One of the best places I’ve been to in ages is Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. I had the chance a few weeks ago to head down to the coast and check out the new stadium, and I am glad I did.

I lived just outside of Pensacola for a short time and I’ve had family in the area for over 50 years. I was able to see several Pensacola Pelicans games prior to the Blue Wahoos coming to town.

The Pelicans put on a good show. They played in the American Association during the time I lived there (they also played in the Central Baseball League and Southeastern League prior to the AA). It was always a fun time at Pelican Park, which was the University of West Florida’s field.

However, after a series of events that led to the Pelicans owner selling the team, buying another, then moving that team from North Carolina the Blue Wahoos were born. The Southern League, a Double-A affiliated league, came to town in 2012 two years after the Pelicans left town. And boy was it worth the wait.

Not only have the Blue Wahoos had some of the most exciting players in minor league baseball, heard of Billy Hamilton yet?, they built one of, if not the, nicest park in the minors.

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos play at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium built, well, on the bay. As you are watching the game, you are able to take in beautiful bay front views and enjoy a nice cool breeze if you are lucky.

The stadium is very beautiful and has a lot of amenities to offer any fan.

There is good food. I opted for the hot dog because that’s my favorite thing to eat at a game, and it was very good. But being on the water you can find some things that I’ve never seen before at a game like raw oysters or fresh caught shrimp. And they were no little popcorn shrimp. They were quite large and looked quite tasty.

There is a large scoreboard in right field which is state-of-the-art providing videos and other information for fans in attendance.

There is a large souvenir shop just behind home plate that has just about everything a fan could want, party decks in the outfield, and a great spot to bring the family behind the right field wall, Hill-Kelly Hill.

But perhaps the thing that stood out the most was the kindness of everyone at the stadium. There wasn’t one person I didn’t encounter that worked for the Blue Wahoos that wasn’t kind and polite. It was an amazing change from a lot of stadiums you go to where you can be largely ignored. Even the owner came on the scoreboard with a video message saying if there was anything we thought could be improved to let him or the staff know. He even gave a phone number to call him directly.

I actually got the feeling he was sincere and meant everything he said because of the employees that were there. And to be honest, there isn’t much that I could imagine improving.

A few other nice touches that I noticed included military personnel doing video messages asking everyone to stand for the national anthem. This was a nice touch in a city that is highly dependent on the military base there.

Also including some of the cities history and military heritage is a cannon in center field that goes off when a Blue Wahoo hits a home run and at the end of the national anthem. It’s a nice touch you don’t see in other stadiums that adds a little excitement and surprise if it’s your first time there.

I can’t speak highly enough about Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. If you are anywhere near the P-Cola area, it would be well worth  your time to head on over for a game.

Here are a few shots I took at the game. I hope you enjoy them.

Pensacola Bayfront Stadium

Pensacola Bayfront Stadium

Pensacola Bayfront Stadium

Pensacola Bayfront Stadium

Pensacola Bayfront Stadium

Pensacola Bayfront Stadium

Pensacola Bayfront Stadium

A nice little amphitheater behind Pensacola Bayfront Stadium

View from CF at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium

Looking down the right field line at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium

View from our seats down the left field line at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium

If you would like to see more, visit my Flickr page.

I’m excited about some upcoming trips to see some minor league and college baseball action.

My first stop will be in Pensacola, Florida to see the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. I lived a short time outside of Pcola and got to see a few games of the Pensacola Pelicans, the old American Association team. Since I have left the city has built a new stadium right on the water.

The stadium was named the 2012 Ballpark of the Year by BaseballParks.com. I’ve seen countless pictures of the stadium and heard so many rave about it. I can’t wait to get out and see a game there. I’ve wanted to see it since it was built but this is my first time now that I am finally back in the country. Add to it that I get to see some family, and it’s going to be a great trip.

Next week I have a nice double header planned. The Nashville Sounds play an early day game on Tuesday against the Omaha Storm Chasers. The Sounds play in historic Greer Stadium which opened in 1978.

The second part of my double header will be at Middle Tennessee State University. That night the Blue Raiders will host the Tennessee Volunteers. Neither team has had a great season so far, but it should be a heated in state rivalry.

There are a few other stadiums near by that I hope to visit in the coming weeks if I can find the time including the new stadium in Birmingham and perhaps try to make it a double header day if I can catch a day game at Rickwood Field or at least pay it a visit.

The other two spots I have in mind are a trip up to Nashville to catch Vanderbilt in action and/or head down to Huntsville to visit the Stars.

Stay tuned for pictures from my trip to Pensacola tomorrow. Although it might be delayed due to a weekend of golfing with family.

