It’s a week into September. The Cardinals have a 4.5-game lead in the NL Central, and the magic number is 16 (as of Sunday night).
I’m heading to Coors Field for my eighth of 30 ballparks on a mission to increase that lead and decrease that magic number in a Tuesday-night duel with the Colorado Rockies.
It’s been a three-season eternity since the Cardinals last made the playoffs, and I miss my baseball-centric Octobers. After a season of hairpin turns, dizzying drops and equally dizzying ascents, here we are with 19 games left.
But even this coaster enthusiast would prefer a drama-free push in the final three weeks. And that final three-week push begins Tuesday night in Denver, when the Redbirds take on the Rockies in the first of a three-game set.
Rockies History Lesson
What do I know about Rockies history and Coors Field? Not much. Expansion team, Matt Holliday, Todd Helton, altitude-induced home runs galore. That’s about it without researching. (Oh yeah, and Larry Walker.)
The Rockies played their first season in 1993, making Coors Field the first venue I’ve visited that houses a team younger than me. They played in the original Mile High Stadium for two seasons before moving to Coors in 1995.
Coors Field is over 5,000 feet above sea level and has a humidor to store baseballs in an attempt to offset the effects of altitude.
The Rockies have made the playoffs in five seasons (1995, 2007, 2009, 2017, 2018), most recently beating the Cubs in the wild card game last year before losing to the Brewers in the NLDS. (So yeah, they’re kind of a hero.)
The Rockies only World Series appearance came in 2007, when they were swept by the Red Sox. (Sound familiar?)
Notable Cardinals Connections
Former Cardinals Holliday and Walker each spent much of their stellar careers in Colorado, and the Cardinals acquired the late Darryl Kile from the Rockies in November 1999.
Current Cardinals outfielder Dexter Fowler started his career in Colorado, playing five seasons there after being called up in September 2008.
Game Preview Cardinals vs. Rockies Coors Field Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019 6:40 p.m. MT Probable starting pitchers: STL Michael Wacha (RHP) vs. COL Chi Chi Gonzalez (RHP)
The Cardinals are 81-62 and 7-3 in their last 10 going into the series. The Rockies are 60-84 and 1-9 in their last 10. They’re currently last in the NL West.
Personal Game Notes – The Cardinals are 5-2 when I attend games specifically for Ballparking It. – This is my second Tuesday game, the other resulting in a win over the White Sox for Ballpark No. 4. – This marks my first game at an NL West opponent’s stadium in the Ballparking It era. – This ballpark is home to the youngest organization (the first younger than me) that I’ve seen the Cardinals face in the Ballparking It era. – This is my first game as a 31-year-old.
#SpookySummer Continues
On my last trip, I tagged on two hotels famous for being tied to spooky on-screen tales – the Timberline Lodge (as seen as the Overlook Hotel in Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of “The Shining”) and Salish Lodge (as seen as the Great Northern Hotel in “Twin Peaks”).
This time around, I’ll be taking a night tour of The Stanley Hotel, which helped inspire Stephen King’s “The Shining” … because well, all work and no play makes Nicole a dull girl.
(Spoiler alert, that line isn’t in the book, but it’s still pretty relevant.)
For my fifth of 30 ballparks, I’m back in Chicago with yet another set of free tickets, but this time, it’s on the North Side at the second-oldest ballpark in the MLB. This one is special. (Let me explain.)
My first game inside Wrigley (Cardinals win!)
I’ve been to two games at Wrigley Field, both pre-Ballparking It and both Cardinals-Cubs. The Cardinals won the first (2016), and the Cubs won the second (2017). I preferred the first. Plus, I’ve watched one game from a rooftop (2012).
This is the first time I’ll be at the Friendly Confines on this 30-ballpark adventure. Wrigley was built in 1914, and the Cubs have won three World Series, including back-to-back titles in 1907 and 1908. (You do the math. Before 2016, no World Series winner had ever called Wrigley Field home.)
Me and the Cubs
I’m a die-hard Cardinals fan.
As any good fan of the Redbirds, I dislike the Cubs almost as much as I love the Cardinals. Some of my favorite historic moments in Cubs history are Steve Bartman in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS and the 1964 Lou Brock trade.
My favorite player to ever wear Cubbie blue is Jim Edmonds. (And the fact that he ever did still makes me slightly queasy.)
My favorite moment of this season so far (and maybe one of my favorite endings to a game ever) happened when Cub-turned-Cardinal Dexter Fowler hit a walk-off homer in the wee hours of the morning in the bottom of the 14th after two rain delays and after the Cubs had taken the lead in the top half of that inning. (The Cardinals had walked it off the day before as well.)
I was sleepy and had almost gone to bed but decided I had come too far and didn’t want to miss a potential comeback. As soon as Fowler hit it, I was bouncing around my living room and laughing uncontrollably. I was suddenly wide awake and full of energy as the clock hit 1 a.m. CT on a work night.
