Take Me Out to the Ballgame Stamps

The U.S. Postal Service released a new baseball themed stamp last month on July 16, 2008. It is titled Take Me Out to the Ballgame and commemorates the 100th anniversary of the song that is now traditionally sung during the 7th inning stretch. The stamp was designed by Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, Arizona.

The stamp is pretty cool looking with the 42 cent marking on the top inside a baseball. The scene on the stamp is a historic looking scene of a pitcher and the rest of the field and players smaller in the background. The scene is framed by the words "Take Me Out to the Ballgame. In small numbers on the bottom left is the year 1908 and the bottom right is the year 2008.

Arizona Diamondbacks @ San Diego Padres Game Wrap Up

Last night we went to Petco Park to see a game as something to do while in San Diego for a family reunion. Partly went because we love going to baseball games and mostly because Mik's favorite team was in town. The Diamondbacks lost, but it was still a pretty exciting game with lots of scoring. I was a little disappointed that Jon Rauch, who was recently traded to the Diamondbacks from the Nationals and is the tallest Major League Baseball player ever, did not pitch at all.

The Padres got on the board with a 2-run home run by Khalil Greene in the 2nd inning. The Diamondbacks then came back in the 3rd with a 3-run home run by Montero. The Padres put the game out of reach, though, with a 9 batter inning that included a 3-run home run and a total of 6 runs. The Diamondbacks kept the Padres from scoring the rest of the game, but were only able to get 1 more run in the 6th themselves. Thus the Padres won 8-4.

Overall this was a fun game, but we did have some annoying people behind us and distractions of security coming by several times to confiscate alcohol that group brought in. Plus they were using a lot of foul language and we certainly did not appreciate them using that foul language to bash the Diamondbacks. I do not care if people root for their own team, but I do not think it is ever appropriate to bash other teams and I think the players themselves can agree with that.

Also, Petco Park is one confusing ballpark that is pretty horrible for being among the new ballparks. I remember sitting next to the building in the left outfield the first year it was open and we could not even see the scoreboard. We could see it this time from the Right Outfield seats, but getting there with Mik in his wheelchair took us quite some time and involved us going up and down elevators and up ramps. I did not mind too much since we got like a small tour of the ballpark, but it is sad that the three ushers gave us bad directions and the signs are not at all clear about where the elevators are at for specific sections.

See more photos I took at the game here.

Iowa Cubs @ Tucson Sidewinders Game Wrap Up

Yesterday my dad and I went to the final Thirsty Thursday ever for the Tucson Sidewinders. We mainly went to get at least one more game in before the end of their 40th and final season in Tucson, as next season they will be moved to Reno, Nevada. We almost went to the game on Tuesday, but decided it would be cheaper to go Thursday with the $1 sodas and beer. Big mistake the more expensive drinks would have been worth it because it would have meant less annoying drunks in our section and beer would not have been spilled from the row behind us stockpile onto my bag.

Anyways it was not an enjoyable game atmosphere wise, but the baseball action was at least eventful. The Iowa Cubs basically slaughtered the Sidewinders by winning 15 to 7, but at least the Sidewinders did hit a Grand Slam in the 3rd inning and that is the first one I have ever seen in person.

I love going to the AAA games since it is a local team and will definitely miss having a team. I can remember going to them as early as 1994 when we moved to Tucson and the team was the Tucson Toros playing at Hi Corbett Field. Since then they became the Sidewinders, we got two more Major League teams Spring Training here, and we have had a professional softball team. The softball team failed after its 2nd year (the league is still going well, just the AZ team failed). The Sidewinders are being moved away and the White Sox are moving their Spring Training to the Phoenix area. Basically it is sad that baseball action is quickly diminishing here, but at least there is at least some Spring Training action staying here.

Backyard Baseball 2009 for Nintendo Wii

I tried this game out today and thought it would be something good baseball related to post about on this blog, as I do not have any updates to the trip planning at this time.

