's alma mater) Bruins accessories. All in all, I was moved. Philadelphia Jackie Robinson and Ben Chapman via New York Times Philadelphia is an interesting place to celebrate Jackie's debut. After all, in 1947, Philadelphia was managed by the notorious Ben Chapman. Chapman's insulting taunts were awful, one of the few times Robinson reconsidered his no retaliation promise with Branch Rickey. When the Dodgers got to Philadelphia, Chapman was forced to make nice grudgingly. Sixty-nine years later the city apologized. Curt Floddvia Wikipedia Additionally, the Phillies and Philadelphia had a long history of poor relationships with the black community for a…

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. My story recounts the day – the glory of opening day, the National’s odd legacy “The Tale of Two Cities,” and my first installment in the “great hot dog debate”. Yes, I also had visions of the “Swinging Friar.” When designing my travel schedule, I originally didn’t consider going anywhere on Opening Day, but how could I not go? I couldn't say I did it all (baseball-wise) if I didn't go to Opening Day. Then I saw that my Metsies were playing the Nationals in Washington and I like Washington. Most importantly, I knew in November that the Mets opening against the Nationals likely meant a Scherzer vs. DeGrom encounter. That could not be missed! And long after I purchased my ticket I found out my pitching matchup hunch was right. Opening Day - Morning: 5:00 AM Rochester International Airport - TSA Pre Check Line I'm in the security line when I pass a priest (maybe a monk - but in Rochester? Do we have monks?). He's decked out in full regalia (no offense intended) in a full cassock, skull cap, big cross, and rosary beads. I'm only thinking about baseball. Thus, my first thought is: "He must be heading to a San Diego Padre's game dressed like their mascot the “Swinging Friar.” All I have is my Nats hat and my camera. What if he plans to go to all the stadiums dressed like the home team’s mascot? That's more than I'm doing.” 5:15 AM Rochester International Airport, Gate B1 I realize I'm going incognito, I’m a Mets fan in a Nationals cap. I bought the hat last year during a family outing to a Nats game and a weekend in DC. That was when I was trying the slow approach to "collect ballparks." Incognito At the gate I see the usual -- a few Yankee hats but no Mets gear. How do I explain if asked? "Going to Opening Day? Are you a Nats fan?" Do you think they will play the Yankees in the series?” “Actually no, I'm a Mets fan going to DC for the game. I'm wearing the cap because my goal is to get a selfie in the home team’s cap at every major league stadium. I have a blog, and I’m raising money for youth baseball.” 7:00 AM Delta Sky Club LaGuardia Terminal C I’m eating the standard hard-boiled eggs and bagel surrounded by business people and vacationers. The business people are talking on phones and pounding keys on their laptops. I used to do that - might do so again. Today I don't miss it and wonder how many of them want to join me at the ball game instead of doing business. 11:30 AM Outside Nationals Park I can't do it. My misgivings started when I saw all the fans at the L'Enfant Plaza metro station.…