Baseball BeatSeptember 11, 2008
Photos and Finishes
By Rich Lederer

I went to the Yankees-Angels games on Tuesday and Wednesday. The teams split those two contests but the Halos captured the series by also beating the Bronx Bombers on Monday in the opener 12-1.

Picture%201.pngIn downing the Yankees on Wednesday, the Angels won their fourth AL West title in five years and became the first team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot when the Texas Rangers lost to the Seattle Mariners 8-7 in a game that concluded about an hour after Francisco Rodriguez had nailed down his 56th save of the season. Meanwhile, the Yankees are likely to miss the playoffs for the first time since 1993. New York has had one heckuva run during this period, winning four World Series championships, including three in a row from 1998-2000.

I had the good fortune of sitting in the front row behind the Angels' dugout on Tuesday evening. The adjoining photo was published on the top of the front page of the Long Beach Press-Telegram's sports section yesterday. That's me giving Ervin Santana an appreciative clap of the hands after the Angel starter exited the game in the seventh inning behind 6-1. While Santana drew the loss, the 25-year-old All-Star pitcher is enjoying a breakout season, ranking in the top half dozen in the league in ERA (3.36), WHIP (1.12), SO (197), IP (198.1), wins (15), and WPct (.714).

While the Angels were celebrating their division title, I had this epiphany and began to wonder on my drive home just how many MLB games I have attended over the course of my lifetime. Without thinking it through, my initial guess was "about a thousand." However, after putting pencil to paper, I believe the real number is somewhere in the low 600s.

OK, so how did I arrive at that estimate? Let me count the ways (or the games in this case). I've been going to the ballpark on a fairly regular basis since Dodger Stadium opened in 1962 (see linked photo, circa 1961, with brother Tom on the left, sister Janet on the right, and me standing next to her in what would later become the outfield). Roughly speaking, I would venture to say that I have averaged around 15-18 games per year for about half of those 47 years and maybe 8-10 for the other half. That works out to approximately 600. From there, I would add 10 or 20 games from the Coliseum years from 1958-1961 to come up with a grand total of around 615-620.

My peak years were from 1962-1978 and 2002-2008. The lean years were from 1979-2001. The latter was a combination of Dad's death in 1978 – reducing the number of opportunities to go for free (hey, what can I tell ya?) – and the priorities of adulthood, including family and business. I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a youth sports coach from the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s, even if it meant watching Kirk Gibson's home run in the 1988 World Series on TV rather than in person.

RichTomDodgerStadium1962shopped.jpgMy love for baseball has never wavered, except for a brief period in 1994 and early 1995 when I swore off the game on the heels of the player strike that numbed me more than anything else. I had to be talked into our fantasy baseball pool that spring despite being a charter member dating back to the 1970s when I balanced playing fast-pitch softball, fantasy baseball, and APBA in the years leading up to and including the first few years of married life.

Over the years, I have watched MLB games in a dozen venues, from the Coliseum as a kid to Yankee Stadium as recently as last May when my son Joe and I took the baseball trip of a lifetime. I have also been to dozens of high school, college, minor league, and spring training facilities, and have even attended an NCAA Final Four at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay. But there is no question that I have spent the vast majority of my time watching professional games at Dodger Stadium (left, with Tom in 1962) and Angel Stadium.

One of the things I haven't had the pleasure of enjoying is a Freeway Series. Maybe this will be the year that the Dodgers and Angels meet for all the marbles. It would only be fitting for me in what is Dad's 80th birthday, the Dodgers' 50th anniversary in L.A., the 40th anniversary since my father left the Dodger beat and went to work for the then California Angels, the 30th anniversary of his death, and the 20th anniversary of Gibson's home run.

In the meantime, the Yankees head back to New York for the final 10 games in Yankee Stadium. The end of an era in more ways than one.

* * *

How many MLB games and stadiums do you suppose you have you been to?

Comments

I'm 31 and lived in MN all my life. I figure I've been to roughly 75 MLB games in my life; 2 of them in Kaufmann Stadium, the rest, sadly, in the Metrodome. Even though I'm unwillingly paying for it, I can't wait for Opening Day 2010 and outdoor baseball. Thanks again for the great photos, Rich, I enjoy seeing them every time.

