The Baseball Trip 2025

Day 9 - Saturday July 26

We are cutting the trip short by one day because we are tired of 98 degree weather and I am in need of medical attention.

One thing I can do without pain is sit still in a car and drive. So that's something.

We decided to revisit the Skyline Drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains because the last time we took the drive we encountered torrential downpours.

So guess what? Torrential downpours!!

Nonetheless...105 miles at a maximum speed of 35 MPH.

This is what it looked like when I figured I should pull over.

Well, as soon as I become tech savvy, I'll even post a video.

But here are some pictures from along the way, rain or not:

Before we left for this beautiful drive, we had breakfast at the Aberdeen Diner, Aberdeen, MD.

Random Observation From Randy: These must be the patron saints of the diner:

The Potomac River along the way after breakfast:

Favorite Town Names: Buckeystown, MD

                                        Longdale Furnace, VA

Favorite Signs: Animal Collision Area

                          High Crash Area

Random Observation From Randy: I don't think West Virginia has wi-fi yet.

Casinos - 0

Unique People - 0

Cybertrucks - 1

Things we cannot hang around for: Family Nite Out in Aberdeen, MD.

Next: Travel Day. Let's just move it.

 The Baseball Trip 2025

Day 8 - Friday, July 25

Again, a turn for the worse: The Cape May Ferry to Baltimore was sold out. All day! Bummer!

Random Observation From Randy: It's not a baseball trip without a ferry ride, dammit!

We then drove around the bay into Baltimore.

Please note: We sat in buckets of sweat as it was 96 degrees at game time (7:05)!

The Orioles were facing the Colorado Rockies, the worst team in baseball. The O's hit 4 solo home runs in the first two innings for a 4-0 lead. The Rockies fought back with a couple of dingers themselves and eventually forged a 5-5 tie. They added a run in the 8th to take a 6-5 lead and hung on to defeat the Orioles. That had to be disappointing.

One more note: The fans in the open seating area had to evacuate for a couple of innings because of lightning!

And then it came!

Some pictures from Oriole Park at Camden Yards:

Outside the park.

Statue of Brooks Robinson.

Eutaw Street outside the park.

Right field corner and the warehouse behind.

Left field stands.

Center field videoboard.

Favorite Town Names: Erma, NJ,

                                       Tuckahoe, NJ.

Favorite Signs: If you drive like a sea turtle, stay out of the left lane.

                          Sassafras St.

Things we cannot hang around for: Cape May County 4-H Fair and Chicken BBQ

Casinos - 1 - Horseshoe Casino Baltimore

Unique People - 0

Cybertrucks - 1

Random Observation From Randy: God I hate Google! We'd be better off following smoke signals.

Next: The Skyline Drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains.

 The Baseball Trip 2025

Day 7 - Thursday, July 24

This will be a turning point for the trip, and not a good one.

Thursday is a travel day, but there is a short stopover in Atlantic City. Last time we were here, I left Caesars without cashing 2-$100.00 chips! Doh! So we stopped in to collect my $200.00. Then we moved on to Resorts Casino, a ways down the boardwalk. Unfortunately, I tripped on the trolley track on the boardwalk and messed up a rib (I think). Very painful. I probably need an x-ray when I get back.

Nonetheless, I won an extra 50 bucks at Resorts, so that took a little bit of the sting away.

Atlantic City Boardwalk:

That's about all I have today. Move along...nothing to see here.

Casinos: - many...but I'll just count the 2 we set foot in.

Cybertrucks - 0

Unique People - 1 - Woman at the blackjack table at Resorts: "Oh honey, use my napkin. It's clean.

                            Me: Why?

                            Woman: Because you're bleeding.

Favorite Town Names: Elmer, NJ.

Favorite Sign: My Dentist Friend

Random Observation From Randy: This was interesting, but this was not fun.

Next: The Cape May Ferry to Baltimore and the Orioles.

 The Baseball Trip 2025

Day 6 - Wednesday, July 23

Today will be busy. Our first stop is Delaware Park in Wilmington, DE.

I was down a few bucks until this guy won me $40.00.

I put 5 bucks across on #3, Pegster, and he won.

More pictures from Delaware Park:

Off Track Betting/Simulcast area.

At the gate for race 4.

Infield tote board.

Paddock area.

After Delaware Park, we headed over to Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia for a night game between the Phillies and the Boston Red Sox.

The Phillies jumped out to 5-0 lead by the 3rd inning on the strength of 4 home runs. Schwarber, Harper, Castellanos, and Realmuto all went deep. Unfortunately, the Phillies starter fell apart in the 5th, giving up a double and 4 straight walks. Romy Gonzalez then hit a grand slam for a 6-5 Boston lead.

Bryson Scott hit a home run in the bottom of the 8th, tying the game for the Phillies, and sending the game into extra innings.

Both teams scored in the 10th, but Carlos Narvaez hit a two-run blast in the top of the 11th to seal the deal. The Phillies scored once in the bottom of the inning, but it was not enough. The Red Sox win, 9-8.

Some photos from Citizens Bank Park:

Front gate.

Spraying down the infield.

Center field.

Left field videoboard.

Right field line.

The view from right field.

From center field.

From left field.

Favorite Town Names: Gap, PA.

                                        Bird-in-Hand, PA.

Favorite Signs: Zook's Chicken Pie

                          Cool Joint Ice Cream

                          Cartoon Network Hotel

                          Christians and Politics...What Would Jesus Say?

Random Observation From Randy: He'd probably say, 'I'm through with all of you people!'

