Big League Tours - Big Apple 2

Posted by Big League Tours on Sat, Nov 19, 2011 @ 11:30 AM

August 7, 2008 - After seeing the Old Timers Day fans and players were ready for some great baseball and the Yankees did just that.  After losing the two games before the Los Angeles Angels the Yankees were ready to take on the Angels again today. 

Our Big League Tour Guests were not disapointed with the performance of the players today.  Mussina pitching for the Yankees was in high spirits after experiencing the Old Timers Day, he even hiked up his pants to celebrate the years passed.  Mussina's performance helped the Yankees lead the Angels 8-2 breaking there losing streak in this weekend series.

Giving the fans something to cheer about Alex Rodriguez, Wilson Betemit, and Bobby Abreu all hit homeruns to make the game even more exciting.  It was a fun and exciting day out at Yankee Stadium for our group tour. 



Check out the game wrap-up on the Yankees website.

Topics: New York, baseball tours, Yankees, group tours, Yankee Stadium

Big Apple 2 Baseball Tour

Posted by Big League Tours on Sat, Nov 19, 2011 @ 10:30 AM
August 4, 2008 - This was our last group tour to New York for the season and it was a bittersweet one at that for all the Yankees Fans. For our first game we went to Yankee Stadium on Friday, August 1 to see the Los Angeles Angels take on the New York Yankees. It was an extrmely close game until the end where the score was zero to zero unti he 9th inning.  Group Travel Tours

Then in the 9th when Torii Hunter of the Angels came up to bat against the Yankees closer Mariano Rivera staring each other down Hunter put his wooden bat to the ball and sent it out into center field.  Hunter accomplished what no other player on either team was able to do the entire game hitting a nice single RBI sending one of his fellow teammates on their way home allowing the Los Angeles Angels to win the game in the last inning Angels 1, Yankees 0. 

Check out the game wrapup on the Yankees website.

Topics: New York, baseball trips, baseball stadiums, group tours, Yankee Stadium

East Coast 2 Baseball Tour, Part V

Posted by Big League Tours on Fri, Nov 18, 2011 @ 02:00 PM
Baseball Travel Tour Heads to Philly
Saturday, June 21, 2008 - After a day of site seeing in Washington DC, we loaded up the bus to head up to Philadelphia. This time, our package tour called for us to see the game in Philly, to load back onto the bus and to head on in to New York City to spend three nights in the Big Apple.

We arrived at the ballpark in Philadelphia and were reasonably impressed with what the city has done for its sports franchises. All of their professional teams had facilities within a half mile of each other with easy parking and walking and what appeared to be reasonable security, too.

Citizens Bank Park has a few features that it shares with other parks. The concourse areas along the base lines reminded us of the New Busch Stadium. The outfield concourse felt like Coors Field. It was very party-like with vendors, restaurants and shops, and places to hang out and catch the game.

We visited the center field viewing area which is pretty unique to the Bank. It's a standing room only section that was well occupied and, contrary to what you might think, fans were really engaged in the game. It was a great view of the park with the exception of the walls blocking the view of the action in center field. It was such a gorgeous night that we decided to hang out up there for a while. The team only sells SRO tickets on the nights of sell outs but this would be a really fun place to hand out with friends or to go if you are on family tours or small group tours.

We were impressed with Citizens Bank Park. It was very well done and had a great atmosphere. At this point the baseball road trip was half way over - 3 games down, 3 to go. Next stop, New York City.

Topics: Citizens Bank Park, Phillies, baseball stadiums, MLB tours, group tours

Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, New York

Posted by Big League Tours on Fri, Nov 18, 2011 @ 10:00 AM

Sports traveling fans get a blast of baseball history!

June 6, 2008- The next stop on our trip was Cooperstown, NY.  This peaceful and beautiful little town is home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  When arriving into Cooperstown we were dropped off at our Bed and Breakfast and the group was able to site see on their own.