I've been to Shea and Yankee Stadium three times each (including the day AFTER Jim Abbott threw his no-hitter - yay me); gone once to the Vet and once to the micro-stadium that Philly now has; and finally, once while on vacation to Joe Robbie to see the Reds and Marlins. Kevin Mitchell hit two homers, including a ball off Charlie Hough that landed somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hough also hit into a DP with the bases loaded, so I'm sure he's grateful I didn't go to more of his games.

Great post, Rich. As you might know from the Dodger Thoughts sidebar, I've been keeping track of my attendance since 1991. Right now, I'm 299-236 - one more win for the Hall of Fame!

Anyway, we got season tickets to the Dodgers in 1982, and I went to college in 1985-1989. I think you could add about 50 games for the pre-1982 years, 100 games for 1982-85, 50 games for 1985-89 ... I think I'm in the 700-800 range.

I think I've been to about 15-20 stadiums. I've been to several stadiums that no longer are in use.

OK, I have been to 14 stadiums, and I will estimate 175 games (the first being in 1985).

My three faves were all at Fenway; Game 3 of the 1999 ALCS (13-1, Pedro vs. Raaaaaaaaaa-gggggeerrrrrrrr), Game 3 of the 2003 ALDS (Trot!) and Game 7 of the 2007 ALCS (JD Drew!).

I don't know how many games I've been to. I guess I could come up with a reasonable estimate, though, as I didn't start seeing a LOT of games until 1996 when I moved to Seattle, and I've kept score every time since. Throw in a fair number of Royals games over the years, and I'm guessing the number is around 500, give or take 50. Maybe this winter I'll try to come up with a more precise guess.

Stadiums is easier. Not including the Metrodome -- where I've seen the Vikings but not the Twins -- I've seen the major leaguers in 38 ballparks.

I've been to major league games at:
Dodger Stadium
Anaheim Stadium (in various names)
Qualcomm Stadium
Petco Park
Candelstick Park
AT&T Park (it was Pac Bell at the time)
Oakland Coliseum
Safeco Field
Coors Field
Busch Stadium II
Busch Stadium III
County Stadium
Miller Park
HHH Metrodome
Wrigley Field
U.S. Cellular (then New Comiskey)
Progressive Field (formerly Jacobs)
Great American Ball Park
PNC Park
Shea Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Fenway Park
Fulton County Stadium
Dolphins Stadium
Camden Yards
Tiger Stadium
Comerica Park
L.A. Memorial Coliseum (albeit for an exhibition)

So that's 28 stadiums. I would estimate that I've been to around 250 games in person.

I have seen major league baseball in 34 stadiums, of which 14 will be defunct after this season. So I have lots of room for growth I guess. When I used to see 20 or more games a year, but now that I lived 250 miles from the closest major league park, I now get to perhaps 5. About 300 total games, more than half at Fenway still, and I have the exact number somewhere.

My first game was on June 23, 1969, Yankees at Red Sox, when the rivalry was pretty dormant. The Yankees won, despite home runs by Tony C and Rico. Missed the Mick by one season.

I have been to at least one major league game for 40 consecutive years. I have seen Emmett Ashford umpire, Jose Canseco pitch, and Chico Salmon homer.

My first game was to a Mets-Cardinals game at the Polo Grounds in '62. Stan Musial played in it. Since then it's been twenty or thirty games at Shea (including three Yankee games while the Stadium was undergoing renovations, seven or eight at Fenway, three at Yankee Stadium (two before the renovation), and single games at Coors, Oakland, and Dodger Stadium. I've also been to about a dozen Grapefruit League games at various parks.

Quick count gives me 26 ballparks, including two parks where I saw amateur events (Minute Maid and Dodger Stadium), twenty-one of which are still in use. I might add one more this year. I've also been to 21 spring training facilities.

No idea on # of games. I saw 200+ while I was with Toronto, and probably 80 or so since I joined ESPN.

I've been to thirteen parks: Tiger Stadium; Camden Yards; Veterans Stadium; PNC Park; Jacobs Field; Great American Ballpark; Miller Park; Wrigley Field; Kauffman; AT&T Park; Dodger Stadium; Angel Stadium; and Petco Park.

