Baseball Bucket List: TEAMS – Part 2

On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Today’s category number ten out of twelve is:

TEAMS – Part 2

90 See The (St. Louis) Cardinals Play At Busch Stadium

92 See The (Texas) Rangers Play At Rangers Ballpark
The Texas Rangers play in the city of Arlington

105 See The (Kansas City) Royals Play At Kauffman Stadium
The Kansas City Royals play in the city of Kansas City, Missouri
The Athletics left Kansas City for Oakland after the 1967 season. Major League Baseball, looking to expand to 24 teams, grants Kansas City one of its four expansion teams which would begin play in 1969. The team, which is owned by Ewing M. Kauffman, would be named the Royals. - official website

109 See The (Minnesota) Twins Play At Target Field
The Minnesota Twins play in the city of Minneapolis
1960 - On October 26, Calvin Griffith, president of the Washington Senators, made the historic decision to move his club to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, thereby giving birth to the "Minnesota Twins," named after the two Upper Midwest cities. The Griffith organization had operated the team in our nation's capital ever since the immortal Clark Griffith took over as manager of the club in 1912. The team moved to Minnesota sporting such names as Harmon Killebrew, Bob Allison, Camilo Pascual and Jim Lemon. - official website

111 See The (Detroit) Tigers Play At Comerica Park
1901 - On April 24, 1901, the Tigers prepared to take to the field for their first official American League game. A standing room only crowd was anticipated at Bennett Park, but unpredictable weather postponed the opening by a day. On that historic afternoon, April 25, 1901, in front of 10,000 fans, the Tigers entered the ninth inning trailing Milwaukee, 13-4. A series of hits and miscues followed, moving the score to 13-12 with two runners on. With two out, Tiger Frank "Pop" Dillon faced reliever Bert Husting, and the lefthanded hitter rapped a two-run double to complete a 14-13 comeback win. - official website

116 See The (Chicago) White Sox Play At U.S. Cellular Field
Have been to Chicago only once and it was after baseball season.

118 See The (Cincinnati) Reds Play At Great American Ballpark
1869 Nov. 6: In the final official match of the season, the Red Stockings defeat the Mutuals of New York, 17-8, on Union Grounds. Baseball's first team of professionals finished the season with a perfect 57-0 record. - official website

120 See The (Atlanta) Braves Play At Turner Field

126 See The (Washington) Nationals Play At Nationals Park
The Washington Nationals play in the city of Washington, D. C.
Twice visited Washington, D.C., but both times were before the Nationals were in the capitol.

129 See The (Arizona) Diamondbacks Play At Chase Field
The Arizona Diamondbacks play in the city of Phoenix

136 See The (Houston) Astros Play At Minute Maid Park

144 See The (Toronto) Blue Jays Play At Rogers Centre

146 See The (Florida) Marlins Play At (Sun Life) Land Shark Stadium
The Florida Marlins play in the city of Miami
Only been one time in Miami and no baseball on that trip.

150 See The (Tampa Bay) Rays Play At Tropicana Field
The Tampa Bay Rays play in the city of St. Petersburg, Florida
1995 On March 9, at a meeting in West Palm Beach, Fla., Major League Baseball owners officially welcome the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks as the 13th and 14th expansion teams in Major League history by a vote of 28-0 and on April 17, the Devil Rays and the City of St. Petersburg agree on a 30-year lease for the team to play their home games at the ThunderDome. In July the Devil Rays name Chuck LaMar as senior vice president of baseball operations and general manager and on Sept. 26, the Devil Rays sign their first player - Adam Sisk, a 6-4 right-handed pitcher from Edison Community College in Fort Myers, Florida. On Nov. 2 they unveil their official 1998 game uniforms during a special "fashion show" at the Florida Aquarium. - official website

155 See The (Oakland) Athletics Play At The Oakland Coliseum
1901 - The Philadelphia Athletics baseball club was founded as part of the brand new American Baseball League. Connie Mack managed the A's for 50 years, (1901-1950). During their 54 year stay in Philadelphia, they produced such Hall of Famers as: Frank Baker, Chief Bender, Ty Cobb, Mickey Cochrane, Eddie Collins Sr. Jimmie Foxx, Nelson Fox, Lefty Grove, George Kell, Nap Lajoie, Connie Mack, Eddie Plank, Al Simmons, Tris Speaker, Rube Waddell, and Zack Wheat. Some of them are better known for their play with other teams but all were A's at one time. - official website


Images:
Left: Sun Life Stadium from the website upload.wikimedia.org
Center: Nationals Park from the website upload.wikimedia.org
Right: U. S. Cellular Field from the website upload.wikimedia.org

Baseball Bucket List: TEAMS – Part 1

On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Items in red would be of particular interest to Red Sox fans. Today’s category number ten out of twelve is:

TEAMS – Part 1

5 See The (Chicago) Cubs Play At Wrigley Field
Though I have never seen the Cubs play at Wrigley Field, if they ever make it to the World Series I will be rooting for them (only if the Red Sox are not their opponent)

7 See The (Boston) Red Sox Play At Fenway Park
I have seen the Red Sox at Fenway many times and though they may not have always won, I was always happy to have gone to the games.

