MLB Stadium Tour Complete!

MLB Stadium Mission Complete!

With the 2025 baseball season in the rearview mirror, I’m beyond excited to share that THIS is the season I completed my mission: attending a game at every Major League ballpark—34 parks in all!

Mother Nature made it tense as she threatened extra innings, but after a one-hour rain delay, the clouds parted, the first pitch was thrown, and I checked the last stadium off my list in Cincinnati!

Attending a game at the Great American Ballpark was the perfect full-circle moment. With a VIP experience hosted by the fabulous Shannon Redgate, a scoreboard shoutout, and my family joining from Toledo, the day was truly unforgettable.

Thank you to Brandi Finn, Patrick Finn, Rebecca Ligibel, Rob McKinney, and Jim and Angel Dandar for all the special touches!

And THANK YOU TO ALL WHO'VE JOINED ME ON THIS FUN RIDE!!!

The two questions I get asked most often are…

(1) What got you started?

(2) Which park is your favorite?

Here are my responses:

What got me started — About two years into my career in the automotive refinish industry, I began traveling frequently for work. As a young, single woman, it wasn’t always ideal to join the guys after hours or dine alone at a restaurant. Sitting in a hotel room, flipping channels, just wasn’t my thing.

Then, on a trip to company headquarters in Pittsburgh, I stayed just a few blocks from PNC Park. I thought, why not? I walked over, bought a ticket, and spent the evening making laps around the stadium, soaking in the scenes—the players on the field, the downtown skyline, and the Allegheny River. The sights, the smells, the sounds—it was all so entertaining. It was fun, it felt safe, and it gave me an instant connection with the Pirates fans I met the next day.

A year later, under similar circumstances, I snagged a ticket to see the Angels play in LA. This time I actually sat in a seat and made a few new friends.

From there it gained momentum as a fun checklist. I love a good checklist and this one was a home run. Haha… I started using it as a deciding factor when invited to out-of-town events. When I received a wedding save-the-date, I eagerly cross-referenced it with the home team’s schedule and made plans accordingly.

When possible, work trips were planned around games. When cool co-workers learned of my checklist, they were often excited to turn it into a customer event or something bigger. Shout out to my West Coast players!

Trips to visit friends, training events, my bachelorette party, and several birthday trips were all planned around when the home team was in town.

Which park is my favorite?

Impossible to choose just one! Each stadium stands out for its own reasons: the haunting spirits of old Yankee Stadium (I had chills until at least the 6 inning), the palm tree-lined vista at Dodger Stadium (congrats back-to-back champs!), even the unique lack of view at Oakland’s ballpark, yet a seat that came with unlimited peanuts. Who knew??

And the most recent game in Cincinnati felt like a holiday. My family made signs, commemorative koozies, and even a hat honoring my last stadium and my 20-month-old’s first stadium. It couldn’t have been better!

My Journey in Stadiums – Shared with gratitude and a little something that stands out

2025 – Cincinnati Reds – The Reds rolled out the red carpet and even though it was raining, we got to go out on the field, stand in the dugout, and catch a ball from one of Cinci’s pitchers, Brent Suter. Thanks, Brent! My little one loved it! Thanks for getting married in Cinci, Nick and Bria Sugg!

2025 Philadelphia Phillies – Landed in Philly, Ubered to the stadium, checked my bag in a locker, caught a few innings, Uber’ed back to the airport and flew back!

2023 – Texas Rangers (New stadium) – Gave a keynote at Texas Instruments and stayed with my lovely friend Kylee who caught the game with me.

2022 Atlanta Braves (New stadium) – My husband and I stayed with a friend from college and froze our tails off at opening day. It was warmer in Denver than Atlanta that day.

2019 Baltimore Orioles – Extended a work trip and missed a Pitbull concert to make this one happen.

2018 Toronto Blue Jays – Drove from Detroit on my birthday weekend and used Canadian cash leftover from our honeymoon in Cuba.

2017 San Francisco Giants – Brrr! Jessica Mears joined me as we attended a conference by day and hit the ballpark that night.

