Category: Baseball Trip
2010 Baseball Trip: Day 4-Norway, IA
Iowa Baseball Museum of Norway: Making a stop in the baseball Capitol of Iowa, Norway, was a must for me on this trip. The true events of this towns rich baseball histrory prompted the movie ‘The Final Season’. This small town’s high school team won 20 Iowa State Baseball championships before being forced to merge with another local school after the 1991 season. I became a fan of the movie after watching it, but I am a bigger fan of the true story here. If you are ever in this area, this town and museum are a must for you. The museum itself is small, but packed with memorabelia from baseball’s history as well as the history of baseball in Norway. They had displays of former Major Leaguers from Norway such as Hal Trosky, Bruce Kimm, and Mike Boddicker. Also on display are the school’s state championship trophies, little league trophies, and coaching awards. The people who run the museum are all on a volunteer basis, as well as the people who helped put it together. We were given a first hand history of the town and it’s teams while we were there. There is a great pride in Norway about what they accomplished. My pictures and words really can’t do this place justice. A highlight for me was meeting legendary coach Jim Van Scoyoc who led Norway to 12 of it’s state titles and was named National Coach of the Year. After being forced to retire before the merger, he coached the Detroit Tigers system and founded Perfect Game to help teach young ball players. This was just a great experience for me.
Photos property of MIB
2010 Baseball Trip: Day 3-Peoria, IL
Peoria Chiefs vs. Clinton LumberKings: We didn’t have a whole lot of time to celebrate the Kernels victory before hitting the road again to Peoria. We made it to O’Brien Field about 30 minutes before game time, which is good enough to get our merchandise, grab a brew, and get ready for more baseball. It was Monday, and unfortunately not much of a crowd. We missed the big crowds over the weekend with Star Wars night and a Little League ceremony. Still, half price tickets should be drawing the people in anyway. O’Brien Field is nicely fit into downtown Peoria, and the Chiefs share their home with the NCAA Bradlay Braves. It was a beautiful night for baseball, but a quik game tied at 1-1 in the ninth. The Chiefs sent up a pinch hitter with two outs who hit a walk-off homer with the bases loaded for the win. Pretty exciting at the end. Final: Chiefs 4, Lumber Kings 1. Worst: The scoreboard. One half never worked, the other half only part of the time. Best: Half priced seats every Monday.
Photos property of MIB
2010 Baseball Trip: Day 3-Cedar Rapids, IA
Cedar Rapids Kernels vs. Kane County Cougars: Day three had us up early, and backtracking east through Iowa to Cedar Rapids for a noon start. Day games are usually a lot of fun, and this one didn’t disappiont. Vetrans Memorial Stadium is located basically in a residential area, but still had plenty of parking and decent site lines. Of all the ballparks on our trip, this one simply had the best atmoshpere. The workers were all very friendly and everyone just seemed to be happy it was game day. We had great seats behind home plate just off of the Kernels dugout. My oldest son is an Angels fan, so it was easy for me to get some autogaphs from some prospects like Mike Trout and Michael Wing. Trout is a first round draft pick, but seemed very down to earth and was great with the fans. He also homered in his first at-bat. After getting shut out our first few games, it felt good to get a couple of foul balls here. I got two, but gave one away to a little girl. Yeah, I know, aaawwww. The cool thing if you catch a fly ball here, you recieve an honorary lifetime contract with the Kernels. Now I can finally put Minor League Baseball player on my resume. It’s pictured at the very bottom along with the fouls balls I caught in Cedar Rapids and Peoria. If I could choose any ballpark from our trip to visit again, it would be this one. Final: Kernels 8, Cougars 1. Best: The baseball atmoshpere. You fans know what I’m talking about. Worst: No souvenier cups. It’s a small thing, but I like to take the plastic cups home, wash them out, and drink a beer. It reminds me of the games I’ve been to.
Photos property of MIB
2010 Baseball Trip: Day 2-Des Moines, IA
Iowa Cubs vs. Omaha Royals: Our only game on day two took us to Des Moines for some AAA Pacific Coast League action. The game started at 1:00 p.m., and the day was hot and sunny. About the third inning, though, all that changed. A huge storm cloud decided to nest over the field and give us some rain. Not too much, enough to get you a little damp, but not enough to call the game. If you think that a little rain is enough to chase me from a ballgame, though, you’re wrong. We stayed as long as the game was on, and that was the 8th inning. It finally decided to pour on us. Oh, well, 8 innings is still pretty good. I didn’t get a chance to explore Principal Park as much as I would have liked, but our seats were good and there really didn’t seem that there was a bad seat in the house. There was a lot of fans packed in for a Sunday game, but a lot left after the rain started. Our lunch consisted of a beer, a Chicago Dog, and some popcorn. I did like the park, though, and would recommend a game here if you’re in the area. Final: Royals 5, Cubs 4. Best: The scoreboard reading ‘Out of Towners’ and ‘Local Boys’. Worst: Lots of people. If you don’t mind large crowds, this shouldn’t bother you.
