Diamond Visits

2012 Atlanta Braves Caravan- Montgomery, AL

2012-01-29T21:23:00.001-06:00

Decided to head up to Montgomery, Alabama for the Braves Caravan once they added Don Sutton. Other players scheduled to appear were Tim Hudson, David Ross, Eric Hinske, Tyler Pastornicky and Scott Fletcher.

Event Rating: 5

For the most part, the Braves have gotten the caravans organized which wasn't always the case in my previous experiences. In the past, Braves personnel would give out a limitless amount of multicolored index cards to help them calculate how many people the players could sign for within a two hour period. If you had no card, you were not getting an autograph. Dishonest people quickly caught on to how they were doing things and would bring their own index cards while cutting in front of others that were waiting. Now they give out three hundred numbered cards that can be scanned if needed with a stamp. At around #300, a Braves team member will tell you honestly the chances of meeting the players is slim but you are more than welcome to try. The universal tip when graphing the caravans is to arrive early. It still amuses me that people think they can drive up to the event 15 minutes before it starts. Being the avid autograph collector that I am, I knew to be there early. I arrived at around 9:55am and got number #48.

Don Sutton: Signed my baseball with "HOF" inscription. Any day you get a "HOFer" for free is a good day. Its nice to see Mr. Sutton take an interest in some of the items he is signing. He was even filling requests on items for people that asked for his win total and strikeout total on items.

Tim Hudson: Signed my two 2009 Topps cards. I never know what to expect from Mr Hudson. I have had Mr. Hudson stop in his car at the gates of Disney and sign every item put in front of him. Other times at organized events he looks like he would rather be anywhere else. Today he was very talkative. He even got a kick out of my Scott Fletcher's 1992 Topps card that was near his, and kept asking me to see it.

David Ross: Signed my 2009 Topps card. Not very talkative.

Eric Hinske: Signed two of my 2009 Topps cards and was talking about how much he enjoyed his time with the Yankees.

Tyler Pastornicky: The Braves think he can stick it out at SS and I had all my cards of him signed this year by way of 50-50's, so why not have him sign a baseball ? I will probably regret this 2 months from now when I am watching Jack Wilson on TBS.

Scott Fletcher: I originally had four cards but gave the lady in front of me one of them because she was flipping through a Braves program from last year. I told her he isn't going to be in it and she could have one of my cards.

Overall, the trip was worth it to me. I can cross off 3 more cards of my 2009 Topps set, a 1990 Leaf card, and added another "HOFer" baseball to the collection. It was a great way to kick off my "autograph season"!

2012 Plans....

2012-01-09T08:44:00.007-06:00

2011 was an exciting year for me. I spent a week in Arizona for Spring Training. Spent a weekend autographing the Cubs, Dodgers, and Reds in Las Vegas for two Spring Training Exhibition games. Returned to Arizona in early October for the Arizona Fall League. Due to the birth of my first child, there will be no Spring Training for me or any road-trips in 2012. I plan on hitting TTM hard this year in between changing diapers. I been working on the 2009 Topps and 1990 Leaf set. I do have a short "to do" list this season that should be easy to accomplish:

Visit Trustmark Park and do a review of the stadium. Slowly seeing all the teams and ballparks of the Southern League.
Attend the 17th annual Rickwood Classic, a regular-season game played at legendary Rickwood Field. This year the game is May 30th. Expect plenty of pictures.
Revisit Riverwalk Stadium. The photos from my first review of Riverwalk Stadium did not do the stadium justice.
Revisit Hank Aaron Stadium. I was just learning how to shoot baseball stadiums and think I can get some better pictures inside Hank Aaron Stadium with my new camera. Also, the Hank Aaron Museum was being built and was not completed until after I moved to Salt Lake City.
Affiliated baseball returns to Pensacola with the Blue Wahoo's. Opening Night will be April 5, 2012 and I will be there.
Visit Zephyr Field and do a review of the stadium. I never been inside due to a rain out.

A visit to all these stadiums should be easy to do and enjoyable. Finally, I will start sharing some of my autograph experiences outside of games from this point forward.

Regions Park- Birmingham, AL

2012-01-08T18:05:00.005-06:00

I first visited this ballpark in 1996. I didn't do a good job at work hiding my obsession with baseball due to my manager catching me sorting his cards one day while he was at lunch. I noticed that all his Pat Watkin cards that I had pulled from packs the week before were signed. I had seen him powdering his cards several times in the past and never really asked what he was doing with the powdered cards. After my shift, he invited me to help him out that night with a top prospect that would be playing against the Barons: Derek Lee. Before he asked me to go to the Barons game with him , it never occurred to me to go to a Minor League baseball game to get autographs. I didn't even go to a Barons game to watch Micheal Jordan play baseball. Even at a young age, I realized the chance of making Major Leagues was small and didn't see the point in asking the players while they were in the Minors. I had always paid for my autographs at card shows. I have probably written about this ballpark on three blogs over the past 5 years never to finish the post or losing the pictures to make it worthwhile. This week I returned to the ballpark that started my obsession with getting autographs and write a review of the stadium. Just like 15 years ago, the Birmingham Barons are still associated with the Chicago White Sox and play in the Southern League. It's the second oldest ballpark in the Southern League and over their history the Barons have been one of the top five to ten draws in Minor League Baseball.

Random Fact: The city of Birmingham is trying to lure the Barons back to the downtown area in a new stadium by 2013.

Stadium Rating: C

The stadium is actually located in a subdivision of Hoover, Alabama and it is shocking to think that they have not built anything around the stadium that is worthwhile exploring on foot. For additional entertainment, you have restaurants and the Galleria Mall a couple of miles away. Even with my first visit in 1996, Regions Park was an old stadium. The stadium first opened in 1988 and was renovated after the 2006 season. The small basketball court that was located down the third baseline is not there anymore. It used to annoy me. The size of the parking lot still reminds me of the emptiness the Griswold family' experienced as they drove thru the empty parking lot of Wally World in the movie National Lampoon's Vacation. Outside of the stadium still looks like a dome and anything but a baseball stadium. The only thing that has remained the same is the vastness of the ballpark. The stadium is huge and has a lot of dead space. Regions Park offers a simple seating arrangement. The renovation of 2007 resulted in new seats for the seating bowl but the same aluminum bleachers since the parks opening in the last 2 sections of the bowl. A second deck was added on top of the press boxes which is used as skybox suites and a banquet area. The expansion also lead to a new ticket office along the third base side which was being used has a concession stand tonight. My seat was a general admission seat right behind home plate which in most stadiums is considered reserved seating. Some areas of the bowl can seem distant from the action on the field but offer no poor sight lines. Oddly, Upper deck is at street level. The stadium offers very little shade and day games can be brutal.. The concourse is the problem with the stadium. The lack of openness inside the concourse makes you feel like your inside a dome stadium and your going to miss a lot of the game as you explore the concourse. The concourse features several concession stands, some over sized team photo's featuring past Baron squad's and some posters featuring previous Baron's like Micheal Jordan and Bobby Jenks. This is it for the historic feel.

