Planes, Trains, Megabus, and Baseball...

I've been so busy already this fall that I can't believe I never got around to adding a blog entry about my vacation trip this past summer. Well, the time has come to rectify the situation and share my travels with everyone.

So way back last winter, I got together with a friend from work and we decided that we were going to attempt an ambitious plan to travel the country and see a baseball game at every single major league stadium. The plan we came up with was to travel to groups of nearby cities each summer until we have seen them all. Our plan calls for 6 teams each summer for each of the next 5 years, covering all 30 major league teams and the Hall of Fame. Ambitious? Of course. But we figured we might as well do it now while we are still single and have the disposable time and income.

So our first loop we decided on was the Northeast Loop: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. The nice thing about this loop is that all the cities are relatively close together. The downside is that, by our estimations, this loop would be by far the most expensive. Tickets for the Red Sox and Yankees were pricey and the hotels were not cheap either. And instead of worrying about driving and parking in these cities, we decided to make the whole trip without a car. We would fly to Boston, make our way down the east coast via train and bus, and then fly back home from D.C. (hence the fun blog title). It worked out very well in the end, but got to be stressful at times.

So the following is a rundown of our trip. I tried to include anything fun or unusual that I noted about each stadium and city. I hope you enjoy!


August 23rd:  Boston | Fenway Park
Our fantastic trip started out with an early-morning flight to Boston. We arrived in Boston around 11:00am and then spent a few hours sight-seeing before heading to the game. We walked a large portion of the Freedom Trail, seeing sights such as Bunker Hill, the Old North Church, and the USS Constitution. And on our way back to the game, we made a quick stop at the Cheers Bar. There was so much more to see and do, but we were running on a tight schedule, so we made our way to the stadium.

Out of all the stadiums on this loop, the one I was most looking forward to was Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. Fenway is one of the oldest parks in baseball, and catching a game there is on every true baseball fan's bucket list. The park was opened in 1912, making this year the 100th anniversary and making our visit extra special.

Fenway is probably best known for its small capacity and its unusual outfield layout and dimensions. The most obvious quirk is the large wall in left field, known as the "Green Monster." The wall has become an icon and features one of the last hand-operated scoreboards in the majors. The park is also known for the quirky right field corner, which is only 302 feet from home plate. The corner is highlighted by the foul pole known as "Pesky Pole", named after infielder Johnny Pesky, who once hit a home run that hooked just inside the pole.

For our game, the Red Sox hosted the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on a Thursday night. Boston roared to a 6-0 lead after 2 innings thanks to a Dustin Pedroia 3-run homer. But the Angels came all the way back with an 8-run third inning to reclaim the lead. The game continued to be a slugfest, with the Angels finally winning 14-13 in 10 innings. Kendrys Morales was the hero of the game, hitting a solo homer in the top of the 10th to give the Angels a lead they would not relinquish.

On a side note, Albert Pujols did not play in this game. However, we did get to see rookie phenom Mike Trout. He did not disappoint, going 3 for 6 with 2 runs scored, 2 runs batted in, and 2 stolen bases. It seemed like every time the Red Sox came close to putting the Angels away, Trout brought them back. The guy was as good as advertised.

As far as the park experience goes, Fenway lived up to its billing as one of the best venues for true baseball fans. There is plenty of history in the ballpark, and the fans are passionate about the game. Even in a down season (the Red Sox would finish the season just 69-93), the place was packed. Fans crowded Yawkey Way hours before the game and the gameday atmosphere was probably the best I've experienced. On the downside, the seats are small and close together, there are a lot of obstructed views, and the food is nothing to write home about. Also, while there is a train that stops near the stadium, it is still at least a good half-mile walk to and from the stadium. But the history and atmosphere more than make up for these deficiencies.

August 26th:  New York | Citi Field
After that exciting 10-inning game in Boston, we took the Amtrak train from Boston Back Bay Station to New York the following morning. This was my first trip on a train and I must say that it is an awesome way to travel. It may not be as fast as an airplane, but you can't beat the convenience. The security is not anywhere near as tight and you can keep your bags with you. It was just a nice and relaxing trip across the eastern seaboard.

Our first game in New York would not be until Sunday afternoon, so we took a few days to take in some sights around the city. We did the Top of the Rock on Friday night and saw the 9/11 Memorial on Saturday. By the way, the 9/11 Memorial is quite breathtaking. I would say it was one of the most impactful moments of the trip for me. It is just so well done and really brings back a flood of emotions. If you get a chance to see it, do it.