My parents tell me that I went to my first game in Tiger Stadium on the Fourth of July, 1978, but I don't remember a thing about it. The first one I do remember was June 17, 1979 against the Angels, when I was almost six years old. Alan Trammell hit a home run, so he instantly became my favorite player. Between then and when we moved away from Michigan in 1985 I probably saw 30-40 games there.

I've not lived anywhere near a Major League park since then. I saw probably a grand total of three baseball games in big league stadiums between 1985 and 1991. Since then I've probably averaged 4 a year, though I have seen many more recently.

I guess that puts me up to about 106 in-person Major League games.

14 ballparks (including The Yankee Stadium and that center of homeland secure-all possesions, where they play now).

Plus Roosevelt Stadium...HA!

No telling how many games I attended (yellow jackets and Blatz were quite the rage in the 70's!).

But how many games have you SEEN - yes, counting college, minors, amateur, foreign, MLB and televised games.

Rob, Keith, you obviously havent been to enough. I mean that jokingly, of course. i love both of your guys work.

I've been to 12 stadiums. Prettiest: Wrigley. Ugliest: Metrodome.

I've probably seen about 225 games in person. I thought that number would be higher, but I've lived a couple thousand miles away from the team I follow for the last 20 years.

I've always thought there were five things every true fan should do before he/she dies:

1. See a triple play
2. See a title-clinching game
3. See a bench-clearing brawl
4. See a no-hitter
5. Catch a foul ball

I've seen a triple play (Opening Day, Cards vs. Phils, 1981) (my brother, not to be undone, was there for Velarde's unassisted triple play; and my friend Dan was at Fenway when the Twins turned TWO triple plays). I've seen a title-clincher (1987 NLCS, 1996 NLDS), I've seen a couple bench-clearing brawls (the most memorable was little Tim Jones vs. Ozzie Virgil), but I've never seen a no-hitter in person, nor have I ever caught a foul ball. I have, however, seen a guy hit two grand slams in one inning. I understand that's not terribly common.

Tough question. I've been to Big O since I was 10, at least one game a year through to 1997. I peaked in 1994 with about 20 games or so. So, say about 200 Expos games.

I was a week at Fenway, so 7 games there. I've been to Shea a few times, and Yankee Stadium several times. Skydome when the Expos were there that first year (3 times). Probably 25 of these games.

So, 5 ballparks, and somewhere around 200-250 games.

Quite a few well known writers and bloggers here. Makes me feel I need to write a book first. Will add home-team HOF'ers
Atlanta-Fulton Co (Aaron, Cepeda, Niekro in this Haddix/Burdette-like duel with Larry Dierker
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1969/B09130ATL1969.htm)
Candlestick (Mays, McCovey, Marichal but not Perry...and the easily-forgotten Gary Carter)
Oakland (Catfish, Jackson, Fingers, Joe Morgan, Eck-I don't think Goose actually pitched a game I went to)
Dodger (none?)
Anaheim (Reggie again)
Kingdome (not until 2013 or so)
Pacbell/AT&T (likewise with a certain other HR king)
Safeco
Camden (not likely)

So the next will be the 10th (including 3 dead ones), 30-40 games.
0 for 5 in Brian's categories but saw an inside-the-park HR by Davey Lopes with Oakland.

I have intended from time to time to try to find a photo to send you for your occasional quizzes but never did. The answer was Mark McGwire on base with an aging George Brett playing first, which probably would have been enough to find the date.

I was more taken with your wish for a freeway series. Here in Chicago we're hoping for the subway series, of course! That would be the ultimate. My family was in NYC for the first time in August and, of course, had to see the holy grail of baseball there. A friend of mine was there right before we were and was lucky enough to see a whole series there. (We had interesting conversations about getting OUT of there -- we didn't like it much.)

I know this is off topic, but as I've recently finished it, I wanted to recommend a great baseball book to people -- to complement the season, if nothing else! It's Pinch Hitter, about a guy who gets a second chance to save the gae for his hometown team. My team is doing great -- No. 1!!! -- and it's fun to read about a fictional local team that is also doing something right. The Cubs are just as interesting as the Armada -- hmmm -- maybe they could add David Robbins to their bench.

