Day 1 (5/10/04):
Today is the first day we are officially out of school, and we can start our Senior Experience. It is a very crucial day for us--we have to start mapping out our schedule for the next 3 weeks or so. My partner, Lee Levine, and I started visiting major league and minor league teams websites to see how we can schedule our traveling with their home games. We need to figure out the feasible amount of stadiums we can visit--due to traveling, scheduling, PRICES--and any overnight plans we might need to make. It was tough to do, but we eventually banged out an 18-day schedule, filled with games, research days, and time to complete our project.
Day 2 (5/11/04):
Today we scheduled our first day trip. Today is Tuesday, and tomorrow the 12th, we had a game in Reading PA, the Reading Phillies--a minor league AA team. We went to the teams website to get driving instructions, and ticket prices. The ticket prices ranged from FREE to $9.50. We got the $7.50 tickets. The seats are about mid level, on the first base side. We arranged for Lee to drive, because he knew the area well, because he is going to college up there next year (Penn State Berks). Its about an hour and 15 minute drive, so we planned on leaving at around 9:30 to give us extra time before the 11:35 game time.
We also schedule our trip for the Yankees game, which is the day after the game in Reading. The Yankees game is especially hard to plan, because of all the traveling involved. The first thing we did was buy the tickets, because Yankee games are usually close to Sold Out. We bought the cheapest tickets--the only tickets available--for $12.50. The seats are in the bleachers in right field. For the traveling part, we called my moms friends in New York who go to a lot of Yankee games, and they gave us directions for the subways.
Day 3 (5/12/04):
Today is our first baseball game. The game is in Reading PA. The stadium is called First Energy Stadium. The home team, the Reading Phillies are playing the Harrisburg Senators. These are AA minor league teams. We left this morning at around 9:30, and got to the park at around 10:45. When we got to the park, we got in line for will call to get our tickets. We got our tickets and went to see where our seats where. When we got to our seats, someone else was sitting in them. When we looked at our tickets we realized they gave us tickets for the July 4th game. We went back to customer service, and they gave us new tickets, and a free upgrade. We went to our new seats and got situated. The stadium was really different from any major league stadium I have ever been to. The architecture of the ballpark reminded me of a high school field. There werent many seats, and anywhere you sat, you had a great view. Everywhere you sat was a good viewpoint, and you felt up close and a part of the action. Thats what minor league teams and stadiums are all about. The community gets involved in the game, whether its by cheering on their home team, or by participating in little contests in between each inning. The crowd at the game wasnt like a regular crowd at a major league game. The people were of all ages, little kids up to grandparents; there is something for everyone. There is even a swimming pool in the right field for the kids to play in while they watched the game. Before the game started they had some kind of contest on the field--it really felt like a minor league game. The atmosphere at this stadium is really different from any major league stadium. In between each inning, they had some kind of contest with the mascots and the fans. In between the 3rd and 4th inning, there was a contest to win a free Papa Johns pizza. The mascots were going from section to section looking for the wildest and rowdiest fans, and wouldnt you know it, we won the free pizza. It was awesome! The rest of the game went pretty slow, it was just like a normal minor league game. During the game we went over to the visiting teams dugout, and talked to the players--thats how much different it is from major league team. We actually got autographs from the players while the game was going on--I think the players were just happy people actually wanted their autographs. This kind of stuff would never happen during a major league game. It was just a completely different atmosphere here, and it was enjoyable.
Day 4 (5/13/04):
Today we went to the Yankees game. This was the first I ever went to New York by my self, with my friends, and without adult supervision--it was amazing. I was excited even before we left, because I knew we were going to Yankee Stadium, the home of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Joe DiMaggio and many more greats. This stadium has so much history. The stadium really gave off that vibe too. Most ballparks that are being constructed nowadays, for example Citizens Bank Park, are designed after parks like Yankee Stadium. Yankee stadium isnt a bowl; it is an open field where you can see out into the city. Thats how all of the ballparks used to look like. Now that design is coming back. The new ballparks are going for the architecture of the retro design. For directions to and from the stadium, we called my moms friend in New York, who has season tickets. He gave us directions from Penn Station to the stadium, and then back. To get to Penn Station, we drove from our houses to the Trenton train station, and then took a train to Penn Station. From Penn Station, we took the 1 train to 59th and Columbus Circle, and then we got on the D train, and took that to Yankee Stadium (161st street). Coming home, we just reversed the directions. The game was amazing. I had never been to a Yankees game in my life, and this just blew me away. When I got home, my dad was so jealous of me, because he has never been to Yankee Stadium either, and he is a huge baseball fan. I told him all about it, and I think were gonna go back so he can experience it too.
Day 5 (5/14/04):
Today we mapped out our trip to Baltimore to see Camden Yards. We called--what seemed like--all of the hotels in the inner harbor to try and get the best rates for 3 adults, and try and get the closest one to the ballpark. We finally decided on one, but then we were told you had to be at least 21 to check-in to this hotel without an adult. Then we called some more, and decided on the Marriott Courtyard. It was much farther from the ballpark, but it had better rates, and you could be 18 to check-in. We made the reservations over the phone with Lees moms credit card and we were all set. For our Orioles tickets, Adams cousin in Baltimore has season tickets, so he gave us three tickets for the game on the 16th. Adam said that the seats are close to field level, they are supposed to be amazing.
