Hi I'm Sharon from South Central PA. I live in Phillies country but am a Mets fan. I never lived in NY. I guess I like the Mets because my Dad was rooting for the "underdog" in the 1969 World Series. I was 8. I don't remember much about baseball before that. So Dad and I shared that experience and then we sent for yearbooks and such. It was fun pouring over them and collecting baseball cards. I probably had an early Nolan Ryan card! I loved a bumper sticker I saw a few years ago. It said "I used to be a millionare then my mom threw out my baseball cards."

Onto chasing ballparks! We finally got to see the Mets at the Vet (Veteran's Stadium) in 1971. We went every year for several years. Dad, my younger brother and I were Mets fans so we were thrilled the Mets won those Twi-Night Doubleheaders. Remember those? Mom wasn't quite as thrilled as she had been a diehard Phillies fan since childhood. Her 3 brothers never went to games but she loved going to Connie Mac with her Dad.

So Philly was my first ballpark. I didn't get to the next one, Shea until 1989 for Dad's birthday. Ahhh Mecca! That was so cool! We finally got there! Hot Doowgs!

My next stadium was Atlanta Fulton County stadium in 1990. Of course I went with the Mets in town! The Braves were in last place so I got an excellent seat! It was so incredibly hot that day. 104 degrees in the stands. Imagine what it was on the field! I don't drink beer but I thought about getting one! I think that may have been the last year for the Braves mascot. Do they have one now? I haven't been to Turner Field. Like several cities, I have to go back for the new ballpark.

I think I've been to 22 including the retired parks. I had a certificate done by Been There! Inc. (mytravels.com) that lists 19 of those. I called him (Jim Downs) to update mine but he's having software issues. He said I can give you all his info anyway and hopefully he'll get it figured out on his new computer. I'll take a picture of the certificate and post it. Have any of you gotten one of those from him? (He does countries and state parks etc. also)

"Gunga Jim" Downs
BeenThere! Inc.
3508 Boxelder Drive
Longmont, CO 80503
303 678 1555.
(Between noon and 8 PM Mountain Time.)

I will work on my list of parks so I can get an accurate count. So many name changes and retired parks that it's tough to keep 'em straight! I was at 3 Com which was Candlestick but now it's a whole new stadium with how many different names? So I marked San Fran on this site's map widget but the stadium listed is not the one I was actually at.

Hopefully, I'll get the hang of this blogging stuff. I'll be back later with experiences and stadium pictures.

BTW, has anyone done any of Jay Buckley's baseball tours? I took one in 2003 and really enjoyed it. Anyone else?

Sharon