It all started with my first Major League Baseball game at the Phillies old home, Veterans Stadium. If you’ve never been, it was one of several multi-purpose sports venues built across the country in the 1970s. It also served as the home of the NFL’s Eagles. I don’t remember a lot about this first game, but I know it took place sometime in 1984, the Phillies’ Charles Hudson was the wining pitcher, and the game was rain-shortened. With this little bit of information and the power of Google, I was able to find an article about the game; it was a 1-0, 7 inning Phillies victory over the Braves on July 5, 1984 (thanks UPI). It was the first of many games I would see at Veterans Stadium, most with my Dad.
This was the first step in my quest to see a game in every Major League ballpark. So far I’ve seen games in 32 ballparks, but 9 of them have since been retired. So I’m currently at 23 out of 30. Below is my tracker with the year each stadium opened and the date of the first game I saw there. Check back for updates as I add pictures from each ballpark and descriptions of some of the more memorable trips.
Goal #1 – See a game in all 30 MLB cities. If I include current and retired stadiums I only have two left – Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays.
Goal #2 – See a game in all 30 current MLB ballparks. After Goal #1, I’ll have five left – Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, and Minnesota Twins.
Goal #3 – See a game in all 30 Ballparks in 30 Days. This would be the ultimate baseball adventure. I’ve mapped it out a couple of times and others have done it, so I know it’s possible. But it would be quite expensive, occupy an entire month, and require some doubleheaders and some crazy travel. I don’t expect this will be happening anytime soon, but maybe some day.
This is one group that did it. From the Amazon description:
It was April when we set out on our quest to see a game in all 30 Major League ballparks in 30 days. We had one rule for the Trip: we had to drive the whole way – no planes, no trains – just us and our van on the open road. Was it possible? Could we do it? This journal is our day-by-day account of life on the road during the 18,000 mile road trip adventure across America.
Memorable Ballpark Trips (click each for more info – updates coming)
- New York Day-Night Doubleheader: Yankees and Mets, August 30, 2001
- Chicago Day-Night Doubleheader: Cubs and White Sox, July 24, 1991
- Five Games in Six Days: Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Anaheim Angeles, and Colorado Rockies, July 2000
- Headed Home From Arizona: Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, and Pittsburgh Pirates, August 2002
- Great Lakes: Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, and Cleveland Indians, April 2010
- Four Games in Four Days: New York Mets, Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles, and Philadelphia Phillies, July 2022
MLB Ballpark Tracker
| National League East | ||
| Atlanta Braves | SunTrust Park (2017) | |
| Florida Marlins | Marlins Park (2012) | |
| Washington Nationals | Nationals Park (2008) | April 26, 2010 |
| New York Mets | Citi Field (2009) | September 7, 2019 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | Citizens Bank Park (2004) | June 15, 2006 |
| National League Central | ||
| Chicago Cubs | Wrigley Field (1914) | July 24, 1991 |
| Cincinnati Reds | The Great American Ball Park (2003) | |
| Milwaukee Brewers | Miller Park (2001) | June 24, 2009 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | PNC Park (2001) | August 18, 2002 |
| Saint Louis Cardinals | Busch Stadium (2006) | August 17, 2021 |
| National League West | ||
| Arizona Diamondbacks | Bank One Ballpark (1998) | July 16, 2000 |
| Colorado Rockies | Coors Field (1995) | July 21, 2000 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | Dodger Stadium (1962) | July 17, 2000 |
| San Diego Padres | PETCO Park (2004) | |
| San Francisco Giants | Pacific Bell Park (2000) | August 21, 2007 |
| American League East | ||
| Baltimore Orioles | Oriole Park at Camden Yards (1992) | early 90s |
| Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park (1912) | April 17, 1999 |
| New York Yankees | Yankee Stadium (2009) | |
| Tampa Bay Rays | Tropicana Field (1998) | |
| Toronto Blue Jays | Rogers Centre (1989) | April 26, 2010 |
| American League Central | ||
| Chicago White Sox | Guaranteed Rate Field (1991) | July 24, 1991 |
| Cleveland Indians | Progressive Field (1994) | April 30, 2010 |
| Detroit Tigers | Comerica Park (2000) | April 28, 2010 |
| Kansas City Royals | Kauffman Stadium (1973) | August 14, 2002 |
| Minnesota Twins | Target Field (2010) | |
| American League West | ||
| Anahiem Angeles | Angel Stadium (1966) | July 19, 2000 |
| Houston Astros | Enron Field (2000) | April 20, 2022 |
| Oakland Athletics | Oakland Coliseum (1968) | August 18, 2007 |
| Seattle Mariners | SafeCo Park (1999) | May 23, 2002 |
| Texas Rangers | Globe Life Field (2020) | April 14, 2022 |
| Retired Stadiums | ||
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Phillies | Veterans Stadium (1971 – 2003) | July 5, 1984 |
| Cleveland Indians | Cleveland Stadium (1932 – 1993) | July 23, 1992 |
| San Diego Padres | Qualcom Park (1969 – 2003) | July 18, 2000 |
| New York Yankees | Yankee Stadium (1923 – 2008) | August 30, 2001 |
| New York Mets | Shea Stadium (1964 – 2008) | August 30, 2001 |
| Cincinnati Reds | Cinergy Field (1970 – 2002) | August 16, 2002 |
| Atlanta Braves | Turner Field (1997-2016) | April 24, 2005 |
| Saint Louis Cardinals | Busch Stadium (1966 – 2005) | September 9, 2005 |
| Minnesota Twins | MetroDome (1982 – 2009) | June 20, 2009 |