I made visiting all 30 MLB stadiums a bucket list goal in 2007 after graduating law school. I took a trip to Chicago catching both a White Sox game and a Cubs game during that visit. Those two parks became stadiums three and four on my list. The challenge slowly grew from a fun idea into a tradition. Over the years, I added Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Atlanta (twice), and several others. My first stadium visit was in 1998 to cheer on my favorite team the Detroit Tigers. Still, I didn’t start consistently checking off stadiums until 2017. Since then, only three years (2018, 2020, and 2022) kept me from adding at least one new ballpark.
However, one of those years deserves its own plaque in the Hall of Fame of Delayed Plans. In 2022, I fully intended to visit Citizens Bank Park and mark the Phillies as stadium number fourteen. As most of you may recall from my prior post, my grandma’s now‑iconic Lincoln Memorial slide had other ideas. Her ten‑second marble‑railing adventure postponed my Philadelphia plans by four full years. Incredibly, this single moment delayed my MLB stadium progress more than a global pandemic!
Thankfully, this year finally gave me the chance to make up for lost time. Last weekend, my partner, our kids, and I traveled to Philadelphia for Opening Night as part of my birthday weekend. Citizens Bank Park officially became MLB city number eighteen for me. I count it as my eighteenth stadium, even though my baseball journey includes a few quirks. For example, I saw my first MLB game at old Tiger Stadium in 1998 and have since visited Comerica Park. Additionally, I visited Turner Field in 2013 and returned to Atlanta in 2018 to see the Braves at Truist Park. The Oakland Athletics moved out of the Coliseum in 2024 and won’t play in a true MLB stadium until 2028. I refuse to count any temporary Sacramento games held at a minor league facility toward my list. I have standards.
Beyond the stadium count, this trip also gave me the chance to reconnect with a former coworker. We were supposed to meet at the Phillies game four years ago, before the legendary slide derailed everything. Meeting him in the ballpark for the first time closed a loop that had been open far too long.
The best part, though, came from sharing the experience with my partner and our kids. Citizens Bank Park turned out to be incredibly family‑friendly, especially with its impressive kid zone. The kids ran, climbed, shot hot dogs out of a cannon, and burned enough energy to power the stadium lights. Meanwhile, we enjoyed the game, the atmosphere, and the feeling of finally being exactly where we were supposed to be.
Beyond baseball, as mentioned on My MS Journey page, this bucket list took on new meaning after my diagnosis. These trips no longer are casual baseball outings. Instead, they are intentional, joyful, and grounding. For three years, I’ve tied MLB stadium visits to my birthday and chosen experiences that make life full.
Ultimately, this year’s Philadelphia trip checked off another stadium and redeemed a four‑year delay caused by one unforgettable grandma. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Amanda’s MLB Travel Map
MLB Stadiums Needed
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