From the first pitch of the season to the ending game of the World Series, America treasures their beloved baseball season. It wasn’t until the beginning of the 19th century that baseball finally made its way to the U.S. Since then, baseball has become a popular pastime for all ages. Today, little kids still play stickball in the street and dream of hitting a homer in a sold-out stadium. Millions of dollars are spent every year on Little League teams around the nation and field trips to famous ballparks are some of the most memorable school trips.
Start building baseball memories with a visit to the oldest ballparks in the nation. Whether you root religiously for the home team or just take in a ballgame during hot summer day, it’s easy to fall in love with the game.
Fenway Park, Boston
The oldest park in the nation hosted its first home game on April 20, 1912. In this historic game, the Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Highlanders (later known as the New York Yankees) with a 7-6 win in the 11th inning. But Fenway Park endured some unfortunate disasters. A fire destroyed the park in 1926 and during revitalization efforts flames once again brought the house down in 1934, just four months before the season opener. Fenway Park finally re-opened on April 17, 1934, to a new season, a new look, a new feature – the legendary “Green Monster” wall.
Today, the park still operates one of the last hand-operated scoreboards in the league and seats have been added to the top of the Green Monster for lucky ticket holders to experience one of the best ballpark views.
- Getting there: Fenway Park is located in the city of Boston and easily accessible via the MBTA system. Take a Green line train to the Kenmore Square or Fenway Park stop and follow the crowds to Yawkey Way, where you’ll find dozens of street vendors and entrances to the ballpark.
- Touring Fenway Park: Tours of Fenway Park occur seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prices range from $8 for children to $12 for adults and the tour includes an inside peak of the Press Box, the Red Sox Hall of Fame Plaques and the oldest seats in the park.
- Game day tickets: Boston Red Sox tickets aren’t easy to come by, but it’s possible. Tickets range in price from $12 in the upper bleacher section to $325 for a dugout box. Start by checking the Boston Red Sox Web site for available tickets. On game day, you can line up at the Fenway Park box office and all unclaimed will-call baseball tickets will be sold one hour before the game starts. If you don’t get tickets, don’t despair – there’s plenty to do around Fenway Park on game day. All the bars and restaurants in the area have big screen TVs broadcasting the game and street vendors selling hot dogs, brats, and Red Sox paraphernalia remain on Yawkey Way for fans to enjoy.
- Fenway Park traditions: Brush up on your singing skills before taking your seat at Fenway Park. A rowdy rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” occurs during the 7th inning stretch.
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Wrigley Field, Chicago
Built in 1914, Wrigley Field is the second-oldest ballpark in the nation and home to the Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs. The first major league game took place on April 23, 1914, with the Chicago Federals (part of the then “Federal League” in baseball) winning 9-1 against Kansas City. Two years later, the Federal League folded and William Wrigley, Jr., purchased the National League’s Cubs. The Cubs’ first home game at Wrigley was played on April 20, 1916 – they beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-6.
Wrigley has hosted some of the most memorable moments in sports history, including Babe Ruth’s “called shot” during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series. The Babe allegedly pointed to a bleacher seat location and hit the next pitch in that direction for a home run. More than 60 years later, Wrigley Park fans witnessed the memorable 60th home run by the Cubs’ Sammy Sosa.
- Getting there: Wrigley Park is located in the Chicago district of Lakeview. Public transportation is the best way to get to Wrigley Field. Take the CTA Red Line to the Addison Street/Wrigley Field station stop.
- Touring Wrigley Field: Daily tours of Wrigley Field are available for $25, and all proceeds go to benefit designated Chicago Cubs charities. The tours are 90 minutes and feature stops in the clubhouse, press box, bleachers, dugout and security headquarters.
- Game day tickets: Tickets are available from $10 to the upper deck of the bleachers to $80 for club seats. For those fans who don’t have tickets to the game, take your place outside the park on Waveland Avenue and wait for home run balls to come hurdling over the park and onto the street. Since Wrigley is located in downtown Chicago, there are plenty of bars and restaurants in the area where you can watch the game live while enjoying some refreshments.
- Wrigley Field traditions: If you catch a home run ball hit by an opposing player, do as the fans do and throw the ball back onto the field. If you don’t have tickets to the game but want the score, look to the skies. One of the traditions of Wrigley Field is the flying of the white or blue flag, signifying a win or a loss. A white flag with a blue “W” denotes a win; a blue flag with a white “L” signals a loss.
