r/ballparks

I'm starting a new Substack series where I'll be trying every food item at Nationals Park. Hoping it could lend itself as a helpful resource for people coming for games who don't often come, or even better, a quick laugh. I started, of course, with the Ballpark Dog.

https://open.substack.com/pub/larskerwin/p/trying-everything-at-nationals-park?r=2ek0h8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Schweikert Stadium, Peru, IL, home of the Prospect League Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp. At least in 2023, the games were free, which is pretty tremendous.

Got my first game pin & certificate, my ballpark passport stamped, excellent food options, a view of the Cubs bullpen throughout the game, and a 10 inning thriller for the series.

Third oldest park regularly used for professional baseball, opened in 1915. Home of the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League. Some of League of Their Own was filmed there. I particularly like the crazy dugout steps.

Visited today for the NCAA D2 regional vs the Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes.

What an amazing ballpark. No lights so only day games here. Look closely for the sailboat in the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

Sutter Health park in Sacramento, home of the Rivercats and A's. Fan fest day for the Giants and took this photo as they were getting the field updated for the AAA and MLB season.

Home of the Altoona Curve (Eastern League-AA). The stadium is in a bowl with parking and streets above it. There's also a defunct amusement park over the right field fence. Interesting park.

These were some of my first attempts. Through the years I got better cameras and better lenses, and got better at planning trips and taking photos.

Part 2, the last one is Sacramento

Every year I hit up 2 -3 new parks, and I always go to a day game to get “The Shot”

Sapporo Dome in 2016. A young Ohtani played in this game and went 1-3 with a run. I had no idea I’d seen him until two years later when I looked up the box score and checked my other photos from this game.

March 28, 2026

Home of the Gary SouthShore RailCats of the American Association. Over the left field fence you can see both the Indiana Toll Road and the South Shore train line that runs between South Bend and Chicago.

Now called Modern Woodmen Park, home of the Midwest League Quad City Swing (now the River Bandits) and tucked between the Mississippi River and the Centennial Bridge.

One of the best. Great game, Great food.