Oldest Remaining Ballpark: Rickwood Field

This summer we finally got to see Rickwood Field even if it was just from the outside.  Rickwood Field is the oldest ballpark still in use having been in use since 1910.  It is barely used nowadays, but the Birmingham Barons do play one throwback game here every season called the Rickwood Classic.

Despite being over 100 years old, Rickwood Field is kept in good looking shape.  Kind of amazing considering it also is not even actively used by any team.  Although, I guess it is easier to keep a ballpark looking nice if you do not have a sell out or near sell out crowd coming in so often like the Red Sox and the Cubs have had over the years.

We only got to see the outside and peak in through the fences in a few spots, but was still worth the slight detour on our way from Kentucky to Florida.  They supposedly do have daily self guided tours, but the place was totally locked up when we got there.  Probably because we got there too late in the day.

Accessibility Review: Section 434 at Miller Park

For the July 6, 2011 Dbacks @ Brewers game we sat in the wheelchair row in section 434.  It was much better than where we had sat for the ballpark trip.  It is in the highest section, but you at least can see the whole field as well as the scoreboard.



Mik, of course, approves of them as being good seating because they have cup holders.  However, they fill the section with folding chairs and there are no ushers around to take them out of the way.  Thus with the sold out wheelchair section situation there ended up being quite a few chairs in the way of the walkways to the rest of the section.

Baseball Smashed Pennies: Target Field

At Target Field there is a Penny Smashing machine in the Main Team Shop near the registers.  Mik and I both got the design featuring Target Field.  I also got the one with the Twins logo.

Mik's Food Scrapbook: Pulled Pork Parfait at Miller Park

Mik saw the Pulled Pork Parfait ad on the scoreboard before the Dbacks game at Miller Park and then sent Dad to go get one for him.  The parfait has pulled pork, mashed potatoes, and BBQ sauce.  Dad had his with Chives, but Mik did not.  Both really enjoyed it.  It was very filling.

Of course, we also had to have some more of the waffle fries in a helmet.

Kj's Baseball Collection: Target Field

At Target Field I was able to get a ball featuring an image of the Target Field plaza entrance.  It also has the Target Field logo and the Twins logo on it.

Mik's Mini Bat Collection: Target Field

Mik was happy to find a Target Field mini bat.  It is the same ballpark image design style that several other ballparks sold, so not exactly unique other than it shows Target Field instead of another field.

Mik's Food Scrapbook: Target Field

When I saw they had Walleye on a stick at Target Field, I had to have it, as Walleye is my favorite fish.  Mik had to have the first bite, though.  He liked it, but he really loved the Corn Dogs.  He had one before the game and had Dad go back and get him another near the end of the game.

July 6, 2011: Arizona Diamondbacks 1 @ Milwaukee Brewers 3

We did not plan to end up going to Miller Park this summer, but we were hanging out in Chicago with nothing planned and realized the Dbacks were playing in Milwaukee.  We called the day before the game and lucked out and got pretty much the last handicap seats and they were even up in the area we wanted to try (434).  It was a Senior and Kid Day, so while the game was not even close to sold out the handicap sections were full.


After the major rain delay at Target Field, Mik was not entirely up to the idea of another baseball game this summer until I reminded him Miller Park had a roof.  He was all for a Dbacks game, then.   I was also up for adding another ballpark to my MLB at Bat check ins.  Too bad that feature to the app came a year after our All the Ballparks trip, but surprisingly I do have 5 different ballparks now.

The game was overall great, especially with a lead off homer by the Dbacks and the Dbacks ahead most of the game.  Sadly, though the Dbacks lost with the Brewers getting a 3 run homer in the bottom of the 7th.  Even sadder was my Beat the Streak game streak got ended at 8 because Dbacks Stephen Drew struck out all 4 times at bat.  That is just an extra stinky way to end a streak.

Accessibility Review: Target Field

Mik had high expectations for this ballpark with it being new and he was not disappointed.  We did not do parking, so not sure how the parking garages are set up, but walking from the Hyatt (about a mile) to the ballpark worked out very well.  Supposedly, you can get everywhere around this area of Minneapolis through the Skyway, but we walked on the Street Level.  It is nice that when you approach on 6th Street you end up walking over the freeway on the nice Target Plaza that connects Target Center and Target Field.



Target Plaza includes some statues of great Twins players such as Harmon Killebrew and Kirby Puckett.  Interestingly, they also have concession stands out here that were open before the gates opened, although you cannot leave the park and come back in during game I do not think.  From the plaza you can only walk around to the left or so we were told (map looks like you can maybe cut through parking garage to Gate 3).  It is definitely worth going around the park at least until you get to the Team Shop corner, as around here the walls across from the park have the Twins Hall of Fame.  There is also a cool memorial that shows the history of ballparks in Minneapolis. 