Photos property of MIB
2010 Baseball Trip: Day 2-Van Meter, IA
Bob Feller Hometown Museum: The second day of our pilgrimage took us west via the exciting I-80 highway, past the World’s Largest Truckstop, and into the small town of Van Meter, Iowa. Van Meter is just west of Des Moines, and home to Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller. A nice little museum was constructed in his honor there, and since we were going to Des Moines anyway, it seemed like a good stop on our trip. The museum wasn’t very big, but it was packed full of memorabelia from his early baseball days, to his MLB career and no-hitters, to his days in the Navy during World War II. Yes, Feller was one of the brave men who gave up his baseball career for a couple of years to server his country. Thank you for that, too, Bob. It was hard to get some really good pic because the building wasn’t big enough for me to back up and get some wide angled shots. We were also just shy of meeting Dwight Gooden, who was there the day before signing autographs. Some of the cooler stuff they had was the bat that Babe Ruth used to lean on during his retirement ceremony at Yankee Stadium, which belonged to Feller, and a couple seats from the old Cleveland stadium. It was a fun time and definately worth the trip.
Photos property of MIB
2010 Baseball Trip: Day 1-Davenport, IA
Quad Cities River Bandits vs. Burlington Bees: Our second game of the day took us to beautiful Modern Woodmen Park, home of the River Bandits. This ballpark was listed #1 on the Minor League ‘must see’ list, and it didn’t disappoint. The bridge going over the mighty Mississippi River in right field was really breathtaking. It had already been a long day, so it was nice to sit back, relax with my $6 brat and beer, and enjoy the game. There were a lot of walks, so we were able to scout many pitching prospects during the game. The weather stayed nice for us, too. It was hard to concentrate on the game at times, as we’d get mesmerized by the bridge and river. A perfect night for baseball. Final: Bees 9, River Bandits 6. Best: The view. Great site lines with the bridge. Worst: Pricey concessions.
Photos property of MIB
2010 Baseball Trip: Day 1-DeKalb, IL
Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Central Michigan Chippewas: Our first game slated the Huskies defending their home Ralph McKinzie Field against the Chips. This is the only game where we really cared about the outcome. My dad went to CMU, and the Chips have a local Sault kid on thier roster, so we were rooting for the visitors all the way. Things got a little interensting when a NUI batter ran over the Chips first baseman while he was fielding the ball. Both teams came out of their dugouts, but nothing really came of it. Central’s coach was pretty steamed, though, as the umpires didn’t call for interferance or give the batter a warning of any kind. It was a fun game to watch, as this was the highest scoring game we’d see the whole trip. McKinzie Feld is a simple place to watch a game, as there are just some bleachers behind home plate. There are some places to stand along the fist base wall, though. Final Score: CMU 8, NUI 7. Best: Free admission. Worst: Port-o-potties. I’m lucky I stand.
Photos property of MIB
2010 Baseball Trip: Day 1-Geneva, IL
Our trip this year started out with a long drive as usual, and our first stop was in Geveva, Illinois to the home of the Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League. The Cougars were on the road, as we’ll see later, but while we were in the neiborhood we stopped by Philip B. Elfstrom Stadium to check it out. Lucky for us there was a high school game going on, so we were able to get into the stadium and get our appetite whet for some baseball. The Cougars have a really nice stadium, and I’d like to get back to see them play a game here. It seems like every seat you feel close to the action and a great view. We couldn’t stay too long, though, as we had two games to catch on this day.
Photos property of MIB
The Origin of the Baseball Trip
Sitting here looking out the window at the nasty weather outside, snowing and blowing, it’s hard to believe it’s been seven months now since this years baseball trip. The good news, is that it’s only five months until my 2010 trip. Those will be five very long months, though.