Things we cannot hang around for: Billie Eilish at the Wells Fargo Center.

Casinos - 0

Cybertrucks - 0

Interesting people: - 2 - Amish lady running the Canyon Coffee Company:

                             Woman at the Phillies game sitting next to me: "I'm an old lady, but I'm a hardcore                                         Phillies  fan. I'm going to get loud! Where are you guys from? Who are you rooting for?                                 Cubs? Sox? what the heck! Ok ...last question: What do you do for a living? Is it this                                     loud at all the ballparks you visit? I'm a nurse. I should retire , too. OK...last Question:                                   How long did you teach English?"

Tomorrow: A travel day, but a stop at Atlantic City.

 The Baseball Trip 2025

Day 5 - Tuesday, July 22

We are rolling through Pennsylvania hill country heading toward Harrisburg, the capitol city. Tonight the Harrisburg Senators take in the Akron Rubber Ducks in an Eastern League (AA) showdown. The Senators are an affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The Rubber Ducks are affiliated with the Cleveland Guardians.

It was a tight game, 2-2, until the top of the 8th inning, when Akron took a 3-2 lead. Harrisburg failed to get a run across in the bottom of the 8th. Akron also left runners on in the top of the ninth.

In Harrisburg's last chance, the Akron reliever walked a man to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt sent him to second. The next batter walked, putting men on first a second. After a shallow fly-ball out, Maxwell Romero, Jr. came to bat.

Romero sent the next pitch over the right field wall for a walk-off home run. Haven't seen one of those in quite a while!

Here are some photos from FNB Field in Harrisburg. The park is actually located on an island in the middle of the Susquehanna River.

Across the river from the park. You can see the Capitol Dome peeking over the skyline.

Right-center field videoboard.

Right field stands and party pavilion.

From left field.

The cheap seats.

                                                       Home plate, from the right field stands.

Right field from the stands.

Me with Rascal, the Senator's mascot.

Favorite Signs:  Aggressive Driver Crash Assistance

                          Try an exciting new career as a bus driver!

Random Observation From Randy: I couldn't be a bus driver. I'd have to wrap all the kids in a Hannibal Lecter outfit.

Favorite Town Names: Day, PA

                                      Rathmel, PA

Things we cannot hang around for: Parrish Picnic - Clarion, PA.

Casinos - 0

Cybertrucks - 2!

Unique People: - 1 - Octogenarian hitchhiking on the highway.

Tomorrow: Delaware Park for the horses during the day, Philadelphia Phillies vs. Boston Red Sox at night!

 The Baseball Trip 2025

 Day 4 - Monday, July 21

We leave the Cleveland area, headed to Erie, Pennsylvania and Presque Isle Downs. The ponies await.

Random Observation From Randy: 89 will take us to 5, and 5 will take us right into Pennsylvania. Then we can get the hell out of Ohio.

Presque Isle is also a casino, so yes, that will show up in the stats.

Favorite sign: Vicious Biscuit      That is also the name of the place we stopped for breakfast. The food was good, but, to our chagrin, it turns out it's a chain. Randy noticed their franchise license on the wall.

Here's a couple of pictures from the track:

Infield tote board.

Stables.

Paddock area.

The 4 horse won me some of my money back.

I ended up down $25.00. But I went to the casino and left after I got it back. (+ $15.00 for the two Sam Adams I had.)

Favorite Town: Lucinda, PA.

Favorite Signs:  Wiggle Butt Inn

                           Peace, Love & Flat Fees

                           Dead Nuts Taxidermy

Things we cannot hang around for:  Greek Fest - Warren, OH

                                                              Paddlefest - Conneaut, PA

Casinos - 1 - see above.

Unique People - 1 - Lady talking to a horse in the paddock area. Hi baby! Hi! How are you baby?

Cybertrucks - 0

Random Observation From Randy: I have to ask my doctor why I have such ups and downs with my alertness. He'll probably tell me it's just my body fighting off death.

Tomorrow: Harrisburg, PA, and the AA Senators vs. the Akron Rubber Ducks.

 The Baseball Trip 2025

Day 3 - Sunday, July 20

We need only a short hop from Avon into Cleveland for a day game. The Guardians are hosting one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball, the Oakland A's.

But first: I forgot to post the counting numbers from yesterday, so here they are:

Casinos - 0

Unique people - 0

Cybertrucks - 0

Maybe that's why I forgot.

The Guardians plated a run in the first and second innings and never looked back. They also scored in the 4th, 7th, and 8th to post an 8-2 victory over the lowly A's.

David Frye, who is batting only .172, drove in a career high four runs. Gavin Williams pitched 7 innings of one-run ball and struck out 11 while walking one.

Here are a few snapshots from Progressive Field in Cleveland:

Right field gate.

Right field stands.

Center field.

The view from center field.

Home plate from the 3rd base line.

Left field videoboard.

By the way, Rocket Arena is just across the street. (Home of the Cleveland Cavaliers.)

Favorite Town Name: Vermillion, OH

Favorite Signs: Beer for People

                          Who is Jesus?

Random Observation From Randy: I don't believe it! A white pickup truck actually let you merge!

Things we cannot hang around for: WWE Smackdown at Rocket Arena.

Casinos - 1 - Jack Casino, Cleveland.

Unique People: - 1 - Barista at Bigby Coffee with permanent hiccups. The manager told me it's been going on for over an hour.

Cybertrucks - 0

Tomorrow: Erie, PA and the ponies at Presque Isle Downs.