Tour Feature: East Coast Tours 2023

Posted by Glenn Dunlap on Mon, Jan 02, 2023 @ 04:07 PM

Season after season, our stadium-packed East Coast Tours are always our most popular! Fans are immersed in America’s favorite pastime starting at Nationals Park in Washington DC. An extra day allows historical site seeing in our stunning nation’s capital.

Next, experience the retro feel of Baltimore’s Camden Yards. The first of the exclusively single-use baseball stadiums, its exceptional design has been a blueprint for stadiums across the nation and is clearly a favorite with our fans.

Next stop…find Philly! Our hotel is near Reading Terminal Market, where more than 80 diverse merchants offer food, shopping and something for everyone. Our guests can walk to the actual Liberty Bell or take selfies with the 19-foot Liberty Bell replica at bustling Citizens Ball Park!

yankee_stadiumThere’s nothing quite like baseball in New York. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the Yankees do it big, and you feel it at the home of the winningest franchise in history. Comfortable seating, high-end eating and a free one-of-a-kind in-park museum make Yankees Stadium a remarkable experience.

Prefer the Mets? Citi Field echoes the spirit of the great Jackie Robinson and boasts an intimate but open concourse where fans can mingle with a “Taste of the City” and enjoy the home of the “homerun apple”.

Next we’ll take a beautiful drive to the Baseball Hall of Fame in scenic Cooperstown. Get lost in the nostalgia of baseball’s rich history and be inspired by the legends and who made it. Enthusiasts agree that this hidden treasure is an unforgettable, moving experience for fans of all ages.

Finally… it’s Fenway. The vintage charm of MLB’s oldest stadium makes this an essential game experience for every baseball fan. (A Fenway Frank and a walk down Jersey Street makes us tear up every time!) Our fans love the stadium tour, which includes a wealth of Red Sox history and watching batting practice from the historic Green Monster.

Choose one of our Full East Coast Tours or select a “mini” version to fit your schedule and bucket list.

East Coast June
IMG_5778 2June 21 – Cardinals @ Nationals
June 22 – Free Day
June 23 – Mariners @ Orioles
June 24 – Mets @ Phillies
June 25 – Rangers @ Yankees
June 26 – Brewers @ Mets
June 27 – Hall of Fame
June 28 – Marlins @ Red Sox

East Coast August
August 2 – Brewers @ Nationals
August 3 – Free Day
August 4 – Mets @ Orioles
August 5 – Royals @ Phillies
August 6 – Astros @ Yankees
August 7 – Cubs @ Mets
August 8 – Hall of Fame
August 9 – Royals @ Red Sox

About Big League Tours

Big League Tours helps fans get closer to the game by securing lower level seats, arranging stadium tours and player experiences, and providing first-class hotel accommodations. Flexible itineraries allow fans to experience the best of the best in the greatest baseball cities across the nation. Unlike other tour companies, Big League Tours not only takes care of the buses and games for a baseball tour, but also provides extras that turn tours into true sports vacations, loaded with unique baseball-related events. For more information, contact Big League Tours at www.bigleaguetours.com.

Topics: Nationals, Red Sox, Orioles, Phillies, baseball hall of fame, Fenway Park, Yankees, Yankee Stadium, Cooperstown, Mets

World Series MVP Ray Knight to Join East Coast Big League Tours

Posted by Glenn Dunlap on Thu, Jun 26, 2014 @ 09:35 AM

Time and again our guests tell us that the Big League Player Experience was the favorite part of their tour. That means a lot to us when we've also had great seats, stayed in great hotels, andRay Knight at the plate arranged special stadium access for our guests to say they like the player appearance the most. But we understand...that's why we include it!!

Our East Coast and Atlantic Beltway guests are soon to be treated to the experience, too. On Monday, June 30th, World Series MVP Ray Knight will join our guests at Nationals Park. He'll share stories, field questions, sign autographs and take pictures with our guests. 