Coming from central Illinois, where the Cardinals-Cubs rivalry is red hot, I’ve seen how fun the rivalry can be. I grew up with Cubs fans. In fact, some of my best friends from grade school through high school were Cubs fans. One of my uncles is a Cubs fan.
Was I happy for any of them when the 2016 World Series rolled around? Absolutely not.
That’s not how rivalries work.
Let me take you back.
It was a dark and stormy night … literally. I sat on my loveseat, alone in my living room, typing away on a writing project I’ve yet to finish nearly two years later.
The only light was the soft glow of my laptop and the flickering of the candles I had lit that evening.
The Cardinals had missed the postseason for the first time since 2010, and when that happens, I don’t watch postseason baseball. (For reference, I didn’t realize who won the 2010 World Series until spring training was about to start the following year.)
This particular night, the unthinkable was about to happen. The Cubs had played their way to Game 7 of the World Series after being down three games to one.
I didn’t dare turn on my TV, and I do not regret that decision one bit.
The game had a rain delay in Cleveland, and I believe I stayed on the phone with my brother from the delay to when the 108-year World Series drought came to a close.
In the aftermath, I did what I typically do when I’m feeling down – listen to sad music. It was a cold, rainy November night, so I ended up listening to “November Rain” (obviously) on repeat, still alone, still in the dark.
I’m dramatic. I get that. (In retrospect, it was maybe a little too on the nose, but I was sitting in the dark with candles, so …)
The next day, I discovered that so many people I never even thought knew the word baseball were apparently Cubs “fans.” How exciting. Yay.
I was told over and over that I should be happy for them and that the moment was historic. Cool. The entire ordeal was pretty nightmarish.
Would I wish any of these feelings on my worst enemies (or in this case, dear friends who happen to be die-hard Cubs fans)? Yes. Every single year.
I hope they were just as angry and dramatic when the Cardinals won in 2006 and 2011 and that they are just as angry and dramatic every time the Cardinals win the World Series from now through eternity. I have to believe they’d want the same for me.
I would never want a Cubs fan hopping on a Cardinals bandwagon, and I believe my Cubs counterparts feel the same.
That’s how rivalries work.
You can be friends, but you also each hope the other ends up feeling a little bit miserable at the end of every season.
Is the rivalry at its most fun when both teams are good? Nope. I had a really fun time all those years the Cubs weren’t in the division race at all.
Again, that’s a rivalry. It’s hoping your team is always great and that your rival is always a bottom-dweller.
Can I still appreciate Wrigley Field? I tend to romanticize old things. I can tell you right now, I don’t have that problem with Wrigley, but I do appreciate it as a ballpark and as a place for me to get my hot dog fix (and I fully intend to get another Chicago-style hot dog at this game).
I realize that for every fan like me, there is probably someone who grew up a die-hard Cubs fans, cheering every time the Cardinals came up short in the NLCS or World Series.
It’s almost fun to think the mirror image of me exists somewhere cheering and hoping for exactly what I’m cheering and hoping against.
For every Cardinals fan who adores Stan Musial or Bob Gibson, there’s probably a Cubs fan who feels the same way about Ernie Banks. Our histories are different (eight World Series rings different to be exact), but maybe (for the long-time fans) our passion is the same.
I’m going to experience Wrigley Field the only way I know how – as a Cardinals fan. There are other teams I dislike but none as much as I dislike the Cubs, so this is the first (and only) ballpark where I can feel this particular way.
I’m sure die-hard Cubs fans feel the same way about Busch Stadium, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Like I said earlier, this ballpark is special. Here’s to being friends but wishing each other miserable baseball seasons for years to come.
Game Preview Cardinals vs. Cubs Wrigley Field Thursday, July 19, 2018 6:05 p.m. CT Probable starting pitchers: STL Carlos Martinez (RHP) vs. CHC Kyle Hendricks (RHP)
The Cardinals are 7 1/2 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central coming out of the All-Star break and fired manager Mike Matheny last week. My trip to Guaranteed Rate Field was his final win.
Side note, to fact check, I searched for “Cleveland Indians postseason 2016.” I wasn’t about to type that unmentionable event any other way on my laptop.
After knocking off Target Field a little over a week ago, I’m back at it, headed to Miller Park for my third of 30, a Memorial Day showdown between the St. Louis Cardinals and NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.
Brewers Tickets
Watching the Cardinals make up some ground on their red-hot division rivals tops my to-do list, but that’s mostly out of my control, mostly … and a little outside the scope of this blog. What else am I looking forward to doing or seeing on my Milwaukee road trip? You’re about to find out, but first, here is a quick history lesson on the Brewers.