As most people that have been to Cooperstown in June, July, or August know that it can be a little more congested with all the group tours, but it always should be at the top of your list.  There is something for all groups and ages at the Hall of Fame.  Whether you are wanting to learn more history of the game, see the memorabilia, or get a little bit of everything the Hall of Fame has it.

I liked many aspects of the Hall of Fame but being an art lover I liked being able to see different pieces of art depicting a certain memory in baseball.  Whether it was an abstract piece depicting a player hitting a grand slam or multiple paintings of fans in their favorite baseball stadiums. It was a great experience and I can't wait to go back!

Topics: baseball stadiums, group tours, hall of fame, Cooperstown

Red Sox vs. Rays

Posted by Big League Tours on Fri, Nov 18, 2011 @ 09:00 AM

Baseball road trip begins with a swing and a miss!
June 5, 2008- Boston Red Sox VS Tampa Bay Rays
This was a game that every major MLB Tours group should have been at! It was probably the most exciting game that I have ever been to in my life.  We knew that there had been a run in the night before with Coco Crisp’s controversial slide into second base and were expecting some type of payback.

What we weren’t expecting was for it to happen so early in the game! James Shield was the starting pitcher for the Rays and Coco came up to bat in the second inning and was hit by the pitch in the thigh.  At first it appeared that Coco was just going to go to first base.  However, that was not the case Coco through his gear down and charged the pitcher’s mound. Starting an uproar in the crowd and on the field he was outnumbered to begin with but soon each team was on the field including the bullpen!  After the fight was broke up both Coco and Shield were ejected from the game. This was a great beginning to our MLB road trip!

Topics: Red Sox, baseball road trips, Fenway Park, group tours

Big Apple Tour, Part III

Posted by Big League Tours on Thu, Nov 17, 2011 @ 07:00 PM
May 9, 2008 - We began the day with an escorted tour of Yankee Stadium. There was a steady rain this morning but we didn't mind as we were able to take in some great sites around the park. The stadium tour began in the press box. Absolutely a great view of the park from there.

We then walked out to Monument Park to see the plaques of the retired In the Yankees dugout on a private stadium tournumbers and the monuments of the Yankees' greatest players. Several people in our group had never been in Monument Park before. It's something that everyone should experience, whether you are a Yankee fan or not.

We then walked around the warning track to the Yankees' dugout. It's a great place to sit and dream of what it's like to be a big league player. We took several pictures in the dugout, including the one on the right. Here are a handful of our travelers on the tour.

We then had the privilege of going into the Yankees' clubhouse. It was great to see where they hang out while at the park. It's smaller than many of the new clubhouses (but I'm sure that will change next year!). That said, it was still a religious experience for many in our group tour. It even brought tears to the eyes of at least one traveler!

We're hooking up with Art Shamsky, member of the Miracle Mets, in a little bit and then heading out to Shea Stadium to (hopefully) catch the Mets and the Reds (we're hopeful because it has been raining all day...).

Topics: stadium tours, baseball tours, baseball stadiums, group tours, Yankee Stadium

Rocky Mountain Baseball Trip, Part III

Posted by Big League Tours on Thu, Nov 17, 2011 @ 11:00 AM
April 6, 2008 - Yesterday we took the stadium tour of Coors Field. It's a great ballpark with a lot of interesting features. Since it was a game day, we started the tour on the field which is usually the last stop. Here's our group and guide just outside the Rockies dugout.

IMG 8241 resized 600We then went up to the top of the stadium to work our way down. In the upper deck, the stadium has a row of purple seats that are located exactly at 5,280 feet. I like the that the seats are one color. The days of marking sections with different colored seats were awful. One row of purple seats seems appropriate.

Another interesting stop was in the press box. These guys not only have one of the best jobs in the world, but they also get the best seats in the house. Our guide pointed out that a fresh hole in the wall had been made from a Garrett Atkins foul ball during the Friday season home opener. It was marked with the date and his name so that they could remember all of them by the end of the season.

The guides were great and allowed us to take our time for many pictures and questions. We've been on many tours where they herd you through the park at break-neck speeds without your chance to really enjoy the moment.