I am not much into playing baseball video games because I find them too complex, especially on most console gaming systems, however, I have been a fan of Backyard Baseball for years. I used to play it on my computer, but stopped when the version I had no longer worked on my newer operating system. When I saw the Wii version it seemed like it could be an interesting way to play it.

It was fun for a little while, but it is not as good as the computer versions I have played. The graphics are not any better after all these years and the Major League player selection continues to disappoint me even though it has gotten better. The one thing I do like is the controls have remained relatively simple. The thing is, though, that it does not use the Wii sensor capabilities much at all. You do not even swing it like your batting, but rather just flick it in the same motion as pitching.

Overall it is more enjoyable than Wii Sports Baseball, as you actually get to control your fielding and there are some fun batting and pitching power ups. It is, however, not all that amazing and only worth actually purchasing if you find it for under $20. I for one I am glad I just rented it and did not buy it. I think the computer versions of this game remain great, but their move to the console has yet to create a parallel quality playing experience.

Baseball Smashed Penny Locations

One of the things I have collected over the years is smashed pennies. I tend to just find them along the way when traveling. Having found many over the past week on a cave road trip I thought for next summer's All the Ballparks Road Trip I am actually going to look up what places have smashed pennies. Thus today I went through the Penny Collector Location Database and found all the baseball related penny locations as listed below.

Chase Field/Bank One Ballpark - There used to be a machine here with Randy Johnson, Curt Shilling, Luis Gonzalez, and 2001 World Series pennies, but it has been removed for being out of date. Not a big loss to me, though, since I do already have at least most if not all of those smashed pennies.

Mickey Baseball Player @ Disneyland Paradise Pier Hotel - Do not know if I will get around to getting this one on the trip, but figured I would include because it is baseball themed. Actually think I have this one, but not sure since I know I did not get it at Paradise Pier Hotel.

ESPN Zone at Disneyland Downtown Disney - Another one I probably will not get to one this trip, but including it because it has Los Angeles Dodger and Los Angeles Angels pennies.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - This machine has Angels Logo, Go Angels Rally Monkey, Angels #27, and The A Team! Anaheim Angels pennies.

Dodger Stadium - This one has 2 current machines, as well as two retired machines. The current machines pennies are Dodger Stadium, Bat and Ball L.A. Dodgers Baseball, Heart L.A. Dodgers, Dodgers Fan, Player Dodgers Baseball, Dodger Baseball Established 1958, Dodgers Logo, and My Lucky L.A. Dodgers Penny.

Giants Baseball Stadium - They used to have an Old Navy Splash Landing penny with the name of the series on the other side, but it was removed when the park changed names from SBC Park to the current name of AT & T Park.

Safeco Field - This machine has three different Seattle Mariners logo designs and a Safeco Field penny.

Coors Field - This park used to have two, but now only has one machine, which is better than nothing. This machine has Colorado Rockies logo, Rockies Lucky Penny, Colorado Rockies Baseball Club, and Dinosaur Colorado Rockies penny designs.

Busch Stadium - This park seems to have gone through a lot of different machines between the self serve and attended ones. I have some of the retired ones. The current self serve machine has St. Louis Cardinals mascot, Busch Stadium Est. 2006, St. Louis Arch Cardinals Baseball, and St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Logo pennies. There seems to be a new attended machine every year, so who knows what it will have next year if there even is one.

ESPN Zone Chicago - Will probably try and stop in here for the pennies when in Chicago. They have a Chicago Cubs penny and a Chicago White Sox penny.

Comisky Park - They used to have a machine here, but no longer do.

Wrigley Field - The machine here has three Chicago Cubs logo designs and a Wrigley Field design.

Navy Pier - Should be easy to get over here since we will be staying right next to here when in Chicago. They have a machine with a White Sox design.

Miller's Park - This machine has a Milwaukee Brewers logo design, Mascot design, and two Miller Park designs.


Comerica Park - This park has two machines. Designs include Tigers Number 1, Established 1901 Tigers Logo, Tigers Lucky Penny, Detroit is Tiger Town, Heart Tigers, Tigers Logo, and Comerica Park Home of 2005 All Star Game.