The history of baseball in Milwaukee is complicated. The city has been home to professional baseball as far back as the 1880s and has had multiple teams called the Brewers. Today’s Brewers are an expansion team that started as the Seattle Pilots (for one season) and moved to Milwaukee in 1970 as an American League team. They switched to the National League in 1998, and Miller Park opened in 2001.
One Miller Park moment that stands out to me is the 2002 All-Star Game that ended in a tie and led to the “this time it counts” campaign for more than the next decade’s worth of Midsummer Classics (as in, the winner of the game decided home-field advantage for the World Series from 2003 to 2016.)
Milwaukee To-Do List (not comprehensive and in no particular order)
This one is a given. What started as a goofy, animated race on the video board has transformed into … a goofy, live-action race in the ballpark. The bratwurst, Polish sausage and Italian sausage are the originals. The hot dog and chorizo were added later.
What’s not to love? It’s even had its own drama (when then-Pirate Randall Simon took out the Italian Sausage in 2003).
My gut tells me to choose the hot dog, mostly because, of the five, I only like hot dogs (and I tried to execute this terrible pun … get it?), but I’m waiting to see them in person before committing to my pick.
2. Retractable roof
I’ve never seen a retractable roof and want to see it in action. I’ve also never seen baseball played indoors (unless you count P.E. wiffle ball).
I want to see every team’s hall of fame (or equivalent). The Brewers don’t have a hall of fame. Instead, they have their Walk of Fame, so maybe it’ll feel like I’m in Hollywood.
4. Any mention of the 1982 World Series
Unlike my trip to Minnesota, which involved a team that has defeated the Cardinals in a World Series (1987), this trip takes me to Milwaukee to watch a team that has lost to the Cardinals in a World Series (1982). It’s the only World Series the Brewers have played in, so I’m guessing it will be featured somewhere in the stadium.
5. Cheese curds
It’s Dollar Dog Day at the ballpark, so I will eat a hot dog at some point, but I regret missing out on cheese curds at Target Field (and cheese curds are even more closely associated with Wisconsin than Minnesota), so I feel like cheese curds will be a good investment here.
6. Memorial Day celebrations
I’m excited to celebrate all those who have died protecting our freedom. Will there be a bald eagle? I hope so.
We’re stopping at the Jelly Belly Warehouse in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, on our way to Milwaukee. I’m at least equally as excited for this as I am the game. I LOVE jelly beans (as in, I’m addicted and obsessed), and I’m about to be surrounded by them. I’m hoping it’s Willy Wonka-esque in all the weirdest and sugariest ways.
We’ll also visit a few other places in Milwaukee, and I’ll write all about them on this blog.
Game Preview Cardinals vs. Brewers Miller Park Monday, May 28, 2018 1:10 p.m. CT Probable starting pitchers: STL Luke Weaver (RHP) vs. MIL Brent Suter (LHP)
Basically, all you need to know is the Cardinals (27-22 as I write this) are struggling, and the Brewers … not so much. As of now, they have the best record in the National League (33-20).
This is my first game in the Ballparking It era that will feature a Cardinals starting pitcher not named Miles Mikolas, so I’m in uncharted territory in that respect. However, it also marks my second straight dollar hot dog day of the season, and the Cardinals are 1-0 when I pay exactly $1 for a hot dog.
How else would I know what the inside of a baseball feels like or what players wore to stay warm in 1904? (I’m not being sarcastic. I found all of it fascinating.) As professional baseball’s first franchise, the Reds are not short on history.
Big Red Machine celebration in the Great Teams Room
The Reds haven’t had a winning record since 2013 and are on pace for one of the worst seasons in MLB history, but they’ve been around in some form since 1869 and have their share of World Series championships with five (1919, 1940, 1975, 1976 and 1990).
(In fact, they won a World Series in my lifetime before my beloved Cardinals did, not that my 2-year-old self bothered to notice back in 1990. I’m sure I was more concerned with how Arial was going to escape Ursula or what Michelle Tanner was going to do next.)
The Hall of Fame and Museum sits right in front of Great American Ball Park, so my brother and I decided to explore the museum before entering the stadium. Adult admission is $10, and my experience there was worth at least that much.
My first stop at the museum was getting a pic with this guy.
Me with statue of Mr. Redlegs
I’m glad I did because although the Reds apparently have FOUR mascots (Mr. Red, Mr. Redlegs, Gapper and Rosie Red), I got a picture with zero of them. This statue of Mr. Redlegs is the closest I came. (Why four mascots? And how in the world did I miss all of them???)
After saying hi to the Mr. Redlegs statue, we walked into the lobby area, purchased our tickets and got our first view of the actual museum.
View of museum from lobby
A big chunk of the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum is dedicated to uniforms, which I loved because throwback uniforms are some of the most iconic visual representations of what baseball looked and felt like throughout the years.
The first room takes guests back all the way to 1869 with a Red Stockings replica jersey and also features a collection of jerseys from other decades and other teams from around the league.