Till next time…

Recently I got the chance to travel back to the States after two years in South Korea. My timing of my trip just happened to coincide with Opening Day in Toronto. So with a stopover in Canada, I hit up Opening Day at my third ballpark, Texas and Atlanta being the others.

First of all, Toronto seems to be a really nice city. I was only there for two nights and one of them I got in late, so I really only had a day to visit the city. I took to walking around the city on the one full day I had, and really enjoyed it.

The weather was cold and there were even some snow flurries later in the day. But that didn’t stop me from getting out to see a little bit of the city. I stayed downtown near Chinatown, but coming from Asia I had no interest checking that part of town out. Instead, I headed toward Skydome (yes I know it is called Rogers Centre, but forgive me because it will always be Skydome to me).

One of the coolest things I saw was CN Tower which sits next door to Rogers Centre, and I decided to head up early in the morning. It was a beautiful morning and walking up to the Tower I was able to snap this shot showing the blue sky.

CN Tower – Toronto

The view from CN Tower is great. Not only do you get the views of the city, but you also get views of Lake Ontario. With the weather being cold, the dome was closed. But if you go on a day when the roof is open, you could look down on the field. Here are a few shots from the Tower.

Toronto, Canada

View of Toronto from CN Tower

View of Toronto from CN Tower

View of Toronto from CN Tower

Toronto from CN Tower

The city was a buzz with anticipation for the Blue Jays new season. With all the new faces the team is one of the favorites to make the playoffs. Everyone was decked out in Jays gear waiting in line to enter the game early. They would face off with the Cleveland Indians on a Tuesday night.

On the hill for Toronto was the 2012 N.L. Cy Young Award winner, R.A. Dickey. However, it wasn’t a good night for Blue Jays fans as Dickey gave up four runs (three earned) in six innings taking the loss. He was out pitched by Justin Masterson.

The game for the most part, wasn’t too exciting. The fans were quick to turn on JP Arencibia after he had a few passed balls on Dickey knuckleballs.

I did enjoy the stadium though. I sat up top because it was cheaper, but the seats were still okay. I watched part of the game from the first level just standing behind the rail.

Food options in the upper levels were slim pickings as far as good food goes. They have the usual affair like hot dogs, but what I didn’t like was that they took the cap from me off of my coke bottle. I’m sorry but if you are worried about people throwing bottles don’t sell them!

There were a lot of good food options on the first level with a wide variety of things to choose from. You are able to move from level to level through the dark ramps that lead up and down. So if you are sitting up top and want to get some food from the lower levels you can.

Here are a few shots I took.

Rogers Centre – Toronto

Rogers Centre – Toronto

Rogers Centre – Toronto

Rogers Centre – Toronto

Rogers Centre – Toronto

View from my seat at Rogers Centre

Opening Day Rogers Centre – Toronto

Opening Day Rogers Centre – Toronto

Geddy Lee throwing out First Pitch

First Pitch – Opening Day – Toronto

I really enjoyed my time in Toronto and hope to be back at some point to see more of Toronto and maybe check out a game when the roof is open at Skydome.

With it being a new year, I thought I’d take a look at how I am progressing on the baseball portion of my 40 by 40 (40 things I want to do by the age of 40).

I had 10 items on my list that were baseball related:

1. See a World Baseball Classic game
2. See a World Series game
3. See 10 new MLB stadiums
4. Play a baseball game in a foreign country
5. See a baseball game in 5 foreign countries
6. Go to the European Baseball Championships
7. Throw out the 1st pitch at a baseball game
8. Go to the College World Series
9. Coach a baseball team in a foreign country for a game
10. Go to MLB spring training

Sadly, I have done nothing on my list. I have not had the chance to do much traveling the past few years with my current job. However, that job is ending in two months and I will have the time to do some traveling and maybe just maybe scratch one or two off the list.

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to scratch off number 1 as the WBC will end before I am able to do any traveling. I will be seeing a new MLB stadium in April as I travel to Toronto for opening day on my way home from Korea. There is the possibility that I could mark off #’s 5 & 6 depending on what happens with a certain job opportunity.

Overall, its is not looking good, but I still have four year to go to complete these. The sad thing is I made this list 3 years ago and haven’t been able to do anything on it.

I really need to change that next year.

Do you have a list of things you’d like to see/do? Leave a link in the comments if you do. I’d love to see what others are wanting to do.

So I am back, I guess I never really left, to wanting to plan a Major League Baseball stadium tour for 2013. Now that the schedules are out, I am looking into routes to take.

But the other day someone asked me why I want to do this? It got me to thinking.

The main reason is I have been a passionate baseball fan my entire life. It’s the one thing that I can look back on for as long as I can remember knowing I’ve always loved the game. I love to watch baseball. I love the experience of taking in a new stadium, walking the grounds, seeing the fans, and looking at the game as if it is new again.

