The Ultimate Baseball Road Trip: A Fan's Guide to Major League Stadiums

Be the first to write a review

Overview

The Ultimate Baseball Road-Trip is a comprehensive guide to all the diverse and fascinating major league baseball ballparks throughout the country by two entertaining young writers whose love for the game of baseball and the game of life overflows from every page. Josh Pahigian and Kevin O'Connell's approach to skillfully planning and fully appreciating a road-trip, or just a visit to a single park, is funny and irreverent and loaded with information designed to make the most of...

See more details below
Available through our Marketplace sellers.
See All Options
Other sellers (Paperback)
  • All (9) from $1.99   
  • New (1) from $60.00   
  • Used (8) from $1.99   
Close
Sort by
Page 1 of 1
Showing All
Note: Marketplace items are not eligible for any BN.com coupons and promotions
$60.00
bluehouse
Seller since 2013

Feedback rating:

(46)

Condition:

New — never opened or used in original packaging.

Like New — packaging may have been opened. A "Like New" item is suitable to give as a gift.

Very Good — may have minor signs of wear on packaging but item works perfectly and has no damage.

Good — item is in good condition but packaging may have signs of shelf wear/aging or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Acceptable — item is in working order but may show signs of wear such as scratches or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Used — An item that has been opened and may show signs of wear. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Refurbished — A used item that has been renewed or updated and verified to be in proper working condition. Not necessarily completed by the original manufacturer.

New
Brand new.

Ships from: acton, MA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
Page 1 of 1
Showing All
Close
Sort by
Sending request ...

More About This Book

Overview

The Ultimate Baseball Road-Trip is a comprehensive guide to all the diverse and fascinating major league baseball ballparks throughout the country by two entertaining young writers whose love for the game of baseball and the game of life overflows from every page. Josh Pahigian and Kevin O'Connell's approach to skillfully planning and fully appreciating a road-trip, or just a visit to a single park, is funny and irreverent and loaded with information designed to make the most of the experience.

Part travel manual, part ballpark atlas, part baseball history book, part restaurant and city guide, and, not least, part epic narrative, The Ultimate Baseball Road-Trip encompasses all the essential elements of a full-blown baseball road-trip. Included are ticket and travel information, a detailed guide to the best and worst seats in each park, folklore and statistics on each park, a hilarious rating of each park's trademark foods, and profiles of nearby sports bars and baseball attractions, all within a lively narrative that reminds us that baseball is the ultimate metaphor for all the important things in life.

Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"...a fresh approach to a familiar idea..."—Rocky Mountain News

 

"Most people only get a chance to see baseball in a handful of parks during a lifetime. The authors saw all of them and it shows."— Olympian

Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781592281596
  • Publisher: Globe Pequot Press
  • Publication date: 3/1/2004
  • Edition description: First edition
  • Edition number: 1
  • Pages: 544
  • Product dimensions: 7.48 (w) x 9.22 (h) x 1.13 (d)

Meet the Author

Josh Pahigian swore off baseball for the first time at age 12 when the ball went through Buckner's legs. He rejoined Red Sox Nation the following March when the Red Sox won their first Spring Training game. Josh has published short stories in a number of literary journals and has written for several newspapers. Currently he covers collegiate and high school sports for the Portland Press Herald in Portland, Maine. He holds degrees from the College of the Holy Cross and Emerson College.

Kevin O'Connell was born into the baseball abyss that was the rain-soaked Pacific Northwest of the 1960s. He supported the San Francisco Giants as a youngster and then the hapless expansion Seattle Mariners. His conversion was finalized when Edgar Martinez arrived in Seattle. Kevin graduated from Gonzaga University and is an avid fan of college basketball as well as baseball. He holds a graduate degree from Emerson College.

Read More Show Less

Read an Excerpt

The Fenway Experience

Simply stated, there is no experience comparable to a day game at Fenway Park. Inside Boston's hardball cathedral, the grass seems greener, the crack of the bat crisper and the excitement in the air more palpable than anywhere else. All of the new ballparks built in recent years have been designed with Fenway's magic in mind, as ballpark architects have made pilgrimages to Boston in much the same way that church builders once flocked to Rome to visit the Sistine Chapel. "Retro" is the name of the game now, and Fenway is the inspiration. Baltimore's Oriole Park at Camden Yards mimics Fenway's quirky field dimensions, cozy confines, and bullpens. Cleveland's Jacobs Field replicates Fenway's famous left field wall with a miniature Green Monster of its own. Texas's Ballpark at Arlington and Florida's Pro Player Stadium mirror Fenway's manually operated scoreboard.

Fenway is a time machine. You leave the 21st Century and enter the 1920's when you walk through the turnstiles and behold the narrow rows of wooden seats, the famous nooks and crannies, the slate scoreboard, trademark deep green motif, and old-time pipe organ. This dead-ball-era cathedral has been home to such greats as Cy Young, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice, Carlton Fisk and Roger Clemens. It has placidly admired the play of its stars and endured, generation after generation, while the city and world surrounding it have changed beyond recognition. Once you gaze up at the mighty Green Monster, touch Pesky's Pole in right field, sit for a moment in Ted Williams' red seat in the right field bleachers, you will forever be a convert to the park -- if not the team that plays there. You'll feel like baseball was invented specifically for the purpose of being played at Fenway. So turn off your cell phone, buy a cup of suds and a Fenway Frank and squeeze into your seat.

Have a Ball

You'll notice that Fenway Park contains less foul territory than any other big league park. This gives you a better-than-normal chance of snagging an official Bud Selig autographed baseball to take home as a souvenir. So wear a glove if you're on the left field side or in the first few rows of the Bleachers, or if you just like wearing a glove. Hey, Michael Jackson's a baseball fan, right?

