Topics: group travel, baseball games, baseball tours, baseball travel, big league tours, group tours
Cubs vs. Cardinals - Look to the Cookie...?
Like many people in my generation, I grew up a huge Seinfeld fan. Still to this day I can't help but pause and watch an episode whenever I see it's on. One of my favorite episodes is when Jerry and Elaine spend the whole show in a New York bakery trying to pick something up for a dinner party. While waiting, Jerry eats the imfamous "black and white" cookie. Here's the clip:
Jerry believes that the black and white cookie is the symbol of racial harmony. That all things are good with the cookie. That we need to "look to the cookie."
I couldn't help think of this episode recently. As we travel from stadium to stadium on our baseball travel tours, we gather things from each team, especially when the baseball teams are passing things out at the gate. So what made me think of this was when I was wearing a St. Louis Cardinals t-shirt and drinking from a Chicago Cubs cup. Taboo? Maybe.
If you haven't seen the end of the Seinfeld show, Jerry's unifying cookie ends up causing him, shall we say, to lose his groceries. My concern, of course, was that my Cubs/Cardinals combination would have a similar effect on me. Luckily, I didn't feel any ill effects. However, I'm sure that some of you would have problems donning your rival team's gear, or drinking from their cups, or displaying their bobbleheads - even if they were something you gathered for free on a group travel tour.
Then again, this might be the very reason stadiums don't sell cookies with their team's logo on one side and their opponent's logo on the other. We may not be ready to "look to the cookie..."
Topics: St. Louis, baseball tours, baseball stadiums, baseball travel, Chicago, Cardinals, Cubs
More and More Travelers are Purchasing Travel Insurance
December 2, 2008 - Did you know that recent surveys have found more travelers are purchasing travel insurance? Did you know that Big League Tours offers travel insurance? Travel insurance can take a great relief of stress off of travelers while traveling in escorted tours or purchasing a vacation through a consultant.
Some program options Travel Guard insurance can give you on your sports vacations:
- Cancel for any reason optional coverage
- Cancel for work reasons optional coverage
- Children age 17 and younger no additional charge (Must be related to the primary insured)
- Medical evacuation home OR optional coverage of your hospital choice
Some other coverage travelers will receive in unforeseen trip related expenses:
- Trip Cancellation, interruption and delay
- Lost, stolen or damaged baggage or travel documents
- Luggage Delay
If you are planning family tours in 2009 consider travel insurance to give you the ease of knowing you're covered in the case of an unforeseen incident. Check out our website to see what Big League Tours and Travel Guard can offer you.
Topics: group travel, tour operator, sports travel and tours, baseball travel, big league tours
December 2, 2008 - Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice are both on the ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It has been 20 years since the Baseball Writers' Association of America has has elected a left fielder into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. However, the 2009 ballot may end this all since there are some very prominent left fielders on the list.
Henderson is new to the ballot along with 10 others. Rice on the other hand this is his last chance to be nominated. Nominees may be on the ballot for 15 years, but they must receive 5% of the votes each year. Rice has a very good chance of being elected, last year he missed out by only 16 votes.
Don't miss out on the chance to take one of Big League Tours small group tours in the '09 season. Cooperstown, the National Baseball Hall of Fame, is being offered on five of our baseball travel tours. Check out our website and see which baseball road trip fits you!
Topics: baseball road trips, baseball travel, hall of fame, Cooperstown
Are you a Minnesota Twins fan?
Whether you answered yes or no many people still want to see all the baseball stadiums including the Metrodome. Since 2009 is the last season for the Metrodome, you might want to think about getting your baseball travel tours all set in place.
Big League Tours will be visiting the Twin Cities in May on our Midwest 2 trip where the Twins will be taking on the Boston Red Sox. On this baseball road trip we will also be catching a White Sox game and Cubs game in the windy city and catching a Brewers game at Miller Park. It'll be a great chance to catch some great ball in the Midwest.
