Pass It On: Reports: MLB to begin 2021 on time, allow limited number of fans

Posted by Bronte Eaker on Wed, Feb 17, 2021 @ 11:00 AM

NBC Sports posted an article surrounding the speculation of the start of the MLB season.

"Major League Baseball reportedly informed teams Monday that they should expect to start spring training on time and prepare for a full 162-game campaign. The league also outlined guidelines for letting fans into games, not requiring vaccination checks or negative test results but enforcing social-distancing guidelines and other spread-prevention measures."

"Fans will be allowed to attend games this season with teams required to spread them out using 'pod' seating where groups are separated from one another by at least six feet, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reported Monday night. Fans will have to wear a mask everywhere but their seats, hand-washing stations must be widely accessible and lines to get into the ballpark will abide by social distancing." Continue reading...

While nothing is definite and there are no guarantees, we're optimistic about the start of the season and the direction the league seems to be heading. 

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Topics: travel, Baseball, ballparks, 2021 baseball

BLT Guest Highlight: Marie T.

Posted by Bronte Eaker on Fri, Jan 31, 2020 @ 02:18 PM

As you can imagine, after hosting baseball tours for 15 seasons, we get to meet some great folks. Marie T. is certainly one of them and has been a faithful traveler with us for quite a few years. Marie, from Upstate New York, first traveled with us in 2007 on a West Coast Tour. Since then, she has been on 4 tours with us and has plans to travel again with us in 2020!

Marie shared one of her favorite things about traveling with Big League Tours. "I like the fact that I am in the company of other baseball fanatics! Despite our different team loyalties, we share a love of the sport which makes for camaraderie and in some cases, lasting friendships." 

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Marie told us about her favorite memory from a Mideast Tour. "In Toronto, Buck Martinez gave a memorable behind the scenes experience of the workings of the broadcast booth and it gave a lasting appreciation of the difficulties and challenges involved in televising the games. We probably take the broadcasting of games for granted and I doubt we would if we had any knowledge at all of what was required! I know I no longer do!" Marie is pictured next to Buck at Rodgers Centre in Toronto. 

Marie had a few things to say about the experiences Big League Tours provides. "I would recommend Big League Tours because of the extraordinary customer service. We stay at first class hotels, we always have excellent seats at the game. The guides are always friendly and concerned about ensuring that our experience is a positive one."

She went on to say, "I highly recommend Big League Tours for anyone whose 'Bucket List' includes visiting all the Major League ballparks. It facilitates attainment of the goal by removing all the nightmares of how to get from place to place - getting hotels - getting tickets etc. It is a first class way of attaining your goal!"

We are thankful for Marie and having the privilege of hosting her for so many tours. (We love them as much as you do, Marie!) If you're wanting to check the MLB ballparks off your bucket list too, join us for a tour in 2020! 

 

Topics: travel, Baseball, ballparks, 2020 baseball trips

BLT Guest Highlight: John R.

Posted by Bronte Eaker on Mon, Dec 16, 2019 @ 03:27 PM

At Big League Tours we have the privilege of getting to know some great folks while out on the road and there are many guests who have travelled for many years with us. John R. from California, is one of those guests. John first traveled with us in 2014 and has taken four tours with us since then. (And already has two booked for 2020!)

John shared a little about his first experience. "I certainly remember the trip.  It was the East Coast tour that included a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame. I took the tour with three of my golfing buddies, all of whom love baseball as much as I do, having both played and enjoyed it as a spectator.  We all loved the Hall of Fame experience, and being from Northern California (Sacramento), I’ll never forget the Barry Bonds record setting baseball; the one with the inked in asterisk." 

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Some of John's favorite memories include: 

  • Getting free time in Niagara Falls with his wife, Marian, on a Mideast Tour
  • A 17 inning White Sox game on a Midwest Tour
  • Meeting and talking to Dante Bichette on a Southeast Tour

As a faithful guest for 6 years, John had a lot to say about the experience Big League Tours provides. "Big League Tours is a baseball tour that is certainly set apart from other travel experiences. On a BLT, it is a mix of you being taken care of, and also you make your own travel arrangements, which I liked, because I could take advantage of discounts on some of the major airlines."

