Imagine your 10 year old son says to you one day that he would like to go to all the MLB ballparks when he gets older. You, as a dad, say “sure one day we will do that.” Fast forward 12 years to April 7, 2012 and you are at Progressive Field with your now 22 year old son at the first of the 30 MLB parks you will get to this season, all while making a 10 year olds dream come true. Let me introduce Ed and Jon Burnham who are that father/son team that this season will get to all 30 MLB parks and whom I had the pleasure of meeting this past Saturday in Cleveland.
This season I have decided to renew my love affair with baseball. During the 2009 and 2010 MLB seasons I was downright married to baseball. Last season I was fortunate to get married for real and with all the exciting things that surround getting married, baseball was not one of them. I actually got to more NHL hockey arenas, 5, than I did MLB ballparks, 3.
The other contributor to my lack of baseball interest was that the Cubs were not a fun team to watch or be a fan of. I will always love the Cubs but last season I was not in love with the team. Too much drama, bad management both on the field and off led to not a fun season.
This season the Cubs team appears to be fun again. They are not a contender for the playoffs, but they are fun even when they lose. They are a bunch of no name guys who are fighting to make their mark in MLB. I like manager Dale Svuem who seems to be a level headed guy who has a plan. The players like him and will hopefully play hard for him. Theo is running the front office and made some moves in the off season shedding players who needed to get out of town. There are some potential stars in the minors, so there is hope for the future.
So with the renewed love of baseball, on a whim this past Saturday I decided to take in the Blue Jay – Indian afternoon game in Cleveland. I checked Stubhub for a ticket and lo and behold, a single ticket in the first row behind the Indian dugout was for sale way below face value. After buying the ticket I had a feeling this was the same seat I had for my
Progressive Field game on June 14, 2009. As it turned out, it was the same seat.
Fate actually struck twice for this game, Ed had found my website while doing research for their ballpark journey this summer and had contacted me to let me know they will be in St. Louis on April 14, the same game Charlie and I are taking Brent to as part of his birthday celebration. Turns out we were both in Cleveland this past Saturday and made a point to meet up prior to the game.
I don’t know who was more excited that Saturday was their first game of the journey, me or Ed and Jon. After second thought, I think it was Ed because well… sorry can’t say because what was said in the Progressive Field picnic area will stay in the Progressive Field picnic area. Kind of like what happens in LAX while stalking a former Vice President of the United States will stay in LAX, right Charlie!?!?
We ended up talking for about 40 minutes. Ed told me the idea came about 12 years ago to go to all 30 ballparks. Since Jon is graduating college this year, Ed thought this would be as good a time as any to do the journey. Their schedule is a lot like mine was in 2009 and 2010, taking weekend trips to knock off ballparks with one long trip getting all 5 California ballparks along with Seattle and Arizona in a 7 day stretch. They start on opening weekend of the MLB season and will finish up in NYC on September 22 or 23. They will add a few other cool things along the way, taking in the College World Series in Omaha as well as the Alabama – Michigan football game in Texas. All in all a very cool summer planned!
After chatting it was game time – they wanted to walk around the park and see all that there is to see at Progressive and I
headed to watch the game and we planned to meet up after the game. The game itself turned out to be great. Toronto pitcher Brandon Morrow and Indian pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez each took no-hitters into the 6th inning, actually Jimenez was perfect into the 6th. That’s when ESPN struck and started reporting that each had a no hitter and effectively put the whammy on the no hitters, Morrow giving his up in the 6th and Jimenez in the 7th.
Now if you remember my Progressive game from 2009, sitting in that exact seat, and saw Cliff Lee take a no-hitter into the 8th inning against the Cardinals (which you won’t because only I remember stuff like this but to refresh your memory here is my blog from that Indian game in 2009 – just hit the link and scroll down to the second blog on the page http://30ballparks-in-1season.com/june-2009-blogs.html )
This is the 3rd time I have been at a game when a pitcher took a no hitter into the 7th inning and in all 3 they ended in the 7th or 8th. And in all 3 I blame the Worldwide Leader – you know ESPN – for broadcasting to everyone that so and so has a no no going and in effect jinxing the no-hitter. ESPN needs to come up with a code word for a no hitter or perfect game that is in the works and also, don’t use the code word until we are in the 8th inning. The broadcaster can say something like; Ubaldo Jimenez is playing duck, duck, goose with the Blue Jays today. Baseball fans will quickly learn that duck, duck, goose means turn on that game because something great is happening and you don’t want to miss it. So to you, my loyal readers – contact your local ESPN station and inform them of the new Bobby D duck, duck, goose code word for no-hitters, hopefully it will catch on and soon.
