At The Top Of My Bucket List
Makoto Takahara / January 2024 (1935 Words, 11 Minutes)
What does your bucket list look like? Here’s a peek at the top of mine.
Makoto’s (Short Term) Bucket List:
- Visit all 30 Major League Baseball (MLB) stadiums
- Make a mountain of nachos directly on a table, then eat it
- Eat toasted grasshoppers with a celebrity
- Create a personal website
- …
Since baseball season is on hold, I can’t make any progress on #1. Recently, many people have been asking me if I gained weight, so it would be wise to hold off #2 for the time being. (Un)fortunately, I managed to check #3 off of my list.
So here I am, writing a first blog post for my personal website. While we’re on the topic, I want to circle back to #1 and talk about my goal of visiting all 30 MLB stadiums.
How my dream came to be.
It all started in 2016, when I came across an Instagram post about the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Japanese superstars were set to go up against their international counterparts in Tokyo, an epic crossover that I could not afford to miss as a fan of both MLB and NPB. Unfortunately, I lived in Hong Kong at the time, with no money to my name and no solo travelling experience.
After researching the cheapest HK Express tickets and capsule hotels, I pitched the trip to my father as an low-cost, high-return investment in my personal growth. To be frank, I wasn’t sure what that growth was going to look like, but my enthusiasm and initiative was enough to convince my father.
Tokyo Dome, 2017 World Baseball Classic
Turns out, it was a great investment indeed. I had the time of my life, watching a back-and-forth game between Team Japan and Team Netherlands. I met some fellow baseball enthusiasts from around the world, explored the city (one year later, I moved to Tokyo!), and went home with an Andrelton Simmons autograph. Most importantly, it showed me that travelling for baseball is more than just watching baseball. It blended together some of my favorite aspect of life - meeting new people, watching baseball, travelling, local food & culture - into one.
My parents had taken me to a few MLB stadiums in my childhood - Angel Stadium, Dodger Stadium, Petco Park, T-Mobile Park (then known as Safeco Field), and Yankee Stadium. So upon returning to North America for college in 2021, I set a goal of visiting the rest of the stadiums before graduation. And that is how an Instagram post from 2016 inspired a series of life defining trips that have been some of the most memorable days of my life.
Leg 1: Toronto
Rogers Centre, September 2021
My MLB stadium adventure started right in my own backyard - Toronto. As I settled into the city in September 2021, I went to the Rogers Centre with some friends from college who happen to be huge Blue Jays fans. With the roof open, the CN tower overlooks a crisp Toronto autumn night at the Rogers Centre.
The Rogers Centre is now my favorite place in Toronto. Having experienced everything from bonding with friends over a beer to watching the Jays melt down in the playoffs, it feels like home to me now. One day, I want to watch a game from the Marriott embedded in the stadium - then finally, it would quite literally feel like home.
Leg 2: Chicago, Milwaukee, Boston
Every baseball fan wants to visit Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, the two oldest and most legendary ballparks in MLB. When I saw that the Angels were playing in Chigago and Boston on a roadtrip, I immediately knew where my next trip was going to take me.
Guaranteed Rate Field, April 2022
Yep you guessed it, Guaranteed Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox. My plan was to watch the Angels-White Sox series, catch a game at Wrigley Field for the Crosstown Classic, then follow the Angels to Boston for a few games at Fenway Park. These trips require meticulous planning, especially if there are specific teams or games you want to catch. The point being, Fenway and Wrigley would have to wait just a tad bit longer.
My time in the South Side of Chicago was defined by its welcoming people. My most memorable interactions include strategizing with autograph collectors to get Shohei Ohtani’s attention, being treated to drinks from opposing White Sox fans that I newly befriended, and chatting with Angels pitcher Griffin Canning about his return from injury. On another note, the Angels lost.
My next stop was not Wrigley or Fenway, but American Family Field in Milwaukee. This day-trip to Milwaukee was a spontaneous conception when I realized that it was only a few hours’ train ride. The parking lots at American Family Field transform into a giant barbeque party before each home game. I was fortunate to have some generous locals let me join their festivities, experiencing the tradition of pregame tailgates in Milwaukee. The game was great too, and I got to watch the Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki drive in a much-needed insurance run to secure the win over the Brewers.
American Family Field, May 2022
But the highlight of this trip came after the game. You see, the Milwaukee Intermodal Station is about an hour away by foot from the stadium. With very little public transportation nearby, I hopped on a random shuttle bus hoping it would get me downtown. Turns out, the shuttle bus went to a restaurant on the other side of town, and I was now an hour and a half away from the station cutting it close to my scheduled departure time. This family who I befriended on the shuttle bus offered me a drink and even let me hitchhike with them to the station. The friendliness and groundedness of the people of Milwaukee made this the best spontaneous decision I’ve ever made.
Thanks to this generous family, I made it back to Chicago to watch the Crosstown Classic the next day at historic Wrigley Field.