John went on to say, "In the big league cities you visit, you always stay in a top notch hotel not far from downtown or the stadium. There is free time for experiencing the cities, and I really like that. In New York City, our hotel was within walking distance of both Times Square and the United Nations headquarters.  We had a day on our own in New York. Also, the seats you get on a tour from BLT’s are really top notch. They are between first and third base, and always in the lower bowl. When I first researched baseball vacations, the website for BLT was way above in quality those of other companies. I could tell from the beginning that I’d be in good hands and have a great fan and tourist experience."

When asked why he would recommend Big League Tours to someone, John shared, "This business is really a class act.  If you want a great baseball experience, BLT’s is for you. You might be able to find cheaper tours, but if you really want to get 'inside baseball,' pay a little extra and let these people give you a great experience!"

We are thankful for our guests like John who have enjoyed these last 15 seasons as much as we have. Now’s the time to join us for the ultimate baseball tour and have the experience for yourself!

Topics: travel, Baseball, ballparks, 2020 baseball trips

The Boston Destination Tour at Fenway Park

Posted by Doug Lawson on Tue, Aug 27, 2013 @ 10:32 AM

This season, based on requests from our guests, we began offering Destination Tours.Fenway scoreboard Instead of visiting multiple stadiums and cities, these tours give our guests the opportunity to explore one city and ballpark(s) usually over a long weekend. Guests enjoyed 2013 Destination Tours to Chicago and New York, and last week, Boston.

Our host hotel was the Boston Sheraton.  The Sheraton is the largest hotel in Boston and is connected to the Prudential Center.  The Prudential Center houses a wide variety of shops and restaurants and is "the place" to shop in Boston.  Our guests enjoyed the chance to check out the shopping and eateries during the free time they had on the tour.  

The first game at Fenway Park featured the Yankees against the Red Sox.  The group, with BLT host Mike Gorton, took the short 10 minute walk to Fenway Park to check out the sites and sounds around the ballpark before the game.  As always, our guests were seated in the lower level.  Unfortunately, the one thing we can't guarantee at Big League Tours is a close game.  Our guests watched the Yankees destroy the Red Sox 10-3.  

On Saturday, the group had all day in Boston to explore the city.  As part of the Destination Tour package, they received a Duck Tour of the city.  The Duck Tour is a land/water tour that takes folks through the historic city.  Our guests were thrilled with the added attraction provided by Big League Tours and said they would recommend it toBoston Sheraton anyone visiting Boston.

Sunday was the last day of the Boston Destination Tour.  After a full day in the city, we gathered in the lobby to head over to Fenway for a VIP Batting Practice Experience before the nationally televised ESPN game.  Our Red Sox tour guide, Sarah, met us at the VIP entrance then escorted to the field where we were able to watch batting practice from behind the screen.  Our guests were thrilled with the opportunity to be that close to all the players from both teams, and watched as the hitters bombed ball after ball into the seats.  Sarah took us up to the Green Monster in left field to see if we could catch a batting practice homer.  None of our guests were able to snag a ball, but the view and the IPA Green Monster beer made up for that.Fenway VIP Tour

After settling into their lower level seats, the group was treated to some excitement.  This was the game in which Ryan Dempster plugged A-Rod in the bottom of the second inning.  The benches cleared, Joe Girardi was tossed, and then the game continued without incident.  This game had a lot of action with 26 hits and 15 runs between the two teams.  The Yankees were victorious as they defeated the Red Sox, 9-6.

Our Destination Tours have been a big hit in 2013. You can expect to see more offerings in 2014 for Chicago, Boston, and New York.  We will also be adding more cities like LA and San Francisco to the Destination Tour list.  So, make sure to visit our website and sign up to receive the updates and tour schedules when they become available.

