Bucket lists are full of ballpark visits

By David Mullen

With the summer approaching and sports fans preparing to travel, taking in a Major League Baseball game is often part of a vacation itinerary. For some, seeing a baseball game in every MLB ballpark is the itinerary.

Visiting every MLB ballpark is atop many bucket lists. Creating a bucket list is unappealing to me as it implies that one’s life is over upon completion. I have seen a game in every MLB ballpark — and in many parks that have been replaced or are no longer in use — but I keep my bucket list full. It is a list I am hesitant to complete.

The term “bucket list” is relatively new with roots dating back to 1999. Bucket list favorites Boston’s Fenway Park and Chicago’s Wrigley Field, which both opened in the 1910s long before the phrase was coined, are still full of life.   

For the purposes of this exercise, we will focus on parks that are destination worthy. It is highly unlikely that someone would come to Dallas with the primary intention of going to the lifeless Globe Life Field in Arlington. The atmosphere at a Rangers game can feel like you’re taking grandma out for afternoon tea.

When visiting a common vacation destination like New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco, baseball is low on the itinerary list. That is a mistake. 

Give my regards to Broadway, but not before I go to the Bronx for a Yankees game or to Queens to “Meet the Mets.” I would rather experience the retro-charm of Dodger Stadium, baseball’s third oldest stadium, than stand in line at Universal Studios for the “Wizarding World of Harry Potter.” And rather than ferry out to Yerba Buena Island in San Francisco Bay, I’d prefer to look at it from an upper deck seat at intimate Oracle Park.

In some cities, going to a game should be part of a visit, not the reason for the visit. When in Cleveland, it’s worth taking in a Guardians game at Progressive Field. Same with Philadelphia, Cincinnati or St. Louis. When in Kansas City, seeing the waterfalls at Kaufmann Stadium is a great departure. In Seattle, T-Mobile Park is an easy next stop after taking in the fish smells at Pike Place Market. 

While the views from Coors Field in Denver and the location of Target Field in Minneapolis have their merits, these ballparks deserve top spots on travel itineraries and bucket lists.

Petco Park in San Diego. It is difficult to believe that Petco is more than 20 years old. It has aged like a fine wine: opened up and matured. Petco is perfectly located at the base of the Gaslamp District, meaning you can go to a game and still experience San Diego sun and fun. And Padres games ooze fun. 

PNC Park in Pittsburgh. If you’ve never considered Pittsburgh for a summer vacation, you are missing out. The city is vibrant, and PNC Park anchors an impressive Pittsburgh skyline overlooking the Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. All ballparks should be so charming. PNC was built for $216 million at a time when the Texas Rangers were paying Alex Rodriguez $252 million for 10 years.

Fenway Park in Boston. It is quite moving for a baseball fan to see Fenway’s Green Monster for the first time. I’ve not only seen the Green Monster, but I’ve also been on top of it. Your first visit to Fenway is like going to Wimbledon; you feel like you know every inch of the place through TV yet it is best seen in person. 

Baltimore’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards. All factors considered, Oriole Park at Camden Yards is baseball’s best ballpark. When it opened more than 33 years ago, it felt nostalgic. The B&O Warehouse brick wall behind right field has become iconic. All ballparks built since Camden Yards have tried to capture the same architectural magic, but very few have measured up.   

Wrigley Field in Chicago. I once got in a Chicago taxi at 10 a.m. and asked the driver to take me to Wrigley Field. “Is there a game today?,” the cabbie asked. “Yes,” I said. “It’s a 1:20 start.” “You’re going early,” he said. “No, I’m late,” I said, “Step on it.”

If you have never been to Chicago, you could experience arguably America’s best city just by going to a Cubs game. It is a religious experience. There is no better pre-game warmup than hitting the taverns in Wrigleyville. At a Cubs game, I have sat in the front row behind home plate, behind a pole at third base, on a rooftop and everywhere in between. I’ve baked in the sun and chilled in the shade at the same game. 

Wrigley has ivy on the outfield walls, on old hand-operated scoreboard, a 7th inning sing-along and rousing postgame ditty after a Cubs win. Win or lose, Cubs fans are engaged. For me, a sunny day game at Wrigley Field is a better vacation than lying on a beach at an all-inclusive resort.

I had a big advantage in seeing a game in every MLB ballpark as I took a lot of business trips to baseball towns. I first accomplished seeing a game in all 30 stadiums in 1994. Since, I have traveled on my own to visit new parks like Truist Field in the Atlanta suburbs and Loan Depot Park in Miami to maintain my claim. 

If you can’t visit every baseball park, at least visit the best ones. If you strive to hit every ballpark, take  your time. It keeps your bucket list alive. 

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