1869 Red Stockings replica uniform
From there, fans can step into the Palace of the Fans Theater. (Unfortunately, we did not because the next video wasn’t showing for a while, and we were slightly crunched for time. I regret missing out.)
Palace of the Fans Theater
After bypassing the theater, we made our way to one of the most intriguing areas of the museum, a stairwell with a wall covered in baseballs, each representing one of Pete Rose’s MLB record 4,256 career hits.
From what I have read online since going, this section also features a rose garden outside the window, showing where Rose’s record-breaking 4,192nd hit landed, but I don’t remember seeing it. (Maybe it was too early in the year for roses??? Or maybe I’m just not very observant … probably the latter.)
I was interested to see how the Reds treat their disgraced legend, but it looks like he holds a special place in their Hall of Fame, which I guess is deserved considering his accomplishments on the field.
Baseballs representing each of Pete Rose’s 4,256 career hits
Baseballs representing each of Pete Rose’s 4,256 career hits
The upper floor offers a look at Cincinnati’s past ballparks, including this cool light from Crosley Field (home of the Reds from 1912 to 1970).
Crosley Field light
After checking out the old ballparks, I got the chance to step inside the dugout with Reds Hall of Fame managers Sparky Anderson (1970-78) and Bill McKechnie (1938-46) in statue form.
Dugout Exhibit at Reds Hall of Fame and Museum
And from that experience, I realized I would make one heck of a manager.
Me in the Hall of Fame dugout
Fans can also see how fast they throw, find out what the materials inside baseballs throughout history feel like (pretty stringy) and see how Reds players have stayed warm throughout the years. (I especially enjoyed this part because as someone who is always cold, I’m a big fan of bundling up.)
Timeline of staying warm
Speaking of bundling up, the second floor also features a Kids Clubhouse where kids can literally slide into home (down an actual slide) and try on kid-sized baseball jerseys. I took advantage of my height (or lack thereof) and threw on the Jason LaRue jersey in honor of his time as a Cardinal, which I discussed in my Reds preview. It fit.
Jason LaRue kids-sized jersey in Kids Clubhouse
This next room doesn’t necessarily have as much historical significance as some of the other exhibits, but what it lacks in history, it more than makes up in charm.
Ultimate Reds Room
The museum also dedicates an area to broadcasting, and this is where I made my most interesting discovery of the visit. (It may be worth mentioning that I once worked in media relations in college athletics, which probably has something to do with how fascinating I found this.)
Apparently, prior to the late 1940s, most away team radio broadcasters were not actually at the games they were announcing. Instead, they relied on someone to send shorthand messages in Morse code via telegraph, while someone at the radio station typed the description of the play-by-play to be read on air. (Simply fascinating.)
Telegraph broadcasting for road games
There’s also a radio booth where fans can record their own calls of special moments in Reds history. (Unlike the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum, you can’t listen to the original calls first … so it was pretty much a fail on our end.)
The final room before the Hall of Fame is the Great Teams Room. There, you can celebrate with the “Great Eight” members of the Big Red Machine. (I didn’t … because I felt weird doing it in my Cardinals sweatshirt. I wasn’t there to start any fights.)
The Big Red Machine (the 1970s Reds) basically owned the ’70s with two World Series titles, four National League pennants and six division titles during the decade. The “Great Eight” were the starting position players from the World Series championship team (Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Ken Griffey Sr., Tony Perez, Dave Concepcion, George Foster and Cesar Geronimo).
Big Red Machine celebration in the Great Teams Room
1975 World Series trophy
World Series swag from the ’70s
After taking in all the history and learning just how much the Reds dominated in the 1970s, we finally stepped into the Reds Hall of Fame, home to Reds greats, like Bench, Griffey (Jr. and Sr.), Morgan and Rose.
Reds Hall of Fame
Partial Reds Hall of Fame list
One of my absolute favorite parts of the experience was watching Reds fans soak in the history of their team. Now I know how I must look when I’m at the Cardinals or Illini Hall of Fame.
I’m not trying to be dramatic, but seeing the looks on Reds fans’ faces, old and young, maybe visiting for the first time, was kind of inspiring. I actually got a little teary-eyed at one point. (Disclaimer: I’m a crier. I cry for pretty much every emotion … joy, sadness, anger, shock, nervousness, you get the idea.)
But try telling me this doesn’t make you feel something.
Great Teams Room
I love history, and I love baseball. If you love either of those, make sure to put the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum on your to-do list next time you’re in Cincinnati.
There’s still more to come from Cincinnati, but first, take a look at the Hall of Fame and Museum photo gallery below. And if you missed Part 1, check it out now for a recap of my rainy day at Great American Ball Park.
Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Photo Gallery
Reds Hall of Fame and Museum
Me with statue of Mr. Redlegs
View of museum from lobby
1869 Red Stockings replica uniform
Me and an old-timey Reds batter
Palace of the Fans Theater
1935 Cardinals jersey
1920s Reds jersey, socks, cap
1919 Reds road cap
View of lobby from jersey exhibit
Baseballs representing each of Pete Rose’s 4,256 career hits
Baseballs representing each of Pete Rose’s 4,256 career hits
Baseballs representing each of Pete Rose’s 4,256 career hits
Reds’ all-time saves leader Danny Graves
Vintage Reds ticket booth items
Retro yearbooks and ticket sign
1956 Cardinals road jersey
1956 Cardinals road jersey sign
1970s opponents’ jerseys
Reds’ opponents’ jerseys in 1970s
Reds owners through the years
Reds history
Reds leadership memorabilia
1892 Reds scorecard
Timeline of staying warm
Timeline of staying warm
Crosley Field light
Dugout Exhibit at Reds Hall of Fame and Museum
Me in the Hall of Fame dugout
1940 World Series
Jason LaRue kids-sized jersey in Kids Clubhouse
Ultimate Reds Room
Ultimate Reds Room
Telegraph broadcasting for road games
Glory Days
Big Red Machine celebration in the Great Teams Room
Big Red Machine celebration in the Great Teams Room
Big Red Machine celebration in the Great Teams Room
For my first of 30 ballparks for turning 30, my brother and I headed to Cincinnati for a Saturday afternoon matchup between the Cardinals and Reds at Great American Ball Park. The forecast looked almost as bleak as the Reds’ rocky start to the season, but I wasn’t about to let a little rain stop me.
Welcome to Great American Ball Park!
Game Day Eve (April 13, 2018)
A majestic bald eagle christened the Ballparking It journey with a dramatic flyover somewhere on Interstate 74 in rural Indiana. I wish we would’ve had our cameras ready, but when the speed limit is 70 and you’ve never seen a bald eagle in the wild before, you’re not necessarily anticipating it.
(But really, how American is a bald eagle flying over your vehicle on your way to your first of 30 MLB stadiums … which coincidentally, happens to be called Great American Ball Park? Come on.)
We arrived at our hotel (the Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter in Covington, Kentucky) on Friday evening and spent the rest of the day scoping out the area and checking out the ballpark from afar.
Cincinnati sits right on the Ohio River, which defines the Ohio-Kentucky state border, and the ballpark overlooks the river and northern Kentucky shoreline in right field. The location offers beautiful views from inside and maybe even better views outside from Kentucky.
We took advantage of those views the evening we arrived and every subsequent chance we got.
Great American Ball Park across the Ohio River
Nighttime view of Great American Ball Park and John A. Roebling Bridge across the Ohio River
Game Day (April 14, 2018)
We left our hotel on Saturday morning with the intention of walking to the stadium by way of the John A. Roebling Bridge (pictured above), a suspension bridge that opened in the 1860s and is more than a 1,000 feet long. Sadly, the bridge was closed for repair, so we took an Uber instead. The ride was about 6 minutes.
Great American Ball Park generally opens 90 minutes before each game, which in our case, had a 1:10 p.m. ET start. (Opening times vary for a few games this season.)
We got to the ballpark a little before 11 a.m. to explore the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum before the stadium doors opened. The museum opens at 10 a.m. on game days and off days throughout the season and is a few steps west of the ballpark.
Reds Hall of Fame
With so much Reds history, the Hall of Fame and Museum deserves a post of its own … so more on that at a later time. I do HIGHLY recommend visiting it if you’re going to a Reds game or if you’re in Cincinnati and like baseball at all whatsoever. The experience is well worth the $10 admission fee.
The rain rolled in at some point while we were in the museum, and I was pretty thankful to have an umbrella for the day.
I normally wouldn’t bring an umbrella to the stadium for fear of blocking someone’s view, but we had noticed the night before how few fans were in attendance … and I wasn’t about to invest in a Reds poncho.
A statue of Reds Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench greets fans as they enter the stadium. (Bench ended up being relevant to our game in an interesting historical coincidence that I’ll explain later.)
Johnny Bench statue
Security and the ticket area are on par with what I expected (metal detectors, bag-checking areas, etc.), and everyone involved was exceptionally nice.
The stadium, which opened in 2003, reminds me of an old-school amusement park. I don’t know if that’s the look it was going for, and I’ve seen it described as modern, but for some reason, its white beams and poles remind me of Coney Island.
Me at my #1stof30
We were handed our very own Tucker Barnhart bobbleheads at the gate.
My theory is the Reds decided to troll Cardinals fans and eight-time Gold Glove catcher Yadier Molina by presenting Barnhart’s 2017 Gold Glove Award before the game and handing out a bobblehead to commemorate it. (Sigh.)
Tucker Barnhart celebrates Gold Glove and bobblehead giveaway
Our first stop in the stadium (after a quick peak at the tarp-covered infield) was the Kroger Fan Zone, located outside the concourse on the first base side.