Scoreboard serves its purpose and provides all the information one would need if the PA announcer fails to do so. The concession stands offer a huge amount of options that one would expect in a Major League stadium. There is simply something for everyone. One thing that I didn't like about the stadium is the how limited your access is to some areas of the stadium. I remember that I use to be able to go up the elevator to the suite level to acquire merchandise like baseball card sets and hats. Now they have a small souvenir shop in the concourse.

The picnic areas that are named from past players in the Baron's long history were reserved for a function. I wasn't even allowed to take pictures from the small berm area on either side of the stadium. Generally, there is nothing wrong with the stadium yet it doesn't offer anything else then a great place to watch a Minor League Baseball game.

Pricing: C

Back in 1996, I always tried to arrive early so I didn't have to pay parking but tonight I failed. Parking was $3.00. My general admission ticket was $7.00. I celebrated my return to the South by drinking 4 cups of sweet tea which I took for granted when I headed to the West. Each cup was a $1.00 and it was great. My program was a $1.00 and my regular hot dog which was fresh took another $3.00. Finally, I purchased a 2011 team set for a friend for $8.00. Not cheap when it add it all up.

Baseball Atmosphere: C

The crowd was small and for the most part they were there for Thirsty Thursday. I was expecting a huge draw due to the visiting team being affiliated with the Chicago Cubs. The crowd was quiet tonight and didn't turn into a baseball crowd until the Top of the 9th inning when the Tennessee Smokies were threatening to take the lead. Sound effects for the most part are entertaining however I was quickly reminded that I had returned to the South with the in between innings failing to promote the spirit of baseball with the art of throwing a football taking center stage. Didn't really understand the Fantasy Football Draft Part Night Promotion.

Autographing: A

This stadium has always been great for graphs. Tonight the players were kinda hesitant about leaving the dugout until the last minute due to the rain clouds. You have access to both teams bullpen and there is little backstop netting preventing your access to either dugout. What makes this ballpark great for autographing is after the game. The visiting team's bus pulls up along the outside of the stadium on the third-base side. There are no gates and tonight there was no security. It's the same on the Baron's side. Zero fencing for the players parking lot and if it wasn't for the raindrops tonight, I would have gotten everything done.

It is going to be interesting what happens to this stadium and the future of the Barons. Two guys I was getting autographs with were not all that excited about the Barons leaving the Hoover, Alabama area. Traffic worried them. One female worker worried about her safety in a relocation downtown. Finally, one season ticket said he would not be going downtown for any reason. Even before I left, it was easy to forget about the Barons. My Dad asked me where they were located today. Hoover High School football out draws the Barons and you could label this an endangered affiliated ballpark and that's never good.

Joe Davis Stadium - Huntsville, AL

2011-09-09T17:38:00.026-05:00

I was originally supposed to visit Joe Davis Stadium with my wife in 2009 but I read the Stars home schedule wrong and we ended attending a Chattanooga Lookouts game instead. Trevor Bauer who was playing against the Stars with the Mobile Baybears is what brought me to the stadium tonight. If I knew how easy the drive was from Birmingham, Alabama, I would have done the visit sooner when I was a McCalla resident. Joe Davis Stadium, nicknamed "The Joe", was named for the popular former mayor of Huntsville, who was instrumental in bringing minor league baseball to the city. The Joe can seat over 10,000 fans and features 14 air-conditioned Sky Boxes. The stadium was completed 1985 and at one time hosted the University of Huntsville Chargers baseball team along with other sporting events but now is exclusively the home of the Milwaukee Brewers' Double A affiliate Huntsville Stars. It is the oldest stadium in the Southern League. I heard and read some terrible comments about this stadium over the past ten years so I didn't really know what to expect.

Random Fact: The stadium almost didn't happen over the selling of beer.

Stadium Rating: D

After my visit, I can safely say "the Joe" doesn't really offer anything outside the box to attract the non baseball fan. Joe Davis Stadium probably features the most unwelcoming entrance that I have experienced with a Minor League Baseball stadium. Nobody outside the stadium promoting anything, no volunteers handing anything out, and no live music. Only a security guard that wanted to check my bag for drinks. The most interesting thing about the entrance was the logo of the Milwaukee Brewers on a banner. That banner would be the only item to tell me from the time I pulled off the highway into the Joe Davis Stadium parking lot that I was about to watch an affiliated baseball game. After purchasing my ticket, I couldn't help but notice the amount of barbed wire that is present along the stadiums perimeter. You usually see the use of barbed wire around the grounds crew area in other stadiums. Simple things like stamping and tearing my ticket gives the stadium an even older feeling. The concourse is colorful and the main highlight of the stadium.

Sadly, half of the concessions never opened the night I visited. The close circuit TV's were not on at any point in the concourse during the game. The murals painted throughout the concourse's walls added a bit of character to the stadium. They picture everything from a baseball glove to the Girl Scouts of America. I didn't really understand their purpose other than to promote charities. It is odd to explore a stadium that has hosted affiliated baseball for twenty-seven years with no mention of the past players that have played in it anywhere. The bathrooms are clean and were working on my visit. The concourse does have it share of eye sores that could be easy addressed. Exposed insulation panels along concourse's ceiling are visible along with some air conditioning units. Stuff like this bothers me.

Once you exit the concourse to the grandstand, you enter a stadium that is big and dull in appearance due to the amount of concrete. The incomplete feeling comes from how short the seating area along the first base side when compared to the length of seating along the third base side. It barely goes past the first base dugout. Seating along the third base side is to far from the action on the infield to enjoy. Plus, depending on your seat, you can not see the scoreboard. The suite level not extending down the first base side also makes "the Joe" feel incomplete. The "air-conditioned sky boxes” may offer air conditioning but don't look like they offer a great view to watch the game. The Plexiglas from the outside looked cloudy. I wasn't all that impressed with the scoreboard and video board. The scoreboard doesn't really tell you that much more than a college scoreboard. The two giant Tri-Visions in the shape of stars give the stadium some character. The concourse looks like the only place to hide from the sun on day games.

The Stars have one of the more interesting logo's in the Southern League and the lack of its use along with the space theme in the stadium is sad. Stadium's gift shop provided me some air conditioning in between innings and looked like it was the most updated part of the stadium. I sat in two cracked green seats which pinched my bottom along the third base side. I would watch the last three innings of the game behind home plate and had a great view of the field. Never understand the importance of the clock behind me.