Railcats Baseball - This penny in Gary, Indiana, is one we will not be getting, but thought I would include it since I noticed it.

UPMC Sports Works at Carnegie Center: They have some baseball science exhibits and maybe we will go if we have some free time in Pittsburgh. One of the penny designs is of a baseball.

PNC Park - This machies has Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Logo The Way Baseball Should Be Played, PNC Park Home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, PNC Park Logo, and Pirate Logo pennies.

Progressive Field - This machine has some famous Indian player, Indian Logo, Jacob's Field, and Cleveland Indians designs. I kind of wonder if it is really still there, though, since it is no longer Jacob's Field.

Cooperstown - There are two what I think are stores in Cooperstown that have penny machines with Hall of Fame and baseball designs. Will probably try and stop to get the pennies. One place is called National Pasttime and the other is Pioneer Sports Cards Store.

Fenway Park - This machine has two Boston Red Sox logo designs, a mascot design, and a Fenway Park design.

Yankee Stadium - They do currently have a machine, but with there being a new ballpark next year it potentially will not be there. Current designs are Yankee Stadium Logo, Yankee Stadium 1923 - 2008, New York Yankees Est. 1903, and All Star Yankee Stadium design.

ESPN Zone New York City - This place has a penny for each of the New York baseball teams, but I doubt we will try to get to this ESPN Zone just for the pennies.

Shea Stadium - Another one that potentially will not be there next year when they have a new stadium. The designs are Mr. Met, Mets Logo, Mets NY Logo, and New York City Skyline "Ya Gotta Believe."

Citizen's Bank Ballpark - There used to be a machine here, but it has been removed.

ESPN Zone Baltimore - They have an Orioles penny here, but probably will not get it.

Babe Ruth Birthplace & Museum - They have four Babe Ruth Birthplace & Museum designs here.

Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards - This machine has three Sports Legends Museum designs and a Camden Yards design.

Camden Yards - This one has a ballplayer design, ship design, mascot design, and Orioles Park at Camden Yards design.

Nationals Park - Oh, I am so annoyed I went to at least five games in the first month of the season at the new ballpark this year and never noticed they had a machine in the Strike Zone area. Anyways they have four designs and I hope to get them when I go to the end of regular season games in September this year.

Turner Field - The four designs here are Turner Field Established 1997, Mascot, Atlanta Braves 1966, and Braves Logo.

Minute Maid Park - The four designs here are Houston Astros with Texas Outline, Houston Astros with Train, Houston Astros pennant, and Ballpark.

International Bowling Museum and Cardinals Hall of Fame

Just found out that this museum is closing by end of 2008 and moving to Arlington, Texas. Of course, that is just the bowling part and not the Cardinals baseball part. I read the area will be used in the development of Baseball Village, but it appears it will not be open next summer even though St. Louis is hosting the All Star Game. Who knows if, when, and where exactly they will reopen the Cardinals Hall of Fame part, but it looks like it will not be on the 2009 All the Ballparks itinerary anymore. Oh well, at least we did get to this museum a few years ago. Perhaps the new location in Arlington, Texas will be open and we will go to the bowling part while in the area since the three of us all like bowling and bowl in leagues.

2 New Things I Found to Add to Route

I am currently on a different road trip and as we were traveling I was looking through some tourist things and discovered two more baseball themed things to work into next summer's All the Ballparks road trip.

The first is the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame and nearby League Stadium, where they filmed A League of Their Own. This is a little out of the way to add to the trip, but somehow we will work it in. Perhaps make it a really long day trip out of Cincinnati to the Lousiville Slugger Museum and here or maybe head to Indiana from Cincinnati and then spend a night in Lousiville see the Slugger Museum and continue back on planned route.

The second is the Pujols Westfront Grill in St. Louis. Now this is an easy thing to work in or at least it should be considering it is a place to eat and in it in a city already on the route.