Topics: Red Sox, Boston, baseball travel, baseball vacation, baseball road trip, baseball tour, Fenway Park, big league tours, Green Monster, Baseball

Special offer and Info on our Chi/Mil Baseball Tour

Posted by Doug Lawson on Tue, Apr 23, 2013 @ 11:02 AM

BLT at Wrigley FieldOur Chicago/Milwaukee Tour is a great way to enjoy the Big League Tours luxury baseball tour experience over a long weekend.

We will start this tour on Friday with a visit to US Cellular Field for a special, behind the scenes tour with former White Sox slugger Ron Kittle.  Then, you'll have lower level seats for the A's vs. White Sox at 7:10PM.

On Saturday, we will travel to Miller Park for the Phillies @ Brewers at 6:15PM.  You will have time before the game to check out all the tailgaters and the great food available inside the ballpark.

Our last day in Chicago will take us to historic Wrigley Field for Pirates @ Cubs 1:20PM.  We will get to Wrigley early so you can explore Wrigleyville and the pre-game action around the stadium.  As always, you will sit close to the field in the hard-to-get, lower level seats.

We have selected one of the finest hotels for our guests. Our tour hotel is the historic Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago.  You will love this beautiful, luxury hotel and its proximity to many of the attractions.

BOOK THIS TOUR BEFORE MAY 5 AND GET $125 OFF PER PERSON!!

Click the link for all the info- CHICAGO MILWAUKEE TOUR INFO


Topics: Miller Park, baseball road trips, baseball travel, baseball vacation package, baseball vacation, baseball road trip, ballpark tours, Wrigley Field, big league tours, Chicago, U.S. Cellular Field, Baseball, Cubs

Big League Tours Featured on Inside Indiana Business

Posted by Doug Lawson on Mon, Dec 17, 2012 @ 01:37 PM
Last week, Glenn Dunlap was featured on the Inside Indiana Business television program. The program plays all over the state highlighting the businesses that make Indiana their home. Glenn and host, Gerry Dick, discuss our luxury baseball tours as well as our company history. Thanks to everyone at Inside Indiana Business for putting it together. Gerry and his staff have been extremely supportive of Big League Tours since the beginning. Just click the video link to see the interview after a short promo for Inside Indiana Business.

Topics: baseball road trips, baseball games, baseball tours, baseball travel, baseball vacation package, baseball hall of fame, Baseball

Our 2013 Luxury Baseball Tours

Posted by Doug Lawson on Sat, Oct 27, 2012 @ 03:11 PM

Big League Tours Group

They're ready!  We are excited to reveal our 2013 Season Tour Packages to our fans.  We have all your favorites like the Hall of Fame Tours, West Coast Tours, and the Midwest Tours; but we've also added Southwest, Southeast and Windy City tours to our schedule.  Plus, NEW for this year are our Destination Tours and Getaway Day Tours for guests who want a shorter Big League Tours adventure.  Click below to go directly to the Big League Tours website:

BIG LEAGUE TOURS 2013 SCHEDULE

EARLY BOOKING PROMOTIONBook your 2013 Tour before Nov.21, 2012 and receive 5% off your total package price. Just use the coupon code "Early Bird" when booking your tour. 

 Please call (866) 619-1748 with any questions. 

 

Topics: baseball vacations, Luxury baseball, baseball road trips, baseball trips, baseball tours, baseball stadiums, baseball travel, baseball vacation package, ballpark tours, big league tours, MLB tours, group tours, family tours, MLB road trips, Baseball

Big League Tours travel season in 31 photos- Midwest and HoF Tours

Posted by Kayla Wininger on Thu, Sep 27, 2012 @ 04:08 PM

Since joining the Big League Tours crew in early summer, I've had the amazing opportunity to lead two tours. The first time I was the co-pilot with Martha Ellen in Chicago/Milwaukee and the second I was flying solo with the group in New York, Boston and Cooperstown. 

As the 2012 MLB season wraps up, I thought this would be a great time to share some of my favorite pictures from the trips this summer (I also threw in a few from the corporate outing we hosted). My iPhone is my best friend and I love snapping shots of absolutely anything and everything! FYI- My iPhone is far from professional so ignore some of the blurry stuff and just imagine the great times everyone was having!