From here there is not much reason to keep going around the ballpark unless you want to enter at a gate closer to your seats, although the side opposite Target Plaza does have some fun old baseball card style banners of former Twins players.

The first thing we did when we could go in the ballpark two hours before the game was go to the Team Store.  We barely ventured in, but were able to get a mini bat and ball, as well as get over to the penny smashing machine.  However, getting through the checkout line was sort of a pain with the wheelchair.  The dividers are placed too close together to fit, but at least they are movable.  We had to keep moving them to get by and then we would wind back and have to move them again, so the next wheelchair going through would still have to arrange as they went through.  The worst is once you check out, it is hard to get out with there being like no room to get past others checking out.  Thus you have to wait for them to be done and at the same time you are holding up the line because registers open up and people cannot get past you to them.  Bottom Line is Mik recommends skipping the Team Shop and hitting one of the several little souvenir kiosks out on the concourse, as they seemed to have most of the same stuff, which sometimes is not the case.  The Team Shop mainly seems to only have a wider selection of apparel.



For the game we sat in section 129, which is part of the Right Field Bleachers.  The view of the field was great, but you cannot see the scoreboard at all.  However, they do have televisions mounted here, which is kind of cooler, especially when they played other games going on around the MLB during the rain delay (played on scoreboard, too).  Mik likd the seats because they were way above the section, so no possibility of someone tall standing up and blocking the view.  What he really loved, though, was that there were cup holders for the handicap section, which the rest of the bleachers do not get.



Mik did not entirely enjoy the section, though, because the standing room only divider is just a blue line painted on the ground and the game had a lot of standing room people.  Most respected the rules, but without a rope or some sort of real divider who can blame them for inching forward.  However, it is not okay when they ended up being right behind us, especially when one guy ended up spilling his beer onto the girl next to us and then proceeded to yell into our ears and touch us to try to get us to join his stupid yelling to get the attention of the Brewers outfield that he was actually a fan of when the game was going on.  Dad got him to go away and customer relations later even offered us hot dogs, which we did not want, but were happy they were doing their job and trying their best to have everyone enjoy the game.

Game Wrap Up: July 1, 2011 Milwaukee Brewers 2 @ Minnesota Twins 6

After a 2 hour rain delay, the Twins game finally started around 9pm on July 1, 2011. It was an extra late night of baseball, but at least we can again say we have seen a complete game at every current MLB ballpark. Of course, next year we will have to catch up again with the new Marlins ballpark, but we are already working on planning that into our 2012 summer vacation.



It was a rather long wait for the game to start including a decent amount of time with no rain. However, it made sense to wait out the storm, as there was a major thunderstorm including hail. Much better to wait it all out and then have the whole game instead of the stop and start that sometimes happens. Of course, this is one reason why the MetroDome was better. Overall Target Field is a better ballpark, but Mik seriously wants to know why a team would go from a roofed stadium to absolutely no roof.

The game went pretty quick once it started. Ended up with some very rude Brewers fans that would not stay behind the blue line for standing and even spilled their beer on the girl next to us. Then he was touching us and yelling at the outfielder basically right in my ear. Dad got him to go away and customer relations later even offered us free hot dogs, but we did not feel like taking advantage of that when customer relations did there job and really made efforts to have everyone enjoy the game. I got nothing wrong with people cheering, but for one he did not have a ticket for the wheelchair section and it makes no sense to be yelling to get the attention of an outfielder during play, especially when it is the outfielder for the team you are rooting for.

Summer in Tucson: Eegee's and Baseball

Truly feels like the beginning of summer having Eegee's at a the Tucson Padres game tonight. Mik enjoyed Piña Colada flavor and I had strawberry. Only thing missing is 100 degree weather, but not complaining about that!

We are enjoying the game from the General Admission section.

It's the bottom of the 2nd and Padres are already winning 6 to 0.

Plans to Be Back Up to Date on Having Seen a Game at All the Ballparks

For over a year now we have been out of date with the having seen a game at All the Current Ballparks claim, but we now have tickets to see the July 1, 2011 game at Target Field. Our summer travels are not as extensive as 2009 and definitely not baseball focused (quite Disney focused instead!), but we are going to take in a Twins game and also going to fit in seeing the oldest ballpark (Rickwood Field in Birmingham, AL). Perhaps a few more Tucson Padres games as well during the parts of the summer we are home.

