2024 was a year of wonderful baseball experiences I will never forget. I traveled as far was as Tacoma, Washington. Took in a Rainiers game with Mount Rainier in the background. I traveled to Phoenix, Arizona and just about every Cactus League Stadium in the greater Phoenix area. Even got to attend a Cubs vs Brewers and Giants vs Reds game to add to the Cactus League experience. I only attended one MLB game, it featured future Hall of Famer Bryce Harper as his Phillies faced the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia. I was lucky enough to attend several Minor League games, including my new hometown team, the Norfolk Tides. University baseball fields were a big part of my 2024 baseball experiences, with several recently in California that just absolutely blew my mind. I got back into reading books and finished about 20 of them in 2024, big shocker they all had baseball themes. Overall, it was a busy, exciting, exhausting at times, but very rewarding round of baseball experiences in 2024. Here are some photos from my journey:

Sadly, baseball and the human race lost a number of its valued family members in 2024. With all respect to anyone I missed, here are a few that gave me pause and to take a moment of silence to remember them:

• Rickey Henderson
• Luis Tiant
• Pete Rose
• Willie Mays
• Carl Weathers
• Bill Walton
• Larry Lucchino
• Fernando Valenzuela
• Lou Carnesecca

I mentioned getting back into reading books in 2024. I found a fantastic book store here in Virginia Beach called 2nd & Charles, which offers new and used books, CDs, vinyl, toys, and so much more. 2nd & Charles has a nice section of sports books, biographies, historical volumes are really decent prices, so I took full advantage. Best book I read this year, hands down, was “The New York Game,” by Kevin Baker. Others making it into the top ten included “Satchel” by Larry Tye, “The Last Best League” by Jim Collins, and “The Teammates” by David Halberstam. You can check out my book reviews on these books and some of the others I read here – Books and Messages Page.

I mentioned traveling all over the US in 2024. Well, I traveled for work (ABF Freight) and often times found some personal time in my travels to explore and experience local baseball parks and traditions. Favorite baseball park – Brooklyn Cyclones. Best fan view of a baseball field – Delmarva Shorebirds boardwalk spanning the outfield perimeter. Most engaged fans – Somerset Patriots. Most interesting field – Dwyer Stadium, Batavia, NY. Coldest game – Tacoma Rainiers by far. Hottest game – Philadelphia Phillies, where the sun felt like it was pitching against the Blue Jays. Best University Field – Cal State Fullerton. Best University Makeover Field – Bryant University, Smithfield, RI. Most pissed off fans – Hohokam Stadium, home of the Oakland A’s for the Cactus League. Red Sox minor league teams watched vs other opponents – Portland Sea Dogs vs Somerset Patriots, Salem Red Sox vs Delmarva Shorebirds, Worcester Red Sox vs Norfolk Tides. Best minor leaguer I saw this year – Roman Anthony, Worcester Red Sox. Minor leaguer stuck in AAAA purgatory – Bobby Dalbec, Worcester Red Sox. You can see all the places I have visited on my Baseball Places page. And here is a map of some of the minor league parks I visited in 2024:

One of the joys I have as a writer is interviewing interesting baseball figures. 2024 was no exception. I got to meet the actual cartoonist, Robert Trondsen, who drew Roy Hobbs in the movie “The Natural” and got to see and share some of his early drawings. I interviewed Norfolk State Baseball standout Justin Journette, who participated in the Swingman Classic this summer. I had a fantastic sit down with the brain trust behind the Peninsula Pilots and how they help run a successful summer collegiate baseball team here in Hampton Roads. This in addition to the hundreds of fans, valets, stadium attendants, and more at each facility, park, and stadium I visited. Baseball is a beautiful way to connect with people of all ages, races, points of view, and I just love hearing what others have to say about this great game.

So, let me be the first, second, or 1000th person to wish you and your family a very Happy New Year. What will 2025 bring, well that is up to you! Do you want to stare at a computer and experience life second hand? Or do you want to venture out and hear the sounds of a wooden bat cracking a baseball somewhere? For me, experience is living and that is what I plan to do. Experience life. My very best to you and yours in your journey in 2025. And heck, if you have a great baseball story, I’m all ears!!!