We were obviously very disappointed because we just missed seeing Joe Nathan, we even went outside to see if we could see him walking back to his hotel. We didn’t see him and walked back in. About 2 minutes later, the waitress came up to us and said “If it’s any consolation, he left this at his table.” So she handed me his newspaper that he had been working on. He had done the sudoku, the crossword, and some other games and puzzles. When he left he had autographed it and left it at his table. Pretty cool experience.

Trips- I’ve done the Buckley trips on a couple of occasions. They are true pros and it’s a great way to see some ballparks without having to do alot of legwork.

I’ve done my own trips too.
Fargo- Did a couple of trips up there. A very nice ballpark on the NDSU Campus with very loyal and friendly fans. Through a connection, I had BP on Field access. How cool to hang out by the cage during BP even if it was the Northern League. Through the same connection I wound up having beer with Manager Doug Simunic and Pitching Coach Former Twin Jeff Bittiger. It was a great time enjoying brews with a couple of great baseball minds.

Sioux Falls- Another ballpark and city that has great fans, A Pole Gang, and a creative mind behind the team operations and one of the good baseball people, John Kuhn. They renovated a basic park in 2000 to make it a modern park with quirks such as a mini golf course and fences proportioned towards HR hitters. It was a blast sitting above the Saints dugout and being the only one cheering when they clinched the 2nd half title in 2007.

Sioux City- been there once. This ballpark was done right before the boom of minor league ballparks was done so unfortunately it lacks some amenities that parks only a year or two older have. I remember it was 4th of July weekend and they had a local sing God Bless the USA. I was the only one cheering when they sang from the Lakes of Minnesota.

Des Moines- Nice ballpark on the outskirts of downtown Des Moines. Plenty of parking with a restaurant row walking distance away. Johnny’s Hall of Fame is a must for baseball fans for pregame brews and food. They don’t do much promotion wise compared to the Indy/Northwoods league ballparks. Pretty much open up the doors and sell baseball. I went there to see Edmonton play when they were the Twins AAA affiliate. Blake, LeCroy, Restovich, Frederick, Nakamura were among future Twins I got to see that night.

Cedar Rapids- great ballpark in a smaller market that really supports their team. I’ll never forget having a beer at a Ma and Pa beer joint across the street and striking up a conversation with The Chicken’s personal driver. What a gig, driving the famous Chicken from ballpark to ballpark. Saw the Twins Class A Quad Cities team play Cedar Rapids. Blackburn pitched that night for the River Bandits.

As far as Northwoods League parks, I’ve been to Duluth, Rochester, Mankato, St. Cloud (Dick Putz Field, not the new park yet), and La Crosse (nice park with a great view of the river from the 1st base bleachers).

My goal this summer will be to get down to Beloit to see the Snappers. I’ve visited the stadium but have never been to a game there.

Anyone looking to go to any Northern League or American Association parks may want to check my friends website out. aabfan.com or nlfan.com. He has travel guides for all the parks past and present.

Upper Midwest Baseball trips synopsis coming tomorrow after I get some sleep, my toothpicks holding my eyes open are bending and ready to break.

Also seen games in Fenway (my favorite), Wrigley, old Comisky, Olympic (Montreal), Shea (a pit), old Yankee (saw one-handed Jim Abbott throw no-hitter), Memorial (Baltimore), Tiger, Dodger, Fulton County and Turner, RFK.