Who knew that giving Daniel a Philly cheese steak for high school graduation would launch a baseball tradition. But it did. It seemed reasonable that if we were going to Philadelphia anyway, why not see a game too. And at the game I think it was Daniel who made what was really a passing comment that we should go see all the ballparks. But like all great ideas, it took hold quickly and we figured, why not? So that became the goal. See a game in every major league park. The modified goal became to see a home game for every team. They build new stadiums too quickly these days. After the rain out at Yankee Stadium, the goal is a little of both now. But if we get through all the teams, we’ll go for all the stadiums.
Current count: 27 of 30. Or 26 depending on the judge’s ruling on the rainout at Yankee Stadium.
What makes a game an official father/son game? The minimum requirement, other than obviously, Daniel and I must go to the game together, is the game must be scored in the official book and the official photo must be taken. It’s been 15+ years and we have yet to make a final determination on whether the game has to actually be played. Along with the official rules there are other traditions. We usually arrive early for batting practice and take a picture of Daniel in the empty seats. Then walk around the stadium looking for what makes the particular ballpark unique and I generally try to get a ‘panorama’ picture or two. And we try to sample whatever food the ballpark is best known for. If there’s a museum or ‘hall of fame’ we’ll check that out too. And usually the team store.
Remaining teams: Marlins, Rays, Tigers
The team we’ve seen the most (so far): As of 2023, it’s the Reds with 6 followed by the Cubs at 5. Then a three way tie with the Braves, Mariners and Tigers at 4. We have now seen every team either as the home or away team. Although technically we haven’t actually seen the Yankees play. Just stand around in the rain.
First games:
Bart’s first major league baseball game: April 10, 1971 at the first game ever played in Veteran’s Stadium in Philadelphia. The Phillies beat the Montreal Expos 4-1. I went with my Dad.
Daniel’s first major league baseball game: July 31, 2000 at Safeco Field in Seattle. The Mariners lost to the Red Sox 8-5. Daniel went with me (and my team from Intel — it was a team building exercise).
Records:
| Longest Game: | Red Sox/Rays, 2008 – 14 innings |
| Worst Loss: | Royals/Tigers, 2014 – Tigers 10, Royals 1 |
| Most Hits by One Team: | Royals/Tigers, 2014 – Tigers: 19 hits |
| Most Hits Overall: | Rockies/Giants, 2010 – 32 hits |
| Fewest Hit by One Teams: | Reds/Braves, 2022 – Reds: 1 hit |
| Fewest Hits Overall: | Reds/Braves, 2022 – 8 hits |
| Most Total Runs: | Rockies/Giants, 2010 – Score: 10-9 |
| Fewest Total Runs: | Padres/Reds, 2006 and Braves/Padres, 2013 – Score: 2-1 |
| Hottest temperature (overall): | Diamondbacks/Cubs, 2007 – Temp: 105 (but game was indoors) |
| Hottest temperature (endured): | Orioles/Twins, 2008 – Temp: 95 and humid |
| Coldest temperature: | White Sox/Indians, 2011 – Temp: low 60’s and rainy |
| Best plays: | Diamondbacks/Cubs, 2007 – Derrek Lee (Cubs) hits an inside the park home run
Rockies/Giants, 2010 – Troy Tulawitzki hits a walk off double to beat the Giants in 10 innings. Angels/Tigers, 2012 – Mike Trout robs Prince Fielder of a home run with an over the wall catch. |
View the Father/Son Baseball Book – Volume 1
View the official Scorebook