Topics: Rockies, Coors Field, stadium tours, group tours

Rocky Mountain Baseball Trip, Part I

Posted by Big League Tours on Thu, Nov 17, 2011 @ 09:00 AM
April 5, 2008 - We arrived in Denver on Thursday for a small group tour. It's the first package trip that we're offering through Big League Tours this year. The weather was a bit chilly and was spitting a light rain and snow mix as we walked around downtown. It warmed up in the evening and, although over cast, it was still pretty nice.

One of the first things we noticed was Coors Fieldthat fans in this town were ready for baseball. And why shouldn't they be? The Rox played so well the end of 2007 and made a fantastic playoff run. Expectations are pretty high for this season. Everywhere we went there were signs up welcoming Rockies fans for the 2008 Home Opener.

While some people were clinging to the last days of the winter by heading into the mountains for one last ski session, many were embracing the beginning of spring by donning their baseball jerseys and caps and heading to the ballpark. (I tend to relate to the latter group...)

After dinner at Wynkoop's by Coors Field (buffalo, anyone?), we settled in for the evening getting ready for tomorrow's excitement.

Topics: Rockies, Coors Field, big league tours, group tours

Is Travel Insurance Necessary? Sports Travel Tips.

Posted by Big League Tours on Thu, Nov 17, 2011 @ 05:00 AM
April 19, 2008 - There have recently been a number of airlines that have filed bankruptcy or have been forced to stop flying leaving travelers stranded or unable to leave. Learning that your flights have been canceled and that your airline is no longer in business can not only be a nuisance but it can also be costly as well. So as we swing into the height of the sports vacation season, travelers should question whether or not travel insurance is right for them. There are a couple of things to keep in mind as you plan your summer baseball road trips.

Paying By Credit Card
Consumer protection laws allow you to dispute charges on your credit card for up to 60 days. This is a useful tool if you've been charged expenses within two months of your trip. It won't, however, provide you any relief from expenses incurred 61 days or longer from your trip. In addition, it won't assist you with additional expenses that you will incur as a result of a delay, such as extra nights at a hotel, meals, etc.

Travel Insurance
Most travelers planning a trip with sports travel packages, purchase the trips much farther in advance than 60 days. Consumer protection laws won't be helpful in those instances. Travel insurance, on the other hand, can assist you by covering all aspects of your trip. If your flights are canceled or your airline files bankruptcy, trip insurance can cover the cost to replace the flight and additional expenses that you incur.

Travel insurance can also protect you from unforeseen events in your life that could prevent you from traveling. Consider an illness that affects you or a member of your family tour or small group tour. If travel insurance is in place, each member of the family or group could be reimbursed for their costs if they can't make the tour.

The price for travel insurance varies based on the cost of your package tour and the age of the travelers. For example, a traveler between the ages of 35-59 who purchases a trip for $1,500, would likely pay $70 - 75 for travel insurance. Not an expensive premium for the coverage it provides.

What About Rain Outs?
Since our tours revolve around baseball vacations, we're often asked if travel insurance covers rain outs. Unfortunately, the answer is no. Travel insurance can't guarantee that everything will happen as planned but can only guarantee that you'll get there and back.

Topics: tour operator, baseball travel, baseball vacation package, group tours

Inaugural Blog Post from Big League Tours

Posted by Big League Tours on Wed, Nov 16, 2011 @ 05:45 AM
February 29, 2008 - Hi Baseball Fans! I'm excited to offer up the first blog from Big League Tours, a blog that's related to all things baseball and baseball travel. You can expect to see posts about baseball road trips - what's new, things to consider, etc.

We'll offer up journals from the baseball trips that we host all across the big leagues. You'll be able to see photos of and quotes from our clients at the games, on the stadium tours, and on their family tours.

We'll also cover interesting information about the big league teams, the players, and the stadiums that we all want to see. After all, you know we love baseball to do what we do!!!

I hope you'll check back with us soon!

Topics: stadium tours, baseball trips, baseball tours, baseball travel, big league tours, group tours