Will Baseball Stadium Tours Include Robots Someday?
December 2, 2008 - This video doesn't have very much to do with what we do at Big League Tours or small group tours right now, but maybe someday it will. (I don't think it will be in my lifetime, but who knows.) I thought it was pretty cool and thought some of you travelers might as well. If you are interested in robots, baseball or both you might find this interesting. Do you think this is what the future holds for baseball trips and stadium tours alike?
Are You Ready to Experience one of our Baseball Stadium Tours to New Yankee Stadium in '09!?
November 24, 2008 - Many baseball vacation packages are now being offered for the opening weekend for the New Yankee Stadium in April 2009. Have you planned your MLB road trip yet? Check out the video of New Yankee Stadium and start planning your sports packages now, before its too late. You won't want to miss this!
Check out our website for the many different sports packages that we are offering in '09 that include the New Yankee Stadium as well as every other Major League stadium.
Add Midwest 1 To Your MLB Tours for 2009 To See Pujols in Action November 17, 2008 - Pujols has been crowned the National League MVP for the second time in his career. In the running against him was Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies, who beat Pujols in 2006. Having finished in the top 10 every voting season for the past eight seasons and has been the 11th player to receive the award twice.
St. Louis ended their season 11 1/2 seasons away from first in the NL Central. However, the Cardinals exceeded many peoples' expectations, especially with the help of Pujols.
So, make sure to add Midwest 1 from Big League Tours onto your stadium tours list for 2009 and check out NL MVP Albert Pujols and Golden Glove winner Yadier Molina.
Follow Your Favorite Team... Into the Afterlife? November 11, 2008 - There are many die hard baseball fans out there, but I have never seen anything like this. Eternal Image makes unique caskets and urns for their customers. Clint Mytych, CEO and only 27, of Eternal Image is determined to change the funeral industry with an array of new ways to celebrate the person who has passed.
Whether it is an urn for your favorite pet or you were a huge Phillies fan and you would like to dedicate your urn to the team, with the permission of Major League Baseball fans can now take it to the next level.
The MLB urns are made from aluminum, sits on top of a wooden shaped base and topped with a clear dome and baseball can be displayed. Then the logo of the persons favorite team is displayed on the side as well as their name. There is soon to be a casket that focuses on your favorite team as well. The casket will resemble a wooden bat and will be lined in the persons favorite teams colors.
Are you this big of a fan? Join us on one of our sports vacations and maybe you'll catch that commemorative baseball that can be displayed on your urn. Or maybe during one of our baseball stadium tours you could get a bat signed by a special player for that wooden bat casket. If your not ready to take your favorite team to the afterlife just enjoy them now with Big League Tours.
Baseball Vacation Makes Lifelong Memories August 27, 2008 - Many people have a love or bond for baseball, but there is nothing better than sharing that bond with your dad. Kris D. and his son, Chase, joined Big League Tours on the Midwest 1 trip in Chicago and Milwaukee. The trip caught Kris' eye since it wasn't a very long journey from their home in Aurora, Indiana, a town near Cincinnati.
This trip was a gift from Kris to his son. Kris felt the gift was perfect because they both share a love for baseball and would someday like to see all the baseball stadiums together. Chase, age 9, was thrilled to get the trip and couldn't wait to take it. His grandfather even got him jerseys for each team that they were going to see on the trip. This only added to the anticipation and excitement that both Kris and Chase were already experiencing.
They enjoyed all aspects of the trip but especially enjoyed the meet and greet with Ron Kittle at U.S. Cellular, where they were able to hear stories from Kittle's career and able to interact with him. Later that evening, Chase appeared on the big screen at U.S. Cellular where he hit a home run in the fan zone area! That's him swinging away in the picture. He was given an array of things including a shirt, hat, and tickets to the walking dinosaur exhibit in Chicago. Kris says, "My son and I were already close, but this has made memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you."
Family Tours Enjoy Fireworks August 25, 2008 - When starting out at U.S. Cellular on Midwest 1 everyone was pumped and ready for the festivities and games to begin. For an added bonus the White Sox put on a firework show and added some music for a great effect. It was a wonderful display probably one of the best I had ever seen up until that point in my life. They had big boomers and small shooting fireworks that lasted for a very long time. They did a wonderful job timing the fireworks with the music and just did a fantastic job.