On Sunday, after a brief stop at the Empire State Building, we headed out to Citi Field for an afternoon Mets game. The stadium was built right beside where old Shea Stadium used to be, so getting there is very easy (just ride the 7 Train). To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect from Citi Field, but I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. It turned out to be one of the better gameday experiences of our trip.

There is not much history to this stadium, since it was only opened in 2009. But the stadium architecture includes a nice tribute to the old Brooklyn Dodgers. The rotunda area out front is styled after old Ebbets Field and is themed in honor of Jackie Robinson, who played his entire career with Brooklyn. Another feature unique to this stadium is one they retained from old Shea Stadium, the Big Apple that rises up beyond the outfield fence whenever a Mets player hits a home run.

For our game, the Mets hosted the Houston Astros. In complete contrast to the slugfest we saw at Boston, this game was a tight pitching duel. But like the Red Sox game, this one also went down to the wire. With the game tied 1-1, Ike Davis hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th to give the Mets the 2-1 victory. Davis actually hit 2 solo homers in the game, accounting for all of the Mets offense. Mets starter Jeremy Hefner (7 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 7 K's) and Astros starter Lucas Harrell (8 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 7 K's) both had outstanding games.

As far as the park experience goes, Citi Field was a pleasant surprise. The views were great, and I really liked the tribute to Ebbets Field and Jackie Robinson. Also, the ballpark food is among the best in baseball. We ate at the Shake Shack, but there were a ton of other places that also looked very good. Getting in and out is relatively easy (by train anyways). Very well done.

August 27:  New York | Yankee Stadium
After the Mets game on Sunday, we had one more day in New York and we planned to catch the Yankees game on Monday night before heading out of town. However, the weather threatened to ruin our plans as the rain clouds rolled in.

On Monday morning, we headed down to Battery Park with plans to take the ferry out to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We first stopped on Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty. While the inside of the pedestal was closed for renovations, we could still stroll around the island. So we spent some time there and then headed to Ellis Island. Just as with the 9/11 Memorial, I thought that the Ellis Island experience was also very impactful on me. It was amazing to see what so many people went through in coming to this country over the years. It was definitely worth the time, and I would highly suggest going out to see it.

For most of the morning, the weather cooperated just fine. However, just as we were returning back to Manhattan, the skies opened up and the rain came down. It had been a long time since I had seen it rain that hard. We got off the ferry and ran to the nearest shelter, but it was about a half-mile away. So we both got absolutely drenched. We had no choice but to go back to our hotel for the afternoon and dry out our clothes. As we dried out, we also astutely watched the weather forecast, hoping that our game would not be rained out.

As luck would have it, the rains held back and the game started at normal time and played through to completion. This would be the biggest threat to our trip, but we got a big break. So we headed towards the Bronx on the 4 Train, towards Yankee Stadium for a night game between the Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays.

We had heard from the ushers at Citi Field that Yankee Stadium had a very "commercialized" feel to it, and they were right. New Yankee Stadium opened in 2009, and from the moment we walked in, it just felt so soulless. I had been to old Yankee Stadium back in 2008 before they tore it down, and that place had history and character. But this place, it just felt like they sucked all the life out of it. Of course, they tried to maintain the magic of old Yankee Stadium, even down to having the exact same outfield dimensions. But to me, it just felt like any other modern park.

Once inside, we first tried to find Memorial Park, but by the time we arrived they had already closed it off. So then we stopped by the Yankee Hall of Fame. You would think that a team like the Yankees would have an awesome Hall of Fame, but I was not that impressed. They had a few jerseys from Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig and a baseball signed by nearly every Yankee player over the years, but not much else. I was pretty disappointed, and I thought that the Mets actually had a better Hall of Fame. At least we weren't charged to go inside.

As for the game, would you believe that we saw yet another nail-biter? The Yankees took a 6-4 lead into the top of the 9th inning, but closer Rafael Soriano gave up a 3-run homer to Colby Rasmus to give the Jays a 7-6 lead. Then, Derek Jeter hit a homer in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game at 7-7 and send it into extra innings. Finally, the Blue Jays scored in the 11th to pull out the 8-7 win. Yankee second baseman Robinson Cano also starred, hitting home runs in each of his first 2 at-bats.

As I mentioned before, this park just felt too formal. The word I used before, "commercialized", is about the best way I can describe it. From the moment you walk in the gate, it just feels like you are nothing but a dollar sign to the team. Yes, the Yankees have a great team history, but I think the success has gone to their heads. In old Yankee Stadium, they could get away with it because that place had history. This place? Not so much.