Ray's playing career spanned 13 years with the Reds, Mets, Astros, Tigers and Orioles. He twice made the All Star team and was the 1986 World Series MVP with the champion Mets. Knight also managed a couple of seasons in Cincinnati. 

To learn about our upcoming 2014 Tours, click the link and check out the details. There's still time to join us this season, but you'll need to hurry!! Wish you were on these tours? We have another set coming up in August. Here are the links for those tours. 

East Coast: August 1-9, 2014

Hall of Fame: August 1-6, 2014

Atlantic Beltway: August 6-9, 2014

Topics: east coast baseball tour, baseball trips, MLB tours, Nationals Park, Mets

Baseball and Koala Bears

Posted by Kayla Wininger on Mon, Aug 13, 2012 @ 10:37 AM

I headed to the East Coast for my first Big League Tours adventure, flying solo! Although I could have spent days enjoying the city, it was down to business when the wheels hit the ground at Boston Logan.  enway will always hold a special place in my heart since it was the first Major League Baseball game I ever attended. I was glad to be back and start sharing what I knew about the stadium with our guests!

IMG 3476After meeting BLT Host and permanent Boston resident, Mike G. for some secrets of Fenway and a little confidence boost, it was time to hit the hotel and meet my guinea pigs!  I’m thrilled to say that my first ever tour group couldn’t have been more fantastic. Within the first five minutes, the Australian’s had the whole group rolling with laughter while comparing their accents to the Texans on the trip.

We quickly learned that we’d be helping each other a lot over the next week as most of the group learned how to ride a metro system! Once we made it to Fenway the group was off exploring the stadium and checking out one of the best gift stores in MLB.  Secret #1 that I discovered, the Bleacher Bar is a must! Enjoy a cheap (for a sporting event) beer while watching batting practice from the outfield!

Secret #2 of the trip, be selective when you try to escape the heat in the Yankee Stadium gift shop, they aren’t all air-conditioned! I’m not sure what he was doing, but the weather god wasn’t looking down on us in New York. With temperatures in the 100’s on Wednesdays and 60’s on Friday at Citi Field, I thought I was back in Indiana’s crazy weather.

The heat and rain couldn’t keep our die-hard fans away, especially the Lantz’s who had seen every stadium in the country prior to the addition of six more. With a tour of Yankee Stadium and private meet and greet with 1969 World Series Champion, Art Shamsky, they were thrilled to see more than just a game.

IMG 3537 resized 600

Outside of the scheduled events, our group became very close and spent most of our free day exploring New York City together. With a trip to Lombardi’s Pizza, the first coal oven pizza place in the United States, and then the World Trade Center Memorial, the off time was definitely used for more than testing the pillows in the hotel room. 

There were definitely lessons learned on my first tour and one of those was how quickly a group of strangers can turn into a temporary family.  We even added a few family members, thanks to the Aussie’s who gave us stuffed koalas as a souvenier! I couldn’t have asked for a better group to share my first trip with, hopefully it won’t be the last time we’ll be seeing each other!

Topics: Red Sox, Citi Field, New York, ballpark tours, Fenway Park, MLB tours, sports vacation, Yankees, Yankee Stadium, hall of fame, Mets

Big Apple, Big Red Machine and Big League Tours

Posted by Glenn Dunlap on Sat, Dec 31, 2011 @ 06:00 AM

Anyway You Look At It, This Baseball Tour Is Gonna Be Big!!

Baseball and travel are obviously two things that I love. But when you combine my favorite city Brandon Phillips at bat at Shea Stadiumand my favorite team, it's an unbeatable combination. This May, the Reds are headed to New York City to play the Mets and the Yankees in back-to-back series at Citi Field and Yankee Stadium. This road trip will be a great way to hang out in Manhattan for several days while taking in several games and exploring the sites.

It's been awhile since our tours have included the Reds on a series in New York. In fact, here's a photo of Brandon Phillips at bat at Shea Stadium taken from our seats on a tour in 2007, which I'm pretty sure is the last time we crossed paths in the Big Apple.