Once the no-hitters were ruined by ESPN the game turned out to be a good one. The Blue Jays took a 3 – 2 lead into the bottom of the 9th when Assdroopall (using my sound out spelling technique) Cabrera hit a homer to tie the game. The
Jays ended up winning in the 12th inning which meant for their first of 30 games; Ed and Jon got some free baseball.
In the top of the 10th I had sent Ed a text to let him know all the seats around me were empty (yes I showered before the game) and they should come on down which they quickly did. After each inning as the Indians were coming off the field, the player who caught the last out would flip the ball into the crowd around the dugout. Jon had just sat down and bammo, the ball was flipped to him. I had been sitting there all game and nothing flipped to me, only at me. Here Jon is, sitting in technically illegal seats, gets a ball. But not to worry, our hero, without hesitation, gets up and looks around and then flips the ball to a little kid around 10 years old. Very cool move, Jon. I think karma will repay you guys along the
journey.
With that ballpark one was in the books for our new traveling heroes and they were on to Detroit for the Sunday’s Tigers game against the Red Sox which also turned out to be an 11 inning classic, more free baseball. And get this, the other Cabrera, Miguel, hit a game tying 3 run homer in the bottom of the 9th and then Alex Avila hitting a walk off 2 run homer in the 11th. Luckily the Cardinals don’t have a Cabrera on their roster as next Saturday we see my beloved Cubs take on the Cardinals in St. Louis.
I guess that brings an end to the Cleveland blog. Next up will be St. Louis this upcoming weekend and World Series Ring Day where each of us in attendance will get a replica ring. You know I will be checking eBay to see how much these puppies will be going for. So for now this is so long and good bye where I wonder what will happen first, ESPN picks up the duck, duck, goose code word for no-hitters or the Cubs win the World Series. I think Vegas just set the odds on favorite as Neither.
This season I have decided to renew my love affair with baseball. During the 2009 and 2010 MLB seasons I was downright married to baseball. Last season I was fortunate to get married for real and with all the exciting things that surround getting married, baseball was not one of them. I actually got to more NHL hockey arenas, 5, than I did MLB ballparks, 3.
The other contributor to my lack of baseball interest was that the Cubs were not a fun team to watch or be a fan of. I will always love the Cubs but last season I was not in love with the team. Too much drama, bad management both on the field and off led to not a fun season.
This season the Cubs team appears to be fun again. They are not a contender for the playoffs, but they are fun even when they lose. They are a bunch of no name guys who are fighting to make their mark in MLB. I like manager Dale Svuem who seems to be a level headed guy who has a plan. The players like him and will hopefully play hard for him. Theo is running the front office and made some moves in the off season shedding players who needed to get out of town. There are some potential stars in the minors, so there is hope for the future.
So with the renewed love of baseball, on a whim this past Saturday I decided to take in the Blue Jay – Indian afternoon game in Cleveland. I checked Stubhub for a ticket and lo and behold, a single ticket in the first row behind the Indian dugout was for sale way below face value. After buying the ticket I had a feeling this was the same seat I had for my
Progressive Field game on June 14, 2009. As it turned out, it was the same seat.
Fate actually struck twice for this game, Ed had found my website while doing research for their ballpark journey this summer and had contacted me to let me know they will be in St. Louis on April 14, the same game Charlie and I are taking Brent to as part of his birthday celebration. Turns out we were both in Cleveland this past Saturday and made a point to meet up prior to the game.
I don’t know who was more excited that Saturday was their first game of the journey, me or Ed and Jon. After second thought, I think it was Ed because well… sorry can’t say because what was said in the Progressive Field picnic area will stay in the Progressive Field picnic area. Kind of like what happens in LAX while stalking a former Vice President of the United States will stay in LAX, right Charlie!?!?