Baseball Atmosphere: C

Due to the temperature being close to one hundred degrees, I was expecting a small crowd. I would say that the two hundred people who attended the game truly love baseball or were there to get autographs. They cheered and booed at key parts of the game. Crowd was real rough on the umpires. The PA announcer and the music for the most part was at a comfortable level. In between inning promotions weren't all that exciting. At times, this stadium seemed a little sterile, a little too quiet. Sure, the players were there to entertain and are the most important part of the experience to me. However, hearing the amusement park's sound effects a couple hundred yards from the stadium over the sounds inside the stadium is pretty bad.

Autographing: A

Joe Davis might have a reputation of frowning upon autograph seekers but tonight no one said anything about me getting autographs, I arrived an hour and half early to check out the stadium and noticed players walking along the third base side of the concourse to a small building. One player told me that this is where they took batting practiced and afterward he would sign. The barn in my grandmother's backyard is bigger then these batting cages. The doors to the batting cages are chain link fence and I simply handed the players my items over the fence. The only other stadium that I have visited so far were you can graph the players from the batting cage is Cashman Field in Las Vegas. After graphing the batting cage, I noticed the clubhouses for each team are accessible via the concourse. Doors for each clubhouse are clearly labeled for each team along the concourse’s first base side and on the third base side. Just one more aspect of the stadium that shows its age. I decided that I would try to get some Baybear players by the visitor's clubhouse door. For the next thirty minutes, I called some of the Mobile players that were on their cellphones over to the fence that surrounds the perimeter of the stadium. The majority of the players signed. Inside the stadium is also good. I just graphed the visitors side for the players I didn't get outside the stadium. You need to arrive early because the section by the visitor's dugout on the first row is very small. Graphing the Stars side is pretty basic and offers no problems for the experienced autograph hound. You have access to both players bullpen if you miss some of the players as they were exiting the dugout. After the game, we just walked back and forth along the concourse getting the players on both teams as they exited their clubhouses. Overall, a great stadium for autographs.

Pricing: B

I arrived at the stadium before the parking lot attendants arrived My General Admission ticket was $8.00. An usher informed me once I was inside that a General Admission ticket is open seating to everyone. That got me to wondering: What is the incentive to being a season ticket holder ? I purchased a souvenir drink for $4.00 and hot dog for $3.50. I was looking forward to snacking on some more edible treats other than your normal ballpark options but half of the stadiums concession stands never opened.

This was a hard stadium to write about due to all the negativity that surrounds the stadium. Is Joe Davis Stadium a terrible place to watch a game? Not for me on this visit. Sure, I never attended a Star's game with the old lightning system that was in place for football games and my game was not canceled because of the playing surface. These problems can and have happened at other stadiums. I enjoy seeing the future stars of Major League Baseball and that aspect should be a big enough draw on its own. Would my wife like Joe Davis ? Probably not. We both have different expectations on what a 27-year-old stadium should offer. The problem the Huntsville Stars ownership and the city of Huntsville have is they fail to accept that the non baseball fans, the players, and Minor League Baseball expect more out of a Double A stadium. Minor League Baseball will be in Huntsville for 2012, but can easily be taken away the next season. Just ask the city of Kinston, North Carolina.

Mike Lansing Field - Casper, WY

2011-07-03T21:19:00.016-05:00

Mike Lansing Field is named after former Wyoming big-leaguer Mike Lansing who played for the Expos, Rockies, and Red Sox in the early 90's. The park was constructed in 2002 and holds 2,500 fans. The Casper Ghosts play in the Pioneer League and currently are a Rookie League affiliate with the Colorado Rockies. The partnership came about due to the Rockies wanting to escape the hardships of complex ball in Arizona while extending their brand into Wyoming. The Ghosts were formerly known as the Casper Rockies from 2001 to 2007. An article that I read from a 2010 USA Today about Mike Lansing Field is what originally sparked by interest in attending a Casper Ghost game.

Random Fact: Wyoming is one of three states that does not have high school baseball. Instead the high school boys play American Legion Baseball. The Casper Oilers also play at Lansing Field.

Stadium Rating: D

Mike Lansing Field is a small park and its uncovered grandstands for the most part are very simple. The lower levels sit on top of concrete from the third base dugout to first base dugout with plastic seats featuring a cup holder. The plastic seating continues all the way up to the press box from home plate. The rest of the seating consists of freestanding aluminum sections with some of the bleachers featuring backs. The bleacher seating ( General Admission ) features plenty of leg room and overall was comfortable but the sight lines in some of the bleacher sections are terrible. This is from the backstop in front of the grandstand being poles and netting. The bleacher section does offer some interesting views: You can see the North Platte River depending on the angle, a couple of hotels on an elevated hill, and the Casper Planetarium on a hillside out in right field.

The field itself is huge and the large amount of foul territory make you feel even further from the action. The scoreboard is what you would expect to see at a High School baseball game. Oh yea, there is one huge tent that didn't serve any purpose the night that I attended.

The one thing that I did enjoy about the ballpark was the Teton Terraces that allowed me to watch the game on a bar stool behind both of the dugouts. I wish more teams would do this but I noticed something very dangerous about seating area on the first base side. On the 3rd base side, patrons are protected from foul balls by netting. This isn't the case of the 1st base side! The first base side seating in the Teton Terrace was occupied by the groundskeepers and other workers for the majority of the game. I even watched one of the workers fire up the grill and cook himself some food. This kind of gave the feeling that this was an employee only section and that I was trespassing.

The concourse surrounding the stadium seemed very empty with wasted space. I missed a lot of the game because of having to explore the concourse and it not being a open concourse. There are rocks along the 3rd base side that are large and high enough sit on that offer a different way to watch the game. The Gift Shop was very nice and sadly the ATM card machine inside it wasn't working so that meant that I didn't get to experience any ballpark food because the one concession stand under the grandstand doesn't accept debit cards.

Baseball Atmosphere: A

When a stadium has a small basic scoreboard , the PA announcer becomes very important quickly if you actually like scoring the game you are watching or if you happen to be following a certain player. I have heard some PA announcers sound like they were bored but the Ghosts' PA showed just enough enthusiasm. Lansing Field features one of the clearest sound systems I have heard at a Minor League Stadium. The crowd, for the most part, seemed like they were in the park to enjoy a ball game.

Pricing: D

I purchased a general admission ticket for $7.50 and that is expensive in my opinion for bleacher seating in the Pioneer League. I purchased a program for $3.00 and a 2010 trading card set for $8.00. Overall, I could see attending a Casper Ghosts game getting very expensive for a family of four visiting Casper. Only thing that really saved this rating from being a 1 is the free parking.

