Ballpark Tours (BPT) based out of Saint Paul, Minnesota, is celebrating its 35th Anniversary by offering a pair of trips that reflect a baseball-touring heritage launched back in 1982. Ballpark Tours, which grew out of the “Save the Met” (outdoor stadium) organization, has taken busloads of fans on major- and minor-league baseball “treks” of three-to-ten days, ranging as far north as Duluth, as far south as Chattanooga, as far west as Denver, as far east as New York City – and simply “as far away” as Cuba. This year, in honor of the touring company’s 35th Anniversary, BPT is focusing on trips that reflect its earliest jaunts – short (3-4 day) excursions to outdoor ballparks in the upper Midwest – an ideal way to start (or add to) your own baseball touring tradition. (Note: I’ve been on 28 BPT treks and brought home great memories from every one.)
Ballpark “Tourers” share a passion for baseball, fun and friendship.
A Ballpark Tours trip is the perfect way to enjoy the national pastime – good times with good friends (old and new) who share a passion for baseball, fun and adventure. As BBRT has noted in the past “Once you get on the Ballpark Tours bus, every mile is a memory.” To get the flavor of a BPT trek, you can browse reports from past trips by clicking here. I’ve also included a few photos from recent trips at the end of this post.
Now, here’s a brief rundown (details courtesy of Ballpark Tours) of the 2017 Ballpark\k Tours offerings, for more info, prices and a sign-up sheet, click here.
Iowa Retreat – June 16-18
Principal Park – Des Moines – home of the Iowa Cubs.
A minor-league jaunt that will take you to three ball games in Cedar Rapids (Cedar Rapid Kernels vs. Clinton Lumber Kings) and Des Moines (Iowa Cubs vs. Omaha Storm Chasers for two games.) You’ll get to see some of the top prospects of the Minnesota Twins, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals – not to mention the typical minor-league promotions, traditoinal Ballpark Tours hoopla and the opportunity to visit a microbrewery and take in the Cedar Rapids Baseball Hall of Fame.
Bleacher Bums XXXV – August 3-6
Four games, (two major league/two minor league) in three cities in four days – including two games at Wrigley Field, home of the World Champion Chicago Cubs (versus the Nationals). There will also be games in Beloit, WI (Beloit Snappers vs. Peoria Chiefs) and Appleton, WI (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers vs. Cedar Rapids Kernels). Plus, a great hotel and free time in Chicago, and a brewery stop
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Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.
—BALLPARK TOURS – A FEW MEMORIES—