August 28th:  Philadelphia | Citizen's Bank Ballpark
The following morning, we departed for Philadelphia by bus. We decided to use a bus company called Megabus because they are relatively cheap and offer daily routes between major cities. In retrospect, it worked out ok, but I think I would have rather spent a little more and gone by train. I guess the old adage "you get what you pay for" is true.

We arrived into Philadelphia around noon and then spent a few hours sight-seeing downtown before the game that evening. We had great weather, and getting around in Philadelphia was actually not that bad. We visited the Rocky Statue and ran up the steps (of course, everyone must do this if you visit the city). We also visited the historical district and checked out the Liberty Bell and City Hall. Philadelphia is a cool city and I would love to spend some more time there.

When it comes to sporting venues, Philadelphia is somewhat odd because all of their stadiums and arenas are in one big complex about 3 miles away from downtown. There is a train that takes you right out there, but once you arrive, there is not much else around other than parking lots. So to me, Philadelphia loses some points for lack of convenience and city integration.

Citizen's Bank Park itself, which opened in 2004, is a nice modern stadium and does a fairly good job of showcasing the history of the Phillies. Statues of Phillies greats Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton welcome you to the stadium and they have named the center field concourse "Ashburn Alley" after defensive whiz Richie Ashburn, who played center field for the Phillies for most of his Hall of Fame career and also was a Phillies radio broadcaster for many years. Probably the most distinctive features of the stadium are the large scoreboard in left field and the Liberty Bell sign in right-center field. The Liberty Bell sign lights up at night and swings back and forth when a Phillies player hits a home run.

As for the game, we saw yet another close one as the Phillies hosted the New York Mets. The Phillies took an early 4-1 lead on the strength of a Ryan Howard grand slam, and they held a 5-4 lead after 7 innings. But the Mets came back to tie the game at 5-5, forcing extra innings yet again. This time, the Mets scored 4 runs in the top of the 10th inning to claim the 9-5 win in 10 innings.

Overall, the experience at Citizen's Bank Ballpark was a good one. Probably the two best things about the stadium experience are actually the food and the Phillies mascot. The food options are pretty solid. I ended up getting one of their signature sandwiches, the Schmitter. The Schmitter, contrary to popular belief, is not named after Mike Schmidt, but rather after the restaurant where it originated. It was kind of like a cheesesteak, only with salami. Delicious, but very filling. And, as always, the Phillies mascot was often the star of the show. The Phillie Phanatic is truly one of the best in the business. It is a pleasure to see him work his magic in person. That alone makes a trip to Citizen's Bank Park worth the time.

August 29th:  Baltimore | Oriole Park at Camden Yards
The following morning, we again boarded the Megabus and headed off towards Baltimore. But here is where the train would have really been worth it. The bus dropped us off at White Marsh Mall, which is like 15 miles outside of the city. So we had to ride the local bus, all of our luggage in hand, all the way into downtown. And some of the parts of town we passed through looked pretty shady. Luckily, we made it downtown without incident.

After we dropped off our bags at our hotel room, there really wasn't much we wanted to do in Baltimore as far as sight-seeing. We wondered down to the inner harbor area and looked around for a bit, just killing time until the game started. Then we walked over to the stadium to soak in the game day atmosphere.

We had read a lot of good reviews on Camden Yards, and it didn't disappoint. Opened in 1992, the stadium was the first of the new wave of "retro" ballparks. It really set the standard for most of the modern ballparks today. This year was the 20th anniversary of the stadium, which made our visit all the more special.

This was by far my favorite stadium as far as aesthetics and feel. The stadium is brilliantly designed and integrates seamlessly into the downtown area. It just feels like it belongs there. The city skyline in the background is breathtaking and the B&O Railroad Warehouse in right field adds character and identity. I also liked the picnic areas in left-center field and the way they integrated Eutaw Street into the stadium design. Everything about this park is perfect.

As for the game, this was the first game on our trip that wasn't really close. The Orioles hosted the Chicago White Sox, with Chicago taking an easy 8-1 victory. Dylan Axelrod had a great start (7.1 innings, 3 hits, 1 run) and the White Sox pounded O's starter Joe Saunders. The Orioles, however, would end up making the playoffs for the first time since 1997. So fans were pretty excited about the team despite the loss.

My only regret at Camden was that I didn't try any of the food. Earlier in the day, we tried out a burrito place in the harbor area. And the burritos were much bigger than we expected. By the time the game rolled around, we just weren't hungry. But if I had been, I surely would have tried Boog's Barbeque, which I have heard is excellent.

