What's Your Story?

"What a cool goal- to see all 30 MLB ballparks"

My journey officially stated in July 2010, but I didn't know it at the time. What started out as a road trip from Milwaukee to Pittsburgh to visit family and squeeze in a Brewers game at PNC quickly turned into a new life goal. Jokingly, my then fiance suggested we attempt to see all 30 ballparks. I eagerly agreed. We are both huge baseball fans and love to travel, so I thought why not?!

My intentions were to see 2 ballparks a year, so U.S. Cellular Field was next, as it was so close. Our plans did however take a hiatus the year of our wedding, and the following year for our honeymoon (I know, I know, what a fun honeymoon to travel to more ballparks... I chose island living instead without any regrets).

Fast forward to Spring of 2013 where I somehow talked my husband into Wrigley Field, Target Field, Busch Stadium, Comerica Park and Progressive Field all in one year! Driving to each stadium, on top of it. After talking my way into 5 stadiums for 2013, I promised we would only do 1 maaayyybe 2 stadiums in 2014. He knew I was a liar. For spring break we visited Denver and Coors Field, as we hope to call Denver home one day. Because he was a student and we wouldn't take a "big" vacation this year, he (somewhat reluctantly) agreed to go to Great American Ball Park and Kauffman Stadium as well. I'm a pretty lucky girl. The only flaw in my plan, is that we are now out of near-by ballparks that I could easily talk my way into driving to. From here on out, more planning (airfare, hotels, longer trips) will be necessary. I regret nothing :)

I am extremely proud to say that in essentially 3 years, I've seen 11 ballparks, and so much of our country. Who knows how long the rest of this journey will take to complete, but it sure is exciting. My favorite is when people first find out about my plans to see all the ballparks, I usually receive a look of disbelief, followed by "That's so cool! What a great idea! I'm so jealous!" Close family and friends usually ask "So where to next? When's the next ballpark trip?"

So, what's your story? How did you decide to make this your goal? I've met a lot of people in the past few years who are also on this mission, and their stories are so exciting. Please share with me why/how you decided to start, who are you sharing this experience with, and what is your favorite experience so far. I'd love to know.

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Comment by Craig (17) on July 24, 2014 at 4:51pm: I am embarrassed to say that I cannot recall the moment I realized when I knew this became a “life-goal” to visit all MLB ballparks. I grew up in Colorado so half of my childhood we didn’t have MLB baseball. I visited Kauffman when I was young and Coors when it opened but my first ballpark trip was in college when I visited both Fenway and original Yankee Stadium. It must have been this trip that made me realize that I wanted to see them all! For me this goal is something I am in no hurry to accomplish. I would like to visit a new ballpark each summer, but with 2 kids and work, it doesn’t always happen. As I traveled more, I kept meeting fans that shared my same goal. It was because of this that I developed an idea for an online community of Chasers. I am currently stuck at 14 active ballparks with no plans on visiting a new one this summer. But I am really excited to be going back to Colorado next month for our first annual meetup!

Comment by Kevin Case on June 22, 2014 at 2:09pm: Hi Ruth. What's my story? It started last year when I found this website while I was doing some internet research on a trip that I ended up taking to see a game at Dodger Stadium. Before finding the website, I never thought about seeing a game in every major league ballpark. I love going to major league games but it just never crossed my mind to visit every ballpark. It's now a goal of mine which officially for me started this year. Last year, I decided I wanted to travel more and this was a perfect reason to do so. I'm a Dodgers fan so I have come up with this secondary goal of wanting to see the Dodgers play in every national league ballpark.

Before seeing a game at Dodger Stadium last September, I had only been to 2 major league games, Turner Field & Mile High Stadium (before Coors Field was built). This year I've made it to Minute Maid & Globe Life Park. In July, I have a weekend trip planned to Great American Ball Park with my brother. I figure I'll take at least one "Ballpark Chasers vacation" each year. More if I can manage it. I'm really looking forward to that California ballpark chasers vacation. whenever that may occur.

When I mention to friends, family, or co workers the goal of traveling to every major league ballpark and seeing a game, I have noticed that look of disbelief that you mentioned. Most were like me and it just never crossed their mind that someone would set out to accomplish this goal. If I'm talking with someone that likes baseball, when they hear about potentially going to 2,3, 4 different stadiums in one trip they think that's really really cool. Which it is. I love the process of planning out the trip, making reservations, trying to figure out how I'll get around once I've arrived in a certain city, where to eat, making sure I do the ballpark tour, etc. Mainly the stuff that this website helps out with. I guess that's about it. Hey a great summer and you make it to a bunch of stadiums this year.

Comment by Eric Sather (25/31) on June 13, 2014 at 9:51am: I enjoyed reading your "story" Ruth! Since I enjoyed it, I thought I would share a little, although I am not a story teller, and haven't visited many stadiums...yet! I am 54, married for 24 yrs, and my wife is not that into baseball, but I "drag" her to some games. I say "drag", she actually doesn't mind that much, it's just not her thing!

I grew up in Spokane, WA, and they had a minor league team, the Spokane Indians, which was a AAA team at the time. It was managed my Tommy Lasorda in 1970, and I have a program from that year. It's an A-short season team now. Anyway, after I graduated from college, I got a job with a company that liked to move people around (EDS - Ross Perot's company). My first assignment was in Frankfort KY, and I went to a few Cincinatti Reds games from there (end of the Pete Rose era, saw him play). Then I was in Alexandria VA for 4+ years, and the Nationals weren't there yet. I went to a lot of Baltimore Orioles games with friends at the old Memorial Stadium. Also made it to Yankee stadium with a friend on a trip to NYC, but didn't think about all the other stadiums that were nearby (darn!).

When I got married in 1990, I transferred with my job to Sacramento CA. We lived there 9 years, and we went to numerous A's and Giants (Candlestick) games since the Bay area was nearby. In 1999 we moved to Vancouver WA, outside of Portland. Now my closest park is Safeco field, and we usually attend anywhere from 1-4 games/year up there. Was able to fit in an Angels game on a trip to Disneyland (I have 3 kids). But what got me going on Ballpark chasing was a trip to Chicago to see an old friend, where we made it to both Wrigley and US Cellular Field. I started thinking, "hey, I've been to a number of fields, wouldn't it be cool to hit all 30!!". And so the chase begins. I may only attend 1-2 new stadiums a year, if that, but I also keep thinking about a trip or 2 at some point to hit 5-6 stadiums at a time. I also think about fitting in a game when on family vacations, when possible. My chase will certainly take several years, if not the rest of my life to complete, and that is fine with me!

Thanks again for sharing, hope to see others' stories!