Autographing: A

The big dimensions of the concourse play a huge part in making Lansing Field an easy stadium to graph. Both teams enter Lansing Field from clubhouses located behind the first base grandstand. They have two paths to take to the field. The players can enter the field through section 102 and 103 of the grandstand or down by the home teams' bullpen. I noticed some players in the Casper bullpen running back and forth between the innings to the clubhouse. Some stopped to sign for kids playing in the batting cages. Both dugouts only offer access to the players on one side due to the backstop netting. If you didn't get all the players before and after the game, the visiting team stays in a hotel located a good 40 yards behind Lansing Field from the team clubhouse and you can catch them walking to the hotel after the game.

I often get asked what I don't like about ballparks. There are a variety of features that can ruin a ballpark for me. In the case of Mike Lansing Field, its simple design makes it feel like a collegiate field and its easy to forget your watching a Minor League Baseball game. It does feature a relaxing setting with some fans and a PA announcer that create a great atmosphere. I had high expectations of this park based on other fields I had seen in the Pioneer League and the convincing article I read in USA Today. Though my expectations were far from met this visit, a small ownership headed by the Rockies purchased the Ghosts during the off-season. It will be interesting to see what changes the parent team will bring to Mike Lansing Field in the coming years.

Cashman Field - Las Vegas, NV ( Big League Weekend )

2011-03-15T16:47:00.011-05:00

My wife and I decided to finally take a trip to Vegas and I cleverly found a way to mix baseball into the trip. Every year the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authoirty host the Big League Weekend that consists of two spring training split squad games at Cashman Field. This year the participating teams were the Reds, Dodgers, and Cubs. Cashman Field was built on land donated by James "Big Jim" Cashman, a Las Vegas community leader and "Southern Nevada Pioneer." The 9,500 seat stadium was completed in 1983 and is currently the AAA home of the Las Vegas 51's which are affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Stadium Rating: C

For the most part, the tan and red Cashman Field is an oddity by being attached to a convention center on one side of the stadium along with a theatre. You will find it tucked far away from the Strip and I didn't see any accommodations around it that looked interesting to me worth exploring on foot. It features tons of parking with the majority of it being elevated about 100 feet below ground level, so prepare for some walking to your seat after you have parked. Upon entering the stadium, you will walk up an elevated two story concourse that features baseball murals along its sides of past Las Vegas minor league players.

The stadium seats are angled perfectly for baseball but the bleacher seats looked like they were uncomfortable. My wife and I got seats under the overhang in the Plaza section and we were protected from the sun. I imagine the dugout seats behind home plate would be the next best place to watch a game because they are practically on the field. The open concourse makes it possible to walk around the entire stadium and watch the game from multiple angles. You can see some mountain ranges outside of the stadium but nothing remotely close like you experience with the Utah stadiums.

The small concession kiosk's could be spread out better because while I was waiting in line for some Monster Nachos for a good thirty minutes, several others thought they were waiting in line for something else. The grass seating is somewhat small and I had to asked an usher for permission to take some pictures from the berm. Cashman Field features zero sky boxes with the Club Restaurant taking their spot.

Beyond the left field wall is the Bud Light Party Deck, that I found while exploring the stadium. It featured a full service bar and some padded seats that offered some great seats to watch a game. The picnic area is not opened to every one due to it being part of the Bank of America Patio area. The stadium bathrooms were clean along with the stadium which is always important to me. Cashman Field doesn't feel anything like a Minor League Stadium and if you didn't follow baseball, you wouldn't have any clue Las Vegas has a Minor League team..

Baseball Atmosphere: B

Considering Cashman Field was filled with Cubs fans the the day I visited, the baseball atmosphere was very entertaining and the in- between baseball promotions for the most part promoted the spirit of the game. I would really like to see how this plays out in the middle of the summer with the heat and the Cubs not in town. If any B level celebrities were in the stadium, we didn't see them and I didn't see any baseball mascots which is odd.

Pricing: D

Upon ordering tickets, my wife almost canceled the baseball part of our Las Vegas trip and the 51's really didn't help me any with arguing her point of view. The tickets were more than our hotel stay. Its absurd for tickets for any Spring Training SS game to cost over $30.00. Yes, its Vegas and the Cubs, but it did turn into your regular AAA game by the 7th inning. Due to the pricing, we could only attend one game. The only thing that saved this rating from being lower is the free parking, free program, and that the $7.50 Monster Nachos were worth every penny.

Autographing: A

Cashman Field is a goldmine for graphs inside and outside the stadium. Inside the stadium, you basically graph on top of the dugouts. While at first this may seem difficult, the players for the most part have to make eye contact with you while exiting the dugout and entering the dugout depending on what area of the dugout you are standing on. Small kids will have hard time handing their items to players due to the railing paralleling the dugout. You have great access to the visiting teams bullpen by access of the Bank of America Patio area on the 3rd base side. You don't have access to this area during the game but you do 15 minutes up until game time to graph. People that were seated in the dugout seats were graphing thru the netting behind homeplate and along the left side dugout on the 3rd baseside which is field level for the players taking batting practice. Several coaches and players signed thru the netting. For graphing teams leaving and arriving, Cashman Field features a parking lot that services both teams with no gates or security. The only thing that works against you is that the parking lot is large and players have multiple ways of entering the stadium. For example, players can enter the stadium the same way you would like the majority of the Reds roster did, or at the locker room located in the middle of the parking lot and finally by using the entrance closer to the batting cages like Blake Dewitt used. Taxi's and shuttle buses don't really have an exact drop off place and both teams will use the same three entrances. I didn't get everyone I asked for an autograph, but Cashman Field's layout played no part of it.

Overall, my wife and I enjoyed our visit to Cashman Field. Upon leaving the stadium, I overheard a popular Cubs TV channel employee saying that Cashman Field is a great place to watch a game but an eyesore to film. I don't necessarily agree with that statement completely. Its not the best stadium I have visited but its not all that bad if you are truly interested in enjoying a baseball game in the middle of the desert. I couldn't really get a lot of photos due to how crowded the stadium was and limited access within the stadium so a return visit is already being planned.

Melaleuca Field- Idaho Falls, ID

2010-09-07T18:57:00.011-05:00

Melaleuca Field (previously named McDermott Field) is the home of the Idaho Falls Chukars. The Chukars are the Pioneer League ( Rookie Level) affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The stadium was refurbished in 2007 with a new seating area and concourse while the diamond and outfield wall from McDermott Field remained the same. I had trouble finding the stadium with my GPS but to my surprise the two people I asked at a gas station were familiar with where their local minor league team plays, which is a rarity nowadays.

Random Fact: A Chukar is a game bird found in Idaho.