August 30th:  Washington D.C. | Nationals Park
On Thursday morning, we got up early and took the MARC commuter train from Camden Station to Washington D.C. We were somewhat worried about riding into D.C. during rush hour, but everything worked out fine.

After dropping off our bags at the hotel, we headed out to see the city. We had scheduled a Segway tour of D.C. for just after lunch, so we grabbed a quick bite and headed towards the Segway place. Going in, I was somewhat skeptical of the whole Segway tour idea. I didn't like the idea that we couldn't stop and go inside places. But it actually turned out to be one of the best parts of the trip. Our tour lasted 2 hours, and we saw a ton of sights that we would not have been able to see on foot. Plus, riding a Segway is pretty fun once you get the hang of it. At first, it feels like you are going to fall over. But I was surprised at how quickly I picked it up. After about 5 minutes, it started to feel natural. With a top speed of about 12 mph, we were whipping all around the city. We got to see major sights such as the White House, Capitol Building, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial, and even a couple of new ones (the Martin Luther King Memorial and the World War II Memorial). And again, we did all of this in only 2 hours!

After we completed our Segway tour, we killed some time in the Smithsonian, then grabbed the bus to head out to Nationals Park. I think that, out of all the stadiums on this loop, I was probably the least excited about Nationals Park. And I think that after having been there, my thoughts were justified.

There is nothing that really stands out about Nationals Park. It's a relatively new park (opened in 2008), so there is not much history in the park itself. On top of that, the franchise (formerly the Montreal Expos) has only been in D.C. since 2005, so there is really no franchise history to speak of either. They try to make various links back to the old Washington Senators (with a statue of Walter Johnson), the old Negro Leagues (with a statue of Josh Gibson) and even the Montreal Expos (they have Andre Dawson's and Gary Carter's numbers retired). It's a nice effort to try to reclaim the history of baseball in D.C. and of the franchise, but it just somehow feels odd.

There are also really no standout features in the stadium architecture. There is the large scoreboard in right-center field, but that's about it. The concourse in left field tries to emulate the open-air concessions that have served Baltimore so well, but it's still a little lacking. The stadium is also far enough away from downtown that the backdrop skyline is uninspiring. Though upper deck fans can see the Capitol Building off in the distance.

To be honest, I looked at this park more or less as one to check off of the list. In fact, about the only thing that excited me about the park was the Presidential mascot race. The Nationals have 4 mascots in the likenesses of 4 of our most famous U.S. Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt. Their uniform numbers indicate their order of election (Washington is #1, Jefferson #3, Lincoln #16, and Roosevelt #26). They started holding the races for every home game back in 2006, and the running joke was that Teddy had never won. In our game, Thomas Jefferson beat Teddy by a hair. Apparently, Teddy finally won on the final day of this season, to celebrate the Nats playoff berth.

As for the game, this game was also a blowout, with the Nationals beating the visiting St. Louis Cardinals by the final score of 8-1. Nats starter Edwin Jackson was outstanding (8 innings, 4 hits, 10 K's), and rookie phenom Bryce Harper smashed a first-inning 2-run homer. So we not only got to see Mike Trout at his best, but also Bryce Harper. Maybe someday we will tell our grandkids that we saw these two guys play as rookies.

While Nationals Park really has few defining features, that doesn't mean it's a bad place to watch a game. The views are pretty good and the food selection is nice too. I had a chili dog from Ben's Chili Bowl. It was messy, but delicious. But to me, this park was probably the weakest of all the parks we visited on this trip. It didn't help that the stadium is far from downtown, but apparently they are planning a big revitalization of the neighborhood surrounding the park. So maybe it will get better as the neighborhood around it improves and as the team accumulates some form of history and franchise identity.

August 31st:  Back Home
On Friday, we spent one last day in D.C. before heading back home. Having seen 6 baseball games in 8 days (and 5 in the last 5), we were ready for a little break. But we couldn't resist checking out the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. So we spent most of the day Friday in the museum before heading back to Baltimore Airport for our flight home. We made it back home late Friday night, tired but pleased.

Summary
So all in all, it was a great trip. While we did get on each other's nerves a few times, my friend and I still had a blast. We made it safely to all of our destinations, the weather cooperated with us (not a single rain-out or delay), and we didn't lose any luggage. Plus we saw some good games, as 4 of the 6 games either went into extra innings or came down to the last at-bat. So I would call this trip a grand success! I already can't wait for next year's trip!