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Yankee Stadium, New York
Yankee Stadium opened its doors in 1923. The 10-acre lot in the west Bronx has hosted 33 World Series and millions of baseball fans who visit every year to sit in “The House That Ruth Built.” The stadium got its nickname thanks to Babe Ruth’s undeniable attraction, which kept fans coming to the park during its first year. On August 16, 1948, the Babe passed away, but Yankee fans never forgot their hero. On that same day 58 years later, the Yankees broke ground on the construction of a new stadium, which will no doubt be part of future baseball memories.
The new Yankee Stadium is slated for opening in 2009 and will officially replace the third-oldest baseball park in the Major Leagues.
- Getting there: Driving in New York is no picnic. It’s widely advisable that Yankee Stadium visitors take the subway to the Yankee Stadium stop, which is accessible by several subway lines. The ride is only 25-minutes from Manhattan and it beats sitting in traffic for hours. There are also bus lines that provide transportation to Yankee Stadium.
- Touring Yankee Stadium: Tours of Yankee Stadium are held every day, except during weekend home games. Tour tickets range from $6 for kids to $20 for adults and includes a walk on the field, visits to the dugout, press room, clubhouse and Monument Park.
- Game day tickets: Tickets to watch the Yankees are sometimes difficult to get, depending on the season and the time of year you’re planning to visit. Seats at Yankee Stadium start at $14 for bleacher seats and go as high as $400 for field level seats.
- Yankee Stadium traditions: The “Bleacher Creatures” are a Yankee Stadium staple. The rowdy crowd occupies the alcohol-free bleacher section and hollers out their traditional “roll call” at every home game. Roll call takes place at the top of the first inning. Fans chant the name of each New York Yankee (except the pitcher and the catcher) until he acknowledges the crowd with a wave.
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Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.
The RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., has hosted sports teams across the board, including the MLB’s Washington Nationals, the MLB’s Washington Senators, the National Football League’s Washington Redskins, and Major League Soccer’s D.C. United. The 56,000-seat stadium has played host to concerts, live events and the 1962 and 1969 Major League Baseball All-Star game. The Washington Senators first broke ground at RFK Stadium in 1962; the Nationals took over in 2005 and played their last game here on Sept. 23, 2007. While the Washington Nationals pack up and move to their new home for the 2008 season, RFK Stadium remains one of the nation’s best-preserved ballparks and is open to the public.
- Getting there: RFK Stadium is easy to get to via the Metrorail’s blue and orange lines. Both trains stop at the Stadium-Armory station and the ballpark is a half-mile walk from the subway stop.
- RFK Stadium traditions: U.S. presidents traditionally opened each season by throwing out the first pitch. President George W. Bush was the first president since Richard Nixon to throw the ceremonial pitch on opening day, April 15, 2005.
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Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
Dodger Stadium has welcomed more than 125 million fans since opening its doors on April 10, 1962. The opening game was a home-town win with the Dodgers sweeping the Cincinnati Reds 6-2. Over the years, Dodger Stadium has played host to eight World Series; the Los Angeles Dodgers have won four World Championships (1963, 1965, 1981 and 1988). But Dodger Stadium was also the site of major U.S. events and world records. In 1978, the stadium was the first to pack in more than 3 million fans during one season. In 1982, the Dodgers set the all-time Major League attendance record, capping off the season with 3,608,881 visitors. The stadium is so grand, even Pope John Paul II paid a visit when he celebrated Mass here on Sept. 16, 1987.
The 56,000-seat stadium was named the 2003 best field in baseball by Sports Illustrated.
- Getting there: Follow the other cars from Los Angeles to Dodger Stadium on game day. There are plenty of parking lots around the stadium, but it’s advised to get there early as lots do sell out.
- Touring Dodger Stadium: Baseball fans will never forget the tour of Dodger Stadium. The tour takes you through the ballpark through the eyes of the players, stopping at restricted areas and allowing access to the field. Tours range in price from $7 for kids to $15 for adults and special group tour rates are available.
- Game day tickets: Grab seats for game day online or at the box office. Dodger Stadium seats range in price from $4 on the top deck to $130 for a field box seat.
- Dodger Stadium traditions: When in Los Angeles, do as the Californians do and hit the beach. Or if you want to take in a Dodgers game, bring the beach with you. There are more than baseballs flying around the stadium. Dodger Stadium tradition has fans throwing beach balls around during the game.
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No matter what ballpark you choose to visit this season it’s sure to be a memorable trip. Make a day of it and get to the parks early. Take a walk around and read up on the history, or join the fans outside the park. Don’t forget to purchase some of your favorite team’s paraphernalia and show your baseball pride.