Stadium Rating: B

There really isn't much to Melaleuca stadium other then being a great place to watch a minor league baseball game in Idaho. The stadium is in the middle of a residential neighborhood and is one of the more relaxing stadiums in the Pioneer League. The biggest problem with the stadium is mostly visual which makes the stadium look unattractive in some areas. The stadium is made mostly of brick and the abundance of aluminum bleacher seating makes you think you are about to watch a college baseball game or go meet your high school sweetheart under the stadium bleachers for a kiss. Cosmetically, the stadium would look better if I couldn't see the equipment under the bleachers while meeting Laurie on the 3rd base side. The concourse is nice and wide.

The stadium features the most picnics tables I have seen in a Minor League ballpark. I was told that the hot tub picnic area is very popular with the kids during the summer. The banners of former MLB players that have been associated with previous Idaho Falls teams circle the concourse and give the stadium a great historic feeling. The gift store is one of the better ones I have seen in the Pioneer League. I counted 8 Luxury Suites and my program told me that the stadium features about 1,000 box seats that are angled oddly in some areas. Press boxes looked nicer than some of the ones featured in AA stadiums I have visited.

The two video boards in left field are very nice but isolated making it look incomplete with no signage or molding around them. I really liked the lack of restrictions throughout the stadium. If you plan on attending a game, ask for a box seat in Section 1 on Row 4 seat 4 thru 7. Comfortable seats and a great view !

Baseball Atmosphere: A

The history wall gives first time visitors, like myself, great information on Idaho Falls baseball. Once in my seat, the people behind me were discussing which players would be invited to the Instructional League in Arizona, players that have improved the most over the course of the season, and whether or not the Chukars should renew their Player Development Contract with the Royals that expires this season. The fact that these fans knew of this baseball jargon impressed me.This kind of discussion at a baseball game beats hearing whether or not Jack should stay with Debbie over a cellphone conversation.

Pricing: A

Overall, I can't complain with the way how I got into the stadium today. It was the last day of the season and the Chukars were running a promotion that they would accept all previous unused tickets from any game this season. A gentleman offered me one of his unused tickets which I accepted and upgraded to a reserved seat for $3.00, ( I hate bleacher seating of any kind). I couldn't find a regular hot dog anywhere in this stadium so I had to settle for a bratwurst and a Dr.Pepper for a total of $5.50 which is a fair price considering the size of the bratwurst and drink. The program I purchased for $2.00 has to be one of the nicest programs I have purchased from the four new stadiums I have visited this year. Not paying for parking was a great treat, too!

Autographing: A

Three generations of ballpark designs have lead me to believe that this ballpark was built with the intention of allowing the fans to interact with the players without the stadium getting in the way. Both teams enter the field from the team clubhouses down the first base line. If you don't get everybody here, you have level access to both teams' dugouts; on either sides of the dugouts. I have never seen this kind of accessibility. It is nice. The only thing that can hamper your graphing totals is that you have zero access to the Chakurs bullpen. My personal solution to this problem was that I left the game in the 7th inning and went outside of the stadium and got the bullpen players' attention. You can see the players thru the fence and hand your items over the fence. For those of you that don't want to do this, both teams exit into the parking lot after the game in which you also parked.

Overall, I am glad I didn't pass on attending a game at Melaleuca Field today. I imagine that this stadium has created a ton of memories for the citizens of Idaho Falls because it did with me on one visit. It offers what I am looking for in a stadium: easy access to the players and no restrictions along with watching a baseball game. Not offering a regular hot dog even on the last day of the season has to be a baseball sin. No souvenir cup for my drink or producing a 2010 team set before the season ends is also a "bossman fail". These simple things are just expected to be at a minor league baseball game regardless of the level of play. Due to its location, I doubt I ever make a another trip to Melaleuca Field. For the ballpark chaser, it is worth a stop.

Brent Brown Ballpark- Provo,UT

2010-06-27T11:50:00.017-05:00

Brent Brown Ballpark is the baseball stadium on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The Owlz are the Pioneer League ( Rookie Level) affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The stadium is easy to find and was built in 2005. The cliffnote version on why the Owlz are on a college campus, the Owlz use to play at BYU's baseball stadium and was quickly told to leave due to the Pioneer League's schedule calling for games to be played on Sunday. With no place to go or help from the city, the Owlz got together with the UVU to build a ballpark. Oddly, I have heard this stadium called by three different names: Brent Brown Ballpark, Brent and Kim Brown Ballpark, and the "The Home of the Owlz".

Stadium Rating: C

I can say that I did not know what to expect from the stadium after paying for parking on my first visit. As with all the Utah ballparks I have visited so far, Brent Brown Ballpark features a great view of the mountains. The mountains you are viewing is Mount Timpanogos and the Wasatch Range. The most interesting thing about the stadium is the odd dimensions and height of the outfield walls. This makes any routine fly ball an adventure for the outfielders. The grandstand only goes half way down the 1st baseline and extends much further down the third base side. The concourse is on top of the grandstand and features everything that you would expect to see in a concourse. There is a berm that goes all the way down the third base line and goes across to mid center field. This stadium features a ton of foul territory on both sides which can lead to you feeling a little distant from the action depending on where you rest your fanny.

The 2,500 box seats feature a lot of leg room which is always good and I only observed two oddly angled seating sections (Section 4 & 6 ) The scoreboard/video board is very nice and rivals some AA stadium scoreboards. The left-field corner features a kids' play area and a picnic area which are perfectly placed to still watch the action on the field. Gift store is nice. What the stadium lacked in character, it made up for it by providing a clean and comfortable stadium

For a small stadium, the stadium does features a lot of dead space and the stadium really could place some concession stands along the outfield berm to spread out the crowds. Another entrance or exit would be nice. This stadium featured the most staff members I have ever seen at a Minor League game and they were very accommodating. Baseball promotions for the most part were geared towards kids.

Baseball Atmosphere: B

The fans for the most part were there to watch a baseball game. The only problem was the fact that I could barely hear the PA announcer and the in between inning announcer was even harder to hear. Sometimes the PA is my set of eyes. For a modern stadium, sound effects and music was almost non existent. I enjoyed the crowd making Owl sounds through the game.

Pricing: B

Anytime you charge $4.00 for parking you're going to get a C with me. However, the Owlz management realizes that taking cash out of my pocket for parking means I am not going to spend as much on drinks and souvenirs. How do they counter this ? By including a $2.00 discount coupon when I order $5.00 or more at the concession stand. Smart ! Owlz, it worked plenty of time I bought a 16 Ounce Dr Pepper in a souvenir cup along with a $3.00 hot dog for a total of $5.50 minus the coupon. If you like to imbibe on some adult beverages while watching games, this is not the stadium for you- they do not serve alcohol. I always got a lawn ticket for $4.00 which is the cheapest I have ever paid to attend a minor league game! Programs were free for the whole season but never changed during the season making them useless after numerous visits. Avoid food from the Owlz BBQ Perch. While the food options might sound great, the portions are very small and not worth the price. Gift store is a little bit overpriced. $15.00 for a team set ?