The Fan Zone is uncovered and features baseball-themed carnival games, a Reds Statue of Liberty (pictured below), a kids’ whiffle ball field, a concert stage and food stands, including Frisch’s Big Boy, Porkopolis and Skyline Chili.
Me holding my Tucker Barnhart Bobblehead
With all the rain and wind, my brother and I decided it wasn’t the right time to try Skyline Chili, which I think was the right call for the conditions, but I regret not trying Frisch’s.
Skyline Chili in the Kroger Fan Zone
After exploring the Fan Zone, we made our way back inside and down to the field to check out the views behind the home dugout. No one checked our tickets at this point, but I’m guessing the staff lets people down to take photos (and get autographs when it’s not raining) early before the game.
Me behind the Reds dugout
Me and my brother behind the Reds dugout
We explored the concourse and team store and ate hot dogs under a tiny overhang. In hindsight, we could have eaten downstairs, but we weren’t that familiar with our surroundings.
(For example, we were so unfamiliar that we took the stairs EVERY time we went up or down a level before and during the game. We finally took the ramp on our way out, but we never used the escalator. So. Many. Steps.)
Great American Ball Park offers a variety of hot dog options in addition to Skyline Chili.
Nathan’s all-beef frank at Great American Ball Park #BasicHotDog
I had a Nathan’s all-beef frank, and my brother had a Kahn’s hot dog. I paid $12.25 for the frank and a Cherry Coke. The all-beef frank was pretty good, not the best I’ve ever had.
(My biggest regret of the day was buying that Cherry Coke when it was slightly chilly and raining pretty steadily. I’m not even a huge soda drinker.)
We took in the views of the Ohio River from the concourse before making our way to our seats, section 521, row E, seats 11 and 12, which were in the lower section of the upper deck, just left of home plate.
Smokestacks at Great American Ball Park after National Anthem
Me and my brother in our seats at Great American Ball Park
The Reds game day crew makes great use of the smokestacks in center field. The smoke itself is cool but is nothing compared to the fiery flames that shoot out every time a Reds pitcher strikes out an opposing batter. (I unfortunately did not get a photo of the fire.)
Like many teams, the Reds have a variety of scoreboard games. The traditional ball-under-hat game features a ball under a plate of Skyline Chili spaghetti rather than under a baseball cap, which is an interesting concept but slightly gross when you really think about it.
My favorite in-game promotion between innings was without a doubt, Redzilla, a rapid-fire, souvenir-launching ATV with more than 50 barrels that can blast T-shirts into the upper deck with ease. I unfortunately was so in awe that I didn’t get a decent video or photo (not because I was enjoying it with my own eyes but because I accidentally didn’t press record on my phone when I thought I did … oops).
I’m the type of fan who doesn’t want to leave my seat at any point during the game, but I made an exception to make a team store purchase and visit both fan accommodation stations.
The nice lady who sold me my hot dog earlier in the day had told me about a certificate I could get for being a first-time visitor at Great American Ball Park. You can get these certificates for free at fan accommodation, which happens to be right outside and below the section where we sat.
Certificate for my first game at Great American Ball Park
After picking up my free certificate, I made a quick run to the team store on the lower level of the stadium to buy a Major League Baseball GameDay Pass-Port. I had spotted it in the store before the game, and (because it takes me hours, sometimes days … months … years to make a decision) I had finally decided to purchase one in the sixth inning.
The GameDay Pass-Port tells you where you can get special stamps at each of the 30 MLB ballparks. We stopped at a fan accommodation station, this time on the lower level, to get my first stamp.
We made it back to our seats in time for the seventh-inning stretch, and I stayed there for the rest of the game. My bro slipped out to get some nachos, which he kindly shared with me.
Nachos!
They weren’t my favorite nachos of all time, but I am fond of almost anything with jalapeños. They definitely weren’t bad.
My favorite walk-up song of the day and one of my favorite moments of the day in general was when Alex Blandino (I think), who had come in to play short in the seventh, batted to James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” in the eighth. I could not stop laughing, especially at how well it fit with his scoreboard video intro. (Side note, I had no idea that song had three “man’s” in the title until now.)
Game Highlights
The game itself was a bit of a blowout. The Reds aren’t good, more like historically awful so far this year, as evidenced by their manager getting fired soon after our weekend in town.
The Cardinals won 6-1 with only a bit of trouble in the ninth, when Jordan Hicks gave up two hits and a walk to load the bases. He got out of it, and the Reds stranded the bases loaded. The Cardinals took the third of what turned out to be a four-game sweep in the Queen City.
Cardinals win 6-1
Cardinals infielder Greg Garcia served up the in-game excitement for the day with two home runs, both off starter Brandon Finnegan, who had just come off the disabled list. Garcia also had a double before the day was done.