22 See The (Los Angeles) Dodgers Play At Dodger Stadium
I have seen the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium twice and both times their opponent was the San Francisco Giants. Can’t remember who won.

28 See The (Baltimore) Orioles Play At Oriole Park At Camden Yards
I have seen the Orioles at the old Memorial Stadium once and I’m sure Oriole Park is a vast improvement over the stadium.

30 See The (Pittsburgh) Pirates Play At PNC Park
April 30, 1887 -- The Pittsburgh Alleghenies play their first National League game, defeating the defending league champion Chicago White Stockings, 6-2, in front of nearly 10,000 fans at Recreation Park.
December 1891 -- The Alleghenies are renamed Pirates after signing second baseman Louis Bierbauer away from the Philadelphia Athletics.
April 22, 1891 -- The Pirates play their first game at Exposition Park, located on the north shore of the Allegheny River across from downtown Pittsburgh, not far from the current site of PNC Park.
In 1900, Barney Dreyfuss, owner of the defunct Louisville club, acquires controlling interest of the Pirates and brings 14 players with him, including future Hall of Famers Honus Wagner and Fred Clarke. - official website

35 See The (San Francisco) Giants Play At AT&T Park
Although I have been to San Francisco twice, I have not seen the Giants play in their home ballpark.

41 See The (Cleveland) Indians Play At Progressive Field

46 See The (Seattle) Mariners Play At Safeco Field

55 See The (San Diego) Padres Play At Petco Park
Have been to San Diego twice, but neither time was to see the Padres at Petco Park. There was an opportunity in June 2007 when the Red Sox came to San Diego, but that fizzled out.

63 See The (Colorado) Rockies Play At Coors Field
The Colorado Rockies play in the city of Denver

65 See The (New York) Mets Play At Citi Field
March 6, 1961 - The New York Metropolitan Baseball Club Inc., formally receives a certificate of membership from National League President Warren Giles. The Mets' name was judged by club owner Joan Payson as the one that best met five basic criteria:
1) It met public and press acceptance;
2) It was closely related to the team's corporate name (Metropolitan Baseball Club, Inc);
3) It was descriptive of the metropolitan area;
4) It had a brevity that delighted copy readers everywhere;
5) It had historical background referring to the Metropolitans of the 19th century American Association. Other names considered included Rebels, Skyliners, NYBs, Burros (for the five boroughs), Continentals, Avengers... as well as Jets and Islanders, names that would eventually find their way onto the New York sports scene.
May 8, 1961 - New York's National League club announces that the team nickname will be "Mets," a natural shortening of the corporate name ("New York Metropolitan Baseball Club, Inc.") - official website

67 See The (New York) Yankees Play At Yankee Stadium
Jan. 9, 1903: Frank Farrell and Bill Devery purchase the defunct Baltimore franchise of the American League for $18,000 and then move the team to Manhattan.
Mar. 12, 1903: The New York franchise is approved as a member of the American League. The team will play in a hastily constructed, all-wood park at 168th Street and Broadway. Because the site is one of the highest spots in Manhattan, the club will be known as the "Highlanders" and their home field "Hilltop Park."
Apr. 22, 1903: The Highlanders play their first game, a 3-1 loss at Washington.
Apr. 23, 1903: The Highlanders record the first win in franchise history, a 7-2 decision at Washington. Harry Howell recorded the win.
Apr. 30, 1903: The Highlanders notch a 6-2 win vs. Washington in their inaugural home opener at Hilltop Park. - official website

75 See The (Milwaukee) Brewers Play At Miller Park

80 See The (Philadelphia) Phillies Play At Citizens Bank Park
No one could have realized it at the time, but when the Phillies were formed in 1883, history was in the making. Now, as the 21st century begins, the Phillies are the oldest, continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional sports.
The original Phillies began when the Worcester Ruby Legs were disbanded and the franchise was moved by the National League to Philadelphia. Al Reach, who in 1866 had become the first professional baseball player and was later a successful sporting goods dealer, became the Phillies first owner along with attorney John Rogers. Reach named the team the Phillies, a take-off on the team's geographic roots, "Philly."
The first Phillies game was played May 1, 1883 at Recreation Park on the corner of 24th Street and Ridge Avenue with the club losing 4-3 to the Providence Grays. The club would go on to win just 17 of 98 games that season, pitcher John Coleman losing 48 of them. - official website

85 See The (Los Angeles) Angels Play At Angel Stadium
I have seen the Angels at Angel Stadium approximately six times and every time their opponent was the Boston Red Sox. Unfortunately, the Red Sox did not win any of those games. Despite being the Los Angele Angels, the team plays neither in the city of Los Angeles nor in any Los Angeles County city. They play in Anaheim, located in Orange County. They should have kept California Angels as their name.


Images:
Left: Angel Stadium from the website upload.wikimedia.org
Center: Fenway Park from the website upload.wikimedia.org
Right: Dodger Stadium from the website upload.wikimedia.org