Sox center fielders traditionally toss a warm-up ball into Section 34 prior to the top of the ninth inning. You'll see a crowd of souvenir-hungry kids flock to the railing as the center fielder trots out to play catch with the left fielder. Take this as your cue to stake out some territory.

Another great place to get a souvenir is Sections 40 behind the home bullpen. When the Sox are winning and spirits are high, relievers often toss balls into the stands. As always, your best bet is to position yourself near a cute kid or scantily clad lass, then wait for a rebound.

Have a Beach Ball

Whether your trip to Fenway occurs beneath the freezing-drizzle of April, the blistering sun of July or the Harvest Moon of late September, if you're sitting in the Bleachers you will invariably observe a number of colorful flying beach balls. Ambitious fans try to launch these over the gap between the Bleachers and right field Grandstands, but usually the balls just end up on the field, destined to be destroyed by a member of the grounds-crew stationed in the Red Sox bullpen.

In the 1980s Red Sox reliever Bob Stanley made a ritual of theatrically hacking wayward beach balls to death with a rake in the pen. "The Steamer" enjoyed a "love-hate" relationship with Boston fans. We always liked Stanley though. He had a certain quirky, gooney quality about him that we appreciated.

Lady Pink Pants (Super-Fan)

Fenway has a plethora of super-fans to its credit, but the one we like best is a little old lady who sits in the last row of Section 40. You'll recognize her as a super-fan when you see her flaming pants. She's been sitting in Section 40 with her now-antique radio in her lap and a bag of ice on her head (on hot days) since the dead ball era. And she never leaves until the final out is recorded.

"Yankees Suck"

If the Olde Towne Team has the lead, chances are that at some point the crowd will begin a chant of "Yankees Suck, Yankees Suck, Yankees Suck..." This will occur even if the Sox are playing, say, Baltimore. This is a relatively new phenomenon. Yes, it is illogical and pathetic, but it is a Fenway reality. This is the product of a deep-seated fixation with New York's baseball prowess.

For those in need of a quick history lesson, here's how it all went down: After winning five World Series in their first 15 years, the Sox have gone more than 80 years without winning another. The downward spiral began when Sox owner Harry Frazee (a New Yorker at heart) sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919 to finance the Broadway musical "No, No, Nanette." The play bombed and the financially-strapped Frazee was forced to sell or trade away a number of Boston's other stars in the ensuing years. Meanwhile, the Yankees' reign as the game's most illustrious team began with Ruth's arrival. The "Bronx Bombers" have won 26 championships during Boston's drought.

Today, this juvenile, nonsensical, ritualistic chanting is how New Englanders vent their frustration. You have a choice: either frown dourly on the chanters to either side of you, or join them in spite of yourself. We hope you'll do the right thing.

Dirty Water

When the Sox win, fans are serenaded by the Standels singing "love that dirty water, Boston you're my home," through the PA system after the game. Great tune. The "Dirty Water" to which the song refers was located in the Charles River, which had a serious pollution problem for years. It's supposedly better now. When Boston loses, run-of-the-mill organ music plays as fans file down the exit ramps. Root for a Red Sox win.

Read More Show Less

Table of Contents

Introduction vii
Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park 3
New York Mets, Shea Stadium 21
New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium 34
Toronto Blue Jays, SkyDome 53
Montreal Expos, Olympic Stadium 69
Baltimore Orioles, Oriole Park at Camden Yards 86
Philadelphia Phillies, Citizens Bank Park 101
Atlanta Braves, Turner Field 116
Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Tropicana Field 134
Florida Marlins, Pro Player Stadium 151
St. Louis Cardinals, Busch Stadium 165
Kansas City Royals, Kauffman Stadium 183
Cincinnati Reds, Great American Ballpark 197
Pittsburgh Pirates, PNC Park 213
Cleveland Indians, Jacobs Field 233
Detroit Tigers, Comerica Park 251
Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field 266
Chicago White Sox, US Cellular Field 283
Milwaukee Brewers, Miller Park 301
Minnesota Twins, The Metrodome 318
Houston Astros, Minute Maid Park 334
Texas Rangers, The Ballpark in Arlington 359
Colorado Rockies, Coors Field 368
Arizona Diamondbacks, Bank One Ballpark 385
San Diego Padres, Petco Park 401
Anaheim Angels, Angel Stadium of Anaheim 417
Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodger Stadium 434
Seattle Mariners, Safeco Field 454
Oakland Athletics, Network Associates Coliseum 473
San Francisco Giants, Pacific Bell Park 490
Appendix Planning Your Trips 511
Selected Bibliography 527
Acknowledgments 529
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted July 22, 2008

    Great Book but...

    I recently read MOST of the book and it's put together fantastic, but the game of baseball and it's stadiums change a little every year. It's only five years old, but already outdated. I'm sure places like Wrigley and Fenway don't change, but the newer parks are adding new restaurants and attractions every year. Either way I read it in 2008 and enjoyed it.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 8, 2004

    A Great Read for Baseball Fans

    My son bought me this book for my birthday and I can't put it down. It is full of interesting information about the Major League ballparks past and present. And it is a very funny book too. There are many amusing anecdotes about the players and teams that have called each park home and also about the trip that the authors took to each park. I'd recommend this book to any baseball fans. It would make a great Father's Day gift for any dad.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 23, 2004

    Every Baseball Fans Dream Trip!!

    This book is the most comprehensive and enjoyable baseball book I have ever read. So much information is pack into this book. The authors did a lot of research and you can tell they love what they were doing.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)