Join me while I recount the amazing people I've met and wonderful places I've been thanks to Big League Tours.

There will be plenty of photos to come next year so stay tuned, hopefully your face will even be featured in a few! Sign up for our 2013 Tours and be the first to recieve the schedule once it's released!

Follow us on Facebook (Big League Tours), Instagram (BigLeagueTours) and Twitter (@BigLeagueTours) to view our other photos!

Music: Sweet Caroline- Glee Cast

Topics: Red Sox, Boston, Citi Field, Milwaukee, Yawkey Way, east coast baseball tour, baseball stadiums, ballpark tours, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Yankees, Brewers, Chicago, Yankee Stadium, Reds, Great American Ball Park, company outing, hall of fame, Cooperstown, Baseball, Cubs, ballparks

Navigating New York City 101—Baseball Vacation Style

Posted by Kayla Wininger on Tue, Sep 25, 2012 @ 12:39 PM

We know one thing about people who purchase a Big League Tours package, they love to travel! Something else we know; travelling the world can’t even prepare you for what New York City will throw your way. With two ballparks and countless other baseball attractions, it’s crucial to make sure you know the best way to explore the city before you head out on your own.  

Here’s the run down of “Navigating NYC 101”:

Using public transportation is a MUST:

Ride the subway at least once!

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When you first enter a station you’ll want to purchase a MetroCard from a self-service machine. Fares are (as of 9/25/12) $2.25 each way and usually allow you to switch lines without paying another fee, just make sure you don’t exit the station. I would recommend a minimum of $5 every time you add money to your card in case of an emergency. MTA is the subway system in NYC and the fastest way to get from point A to B. 

Once you get your card, enter the turnstiles by sliding your card through the machine, look at the image on the machine so you know which way to place your card. After you swipe the card, you’re remaining balance will show on a small screen and you can now enter through the turnstiles.

Now that you’re inside you’ll look for the colored circles with the number or letter of the line you want to take. Subway lines are color-coded depending on where they go and you’ll want to pay close attention to if the signs say “Uptown” or “Downtown”.  Uptown heads north and Downtown south. If you aren’t travelling to Queens or Brooklyn, these are the main things you’ll need to know about directions. If you accidently get on the wrong train, exit at the next stop and consult a map on how to get back to where you were. 

Subway doors close quickly so make sure you’re ready when the train arrives. 

NOTE: If you have an iPhone, maps will provide you with which line you should travel to get to your destination. 

yankee stadium

Directions to Yankee Stadium from the Grand Hyatt Hotel

-Walk to Grand Central Terminal on 42nd Street

-Take the 4 Subway towards Woodlawn (Uptown)

-Exit at 161st Street/Yankee Stadium

-Walk 500ft. to Yankee Stadium

Note: Returning you'll take the 4 (downtown) to Grand Central Terminal/42nd Street 

Hail your first cab in NYC.

You’ll see cabs everywhere you look; it really is just like the movies! Be aggressive because they’ll take advantage of tourists without thinking twice!

So here’s how it works… Cabs with their lights on are available, just step off the sidewalk, stick out your arm, and they will come. Hailing a cab from a sidewalk may make them think you’re unsure. Be aggressive and you shouldn’t have a problem. 

When giving your location to the driver, it’s important that you seem very sure of where you’re going so they don’t try and take you the long way. 

For example, say you’re trying to spend your afternoon at the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse to grab a few souvenirs. Try this:

I’m headed to 11th Street between University Place and Broadway.

This way the driver knows that you know exactly where you want to go.

Throw on your walking shoes.

Walking in New York City is the best way to take in the sights as you travel to your destination. It also gives you some time to people watch. The concierge desk always has great directions but don’t forget to grab a map just in case you end up somewhere you hadn’t planned on!

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So there you have it. My main suggestions for exploring NYC like you've been there a dozen times. They may seem simple but it’s easy to get lost in a city of more than 8 million people. New York City has an endless amount of baseball destinations outside the stadium; take advantage of them without getting lost!

Check back in the next few weeks to see a list of our 2013 Tours and get signed up for the trip of a lifetime in one of America’s most exciting cities!

