How to plan the best baseball road trips in the Midwest
For most baseball fans, the joy of seeing the game in person can very easily morph into a desire to see as many games as possible in as many different places.
Maybe you've been to Target Field and Wrigley Field, but have you been to the smaller fields around the Midwest?
Sports and travel writer Timothy Mullin has documented the stadiums that should be on your list in the Midwest. His latest in the "Baseball Road Trips" series includes MLB and other league stadiums in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.
"There's a romance in that area of the country because people value their summers," he said on The Daily Circuit. "When you see people out there appreciating baseball, that adds a lot to the experience for someone that's coming from the outside."
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Mullin talked about his favorite fields and offer some tips for planning a baseball road trip.
4 BALLPARKS TO VISIT
1. Wade Stadium in Duluth
Mullin recommends heading to a Northwoods League game, which includes the Huskies' Wade Stadium in Duluth.
He explained the appeal of the games:
Check out the piece by Jim Fallows of The Atlantic about the Huskies.
2. Simmons Field in Kenosha, Wisconsin
Made famous by the film "A League of Their Own," the field was recently renovated, but still kept a lot of the historical elements. The Kenosha Kingfish are playing their first season there this year to sold-out crowds of 3,000 even on weekdays.
3. Parade Stadium in Minneapolis
A caller to the show recommended seeing a game at the field located near downtown Minneapolis and the Walker Art Center. It has great views of the skyline and the Basilica, she said.
4. Looking for a long-distance trip? Check out the country's quirkiest stadium: Jerry Uht Park in Erie, Pennsylvania
Home to the Erie SeaWolves, a Minor League Baseball team, the stadium has a unique design due to urban building constraints.
"You have two decks stacked on top of each other and the other side looks like they tore it down and built a new one," Mullin said. "The first-base side looks completely different from the third-base side."
3 TIPS FOR YOUR BASEBALL ROAD TRIP
1. Your trip doesn't have to be expensive. Mullin said it's important to watch for deals as many lesser-known teams are looking to fill seats. One caller recommended waiting until after the first pitch to approach ticket scalpers outside Major League stadiums to get cheaper tickets.
2. Don't try to cram too many stadiums into one trip. Julian Loscalzo, a baseball fan that leads bus tours to stadiums, said you lose a lot of the experience if you rush between fields.
"You miss out on the culture in the rest of the town," he said.
3. "It's not just the ballparks; it's the in-between." Mullin said one of his favorite stops is in Chisholm, Minnesota where you can attend Doc 'Moonlight' Graham Days.