Check out what the Twins new stadium, Target Field, will look like in 2010.
Topics: stadium tours, baseball stadiums, baseball travel, Twins, Target Field, Minneapolis
Purchasing Airline Tickets for Your Baseball Vacations
- Book directly: Airlines have begun giving discounts or vouchers to customers who book directly through their website. It not only helps drive people to their website, but helps the airlines not have to pay that extra commission they would to priceline, orbitz, or expedia.
- Sign up for their email: Many airlines offer special discounts to customers who sign up for their email and will sporadically send them out.
- Look for flights at nearby airports: Depending on where you are flying to many times there are smaller airports who will have cheaper flights. So, if one of your baseball travel tours includes New York try flying into New Jersey.
- Try to be flexible: Adjusting your travel days by a day or two may be able to save you in the long run.
- Don't wait: If you find a deal don't wait to see if a better one more than often when you come back it will be gone.
However you decide to purchase your airline ticket make sure all of your baseball vacations get planned in plenty of time.
Topics: sports travel and tours, baseball travel, baseball vacation package, big league tours, MLB tours, group tours
Airport Tips
Before Your Tour Vacations
- Check your itineraries for seat assignments and make any ticket changes you need.
- Handle any special needs you might need before you get to the airport.
- Check to make sure the contact information they have for you is correct.
- Take care of any passports, visas, or any other important papers you might need way ahead of time.
- Know the check-in requirements for your airport.
- Know the requirements for the security checkpoints where you'll be traveling.
- Check security check-point wait-times and allow plenty of extra time for busy holiday periods.
- Put your name and phone number of your destination on the inside and outside of your bag.
- Don't wrap your gifts since all luggage is subject to inspection. (If during a seasonal holiday please be aware of theft and consider sending your gifts by mail.)
- Travel light when you can. Try bringing one carry-on bag that will fit underneath the seat in front of you.
- Carry valuables, medication, and travel documents in your carry-on baggage.
Topics: tour operator, sports travel and tours, baseball travel, group tours
Big League Tours Appears in Indianapolis Business Journal
All 30 MLB Baseball Stadiums in 2009
With 20+ tours on our schedule, we're offering at least one trip to every Major League baseball stadium. We'll include behind-the-scenes stadium tours every chance we get.
Current Players Meeting Us On Tours
We've offered Big League Player Experiences on our package tours since we've started. That's where we have traditionally brought in former MLB players to tell baseball stories, get pictures with our guests, and sign autographs. This year, we're including some players still on the roster! It should be a real treat for our guests.
Opening Day at Citi Field and Yankee Stadium
Major League Baseball welcomes two new stadiums into its ranks this year and we're going to be there when they open. Why don't you join us on one of our baseball travel tours for these historic openings?
Stay tuned for trip details about our 2009 MLB Tours!
Topics: Citi Field, baseball tours, baseball stadiums, baseball travel, MLB tours, Yankee Stadium
September 23, 2008 - 2008 marks the end of an era for Yankee Stadium, but with an ending there is always a new beginning and that is exactly where 2009 will be taking the Yankees. For many people Yankee Stadium was one of the top stadiums to see before it was gone and many are just as excited to see the new stadium.
Here are some memorable moments from Yankee Stadium:
April 18, 1923: The first game at the Stadium attracts a crowd of 74,200 and is appropriately christened by Babe Ruth with a three-run home run in the third inning of the Yankees' 4-1 victory over the Red Sox.
Sept. 30, 1927: With a drive off the Washington Senators' Tom Zachary, Babe Ruth becomes the first player to hit 60 home runs in a season, a record that will stand for 34 years.
Nov. 12, 1928: At halftime of a scoreless game, Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne delivers his famous "Win one for the Gipper!" speech, and the Fighting Irish respond with a 12-6 victory over Army.
July 4, 1939: Lou Gehrig, forced into retirement due to ALS, delivers an impromptu, moving speech as he bids farewell to fans with comments such as "Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth," and "I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for."