Mik's Food Scrapbook: Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium

Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium used to be a pretty boring food options stadium when it was Tucson Electric Park. Sure they brought vendors in for the Spring Training Season, but for Triple A baseball they normally just had the regular concession stands. Hi Corbett has always been better with them always having Eegees and even Dominos (not just Pizza, but even lava cakes!) with the Tucson Toros (not even MLB farm baseball!).

Now that Triple A is back with the Tucson Padres, they have stepped it up. They actually have Eegees, which is a necessity for summer baseball if you ask me. For those that have never been to Tucson, Eegees are frozen fruit drinks. All the games are night games, but you get into June and July and it is easily still 100+ at game start. It was not hot for Opening Day, but Mik still got an Eegee.

They have Dominos as the pizza options (much better than the crap at Chase Field I had during Dbacks Opening Day), although sadly no Lava Cakes like the Toros had at Hi Corbett last season.

They also have a good Mexican place. Dad got the nachos, which is a pretty big platter, although the price certainly corresponds to that.

We also got some mini donuts.

Besides normal ballpark fare (hot dogs, pretzels, peanuts, etc.) they also have a veggie stir fry noodle place, which is the same one they had for the Spring Training game I went to last month. The noodles are pretty good and even a reasonable price.

Related Posts:

• Tucson Padres Opening Day 2011 - 1st Home Game Ever
• Spring Training in Tucson 2011 Game 1

Mik's Mini Bat Collection: Light Blue Tucson Padres

Mik debated a while before finally settling on the Light Blue Tucson Padres mini bat. He liked the natural one as well, but finally decided on the light blue because it is not a color he has many if any mini bats in. They also had dark blue, pink, and silver. The silver was not bad, but the dark blue was not good, as the logo kind of blended in. The pink is just a continued trend we do not like, as they only make sense when the MLB does it on purpose to sell the bats after Mother's Day to raise money for Breast Cancer and not a regular no donation gear unless somehow a team actually has pink as a team color.

Kj's Baseball Collection: Tucson Padres

They had a few different ball options, but nothing all that cool. An inaugural season or something that said 2011 would have been cool, but the silver one is not bad, especially since the Tucson Padres logo itself is pretty nice.

Tucson Padres Opening Day 2011 - 1st Tucson Padres Home Game Ever

Last night Dad, Mik, and I went to the Tucson Padres home opening as our 2nd Opening Day game for 2011. It is exciting to have Triple-A back in Tucson even though it is only temporary for two seasons or so. The game was overall pretty exciting, although some majorly sloppy errors and close errors by mostly the Tucson Padres (definitely why they lost in the end).

We sat in the wheelchair section of 119. Mik loved the seats. They are right in line with 3rd base and a great view of the whole field. Of course, no cup holders and no lids on the soda cups are a little annoying, but it has always been that way at TEP (now Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium). The weird thing is that the lemonade does come in cups with lids, as does the Eegees (these are souvenir style, though).

The turn out was kind of disappointing in my opinion. I expected at least 8,000, but the attendance was only about 6,300. It certainly does not bode well if they cannot even fill the place on a Friday season opener, although the fireworks and Thirsty Thursdays are likely to be as popular as ever. The game I really wish we could make, though, is on April 30 they are doing a throwback game at historic Hi Corbett, but instead we will be in LA doing something more awesome (D23 Walt Disney Studio Tour).

Kj's Baseball Collection: All Star Game 2011

I did not plan to get a ball at Opening Day 2011 at the Dbacks because I already have so many Dbacks balls and not to mention other baseballs, so am now much pickier. However, I kind of liked the idea of an All Star Game ball for my collection, although I did not particularly think this one was awesome enough to get, but Dad got it for me anyways when he went to the Team Shop.

Mik's Mini Bat Collection: All Star Game 2011

Mik was happy that they had a mini bat for the All Star Game 2011 when we went to Opening Day 2011. He was afraid he would have to wait until later in the season and we are not exactly planning another Dbacks game this season, especially since we can actually see Triple A baseball in Tucson this year. The mini bat is his favorite color red and he liked the logo, but I am surprised it did not have the Arizona A in the logo like some of the All Star stuff including my ball.

Arizona Diamonbacks Opening Day 2011: Dbacks beat Reds 13 to 2

Yesterday we went to the Dbacks home opener. Mik was happy to get the lanyard giveaway to replace his red one from last year that is getting kind of dirty looking since he has used it for a year for his school ID.