Wrigley Field, May 2022
Wrigley Field and its surrounding Wrigleyville were nothing short of beautiful. I had heard words of caution against the windchills of Chicago in the spring, but coming from Toronto, I deeply underestimated the cold. As the freezing rain was pouring down on the Friendly Confines throughout the evening, I actually missed some of the game to warm up in the heated team store. I was amazed by the energy of the bleacher section despite the weather (some fans were shirtless). As the game ended, I followed the crowd to Addison Station and warmed myself up on the train to O’Hare.
I arrived in Boston and met up with a friend. We showed each other around: the city for me, baseball for my friend. The atmosphere at Fenway Park was magical. I had read and heard all about it: the 37.2 foot tall Green Monster (which I wrote a mathematical report on in high school), the famous Pesky Pole, and the “Red Seat” marking Ted Williams’ 502 foot home run. And now I was cheering for my favorite team in this historic ground. The Angels scored 6 runs in extra innings to complete a thrilling comeback victory. What’s more, I converted my friend into an Angels fan!
Fenway Park, May 2022
On day 2, I splurged on seats atop the Green Monster, the tallest fence in MLB. I met a fellow fan who used to visit Fenway with his late father, though it was also his first time atop the Green Monster. We witnessed greatness that day. Shohei Ohtani had 11K’s on the mound and went 2-4 with an RBI at the plate, marking the perfect conclusion to Leg 2 of my trip.
Leg 3: Seattle
T-Mobile Park, July 2023
I had the opportunity to cover the 2023 MLB All Star Week at T-Mobile Park. I had the week of a lifetime, and this probably deserves a separate entry.
Leg 4: Oakland, San Francisco
The Oakland Coliseum, despite its notoriety as one of the worst stadiums in baseball, was a must-visit for me. I grew up watching Angels-Athletics games at the Coliseum on TV, and perhaps it’s the magic of nostalgia that transforms its quirks into charms.
Oakland Coliseum, August 2023
I wandered from my assigned seat behind home plate. With lots of space and very few people, I could watch the game from any angle. Dustin Hughes, bullpen catcher for the A’s, kindly gave me a baseball and that game’s lineup card. The superfans in the right field bleachers let me use their drums and taught me the rhythms used to cheer on each player. I also met a fan who was completing his 30 stadium journey in Oakland, a feat I aspire to achieve in the near future.
Oracle Park, August 2023
Just across the Bay lies Oracle Park in San Francisco. I rented a kayak to patrol McCovey Cove for batting practice “Splash Hits”. Much like watching a game from the Green Monster, this was a bucket list item within a bucket list item. No home runs came my way, but I got to meet, hear from, and compete against ballhawks that are there 50+ games a year.
Upon entering the ballpark, I reunited with newfound friends from my hostel. The stunning view of the bay from the upper decks somewhat alleviated the sting of shelling out $20 for a Crazy Crab Sandwich. a friendly seat-neighbor surprised me with an extra ticket to the next game. Naturally, I accepted the generous offer and reciprocated by treating him and his son to Ghirardelli sundaes. I witnessed a Logan Webb gem but narrowly missed a Patrick Bailey walk-off homer as I had to catch my flight home.
Leg 5: Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit
Fenway Park and Wrigley Field top the history charts, while Oracle Park and PNC Park are their aesthetic counterparts.
PNC Park, August 2023
This game between the Cardinals and the Pirates was interrupted 92-minute rain delay. Despite my brief 24-hour stay in Pittsburgh, I dedicated over 6 hours to PNC Park. It was well worth it though, as watching baseball with a backdrop like this will never get old. What matters is that I had time left over to eat a Primanti’s Bros. sandwich and get on the Duquesne Incline after the game. The only downsides were Lars Nootbaar’s injury sidelining him and both teams being out of playoff contention.
I took the Greyhound bus to Cleveland, which was affected by the same rainstorm. The Guardians’ game against the Dodgers was suspended and play was postponed to the next day, meaning I got to watch 1.5 games upon my arrival. This also meant that I spent a whopping 8 hours at Progressive Field, despite again only spending around 24 hours in the city. Striking a balance between exploring the city and enjoying baseball is difficult!
Progressive Field, August 2023
Being the smallest stadium in MLB by capacity, Progressive Field provided an intimate experience. The proximity to the field of play and bullpens allowed for a close connection to the action. You could even walk down to the former bullpen area to catch a half-inning of the game from field level.
As I made my way back up to Canada, I had one more stop: Detroit.
Comerica Park, August 2023
Comerica Park and Detroit, in my opinion, were underrated. It held its own in terms of beauty, comparable to PNC Park and Oracle Park. The people were exceptionally friendly, and the game itself was electric. Following Framber Valdez’s impressive 7 no-hit innings, Parker Meadows secured the win with a walk-off home run. Above all, I sensed the significance of Miguel Cabrera, who initiated the 9th inning rally, to the city.
Reflecting
Up to this point, I’ve visited 15 out of the 30 MLB ballparks. Despite being only halfway through, I’ve created numerous memories with some incredible people. Along the way, I’ve developed various skills, from meticulous planning and budgeting to quick-thinking and effective communication. I can’t wait to keep exploring myself through the world of baseball.