If this sounds like a great way to see the city and some great baseball games, check out our Big Apple Tour. You'll have plenty of time to explore NYC and our tour director will guide you through a great itinerary where you'll have a meet and greet with a former big league player, sit in great seats at the game, and stay in a great hotel in Midtown.

Topics: Citi Field, baseball road trips, Yankees, Yankee Stadium, Reds, Mets

Next Stop: Citi Field

Posted by Big League Tours on Wed, Nov 23, 2011 @ 02:30 PM
July 1, 2011 - After meeting Art Shamsky in Midtown Manhattan, our group headed out to Citi Field to see the Mets host the Angels. It's always interesting to see the reaction of our travelers as we reach the Mets' new ballpark. View from our seats at Citi Field

So much raquet is made about Yankee Stadium, the history and of the team, the House That Ruth Built, etc., etc. But the fact is, almost everyone who has been to the new Yankee Stadium and then walks into Citi, says, "Now this is a ballpark."

Comparing the two baseball stadiums, one notices things like the rich colors at Citi Field versus the lack of color at Yankee Stadium. The Mets' outfield wall and centerfield walkway provide interesting sitelines (at least to our guests in the lower-level and between the bases...). And the throwback appearance with the nod to Ebbets Field make Citi Field look and feel like a ballpark whereas Yankee Stadium looks like a mammoth municipal building.

Don't get me wrong. I love seeing games at Yankee Stadium. The team's rich history and great players, makes every baseball fan respect their success. What I am pointing out, however, is that when in New York, whether for work, vacation, or specifically on a baseball road trip, fans should make their way to Citi Field. They won't be disappointed.

Topics: Citi Field, baseball road trips, New York, baseball stadiums, Yankee Stadium, Angels, Baseball, Mets

Meeting Art Shamsky

Posted by Big League Tours on Wed, Nov 23, 2011 @ 01:45 PM
June 22, 2011 - On each one of our MLB tours, we include a player meet and greet. It's what we've named our Art w guests on our group travel toursBig League Player Experience. This time, while in New York City, we brought in Art Shamsky, member of the '69 Miracle Mets team. Here's Art to the left as our guests are arriving to meet him.

Art's story of breaking into the Majors is really interesting. He came up through the Reds organization and then was traded to the Mets a couple of years after their formation. The team was known as the lovable losers and came out of nowhere to win the World Series in 1969. It was a young team that gelled at the right time with players such as Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, and Tug McGraw. A signed baseball while on sports travel and tours

Art shared with us that he typically hears three questions from fans that he meets on baseball trips. One, wouldn't you like to be playing today and making the kind of money these players are making? Two, should Pete Rose be in the Hall of Fame? And three, what's it like to have a bulldog named after you on the show "Everybody Loves Raymond"? (If you want to know his answers, you'll have to join us in NYC!!)

Here's one of our guests holding the signed baseball that he received at our Big League Player Experience with Art Shamsky. Time and again, this is one of, if not the favorite events, for our guests as they travel with us on our baseball road trips. It's another way to get closer to the game by talking with guys who have been in the big leagues. Their stories and experiences make these baseball vacation packages that much more special.

Topics: New York, baseball trips, baseball vacation package, MLB tours, Baseball, Mets

Baseball lovers dream: East Coast Baseball Tour

Posted by Big League Tours on Wed, Nov 23, 2011 @ 09:30 AM
May 10, 2011 - Looking for a baseball tour to please the pickiest baseball fan you know? Look no further. This You'll see views like this one of Citizens Bank Park when you join one of our baseball road trips!tour is a baseball aficionado’s dream tour – six stadiums and the Hall of Fame in one trip. The longest of our 2011 MLB road trips begins in Philadelphia where we'll see the Phillies host the Cubs at Citizens Bank Park. Then it's off to Baltimore to see the Rays and Orioles at the first of the retro ballparks, Camden Yards.

