Off-Topic Forum

How many MLB games have you guys attended? I have been to 2, one in 2014 and one in 2019. You get a souvenir? Memorable part? Let me hear you. 

More than I can count. I have been to all of the current MLB  ballparks but for three. A souvenir soda cup (if offered) and a scorecard/program.

Okay. I have one to tell.

I've been to one MLB game in Detroit near the beginning of the 2016 season.

It happened to be Michael Fulmer's debut.

The Tigers somehow won. I think that they went 90-72 that season or something (Ok looked it up and it was 86-75).

So, my favorite player is Rusty Staub. I saw an autographed Rusty Staub card from 1977 Topps for sale for 25 bucks. I figured that it was a good deal, and I didn't have an autographed 1977 Rusty Staub at that time, so I decided to pick it up.

It was in a display case, and, with me also purchasing the team set (Which was actually about $6, one dollar over market value, and for the sake of convenience, I picked it up too.) I had to wait in a line to ask for a guy with a key who could get me the Rusty Staub for me to get back into line to purchase it and the Tigers team set. Now, after waiting in like for 30 minutes, I got to ask for the key. The guy lost his. He went to the manager who also had lost his. They told me to wait outside of the line while they tried to find it. Two hours later, and they did find it. The cashier was sitting on it.

I'm not selling off that Rusty Staub or that team set for as long as I live. 

I try to go to at least one a year. I've been to Montreal and Toronto many many times. I've also been to Cleveland, Detroit, Mets field, Philadelphia, Washington, and Baltimore. Spring training games are probably my favorites. We got a foul ball hit by Tony Gwynn in Montreal once.  I got to see an Expos/Padres brawl. I saw Roger Clemens and the Blue Jays get shut out by Jeff Juden and the Expos in Toronto for the first ever interleague game (I think it was, that's what my memory tells me, I should look that up).

I arrived in Montreal to find out that Gary Carter was retiring back in 1992. That was cool and disappointing as he was my favorite player. I took a photo of him on the field talking to Andre Dawson(as a Cub) during warmups that one is framed now and signed by Carter, I will have to get it to Dawson...Cooperstown trip I guess!! He didn't play but played the next day and hit a double over Dawson's head. I like to think that my photo was them conspiring to have that happen.

A favorite in-the-game moment would have been watching Ken Griffey Jr interact with fans in Toronto while in CF. He was looking up and smirking, etc. One woman a couple of rows away from me was after him and after him very loudly. Eventually a security guard came and talked to her and someone yelled to Griffey to look. When he saw them talking to her he covered his mouth with his glove and laughed and pointed at her. I'm pretty sure the woman could see but the security guard was facing away from the field. It was all in good fun, the woman was fine in terms of what she was saying, someone probably just thought she was too loud.

Never a bad day at the ballpark.

Editing to add that I also saw games at Toronto's earliest park, Exhibition Stadium too. That was my first ever game and one of my greatest memories was walking out and seeing the green of the grass and how beautiful and professional it looked. 

I grew up outside Baltimore and I used to go to a couple games a year. I have been to 10 different ballparks, including three that no longer exist (Memorial stadium in Baltimore, Candlestick park, and Jack Murphy stadium).  I was fortunate to be in attendance to see my Orioles throw a no-hitter in Oakland in 1991.

I did get a ball in the 2019 game, as on the 3rd base side at Citi field, they have the tunnel the umpires go through, and they were throwing them to people and I got mine. Then some fans threw some stuff on the field after Josh Donaldsons 2 bombs. The 2014 game I went to was David Prices last game for Tampa Bay actually as I left, he was traded to Detroit.

I couldn't give you an accurate total number but I try to get to at least a few White Sox games every year.

A bucket list item is visiting all of the stadiums. To date, I've attended home games for the White Sox, Cubs, Mets, Nationals, Cardinals, Reds, Pirates, Giants, Tigers, Royals, Angels, and Rangers (though not their new stadium).

I do usually try to get something from each stadium, even if it's just a now faded and well used souvenir cup. Foul balls seem to be allergic to me.

The White Sox are my team, so seeing Konerko's final home game and the Buehrle tribute game where they retired his number was pretty cool even if I don't remember anything meaningful from the game itself.

One of my more memorable games attended was in 2003 when I got to watch Buehrle (my favorite pitcher) face off against Mark Mulder (another guy I always kind of liked). The reason it stands out to me is because both guys went the distance and worked fast. The game was over in a snappy 1 hour and 53 minutes. They definitely don't play many (or any) like that any more! Oh, and the Sox won!

-Dave

P.S. I don't know where the aforementioned WS article is (still pretty new to this site) but it sounds like a fun read when it's done.

Oh the places I've been.......

https://www.tcdb.com/List.cfm/lid/7112/Stadiums-I've-Been-To?C=6

That I can recall.

1970, Tigers at Yankees double-header, autographed Program, mini bat
mid to late 1980s, various teams at Royals
late 1980s, Mets at Cubs, baseball box (sat next to guy who had all the game balls)
1990s, various teams at Braves, souvenir cups
late 1990s, ??? at Orioles
 

I was there...

"On June 22, 1977 At Veterans Stadium 47,981 fans got to see the Philadelphia Phillies outslug the Reds, 15 – 9. Joe Hoerner makes his debut with the Reds, handing out an intentional walk and then a grand slam to light hitting Larry Bowa. Bowa hit a majestic shot over the center-field wall, Bowa mocks Rose rounded third who earlier in the day for hitting like a girl. Bowa said he had to call his Dad to make sure he didn’t keel over with a heart attack when he heard the news."

I was a 16-game season ticket holder that year.  Older son was a kid and loved the Reds.  If I recall the game was mostly back and forth and we busted each others chops for most of the game!  Bowa iced the cake!

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI197706220.shtml