Autographing: D

Brent Brown Ballpark was not built for autographing. Both teams enter the field from under the grandstand from their locker rooms. Graphing the Owlz side of the field along the 3rd base line is cake once they exit their dugout and you have easy access to the Owlz bullpen. The visitors side of the field is a different story. Netting blocks your access on one side of the dugout and no one is allowed on the berm on the other side of the visitors dugout . You can jump the guard rail but an usher will ask you to remove yourself from the berm. The berm only gives you about 15 yards of graphing space and you have zero access to the visiting teams bullpen once they pass the berm. Forget about graphing the team after the game unless you bring a flashlight. There is no lighting were the visiting team boards the bus from their locker room. Having Orem players signing before the game in the concourse is always nice.

I probably visited this stadium the least during my 17 months of living in Salt Lake City. It was hard to photograph and the drive from Salt Lake City to Provo was a pain. A very simple stadium other then Mount Timpanogos in the background. However, its differently worth experiencing if you have the time. The Owlz do a lot of things right by with what I imagine is a tough balancing act with your stadium being on a college campus.

Lindquist Field - Ogden, UT

2010-06-25T02:18:00.018-05:00

Lindquist Field is home of the Ogden Raptors, the Pioneer League affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Heading into their 14th season of professional baseball and their 11th season at Lindquist Field, the team has led the league in attendance every year since moving into Lindquist Field. Last year, 134,961 fans crossed through the gates for an average of 3,552 per game. That easily dwarfs some Double A stadiums. I had only visited one other ballpark below AA before my stay in Utah, however the Pioneer League to me is professional baseball at it's purest.

Stadium Rating: 5

I am going to assume that nothing I type here has not already been written about Lindquist Field. Having just moved to Utah, I am still easily distracted by the scenic and sometimes mountainous backdrops many stadiums out West feature and Lindquist Field is no different. Upon approaching the main entrance gate, you can see the concourse is located under the grandstand thru the cast iron bar fencing along the 3rd base and 1st base side of the stadium. Once inside the stadium, the main plaza does not feature a whole lot other then a ton of advertising along with a banner that is welcoming you to " Dodgertown, Utah".

Throughout the concourse, dinosaur and baseball images have been etched into the walls along with some signs dedicated to former Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda. From inside the stadium out in centerfield, you can see the Ogden temple and tabernacle of the Latter-day Saints; beyond them, the Lewis Peak towers. I did not know what these structures were until I researched them after editing my photo's. Crazy outfield dimensions make for some crazy plays in this stadium. Lindquist Field features a elevated concourse above the left- field wall that is littered with picnic tables. If they had some stools along this elevated concourse, these would be the best seats in the house. A small berm section for those that like to spread out on their own blanket is located down the right-field line along with a playground and some very uncomfortable bleachers. The only flaw with the stadium is the lack of shade at times during the game and the narrow passageways going under the the seating areas. I have noticed that people will no intention of watching the baseball game will just loiter in these tunnels which makes it hard to come and go into the concourse on busy nights..

You have access to just about everywhere in the stadium with a basic ticket which is rare nowadays in most stadiums. The stadium itself is very comfortable ( accept for the small bleacher seating section ) with plenty of leg room regardless of the seat you choose to rest your fanny. My suggestion is to sit behind home plate or along the 1st base side of the stadium due to all seats being close to the field. I found the seating past the Raptors dugout on the 3rd base side to be two different worlds with the poor sightlines and being too far away from the action on the field.

Baseball Atmosphere: 5

The sound effects and music are almost non-existent and the fans seemed dedicated to the team. I had no problem pointing out the host families of the players.The Raptors sell a T-shirt with the slogan" Dogden" on it which I think is very clever and reminds you that you are watching the future of the Dodgers. I also like how the PA announcer will announce the visiting teams starting lineup and the crowd will say" Who ?" after a players name is announced and then the PA announcer will say something witty about the player , and then the crowd will say" Oh".

Pricing: 5

It cost a total of $10.00 for me and my wife on our first visit to Lindquist Field. Concessions were good but not great. My small hot dog cost $3.00 and it was very small. Programs were priced at $2.00 and I bought a 2009 Raptors team set for $5.00. The best thing though, all parking is street parking around the stadium which means it is free. Upon my 2nd visit, I was told that the Raptors are running a free ticket promotion with local restaurants for all home games. Fans have the option of upgrading the free tickets for an additional $5.00 to boxseats. Along with the upgrade, you will receive a $2.50 food voucher that is accepted by all vendors inside the stadium. The general admission seating is not the best, but for free I am not complaining. The only local oddity menu item is the Raptor Burger. It is basically a bratwurst covering a hamburger pattie. For beer lovers, local brewery Roosters serves a dark amber Raptor Ale throughout the game.

Autographing: 5

One of the things I was worried about with the Pioneer league stadiums is a lot of restrictions due to the netting to protect the fans.. That is not the case with Lindquist Field . Both teams enter the field from their clubhouses that are located along the outfield wall.. The Raptors enter the field along the 3rd base line and the visiting team from dead center. The walk for the Raptors to their dugout is rather long which gives you plenty of time to ask the same player twice if he didn't hear you. You have easy access to both bullpens. With no ushers, the large number of kids are the only thing between you and the players. Graphing outside of the stadium is even easier. Both teams clubhouses are street level access with no gates nor a parking lot for the players. It doesn't get any easier than this unless your attending a Fall Instructs minor league game.

For the seventeen months I lived in Utah, I visited this stadium the most. During that time, I got to see a new stadium scoreboard installed and meet a ton of former Dodgers that were part of the Minor League Development staff.. Lindquist Field is a classic baseball park that provides fans a comfortable, scenic, and affordable experience while focusing:on the most important thing: the game.

Spring Mobile Ballpark- Salt Lake City, UT

2010-04-20T13:07:00.011-05:00

Spring Mobile Ballpark opened in 1994 under the name Franklin Covey Field and was recently renamed in 2009. The stadium is located on the site of old Derks Field which use to host Pioneer League games. I even found some signs and plaques that did not reflect these changes while roaming outside the stadium. The stadium also hosts several University of Utah baseball games each year. My first visit to the stadium was to watch a Utes game against San Diego State in early April. At that time, the stadium maybe had thirty people in it. The stadium is the home of the Salt Lake Bees which the is the AAA affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels in the Pacific Coast League.

Random Fact: Locals call the stadium "the Apiary".