We'll take a stadium tour of Orioles Park and visit the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum before heading to Washington D.C. There our guests will have the rest of the day and all of Monday to explore our nation's capitol. We'll then catch the Cardinals at Nationals Park with a view of the Capitol building in the distance.On the field at Camden Yards on one of our premier sports travel packages!

We'll then part for New York City, where we'll spend three nights, catch games at Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, make a day run up to Cooperstown, and take in some sights in the Big Apple. We're staying right in the heart of Manhattan so our travelers will get to enjoy every minute of being in the city.

Our final day will consist of a trip to Boston to see the Brewers play at historic Fenway Park. This is a tour that you don’t want to miss! You can learn more about this and all of our 2011 baseball road trips by visiting us at BigLeagueTours.com.

Saturday, June 11 - Cubs @ Phillies, 4:10 PMTaken from Monument Park while on a baseball stadium tour of Yankee Stadium
Sunday, June 12 - Rays @ Orioles, 1:35 PM
Monday, June 13 - Free Day in DC
Tuesday, June 14 - Cardinals @ Nationals, 7:05 PM
Wednesday, June 15 - Rangers @ Yankees, 7:05 PM
Thursday, June 16 - Cooperstown, All Day
Friday, June 17 - Angels @ Mets, 7:10 PM
Saturday, June 18 - Brewers @ Red Sox, 1:10 PM

Topics: Red Sox, Boston, Orioles, Baltimore, big league tours, Yankees, Yankee Stadium, Nationals Park, hall of fame, Baseball, Mets, Oriole Park

2010 Baseball Trip Feature - Big Apple

Posted by Big League Tours on Tue, Nov 22, 2011 @ 07:45 PM

January 2, 2009 - A favorite one of our MLB Tours each year is our Big Apple Tour. This premier sports travel package includes two games at Yankee Stadium and one game at Citi Field. We'll stay in the heart of midtown Manhattan where you'll be close to Times Square, Fifth Avenue, and Central Park and so many restaurants, shops and sites.

This tour will provide you with two great chances to enjoy games at Yankee Stadium as the Yankees host the Blue Jays in an AL East division rivalry. The times for the games haven't been posted yet but we're sure that we'll either be entertained with fireworks for the 4th of July at Yankee Stadium or we'll be able to enjoy the festivities in the world's greatest city.

The next day we'll take a stadium tour and explore the city before we head out to Citi Field to see the Reds take on the Mets in their new home. If you haven't been to Citi Field yet, you should make the trip. It's a fantastic improvement over the old Shea Stadium. The design did a great job to incorporate old stadium features with up-to-date comforts.

To see more about this and other tour vacations being offered by Big League Tours, visit our website now to get all the details.

Topics: Citi Field, Blue Jays, big league tours, MLB tours, Yankee Stadium, Reds, Mets

2010 Baseball Trip Feature - East Coast 1

Posted by Big League Tours on Tue, Nov 22, 2011 @ 06:45 PM
Orioles Park at Camden YardsDecember 17, 2009 - East Coast 1 is the granddaddy of our baseball vacation packages. The tour package includes 6 games in 6 different baseball stadiums, a free day to explore New York City, a day at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, a player appearance, and baseball stadium tours at some of baseball's most hallowed halls.

We'll begin in Baltimore, making the hotel there our home base for a few days. We'll have a kickoff reception at the hotel on Saturday night. On Sunday morning, we'll head to Nationals Park for an afternoon game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Nationals. Monday, we'll drive up to Philadelphia to see the Padres and Phillies. Tuesday, we'll take a stadium tour of Orioles Park and see the Yankees and Orioles play.

On Wednesday, we'll board the motor coach and head up to New York City, our home base for the next three nights. We'll go to Citi Field to see the Mets host the Padres. Thursday, you'll have the day on your own to shop 5th Avenue, take escorted tours of the city's sites, or to stroll through Central Park.

Friday we'll tour Yankee Stadium and see the Yankees play the Astros. Saturday we'll trek up to Cooperstown for the day at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. We'll grab dinner in Cooperstown and then head to Boston. Sunday, we'll take in the Phillies and Red Sox and, if the schedule allows, we'll take a stadium tour of Fenway Park.