2016 Milwaukee Brewers – I was SO relieved to learn this stadium had a roof, as snow was flying, and I was concerned the game would be canceled!

2015 Tampa Bay Rays – My bachelorette party! (3 days after the game at Miami.)

2015 Miami Marlins – I ate ceviche and joined my fiancé’s uncle, whom I’d never met. He was very gracious to take me out to the ballgame. Thanks, Uncle David McKinney!

2014 Kansas City Royals – I had one week off between jobs, flew to Kansas City, and was there less than 24 hours. The Royals were playing the Yankees and it was Jeter’s last season, so the had a special ceremony to honor him.

2012 New York Yankees (New stadium) – Had the royal treatment, complete with an insider tour, walk on the field, a press pass to sit in a press box one press box away from Paul O’Neil. This game went into extra innings resulting in an exciting Yankees W. Thank you, Ivan Sokalsky!

2012 New York Mets – Same trip as the new Yankee Stadium. I had my suitcase with me and thankfully received a press pass (thanks again, Ivan!) so I could store my bag and take a cab straight to the airport.

2011 Boston Red Sox – Saw the Big Green Monster on a Tuesday in May, and you would’ve thought Boston was in a pennant race. The fans are DEDICATED.

2011 Minnesota Twins – Visited high school buddy Rick Hardesty and his wife Jillian Hardesty. Thanks for your hospitality!

2010 San Diego Padres – I saw Chapman throw a 105 mph fastball! My sister Sally Dandar Lyons met me. I think I was there for work. I honestly don’t remember why I was in San Diego. My buddy Michael came down from LA to join us as well. You can watch the game for free on a lawn outside.

2010 St. Louis Cardinals – Thanks for getting married in St. Louis, Tim Carroll and Danielle Carroll!

2009 Texas Rangers – Attended in the hometown of ex-boyfriend A.

2009 Washington Nationals – Attended in the hometown of ex-boyfriend A’s brother.

2008 Chicago White Sox – I’ve never been so cold! It was rain/sleeting and my sister, Colleen Dandar Tankoos commented that I looked dead because my lips were purple.

2008 Atlanta Braves (Old stadium) – Visited my best friend from college. Thanks, Dana Rankar Feeney and Kevin Feeney!

2008 New York Yankees (Old stadium) – Speechless. Stunned. Chills. Met my cousin Jason LaBonte, his girlfriend at the time, now wife, Meredith L. F. LaBonte, and a friend from grad school.

2007 Seattle Mariners – I can no longer eat garlic fries because of this stadium. LOL. I did enjoy the crowd going wild as the trains rolled by and blew their whistles.

2007 Detroit Tigers (New stadium) – Attended in ex-boyfriend B’s hometown.

2006 Dodger Stadium – Ahhh, one of the best. We rode bikes from the house of a friend who lives nearby. Such a fun day, Michael. Thank you!

2006 Chicago Cubs – It was a cold day in Cubby land, but my cousin Geoff Ligibel and other family members dressed for football weather and we had a blast.

2004 Houston Astros – I took a textbook from grad school and studied in the upper deck while the game went on in the background.

2004 Oakland A's – Unlimited peanuts were part of the deal with our tickets. Thanks, Ken Mattos!

2004 Anaheim Angels – Went by myself. Had a blast. Story above.

2003 Pittsburgh Pirates - Went by myself. Had a blast. Story above.

2000 Colorado Rockies – I attended so many games one summer, I got invited to the stadium bartender’s wedding. True story.

1999 Arizona Diamondbacks – My second week working for PPG, they flew me to Phoenix for training. A few of us caught a game. I thought I’d hit the ‘real world’ jackpot!

1999 Cleveland Indians – Days before I moved to Colorado, my buddy, Casey Lehman, and I, went to a game. I still have a ball from that game. Thanks, Case!

1999 Detroit Tigers (Old stadium) – My aunt, cousins (Brad Ligibel, Doug Morsches, Tom Merritt), and two friends went to this stadium the summer after I graduated from Ohio State. Little did I know this was the start of the most joyful, enduring long-term adventure and best checklist I’ve ever had!

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