Not only do I love the game, but I love the stadiums. The roar of the crowd, the smell of the stale beer and hot dogs, and even the architecture that goes into the new and old ones alike are all things that interest me. The fact that no two stadiums are alike makes me want to see them all.

But it goes beyond just baseball. This is America. Driving to see all 30 MLB stadiums would take me to places I’ve never been. Seeing the west coast, the mid-west, and even Canada are all things I really want to do. I see it not only as a baseball journey, but a journey across America and that excites me as much as the baseball does.

Then the question becomes, why not spread it out over the course of many years. I’d have more time to see the country and the stadiums along with it. True, but I haven’t lived in the States during baseball season for 3 years now. And I don’t think that will change much over the next few years.

The final thing is, I have the money. I’ve never had the money to undertake such a trip before. However, even though I do have it I am reluctant to spend it. This is the first time in my life I’ve had the money and time, but I am worried even still.

I’d love to mark this off of my list of things to do (I hate the term ‘bucket list’). Then I can start to plan my next adventure.

What do you think? Should I go for it?

The first two weekends of September will be ones I won’t long forget. I had the opportunity to go to Seoul and watch the 18U World Baseball Championships. Not only did I get to watch, but I was a member of the press. Through my other website, BaseballdeWorld.com, I was able to secure a press credential.

Sadly due to the lack of the ability to take vacation, I was only able to go for the weekend action. That being said, I had an amazing time.

I love writing about baseball, talking baseball, and generally anything baseball related. While at the games I sat in the media room where I was armed with my laptop writing away about the action on the field for my site. It was a great experience and one I’d love to relive. I always wondered what it was like to be a sports journalist, and while I didn’t have the deadlines and stress that I am sure comes with the job, I enjoyed my time.

For a couple of the games, I took to the stands to watch the action with my friend Kihoon who lives in Seoul. That was a lot of fun watching some great games and getting to talk a little baseball.

However, the best part of the whole deal was getting to see the USA win a gold medal in baseball. I’ve been fortunate to see a lot of great sporting events, including the world championships in track and field where I saw multiple American gold medals and some world records broken. But the biggest thrill for me personally was watching the USA win a gold medal in my favorite sport.

I enjoyed being a part of the media for a few days, even if a lot of people might look down on bloggers. I enjoyed writing about the games and wish I could do more of it. Being at the game and getting a feeling for the action and writing about it is so much better than watching it on TV or reading box scores to write about a games. If I got paid for it, I think I would be in heaven.

I don’t know where I’ll be next year, but no matter where I’ll be I’ll be writing about baseball even if its only for my site.

I love this game!

You can see a short video I made of the championship game as the US won the gold medal on my YouTube page.

I’m eight months away from returning home when my contract is finished here in South Korea. I’ve been debating whether to travel through Europe and Asia, or do a tour around the US. Both of the tours would entail watching baseball as the main part.

Lately, I’m really leaning toward staying in the US. Next April when I head home, it will have been 2 years since I’ve been home and right now I’m missing it a bit. I miss road trips, shopping in US grocery stores, so many foods from home, and my family.

For the past few days, I’ve gone round and round with places to see, estimated costs, and so much more as I read a lot of other blogs who have done similar trips. And I’ve found a few events at home that I’d love to see. The problem of course is cost.

My idea of the trip would include the following:

All 30 MLB Stadiums

At least 1 game at the following levels – little league, high school, college, independent league, Rookie league, A, AA, and AAA.

College World Series

NBC World Series – Baseball ‘Round the Clock

Field of Dreams movie site

Hall of Fame and other museums

As well as other sites like national parks

I’ve tossed out ideas of making videos along the way as I meet some great people or maybe even writing a book about what I see on the open road. There are so many possibilities. One thing for sure is I would blog as I travel.

All in all I think it would take me 4-5 months on the road which is fine with me, but it will cost quite a bit. First of all, I don’t have a car anymore since I have lived overseas for the last 2+ years. But that is easily fixed. The big cost I think would be lodging.

I know I can save some money staying in hostels, coach surfing, and even camping in some areas. But I am still looking at spending 120-150 days on the road. Sure I could cut the trip shorter, but part of the idea behind the trip is to see the country. I want to meet the people, experience the cities, and explore the back roads. I can’t do that if I am only gone 45 days and trying to cram in 30 games.

I’ve got eight months to figure all of this out, but it will be here before I know it. What do you think I should do?

I love baseball. There is simply nothing like being at the ballpark watching a game as the sun is setting. I’ve been to my share of games over the years, but there are a few things in the baseball world I would love to see. Here are three baseball events that I’d love to see that might be a little under the radar for many baseball fans.

