In my home state of Rhode Island, I could be “dropped” in any city or town or village or hamlet and drive out of the state in less than 30 minutes. Cranston, no problem, just hop over to Connecticut. Providence, come on, give me a challenge here, 5 minutes to Attleboro, MA. Little Compton, please, it is right next door to Westport, Massachusetts. And to watch my beloved Boston Red Sox, well that was just a short drive up 95/93 to Kenmore Square in about 1 to 2 hours, barring any traffic from Mass General or Faneuil Hall businesses. 75 miles or so from home base to home plate on Jersey St. Baseball bliss!!!

Now that I am in Virginia, the closest major league stadium is in Washington, D.C. which would take me about 3 hours plus to drive there on a good day. Followed by Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, which would be roughly a 4 hour drive. The actual drive time may be closer to 5 to 6 hours because of the heavy volume of traffic around the nation’s capital. The Washington Nationals don’t play the Sox in DC this year (they play at Fenway). The Orioles being in the American League East play the Sox a number of times, first being May 27th, which I may or not be able to attend. So, what is a baseball fan, a Boston Red Sox fan to do? Where will I find professional baseball in my area that is within a reasonable driving distance? The answer is simple and wonderful and I can’t wait to experience every single game of it – the vast network of Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina minor league baseball teams. 

If you go to Minor League Baseball’s official website – www.milb.com – then click on “Teams” and then “Teams by Geography,” you will find all of the current minor league baseball teams in your area. For me, I have about a dozen or so minor league teams within a reasonable driving distance to choose from. One of them, the Norfolk Tides, is about 10 minutes from my house in Virginia Beach. Harbor Park will be one that I visit quite a bit – to catch a glimpse perhaps of the #1 prospect in all of Minor League Baseball, Norfolk Tides shortstop Jackson Holliday, and especially when the Worcester Red Sox come to town (late August). 

Where else can I go? How much time to do you have??? I can visit the Bowie Bay Sox in Bowie, MD for a game. I visited the stadium on a non-game day last fall while they were still in the playoff chase. I was granted an opportunity to walk around the stadium and take photos and promised the staff there I would be back. Bowie, MD – a cool 220 miles drive. So, Bowie is definitely on my short list.

How about the Durham Bulls, Durham, North Carolina? The famous Durham Bulls, Crash Davis, the bull’s tail moves when you hit a home run – nah that is just Hollywood stuff. The real Durham Bulls, the minor league AAA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, play in downtown Durham, another cool 193 mile drive. So, Durham Bulls, I’m coming for ya!!!

Who else is on my short list? Richmond Flying Squirrels, an easy breezy drive at just over 100 miles to Richmond, VA. How about Zebulon, North Carolina and some Carolina Mudcats Baseball action? I’m in at a cool 171 miles away. Want to take a drive up and over and through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to Maryland to see the Delmarva Shorebirds? Yes, please and I’ll get to their ball park in a comfortable 125 miles. Day trip out to Woodbridge, Virginia. Sure, I’m in and add in the Fredericksburg Nationals baseball park and you have a deal. Plus, all of these teams play Red Sox minor league teams. Added bonus!!!

Day trip, maybe an overnight stay group includes the Salem Red Sox, the Aberdeen Ironbirds (great park, was there last fall), the Lynchburg Hillcats, and the Greensboro Grasshoppers (also visited there). And there are tons more in NC, South Carolina, Tennessee that I could put on this day trip/overnight stay group as well. Well over 10 minor league baseball experiences to be had, so I have plenty to smile about as a baseball fan, heck even a Red Sox fan. I am going to see a ton of Red Sox players before they get called up to the big club via these local minor league teams. I absolutely can’t wait.

Make sure you check out the minor league baseball teams in your area and download their schedules. Minor league baseball is family friendly entertainment that is just priceless. I have so many incredible memories of taking my sons to Pawtucket (now Worcester) Red Sox games, spending quality time with family and friends, and enjoying an amazing night at the ball park within a short drive of my home. Don’t misunderstand – the professional baseball experience at a stadium like Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium is absolutely incredible. But for my money and my time and the incredible family memories I have, the minor league baseball experience is always worth the drive.