"0 for 5 in Brian's categories but saw an inside-the-park HR by Davey Lopes with Oakland"

That's a good one, Gilbert -- an inside-the-parker. I'm going to have to add that to the list. (Reminds me of my friend Mike, who one time suggested MLB add an Inside the Park Home Run Derby to the All-Star game festivities.) I've never seen an inside the park home run, but I have seen a cycle in person -- Kevin McReynolds in '89.

(And I forgot about another title-clincher I saw in person -- the Red Sox winning the World Series in '04. I must've blocked it from my mind.)

I was here this day with a bunch of SoSH'ers.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2004/B05080BOS2004.htm

Pokey Reese of all people hit two home runs, one of which was a sharply hit, low liner down the right field lone that wrapped around the right field wall.

Juan Gonzalez could not have played it much worse but that right field wall at Fenway more or less juts straight out for 80 feet, making such a play very difficult.

Anyway, Pokey made it all the way around for a home run. That was a lot of fun.

Living in China has halted my total, but I'd say I averaged around 5 games a year from 1986 to 2006, so my total should be just over 100. Most of these were SF Giants games, first at Candlestick and later at PacBell.

One of my first games was a Giants/Cardinals tilt in '86. Darrell Porter (I think) hit two foul balls in consecutive at bats right into our section. My dad's friend caught the first one. He missed the second, as the ball hit his wrist and shattered his watch. For the next few games, I would ask my dad, disappointed, why no foul balls were hit our way. Since then, neither of us have caught one- though I did get one J.T. Snow flipped into the stands after the third out of an inning.

Other stadiums: Shea, Yankee, Fenway, Wrigley, Coors, Dodger, Angel, Jack Murphy, Veterans, County (Milwaukee). Seen a few college games at Stanford and Cal, too.

And of course- more than my fair share of Bonds home runs...

Wow, let's see.

Olympic Stadium
Shea Stadium
Veterans Stadium
Turner Field
Dolphins Stadium
RFK Stadium
Minute Maid Park
Riverfront Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium
(Old) Busch Stadium
County Stadium
Wrigley Field
Dodger Stadium
Qualcommm Stadium
Petco Park
Candlestick Park
AT&T Park
Chase Field
Coors Field
Yankee Stadium
Fenway Park
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Exhibition Stadium
SkyDome
Tropicana Field
U.S. Cellular Field
Kauffman Stadium
Jacobs Field
Tiger Stadium
Angel Stadium
Safeco Field
McAfee Coliseum
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington

So, 33 parks. And the vast, vast majority were as a fan, more than half of those coming on annual road trips with buddies in my 20s and a cross-country drive a few years later. I've never been to a game where the first time I saw a ballpark was for work.

Best ballpark experience: Probably Sept. 17, 1993, which I discussed at the bottom of this piece.

Worst ballpark experience: It's a tie. Went to a game as a kid at old Exhibition Stadium in Toronto with my dad. Sat on metal benches on a day when it was 812 degrees with 607% humidity out. Jays fell behind something like 10-1 early on (ended up losing 13-3, I believe). My dad and I, two of the palest people in the world, are broiling.

3rd inning, my dad turns to me and says, "Do you want to stay?"

Me: "No. Air conditioned car looks good right now."

And we left in the 3rd inning.

Other worst experience involves an unfortunate incident with an Arby's sandwich at Yankee Stadium that I promised to Alex for Bronx Banter.

Trying to figure out how many games I've seen. I peaked at about 40 games a year (all walkup, all bleacher seats) in high school and early college, at Olympic Stadium. Also quit following the game after '94, started again after future wife bought me a Felipe Alou rookie card for my birthday (story I've told way too often).

Before and after '94-'95 I probably averaged about 10-15 games a year, as a kid and then late college. Since '97, it's fluctuated a lot (tons of games in L.A. and San Diego, fewer since).

So I'd say not counting spring training games, about 475.