Topics: baseball vacations, Citi Field, travel, New York, east coast baseball tour, ballpark tours, Yankees, Yankee Stadium, New York City, Baseball

Top 6 iPhone Apps For Baseball Fans

Posted by Kayla Wininger on Fri, Sep 21, 2012 @ 04:10 PM

If you’re anything like me, your app library needs a little spicing up every now and then.  With the release of the iPhone5 and iOS6 upgrade, I’ve been getting rid of old apps and downloading new ones that make my daily life just a little bit easier.  It got me thinking, “What apps are out there that would make diehard baseball fans go crazy?”  Here it comes, I’m throwing at you my Top 6 Apps for Baseball Fan (I couldn’t pick just 5):

6. iScore Baseball Keeper

Price: $9.99
Rating: 4.5/5 by 205 users

Keep track of your favorite MLB Teams stats or share your sons little league game with family members around the world.  Comparable to GameChanger, another statistic tracking app, iScore lets you go back at any time and change a part of the game.  You can also share your play-by-play with others, letting them watch the game from beginning to end. 

5. Yahoo Fantasy Baseball ‘12

Price: Free
Rating: 4.5/5 by 2,903 Users

Described as the “Best fantasy app for MLB on the market” by iPhone user ZZZLoan, Yahoo Fantasy Baseball ’12 can perform most of the functions that you would use online.  It provides real-time fantasy updates, allows you to manage your lineup, track matchups, drop and add players and sends you breaking news on players.  Compared to other fantasy baseball apps, you’ll want to go with Yahoo!

4. Ballpark Envi

Ballpark Envi Screenshot
Price: $0.99
Rating 3.5/5 by 98 Users

If it’s your first time going to a stadium or you’re a history buff, make sure to download this app that includes all current stadiums as well as many past stadiums.  With pictures from around the stadium, you’ll get a great idea of the layout before game day.  Some stadiums also offer seating charts so you’ll know just where you’re sitting.  In addition to the images you’ll get plenty of info to learn more about the parks.  Looking to go on our Hall of Fame Tour?  Check out all of the old stadiums before visiting Yankee Stadium and Citi Field!

3. ESPN Radio

Price: Free
Rating: 3/5 by 155 Users

If you’ve previously ignored this app because of the cost, you no longer have to worry because it’s free!  Since August 20, 2012 ESPN Radio has allowed users to listen to SportsCenter, download podcasts and choose from more than 35 ESPN Radio Stations for FREE!  User reviews have been skyrocketing since the change but make sure you get it now because the free offer only lasts until December 31, 2012. 

2. MLB Pre Play

Price: Free
Rating 4.5/5 by 14 Users

This app gives you a fun alternative to just texting your friends about the game.  Make your game predictions before they start or challenge a friend to a play-by-play game.  It’s a game within a game that’ll have you bragging about winning even if your team loses!  “When I’m at the ballpark with friends we do this all the time,” RonSwansong iPhone user said “especially with players we love or hate!”

MLB At The Ballpark Screenshot

1. MLB At the Ballpark

Price: Free
Rating: 3/5 by 92 Users

This is a must have when heading out to the ballpark!  Check-in when you get to the park and you’ll find some special promotions and deals that you may have otherwise missed.  Keep up-to-date with social media surrounding your team all from within the app.  My favorite feature?  If you’re in Philly, Houston, Phoenix or Miami, you can skip the line by ordering food from your phone, all you have to do is pick it up!  No delivery options yet, unfortunately.  More ballparks will likely be adding this optionin the near future. 

So there you have it, my Top 6 Apps for Baseball Fan.  As the 2013 tour schedule is being hammered out, I’ll keep searching for ways to better improve your trip with Big League Tours and maybe by next year they’ll be delivering food to our seats!  Make sure to sign up for our 2013 tours and be the first to get the schedule when it’s released!

Didn’t see your favorite baseball app?  Share it with us in the comment section!

Topics: baseball stadiums, baseball travel, Baseball, iPhone apps, technology, fantasy baseball, ballparks