We ended up talking for about 40 minutes. Ed told me the idea came about 12 years ago to go to all 30 ballparks. Since Jon is graduating college this year, Ed thought this would be as good a time as any to do the journey. Their schedule is a lot like mine was in 2009 and 2010, taking weekend trips to knock off ballparks with one long trip getting all 5 California ballparks along with Seattle and Arizona in a 7 day stretch. They start on opening weekend of the MLB season and will finish up in NYC on September 22 or 23. They will add a few other cool things along the way, taking in the College World Series in Omaha as well as the Alabama – Michigan football game in Texas. All in all a very cool summer planned!
After chatting it was game time – they wanted to walk around the park and see all that there is to see at Progressive and I
headed to watch the game and we planned to meet up after the game. The game itself turned out to be great. Toronto pitcher Brandon Morrow and Indian pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez each took no-hitters into the 6th inning, actually Jimenez was perfect into the 6th. That’s when ESPN struck and started reporting that each had a no hitter and effectively put the whammy on the no hitters, Morrow giving his up in the 6th and Jimenez in the 7th.
Now if you remember my Progressive game from 2009, sitting in that exact seat, and saw Cliff Lee take a no-hitter into the 8th inning against the Cardinals (which you won’t because only I remember stuff like this but to refresh your memory here is my blog from that Indian game in 2009 – just hit the link and scroll down to the second blog on the page http://30ballparks-in-1season.com/june-2009-blogs.html )
This is the 3rd time I have been at a game when a pitcher took a no hitter into the 7th inning and in all 3 they ended in the 7th or 8th. And in all 3 I blame the Worldwide Leader – you know ESPN – for broadcasting to everyone that so and so has a no no going and in effect jinxing the no-hitter. ESPN needs to come up with a code word for a no hitter or perfect game that is in the works and also, don’t use the code word until we are in the 8th inning. The broadcaster can say something like; Ubaldo Jimenez is playing duck, duck, goose with the Blue Jays today. Baseball fans will quickly learn that duck, duck, goose means turn on that game because something great is happening and you don’t want to miss it. So to you, my loyal readers – contact your local ESPN station and inform them of the new Bobby D duck, duck, goose code word for no-hitters, hopefully it will catch on and soon.
Once the no-hitters were ruined by ESPN the game turned out to be a good one. The Blue Jays took a 3 – 2 lead into the bottom of the 9th when Assdroopall (using my sound out spelling technique) Cabrera hit a homer to tie the game. The
Jays ended up winning in the 12th inning which meant for their first of 30 games; Ed and Jon got some free baseball.
In the top of the 10th I had sent Ed a text to let him know all the seats around me were empty (yes I showered before the game) and they should come on down which they quickly did. After each inning as the Indians were coming off the field, the player who caught the last out would flip the ball into the crowd around the dugout. Jon had just sat down and bammo, the ball was flipped to him. I had been sitting there all game and nothing flipped to me, only at me. Here Jon is, sitting in technically illegal seats, gets a ball. But not to worry, our hero, without hesitation, gets up and looks around and then flips the ball to a little kid around 10 years old. Very cool move, Jon. I think karma will repay you guys along the
journey.
With that ballpark one was in the books for our new traveling heroes and they were on to Detroit for the Sunday’s Tigers game against the Red Sox which also turned out to be an 11 inning classic, more free baseball. And get this, the other Cabrera, Miguel, hit a game tying 3 run homer in the bottom of the 9th and then Alex Avila hitting a walk off 2 run homer in the 11th. Luckily the Cardinals don’t have a Cabrera on their roster as next Saturday we see my beloved Cubs take on the Cardinals in St. Louis.
I guess that brings an end to the Cleveland blog. Next up will be St. Louis this upcoming weekend and World Series Ring Day where each of us in attendance will get a replica ring. You know I will be checking eBay to see how much these puppies will be going for. So for now this is so long and good bye where I wonder what will happen first, ESPN picks up the duck, duck, goose code word for no-hitters or the Cubs win the World Series. I think Vegas just set the odds on favorite as Neither.