Stadium Rating: A

Spring Mobile Ballpark biggest oddity is the location. I imagine very view stadiums can be found near a city's downtown area, have a gas station in front of the stadium, a residential neighborhood placed outside the stadiums outfield wall, and an awesome view of snow topped mountains depending on the time of year. Parking and traffic can be somewhat aggravating and once you learn your way around the city, the Trax station is probably the easiest way to get to the stadium. The outside the stadium features your tradition bricked stadium and it is a double-Decker. Luxury boxes and the press box seating is on the top deck. The stadium features a 360 degree wrap around concourse and is wide enough that it makes it very easy to navigate from one side of the stadium to the other while not missing any of the game action. Its a very colorful stadium once you get inside.

The interior of the concourse features small circular posters picturing members of the baseball Hall of Fame are posted along the walls. Gift shop did not offer anything that you would not find any other stadium. My wife questioned the construction date of the stadium ( 1994) because it had a lot of the same comfortable elements that Riverwalk Stadium.

We decided to bring a blanket and enjoy the grass berm section of the stadium. Spring Mobile Ballpark has its picnic area placed in the perfect area and the stadium features zero bleacher seating which was a staple in older stadiums. Box seats and reserved seating looked very cramped with very little leg room and elbow space throughout the stadium. Parents will also enjoy the built in babysitter playground located along the outfield wall. A pavilion and party area is also located along the outfield wall. The ushers were very friendly and accommodating to the point they are not annoying. Numerous exits make entering and exiting the stadium very easy. Bathrooms are spotless and smell good.

Baseball Atmosphere: B

For the most part, the PA announcer was very low key which is always a plus, and the music was kept at a low level. Stadium was packed and it is not hard to believe that this stadium can hold over 15,000. I did not really get to watch the in-between inning promotions due to me roaming around the stadium. However, the remote control car race looked like it would be fun. Overall, it seemed people were interested in watching a baseball game.

Pricing: D

Sadly, this stadium is not cheap and could be a problem for the potential young married couple on a budget ( my wife and I) or the college student. Our berm seats were $16.00 and we opted to walk to the stadium because we live two blocks from the stadium so we did not have to pay for parking. I saw ticket prices ranging anywhere from $8.00 to $24.00 dollars. We saw parking for $5.00 and $7.00. I had a good chuckle with seeing a minor league first outside the stadium: a ticket scalper! No one offered me a program and if they did have them for sell, I did not see them. For food, we had the two All- Star hot dogs that were dressed with fajita toppings for $5.25 each along with some pretzel bits with cheese for $5.00 and finally two drinks at $3.75 a piece. Ouch ! Sadly, no souvenir cups for non-alcoholic drinks were available for purchase which is a rarity in a minor league stadium and something I always purchase. Only thing that saved the rating from being lower is that the food is exactly good. The All-Star hot dog is the best ballpark hot dog I have ever experienced.

Autographing: A

I could very easily take the autograph review from Riverwalk Stadium and paste it in this thread. Setup is the same with no nets or other objects restricting your access to the players or the dugout. Box seat Section 19 on the visiting teams side and box seat Section 7 on the Bees baseline is where you need to setup. Bullpen players will also walk pass you in these sections. Did I get everyone I needed ? No, but it was not due to the stadium. Security and the ushers for the most part seemed relaxed and did not monitor my actions around the players, which is always nice. Graphing the outside of the stadium as the players leave looks like it could be a potential problem but looks like with Spring Mobile Ballpark's setup that graphing the outside the stadium will be rare.

Overall, I could not think of a better place to build a ballpark in Salt Lake City. However, let me warn you. The panoramic view of the Wasatch Mountains make it hard to pay attention to the action on the field once your inside Spring Mobile Ballpark. It will be the 7th inning before you know it. I stayed in Salt Lake City for 17 months, I probably attended 15 games in this stadium and noticed something different about the stadium every time I entered it. The photo's above were mainly my favorites from those 15 games and for the most part captured what I enjoyed about the stadium.

AT & T Field - Chattanooga, TN

2009-08-21T15:09:00.005-05:00

Earlier this month, my new wife and I decided to go to Tennessee with no destination determined before we departed. One stop we had planned once we were pass Birmingham was to catch a game a Stars game in Huntsville. Sadly, I read the schedule wrong and the Stars were out of town that week. We decided to go to Chattanooga, Tennessee. and visit Rock City which I have never been to along with attending a Lookouts game. AT & T Field is located on top of Hawk Hill in downtown Chattanooga carefully placed along the Tennessee River, a highway that parallels the stadium along the outfield part of the stadium and is with walking distance of the Tennessee Aquarium. AT & T Field was completed in 2000 and was originally named Bellsouth Park and later changed to AT & T Park in 2007. The program that was given to me at the gate stated the stadium can hold around 6,000 people which kind of surprised me. The only complaint I read about this stadium before I visited is that you cannot see the river from the stadium. My view on that is if I want to look at water I will go fishing. Biggest problem one will have in attempting to watch a game at this stadium is finding a place to park.

Stadium Rating: B

The stadium itself does not offer anything that really stands out when compared to the other stadiums I have visited this year. You can tell it was built on a budget similar to Hank Aaron Stadium with the intent to not waste any space. The 1st thing I pointed out to my wife was how tall the outfield walls were throughout the stadium. The bullpens for both teams are hidden within the outfield wall that also features a hitting area. The stadium has more of a college stadium feel to it due to the large amount of bleacher seats and reminds me a lot of Stanky Field in Mobile, Alabama. Chattanooga's playing field dimensions were nothing out of the ordinary and there are no power alleys. There isn't much foul terrority on either side of the field.

We purchased two general admission tickets and sat in the family section which was bleacher seating. The majority of seating is located along the 1st base side of the stadium. We picked this area due to it being the only area that provided shade from the sun which was a request by my wife that was not located under the press boxes. From our seats, you could see the mountains. The concourse is located under the seating area and features all the stuff you expect to be in a Minor League Baseball stadium. The only area of the stadium that has limited access besides the luxury boxes is the picnic pavilion which provided seating that is elevated above right field by at least 30 feet. The designers of this stadium placed this area in the correct place and it is the only place in the stadium that one can view both the bridge and the river while inside the stadium. The luxury boxes did not seem that luxurious and kind of small when compared to other stadiums that I have visited this year.

The Big River Beer Garden was closed and I never found out what function it was suppose to serve. I didn't get to see the Chattanooga Choo-Choo train move at all and if did I was exploring other areas of the stadium. I didn't understand the barber chair until after I returned home from my trip. AT& T Field has a lot of poor sight-lines depending on your seat. I like how they provided a scoreboard for other Dodgers affiliates in center field. We all want a nice setting, convenient parking and good sightlines. As a fan, you also want good concessions, a wide concourse and plenty of leg room. With AT & T Field I was comfortable and the concessions were cheap which was okay with me.