May 15, 1941: Joe DiMaggio begins his 56-game hitting streak with a 1-for-4 game in a 13-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
Nov. 9, 1946: In what many football historians consider the greatest college game ever played, Notre Dame and Army, both undefeated, duel to a scoreless tie and share the national championship, although the Irish are ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll. Army's last-minute drive is thwarted by Notre Dame's Johnny Lujack, who tackles Heisman Trophy winner Doc Blanchard at the 11-yard-line.
June 13, 1948: Babe Ruth puts on uniform No. 3 for the last time in ceremonies marking the Stadium's silver anniversary, which would be his final public appearance.
Aug. 17, 1948: One day after his death at the age of 53, Babe Ruth's body lay in state at the main entrance of the Stadium where more than 100,000 mourners pay respects.
Oct. 5, 1953: Billy Martin singles home Hank Bauer from second base for the winning run in a Game 6 triumph over the Dodgers that completes the Yankees' fifth consecutive World Series championship.
Dec. 28, 1958: Often referred to as "The Greatest Game Ever Played," the Baltimore Colts come from behind to defeat the football Giants, 23-17, for the NFL championship. Steve Myrha's field goal ties the score with seven seconds remaining in regulation, and quarterback Johnny Unitas directs a scoring drive in OT culminating in Alan Ameche's touchdown run.
Oct. 4, 1965: Pope Paul VI, the first Pontiff to visit the United States, celebrates Mass before a crowd of more than 80,000. Pope John Paul II also said Mass at the Stadium during his U.S. tour in 1979, and Pope Benedict XVI came to the Stadium this past April.
May 14, 1967: Mickey Mantle's hits his 500th career home run, off the Baltimore Orioles' Stu Miller.
Oct. 18, 1977: Reggie Jackson puts the finishing touches on the Yankees' World Series victory over the Dodgers with three home runs on three pitches from three pitchers - Burt Hooton, Elias Sosa and Charlie Hough - in Game 6.
June 21, 1990: A rally is held at the Stadium in honor of Nelson Mandela after his release from prison following the end of apartheid in South Africa.
May 17, 1998: David Wells pitches a perfect game, 4-0, against the Minnesota Twins.
Jul. 8, 2000: Chuck Knoblauch's three-run homer highlights a four-run fifth inning as the Yankees go on to a 4-2 victory over the Mets in the second of two cross-borough games on this date. Earlier, the Yankees beat the Mets by the same score at Shea Stadium.
Aug. 4, 2007: Alex Rodriguez hits his 500th career home run, off the Royals' Kyle Davies in the Yankees' 16-8 victory. A-Rod, at 32 years, 8 days, becomes the youngest player to reach the plateau, breaking the previous mark of Jimmie Foxx (32 years, 337 days) when he got to 500 Sept. 24, 1940.
If you have some memories you would like to share with Big League Tours, hit the comment button at the end of this blog.
Topics: New York, baseball travel, MLB tours, Yankees, Yankee Stadium
August 10, 2008 - One of the most common requests for baseball trips is to offer a baseball vacation package that includes Wrigley Field. And for good reason. Although it's crumbling around you (literally) as you watch the game, it's still a fantastic place for baseball. This was the first time that my wife and daughters had joined one of our group tours to Wrigley and they loved it.
The Cubs loved it, too. The game was originally scheduled to be played in the afternoon but was moved to an evening game so that it could be covered on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. After the sun went down and the winds picked up, I don't think there was an unsold sweatshirt or long-sleeved shirt left in any vending booth in the ballpark. I know that our family came home from this baseball vacation all decked out in Cubs gear!
Some of our group headed out to Wrigley early in the day but here's a picture of part of our group outside the ballpark. The Cubs went on to beat the Cardinals pretty handily by a score of 6-2. Click here to check out the box score from the game.
Topics: baseball road trips, baseball travel, Wrigley Field, Chicago, Cubs