At this point you’re probably asking yourself: how does one start a baseball trip? How did this tradition of yours originate. OK, NOT, but here’s the story anyway. Like most of us, my love for baseball started as a kid. Playing Little League, sandlot ball, collecting baseball cards, and so on. Even just playing catch with my dad or grandpa in the backyard (reference: Field of Dreams). It was, and still remains today at that level, a pure and fun game. I played baseball all through high school at the Varsity level, but that was it, though. I was done. After high school, I moved north and my focus really shifted toward hockey. And why shouldn’t it have? It was my other favorite sport, and my teams did quite well in the 90’s. The college I was attending (Lake Superior State) won two NCAA D-1 National Championships on three Frozen Four appearances from 1992-94. They won a combined seven league championships counting regular season and playoffs during the 90’s, too. The Red Wings made three Stanley Cup appearances, winning in 1997-98. All was good in my hockey world, while the Tigers were, well, not winning, to put it lightly. All of the heroes from the quality 80’s teams were gone. So long Trammell, Whitaker, Sparky, and so on. I didn’t forget about baseball completely. I did go to some Buffalo Bison games in 1993 while out there working security for the World University games (thank you, tax payers). And in 1996 saw the Cubbies at Wrigley Field while visitig a freind in Chicago. Whether you like the Cubs or not, Wrigley is a must see. I even took in a Tigers game at the new Comerica Park in 2001, just to see the new ballpark (which can’t compare to Tiger Stadium in any way, shape or form). Then something happened in 2005, which is where out story truelly begins…
Like most traditions, whether baseball or not, they start with family. In Battle Creek, Michigan I still have a lot of family. Unfortunetly, not as much as I used to. We did get down to BC and watch the Big 10 baseball championships at C.O. Brown stadium a few times, but for some reason I never had been to one of the Minor League games there. The Michigan Battle Cats arrived in 1995, becoming the Battle Creek Yankees, and finally the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays in 2005-06. At this point in 2005, I was married with two kids-and needed a break. My dad suggested we go to Battle Creek, visit some family, and take in a few ball games. It sounded good to me. Getting away from the family for a few days, and seeing some baseball which I actually was really excited about. When we got to C.O. Brown, we got box seats right on the field. Literally-right on the field. The game itself was fun, with the Devil Rays winning 4-3 in extra innings. Ok-I was officially hooked. The next day, we were back at the ballpark for an 11:00 am game. There is something magical about a day game. The dew still on the grass before the sun warms things up. The tast of a cold beer for brunch. This is what it was all about. My gandpa was gone about 12 years at this time, but I swear he was right there with us. After the morning game, I experieced my first Whitecaps game in Grand Rapids on our way back up north. That was quite the experience, too. I was now a Minor League junkie. That’s really how it started. Pretty simple: three games in a two day span. A month later, I was sent down to Georgia for 16 weeks of gruelly training. On the weekends, they bussed us down to Jacksonville to watch the Double-A Suns or up to Savannah to take in a Class-A Sand Gnats game (again, thank you, tax-payers). This fueled the fire even more.
The next year in 2006, we added the Lansing Lugnuts to our journey. Still pretty simple. One game in Landing and Battle Creek, two in Grand Rapids. All in Michigan and not a lot of travel. Still fun for us, and a good get away. Unfortunately, 2006 was out last trip to Battle Creek for baseball. The team couldn’t come to terms with the city and get a new ballpark built, so they jetted to Midland, MI to become the Great Lakes Loons. We did get to see the Loons as part of our 2007 trip. That also included the Dayton Dragons, Toledo Mud Hens, and the Whitecaps. In 2008, we added college and the Majors to our trip. This one started at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, MI. We then took the S.S. Badger to Wisconsin to see two Milwaukee Brewers games and one Beloit Snappers game. That trip ended with the Whitecaps on our way home. This years trip (2009) sent us to the South Bend Silver Hawks, Indianapolis Indians, Louisville Bats, Louisville Slugger Factory & Museum, Fort Wayne TinCaps, Michigan State University, and the Lugnuts. We do keep busy, and meet a lot of nice people along the way. The 2010 trip should be finalized soon (there is always ONE team that doesn’t put their schedule out on time). I know your on the edge of your seat wondering where I’m goint next year, but you’ll find out soon enough….See you at the ballpark.
Photos property of MIB
2009 Baseball Trip
Tues. May 5-South Bend, Indiana: Our first trip to Coveleski Stadium in South Bend pitted the home Silver Hawks against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. We fought off the rain all week, and it started here with some drizzle, but the rain actually held off and we got the whole game in. Trevor made the trip with us this year, and he was uccessful in getting two game balls. The stadium is a little plain, but cut into the ground which I like and had good seating. We had good seats in the front row.
Thurs. May 7-Indianapolis, Indiana: We experienced out first rain out Wednesday, but if one of our games was to be missed, that would be it because we planned on returning to Victory Field on this day for a morning game anyway. The Indians played the Scranton/WB Yankees in a double header starting at ten in the morning. Again, rain threatened us, but it turned out to be a beautiful day. The home town Indians got beat both games, but this is a great ball park and we would love to back here again. Pictured is me and Trevor in the upper deck. Trevor got a fowl ball here, too.
Minoring In Baseball 