The Midnight Sun Game

The tradition of the Midnight Sun Game started in 1906 in Fairbanks, Alaska. The games is played through the hour of midnight but artificial lights are never used. During a few day each year, the summer solstice, there is no need. The light will fade midway through the game, but then it will come back as the sun never really sets providing light to play. This is very rare but with Fairbanks being only 150 miles south of the Arctic Circle, it is possible here.

The game will start at 10:30 and end around 1:30-2am.

Baseball ‘Round the Clock

Each year at the National Baseball Congress (NBC) World Series, Baseball ‘Round the Clock is hosted. It consists of 17 games in 56 hours over the course of a weekend. Contestants must register and once during each game at an unknown time a notification will be sent and they must check-in at a designated place. Prizes are given away to those who finish as well as a coveted t-shirt, but the people do it for more than that. The NBC World Series is the culmination of some of the best amateur and collegiate level baseball in the country.

Minnesota Townball

Townball, where a team represents a local town or city, is dying in the US but it is alive and strong in Minnesota. There are some 30+ leagues with over 300 teams competing in three different levels throughout the state. It is a throwback to the old days around the turn of the century when baseball was played for the love of the game. It still is there in Minnesota.

Is there an event you’d like to see?

I can remember going to old Arlington Stadium to watch the Texas Rangers play back in the 80s. They were terrible and it might have been the worst Major League Baseball stadium out there, but it was all I knew. I loved every minute of those games.

As the years went by and I got older, I was able to see games in other stadiums around the country. I grew up on the game, and can’t get enough of it. In fact, it is just after 10am on a Monday morning in Korea, and I am watching a live baseball game from back home as I type this.

I love going to games, especially if it’s my first time at a stadium. I love hearing the roar of the crowd and smelling the fresh-cut grass. To me there is nothing better than walking up through the concourse and seeing the green grass on the field for the first time.

Fast forward to 2010, and I am living in Korea about to experience my first baseball game on foreign soil. It was an experience I would never forget. At a baseball stadium in Daegu, South Korea, I can still remember walking up the stairs, through the concourse, and out into the open air again seeing the green field below with the boys of summer playing catch.

I think I found my Calling.

I learned from the fans in Korea. I learned to love the game again in a new way. I was able to watch the game with a bit more passion for the simplicity of the game without all the negative aspects that are sometimes seen in the States. I have been able to meet some great people through the game here in Korea, and I hope to meet even more.

I found my Calling; to travel and experience baseball in other countries.

I’ve spent over two years here in Korea and have been to many baseball games. Each time I am there, I see something new and exciting. You can’t help but feel the excitement in the air with how passionate the fans are. I’ve never enjoyed a game so much than sitting with the cheering Korean fans. It’s simply great how they love the game the way it should be loved.

I have been fortunate to travel to each baseball stadium in the Korean equivalent of the MLB. In just over 8 months, I hope to keep that spirit alive as I travel around the world taking in baseball in as many places as I can. I want to rekindle my love again and again with the game that brought me so much pleasure over the years.

Samsung Lions Mascot - Daegu, South Korea

What is your Calling?

I have finally decided to do some serious baseball traveling.

When I originally came to Korea in late 2009, I wanted to use it as a springboard of sorts to see baseball in Asia. I have enjoyed my time here and have been afforded the chance to see Korean baseball up close.

Korean baseball fans are very passionate. They bring an excitement to the game I have rarely seen in the USA. I don’t know how many places I will travel to and see the same excitement, at least not on the level here. However, I am anxious to get out and see baseball in different countries.

I am not finished in South Korea until early next year. In the meantime, I will be planning my trip.

I have a lot of places I want to go, too many in fact. So over the coming months I will be narrowing down my list. I am very excited to get out and see what the baseball scene is like in other parts of the world.

I hope to see baseball in countries where the game is growing and thriving and in places where it might not be. I want to talk to those who play, coach, or just watch and find out why they do it. How did they find the game and why do they like it?

It’s going to be an interesting journey, and I hope you will follow along with me. I’ll be reaching out to people along the way for information on where to travel to and who to see. So if you know of a beautiful stadium, raucous crowds, or just teams with great history please let me know.

My journey will start in Europe and will take me from western to eastern Europe. After which I will fly or train to Asia. Many of the countries I will go to have established league but not all of them.

Ideally I’d like to make it to Central and South America next, but that may have to wait for another year. It will depend on my financials and if I am still wanting to stay on the road that long.

So far the countries I am looking at are:
Spain
France
UK
Belgium
Netherlands
Germany
Austria
Czech Republic
Ukraine
Thailand
Cambodia
Vietnam
Philippines
Taiwan
China

This list is in constant flux however and I haven’t decided how far in advance I want to schedule. The cities will depend on team schedules for next year as well as any contacts I am able to talk to and the suggestions they have.

What do you think? Would you add a place or take one away?

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