Chase Field has not changed much, but there is some minor changes. For one, there is a All Star Game signage and merchandise, since the game is at Chase Field this season. Secondly, some of the food vendors have changed. Some might think it is good and to some extent it might be for those that need Gluten-Free stuff (there is now a place just for that), but the pizza is a major downgrade. Forever it has been Peter Piper Pizza (Arizona based chain) and now it is some stupid New York style pizza place. Now I do not know what kind of pizza Peter Piper would be classified as and it is not spectacular, but it is better than the new stuff, which I do not even think is actually New York style pizza.

This year we sat in section 138. The first time we went to opening day we say just two sections over in 140 and boy what a difference that makes. 138 just stinks handicap section wise. If you are lower in the section it would be fine, but at the top you cannot see the scoreboard except a bit of the corner due to the overhang. It even seems worse when the section to the left is obstructed at the top and gets TVs to compensate for no scorebord view. I do not get why 138 and probably 137 does not also get that. 138 also has the foul pole, but I did not mind that. At least you can see the Circle K strikeout meter, though.

I do not know if the problem is 138 area or the sound system being louder this year, but Mik was almost in tears covering his ears and ready to scream when we first got there and the sound system was playing stuff constantly. He has never acted like that at any ballpark before due to sound, especially not one we go to pretty much just because he is the Dbacks fan. It was still loud during the game, but it was not constant sound due to it being quiet during play.

We ended up leaving at the 7th inning stretch because Mik fell asleep and we wanted to get out of the parking garage before they closed if for the post-game fireworks. We missed the big scoring, but heard and saw the fireworks for the homers.

Opening Days 2011

This week we got tickets to go to Opening Day at the Arizona Diamondbacks for our third time (2nd year in a row). We also are planning to get tickets to the Tucson Padres opening day on April 15, 2011, but single game tickets are not on sale, yet. Mik was worried the two opening days were the same day and was glad he did not have to choose one or the other, especially considering he knew I would definitely choose the Tucson Padres.

Spring Training in Tucson 2011 - Game 1: Chicago White Sox 12 @ Arizona Diamondbacks 1

Yesterday (March 7, 2011) I went to one of only two spring training games in Tucson this year. It is rather sad that there are only two and that it took a tragedy to get baseball teams to play in Tucson. It is not the same as having actual spring training in Tucson, but better than nothing. Plus, the ballpark is kind of nice looking without advertising all over the place and the only thing on the outfield wall being a 12 retired number type thing honoring Christina-Taylor Green's little league number.

Of course, it is now no longer called Tucson Electric Park and instead Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium. It certainly does not seem like a stadium, but it appears it is mainly used for Pima Community College football since the last of baseball abandoned it last year. However, at least it will be seeing some real baseball this summer with the Padres AAA team (Tucson Padres) being temporary relocated to Tucson while they build a new ballpark in California for the Portland Beavers to be permanently relocated.

The ballpark was its usual spring training mess of long concession lines, but they actually did better than normal. That is actually surprising considering these were mostly new employees and no major events being here in awhile. Definitely, liked that they had a new vendor with stir fry noodles that were vegetarian only, as usually it is just pizza as an option at the Tucson ballparks. I sure hope they keep that vendor for the Padres games this summer.

The game itself was okay. I liked it more than I thought I would because I actually knew several of the players as former Nats including some decent guys, such as Adam Dunn. Of course, the local paper said that it was mostly nobodies playing, but considering I have not followed anything except the Nats the past year and a half I actually knew who several of the players were. Of course, I have also heard of some of the Dbacks since Mik tells me about them occasionally.

The actual action of the game was not that great, but that tends to be what spring training is like and sounds like maybe the teams did not send everyone down to Tucson, which is what partially killed Tucson spring training in the first place. Sure did not make me care for more spring training here with it not seeming like much more than a publicity game, but I kind of like the idea the local sportswriter Greg Hansen wrote about having a game of the week down in Tucson every week of spring training.

I think the turnout shows that the people still like spring training in Tucson. It sucks it was only because of a tragedy that they are even playing any down here this year.

LEGO Swinging Friar Mascot at Legoland California

Yesterday at Legoland California we noticed that they have a cool Swinging Friar (San Diego Padres mascot) made out of LEGOs outside of the Upper Deck Sports Cafe. There is of course some baseball themed stuff inside the Sports Cafe, too, but the Swinging Friar statue is by far the coolest part. Especially, since I have become more of a Padre fan than a Dbacks fan (of course, Nats are still my fav) with the Padres AAA team playing at least the 2011 season in Tucson before moving to their new permanent ballpark in California.