It’s a hit, big boy! (Greg Garcia’s second home run of the day)
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the platoon second baseman in his fifth year in the big leagues, Garcia had seven home runs in his first four seasons, so he basically reached his yearly quota during this game.
We didn’t know it at the time, but a little history was made at Great American Ball Park that day. On Tucker Barnhart Bobblehead Day, a celebration of the current Reds catcher, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina passed Reds Hall of Famer Johnny Bench on the all-time innings caught list to rank 13th.
And now is as good of time as any to mention that Reds fans HATE (or at least love to boo) Molina. I have a feeling it still has to do with that not-so-minor altercation from 2010 I mentioned in my preview. (Way to stick it to your haters, Yadi.)
More history was made during this series when the Cardinals premiered their home run conga line during the Thursday game and continued in our game after both of Garcia’s bombs.
I’m not sure which affected attendance more, the rain or the Reds’ record, but the stadium, which holds 42,271, was less than half full at 19,213 (and that might have been tickets sold rather than turnstile … not sure how they calculate it).
Game Summary
MLB GameDay Pass-Port summary page for Reds game
One Down, 29 to Go
Our first of 30 was a huge success. I’m 1-0 cheering on the Cardinals on this adventure, and the forecasted thunderstorms stayed away. Plus, we got through nine innings without a rain delay (but not without plenty of rain).
I discovered Great American Ball Park is an accurate description, but the fans were so sparse and down on the Reds that I almost felt bad wearing my Cardinals sweatshirt … almost.
Me and my brother at Great American Ball Park
Me leaving Great American Ball Park
Check out my Great American Ball Park photo gallery at the end of this post, and stay tuned for more on Cincinnati as I explore the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum and wrap up my stay with a trip to Newport Aquarium and Skyline Chili.
Me trying a Skyline Chili 4-Way with beans
Great American Ball Park Photo Gallery #1stof30
First up, Great American Ball Park
#roadwarriors
Heading to Cincinnati
We made it to Ohio!
Driving through Cincinnati
Our first Great American Ball Park sighting
Me across the Ohio River from Great American Ball Park
My brother across the Ohio River from Great American Ball Park
Great American Ball Park across the Ohio River
Nighttime view of Great American Ball Park across the Ohio River
John A. Roebling Bridge
Johnny Bench statue
Me with statue of Mr. Redlegs
Me at my #1stof30
Rainy day at Great American Ball Park
View from behind home plate
Kroger Fan Zone
Skyline Chili in the Kroger Fan Zone
Me holding my Tucker Barnhart Bobblehead
Apple in Kroger Fan Zone
Me behind the Reds dugout
Me and my brother behind the Reds dugout
Tucker Barnhart celebrates Gold Glove and bobblehead giveaway
View of tarp from left-center field
View from left-center
View of Ohio River from ballpark
View from left field foul pole
Me and my brother standing outside the upper deck at Great American Ball Park
John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge from ballpark
Nathan’s all-beef frank at Great American Ball Park #BasicHotDog
Me and my brother in our seats at Great American Ball Park
Smokestacks at Great American Ball Park after National Anthem
View from section 521, row E, seats 11 and 12
Greg Garcia’s second home run of the day
MLB GameDay Pass-Port summary of Reds game
Certificate for my first game at Great American Ball Park
My birthday is still more than four months away, but I’m starting the party early by kicking off my 30-ballparks-for-turning-30 multiyear celebration this weekend.
My first stop? Great American Ball Park, home to professional baseball’s first team, the Cincinnati Reds. (I didn’t know that fun fact when I bought the tickets.)
I’m not a Reds baseball buff, but I remember when Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 500th home run on Father’s Day at old Busch and recognize the names of some of their Hall of Famers (or would-be Hall of Famers if not banned from baseball … looking at you, Pete Rose).
Griffey is one of my favorite non-Cardinals of all time, and weirdly enough, my favorite Cardinal of all time, Jim Edmonds, played his final major league game in a Reds uniform.
I’ve been to Cincinnati once to go to Kings Island, probably around the year 2000, but I’ve never been to a baseball game there. (Kings Island had a strong roller coaster game, though, so I recommend going if you like that sort of thing.)
I have some fond memories of watching games at Great American Ball Park on TV (or in one case, listening on the radio), and I hope to see in person where these special moments took place.
Here are my top three Great American Ball Park moments as a Cardinals fan.
3. Cardinals’ seven-run, ninth-inning comeback on May 2, 2005
When the inning started, the Cards were down 9-3. After a couple walks and a hit, Reds closer Danny Graves was brought in to clean up the mess and instead, basically imploded.
I believe it was the Cardinals’ biggest ninth-inning comeback at the time, and I got to enjoy the whole thing from my parents’ living room. (Looking back at the box score and play-by-play still makes me pretty happy.)
2. First-inning brawl on August 10, 2010
Brandon Phillips had run his mouth the night before. Yadier Molina didn’t appreciate it. Tempers flared, and we got ourselves an old-fashioned baseball brawl.