The hotel is provided Sunday night after the Red Sox game as part of the package. You also have the option of coming into Baltimore early or staying later in Boston so let us customize your sports vacations for you.

This premier sports travel package promises to be a great time. For more details on this baseball tour and our other MLB Tours, visit BigLeagueTours.com.

Topics: stadium tours, Citi Field, Orioles, sports travel and tours, New York, Baltimore, Fenway Park, big league tours, MLB tours, sports vacation, Yankees, Nationals Park, Reds, hall of fame, Cooperstown, Mets, Oriole Park

Art Shamsky Featured in Sports Illustrated

Posted by Big League Tours on Tue, Nov 22, 2011 @ 03:45 PM
July 10, 2009 - This week's Sports Illustrated has an article about the '69 Miracle Mets team and prominently Art Shamsky providing a Big League Player Experience in NYCfeatures Art Shamsky in the article. Art is appearing on our upcoming Big Apple Tourwhich features games at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field. Here's an excerpt from the article:

Maybe you were in New York that summer and fall, rooting for the Mets, the lovable (cue team jingle here) M-E-T-S Mets. You've been an optimist ever since. Of course you are. The club was a baseball comedy act from the year of its premature birth, 1962, right through 1968, losing an average of 105 games a season. And then came the surprise of '69. Elsewhere it was a horrible year, but New York witnessed a miracle: the Mets winning 100 games in the regular season, then beating the Baltimore Goliaths in the World Series. The miracle of Flushing Meadows, Queens.

Art Shamsky had no idea how lousy a year it had been. Not then. Shamsky, sharing duty with Ron Swoboda, patrolled Shea Stadium's rightfield, the first swath of green you'd see coming off the number 7 train. Shamsky was in his own little world that baseball season, 40 years ago, when Tom Seaver was a rising pitching god and Nolan Ryan a wild-armed reliever and spot starter and Jerry Grote, Texas badass, caught them both. Shamsky was a Jewish kid from suburban St. Louis, living in Manhattan, hearing kids (you?) scream Art Shamsky! as his big old Lincoln Continental entered the Shea Stadium players' lot, then going out after the game with the brothers—Cleon Jones, Tommie Agee—listening to jazz, wearing shades and long sideburns and striped pants, sipping house reds. It was many years later that he started making regular trips to the New York Public Library, in midtown, researching a book, twirling microfilm, making lists, catching up.

Good News, 1969: Man on the moon.

Bad News, 1969: Vietnam War, Manson murders, Hurricane Camille, the Chicago Seven trial, Chappaquiddick, inflation....

Shamsky is the unofficial class secretary of the '69 Mets, a regular when his teammates come together for parties, reunions, fantasy camps, golf tournaments, barbecues, card signings. Weddings. Funerals.

They gathered to bury Agee, centerfielder and leadoff hitter, in 2001. Agee—who'd almost single-handedly won Game 3 of the Series with a first-inning homer and for-the-ages catches on drives by Elrod Hendricks and Paul Blair—died of a heart attack, age 58, in his office on Second Avenue in midtown Manhattan, where he worked in the title search business. Shamsky was best man at Tommie's second wedding, in 1985, when he married Maxcine Green, a New York schoolteacher. O.K., not precisely best man. Best-man-on-deck, ready to pinch-hit if Cleon didn't show, and for the longest time that day it looked as if Cleon wouldn't show. But then he slipped in, cool as ever, saying, "Told you I'd get here." Rest in peace, Tommie.

The article is pretty interesting and points out how many young players were on that team that went on to have great careers. We're thrilled to have Art joining us in New York City on one of our upcoming baseball road trips. For a chance to meet Art Shamsky and other big league ball players, join us on any of our baseball tours for an unforgettable vacation.

Topics: Citi Field, baseball road trips, New York, baseball tours, Yankee Stadium, Mets