Oh and I'm going to the Tokyo Dome tonight (meaning Friday, it's 13 hours ahead here in Tokyo) to see the Giants and Swallows, where I'll be sitting in the Yakult cheering section. There's a chance this could supplant the Curtis Pride Game, given what I've heard about cheering sections and Japanese baseball games.

I believe I'm been to between 250 and 300 games. I had weekend season tickets for five years at Fenway Park.

Fenway Park
Yankee Stadium (before and after remodel).
Shea Stadium
Camden Yards
RFK (Nationals)
Turner Field
Dolphin Stadium
Three Rivers
PNC Park
Jacobs Field
Metrodome
Coors
BankOne
Oakland Coliseum
Dodger Stadium
Angels Park, Anaheim
Bob Murphy, San Diego
Olympic Stadium

Wow, terrific lists. I'm going to crib Bob's:
I've been to major league games at:
Dodger Stadium
Anaheim Stadium (in various names)
Jack Murphy Stadium
Petco Park
Candelstick Park
AT&T Park (it was Pac Bell at the time)
Oakland Coliseum
Ballpark in Arlington
County Stadium
Miller Park
Wrigley Field
U.S. Cellular (then New Comiskey)
Progressive Field (formerly Jacobs)
Cleveland Municipal
Great American Ball Park
Riverfront
PNC Park
Veterans Stadium
The New Philly one (Citizens Bank?)
Shea Stadium
RFK
Yankee Stadium
Fenway Park
Fulton County Stadium
Turner Field
Dolphins Stadium (Pro Player)
Camden Yards
Tiger Stadium
Comerica Park
SkyDome (Bob, didn't you go here at SABR?)

So that's 30 stadiums. I would estimate that I've been to around 300 games in person.

My daughter (6) has been to RFK, Comerica Park, Pro Player, Progressive (Jacobs) Field, Dodger Stadiums. And kept score at all of them. She's been to Old Tiger Stadium, but it wasn't in use.

Oooh, I lied, I've been to Coors Field in April 2001, so that's three stadiums I've been in. Saw Randy Johnson's 14K game for AZ that night.

Including those no longer in use (specifically, Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, County Stadium in Milwaukee and the old Comiskey) I've attended major league games at roughly 20 different stadiums. I have a partial season ticket to the Twins and attend just shy of 20 games a season. It's a great atmosphere to be with my boys--we have an opportunity to talk but don't feel the pressure that we have to.

I indeed left off Rogers Centre. And I went to two baseball games there AND a Toronto Argonauts game.

I've been to all the principal home stadiums used in the Japanese big leagues. In all, it has been 13 stadiums. In 2003, I saw 12 games in 11 different stadiums. The Giants and Fighters shared the Tokyo Dome at the time.

I later went back to see the Fighters in their new home at the Sapporo Dome and I saw the Rakuten Golden Eagles and their stadium in Sendai, then called Fullcast Stadium.

Living four hours from the nearest major league ballpark (unless you count Doubleday Field), I can't compete with you guys. I've been to 40 real big league games since 1970: 26 at Shea Stadium, six at Fenway, three at Veterans' Stadium, two at the Kingdome, and one each at the HHH Metrodome, Wrigley, and Safeco. Plus, the 1977 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, and eight Hall of Fame Games. I saw Pete Rose and Mike Schmidt hit three homers in a game, watched Boston win the 1986 ALCS, and was at Shea when Thurman Munson's death was announced.

In order of first visit ...

Candlestick (1, double-header)
Shea (~12)
Yankee (1)
Wrigley (~100)
Cellular (4)
Coors (1)
Jacobs (1)
AT&T (2)

8 parks, ~125 games. Wrigley's tough to count - anywhere from 1 to 20 games a year since 1992.

The Candlestick games were 4/15/79 against the Astros and featured JR Richard in game 1.

And I'm not counting who knows how many beer soaked Chiefs games in Syracuse during college.

Cleveland Municipal Stadium
Jacobs/Progressive Field
Candlestick Park
Jack Murphy Stadium
Petco Park
Fenway Park
Three Rivers Stadium
PNC Park
Arlington Texas (the old one)
Camden Yards
Riverfront Stadium
Great American Ballpark

I probably went to Municipal Stadium more than all of the others combined.