Baseball Atmosphere: D

One of the things that I did notice is the lack of excitement from the PA announcer throughout the game. This made the stadium feel even more like a college stadium. Crowd mostly seems to be more interested in the cheap beer due to the length of the concession lines and it being a makeup firework night game. One thing I did enjoy was the lack of music playing in between at bats and innings. Some music is okay but I prefer sound effects and movie bits in key parts of the game over music. The atmosphere may be to relaxed for most people.

Autographing: A

If you have trouble obtaining autographs inside AT & T Field then you are not putting forth the effort to obtain them. My wife did the Lookouts side and had no problem getting the players attention because they had to enter the field from a door in the right field corner. I could see how this area could get very crowded if you did not arrive early due to it being near the picnic pavilion entrance. The only part of the stadium that is working against you is the location of both teams’ bullpens. The bullpen players do not have to come anywhere close to either dugout if they do not want too. On this particular night they didn't which was okay considering I did not have many cards for either team. Your best bet is to graph the visiting team before game and do the Lookouts after the game while inside. Gates opened a hour and half early and I got to graph some of the Suns players has they were finishing batting practice. The height of the brick walls that separate you from the field make for a very easy setup on both sides of the stadium.
Outside the Lookouts and visiting team are easy. The home team players have to walk across the field to their cars parked behind left field but most of them come out on a small concourse area in right field just outside the gates by some steps that I used to enter the stadium. The visiting team also uses this entrance.

Pricing: A

It cost me 4 dollars to park, 8 dollars for two general admission tickets that included two free drinks along with two free hot dog vouchers. The lady at the concession stand gave me a free souvenir cup. We got a free firework show and the program only cost .25 cents.

You will have some locals tell you that the stadium is nothing like the old stadium that the Lookouts played in before they moved into AT & T Field. However, I enjoyed the stadium due to its relaxing atmosphere and my main purpose was to get autographs. I would mind attending a Lookouts game again in the future and take some better pictures.

Hammons Field - Springfield, MO

2009-04-29T02:45:00.006-05:00

ast week I had the opportunity to watch a Springfield Cardinals game at Hammons Field while traveling to a wedding. I decided to take a break from driving and watch the Cardinals play a game against the Tulsa Drillers. The Cardinals currently serve has the Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Although my visit inside the stadium was very brief, it was well worth it. Hammons Field is located in downtown Springfield, Missouri and is a little off the beaten path but still easy to find. The stadium seats around 8,000 and was completed in 2004. It is estimated that it cost around 30 million to complete the stadium and was completely funded by John Q Hammons who is a local businessperson. The Cardinals also share the stadium with the Missouri State University Bears.

Stadium Rating: A

The 1st thing you will notice driving up to the stadium is the exterior is made of brick and features brick towers along the baselines. The stadium features a 340 degree outfield concourse that ends in right field that features both bleacher seating and grass berm seating. Yes, that is right. Not a full 360 degrees for some odd reason. In dead center, the batter’s sight line is a cluster of pine trees which I have never seen in a stadium. Where the outfield concourse ends, you can see a little bit of the fully furnished indoor practice area and a small baseball field along with a building that serves as a business office. Luxury boxes are located down the 1st base line and behind home plate. You can find the party deck along the 3rd base side which features the Redbird Roost which requires a ticket for access. I did not find any obstructed view seats throughout the stadium, but I imagine it is hard to find a shaded area during a day game.

My only problem with the concourse is the area behind home plate. Here you will find several counters that allow general admission ticket holders to stand while watching the game. The counters are appealing because they provide cup holders and are tactically placed around beer and food vendors.The designers of the stadium probably thought they were making good use of some open space but all it does is add more congestion in the concourse. The groups that formed around the counters resulted in it being difficult to get to and from my seat because my seat was one row below the counters. The counters also made the concession lines confusing because you could not tell who was waiting in line or who was just chatting with a friend. I imagine it is hard to navigate from one side of the stadium to the other with a full house. Hammons Field features one of the larger jumbotrons I have seen in a minor league baseball stadium. The scoreboard reminds me a lot of a scaled down version of the jumbotron at Turner Field.

One of the oddest quirks about the stadium is that it features a basketball court in the kids play area along the 3rd baseline. Gift Shop is one of the nicer ones I have seen in the pass four years and the picnic area is in a great place to watch the action on the field although it not angled correctly. This caused a large portion of the infield to not be visible depending on your seat. My bleacher seat behind home plate was enjoyable and comfortable because it provided plenty of leg room and had a concrete wall to lean back on.

Autographing: A

Autographing inside Hammons Field is very easy regardless if it’s the visiting team or the home team. Each night at Hammons Field, several players are stationed at the gate entrances to greet fans and sign autographs, as the gates open. Players are sometimes available by the home dugout on the first base side before and after the game, and are available to sign as time permits. This perk is usually only offered to season ticket holders or one or two days a year at most stadiums I have visited.

The best place and only place you need to be for the visiting team is on the 1st Row of Section N along the 3rd base dugout box area to the far left. The visiting team has to walk down a long corridor into the stadium from their locker room. This does not give any of the visiting players the impropriety to avoid you. You can graph either side of the corridor but you have more room along the dugout box area then in the grass berm area. If you missed one of the visiting teams’ bullpen players, you have easy access to them along the outfield concourse from their bullpen. It is elevated but very easy to toss a ball to the players for them to sign. For the Cardinals, you have access to the players on either side of the dugout. The Cardinals bullpen is located to the right side of the dugout boxes along the 1st base sideline. It doesn't get any easier then this.

Baseball Atmosphere: A

You do not need to be reminded that you are at a baseball game and you can quickly forget that you are attending a minor league baseball with the fans sporting Cardinal red. You could tell for the most part that the fans were there to see the Cardinals of the future and to enjoy a baseball game. For a Thursday night crowd, it was packed. I did not really get to watch a lot of the in between inning activities because I was exploring the stadium.

Pricing: D

Ticket prices range from $6 to $23.50 depending on your seat location. The $23.50 ticket is for the Redbird Roost which is a special section that features an all you can eat menu that features no beer. I choose the $6.00 ticket which was for general admission. I was told that this ticket was for seating in the grass berms in the outfield and for the bleacher sections located in certain areas throughout the stadium. I sat on the bleacher behind home plate and thought the view was no different then the $11.00 seats five yards in front of me. I choose to park in the Holiday Inn Express parking lot across the street for free. $7.00 for parking is absurd. I got a pretzel for $3.50 and a bottled Diet Coke for $2.50. I could see how attending a game for a family of four could get very expensive for the family on a budget.

Overall, this was an easy stadium to review because there was very little to complain about and I only got to explore the stadium for about five innings. For those thinking about a road trip to Hammons Field, it is a must. Just do not pay for parking!