I eventually saw the fight on TV but first heard it on the radio while driving home from college. Mike Shannon called the fight beautifully, and that’s when I decided he’d be an excellent boxing commentator.
Disclaimer: I recognize that this brawl contributed to ending then-Cardinals backup catcher (and coincidentally, former Reds catcher) Jason LaRue’s career, and that’s not OK.
1. Jim Edmonds’ home run robbery skills from July 16, 2004
Edmonds had multiple great plays at Great American Ball Park … and pretty much everywhere else, too. His reaction makes this catch one of my favorite defensive plays of all time.
Game Preview Cardinals vs. Reds Great American Ball Park Saturday, April 14, 2018 1:10 p.m. ET Probable starting pitchers: STL Miles Mikolas (RHP) vs. CIN Cody Reed (LHP)
Going into the series, the Cardinals were 5-7, and the Reds were 2-9. The Cards cruised to a 13-4 win in the first of the four-game series. Then I wrote this blog post.
I’m ready to hit the road for my first of 30 destinations. Will Great American Ball Park live up to its name? I’m about to find out.
In honor of baseball making its grand return, I’m looking back at one of my favorite ballpark experiences, Opening Day at Busch Stadium in 2006.
Clydesdales on Opening Day 2006
Opening Day is like a holiday. By the time baseball finally comes out of hibernation, we’re hungry. We’ve watched an embarrassing number of TV shows throughout the winter and have the college basketball blues (or at least that’s true for me).
Then, baseball comes along and saves us from our TV-bingeing selves.
If your team opens on the road, you basically have two full days of celebration, Opening Day of Major League Baseball and Opening Day at home.
I’ve only been to one home opener in person, but that particular one was extra special, the inaugural game of Busch Stadium III on April 10, 2006.
I was a junior in high school and used an absence to go to the game. I had gone to my first prom two days earlier, so I was pretty tired, probably from walking around in a 10-pound dress, too much hairspray and a headful of bobby pins (and dancing to too much Lil Jon), but Opening Day woke me right up.
Me on Opening Day 2006
I’m a nostalgic person and can find sentimental value in almost anything, so at first, I wasn’t sure how I would react to my favorite stadium in the world being destroyed and replaced.
(Spoiler alert: The 2006 season ended with the Cardinals’ first World Series title in my lifetime, so I moved on pretty quickly.)
Despite my initial hesitance, I fell in love with the look and feel of new Busch Stadium almost immediately. I had been to AT&T Park (then-Pac Bell) in San Francisco a few years prior, so I was familiar with and already liked the retro look.
The new ballpark food was (and still is) amazing. I was fortunate to be at the stadium long enough to eat two meals, chicken tenders for lunch AND a hot dog for dinner. My dad tried the barbecue sandwich and ice cream and enjoyed both as well.
Me eating chicken tenders on Opening Day 2006
Although I loved (and still love) the beautiful view of the Gateway Arch in the outfield, I disliked (and still dislike) that new Busch isn’t nearly as loud as old Busch because of all that openness.
All in all, the good outweighed the bad, and I decided Busch Stadium III was a worthy replacement for the former stadium. I mean, it is Baseball Heaven and all.
My dad had only gone to one home opener prior to 2006. He and my brother went in 2004, when then-President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch. (They still reference seeing Secret Service snipers on top of the stadium.)
I’m told by pretty much all St. Louis media that Opening Day at Busch is like no other. I don’t know for sure because I haven’t witnessed Opening Day in any other baseball city, but I can confirm that Opening Day in St. Louis lives up to the hype.
Downtown St. Louis basically shuts down for a daylong party. Adults take off work, and kids skip school to head over to the game and welcome back their beloved Redbirds.
The pregame ceremony features a lap by the famous Budweiser Clydesdales, followed by the parade of Cardinals Hall of Famers riding around the warning track in the backs of Mustang convertibles. Then, the current players come out in their own motorcade.
Motorcade on Opening Day 2006
The current players shake the hands of Cardinals legends, like Bob Gibson, Lou Brock and Ozzie Smith, at home plate. (I’ve definitely teared up watching it a time or two.)
It’s magical. The Cardinals pack so much tradition and history into one day and somehow still manage to offer something new.
Opening Day of a new stadium made the whole experience even more unique (and historical). My dad and I were two of the first 41,936 (according to Baseball Reference) fans to explore the ballpark, and I’m grateful I had that opportunity.
Oh, and I almost forgot … what happened in the game?
Well, despite falling behind early, the Cardinals came away with a 6-4 win over the Brewers. Mark Mulder served up the first home run in the new ballpark, but he later (shockingly) hit one of his own. A guy named Albert Pujols did, too.
In the end, I had a great and memorable day skipping school for Opening Day and ballparking it in a brand-new stadium with my dad.