On Midwest 2 the next place to give us a firework show was Pittsburgh and I have to say this was my favorite of all times. Not only did they have a firework show for all their fans, but they had REO Speedwagon come in and play. All the lights went down in the stadium and off to the right the fireworks started going off. Then the next thing you know REO Speedwagon is on stage playing in front of you in the infield. They put on an amazing show and just when we thought it was over the fireworks started again and then back to REO. This back and forth went on for over an hour. So, not only did the fans get to see a MLB game but they also got to see a live concert and firework show. This was one of the best things i have ever seen a stadium do for their fans I was absolutely blown away.
The next night in Cincinnati they had a firework show also. It was no concert and firework show, but they did an amazing job. These were some of the biggest boomers that I had ever seen or heard. They were such a loud boom they made you shake and jump right out of your seat. Midwest 1 and 2 had many great aspects, but nothing better than fireworks in the summer while enjoying Americas favorite past time.
Package Tours Make A Stop In Pittsburgh August 25, 2008 - The next stop on our tour was Pittsburgh, PA to see the Pirates take on the Cincinnati Reds. We were all very impressed with PNC Park it was even nicer than we had heard. I loved Camden Yards and many parks have been based off of its design including PNC Park. It is very pleasing to the eye, well kept, and fun for all ages. My only complaint would be when you are in the outfield area it can get a little confusing to where you are supposed to go, but I found my way back to home plate.
This was also such a great experience because we were in the fourth row from the visiting team, Cincinnati Reds, dugout. This gave us a great view of the players as the came in and out of the dugout and an amazing view of the entire field. However, being this close to the field along the baseline can be dangerous so we had to be aware at all times.
Unfortunately, just like all the games before the home team lost again. I don't know if our group being there put a jinx on all the home teams, but the home team lost again. The Cincinnati Reds took the Pirates for a win 3-1. We were able to see Chris Dickerson, the rookie of the team, first career RBI in the sixth inning. To read more about the games or to see official stats please click here.
August 8, 2008 - Many of our baseball trips have incorporated the Reds playing somewhere on the road which has suited me fine since I've been a lifelong fan of the Redlegs. Now keep in mind that I grew up during the Big Red Machine era - coming of age as a baseball fan when Cincinnati fielded one of the greatest teams in baseball. In fact, one could argue that most, if not all, of the position players for the '75 Reds should be in the Hall of Fame - or would be if they played on any other team. (Compare Dave Concepcion's lifetime stats to Ozzie Smith's and tell me Davey doesn't deserve to be in Cooperstown...)
So having grown up a Reds fan rooting for a player named Griffey, it has been enjoyable to watch Junior come home to Cincinnati and spend 10 years playing as a Red. Knowing that we had the Reds on our schedule for August, I expected that I would be watching Ken Griffey, Jr. adding to his home run count. But I didn't expect to see him do it in a White Sox uniform.
We were fortunate enough to get into the ballpark early to watch batting practice for the White Sox. It was amazing to watch Griffey blast one shot after another past the outfield seats and onto the outer concourse. What a beautiful swing!
I hope Junior gets a World Series ring before his career is over, whether it's in Chicago or somewhere else. I also hope he reaches 3,000 hits and distances himself from Sammy Sosa on the home run record list. We'll have to schedule times to see him on our group travel tours in 2009 and after. Unfortunately it won't be in a Reds uniform...
Baseball Stadium Tours Continues To Cleveland August 22, 2008 - In Cleveland our guests were able to take a stadium tour of Progressive Field. We had a wonderful tour guide who was full of information about the team's history and the field itself. I was unaware that Progressive Field had a memorial area, Heritage Park, similar to the National Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. This area commemorates some of Cleveland's finest players throughout the years ranging from Shoeless Joe Jackson to Cy Young. It was great to experience Heritage Park since I am not very knowledgeable of Cleveland's past.
Big League Tours guests were able to experience a suite, batting cages where guests saw Ben Francisco practicing, and dugout seats to just name a few of the big stops. Unfortunately, Cleveland's winning streak ended to Baltimore on Wednesday August 13th. The Indian's put up a good fight but in the end could not hold the Orioles who won 6-1. To see official MLB stats click here.
Baseball Road Trips Through The Crossroads of America
August 21, 2008 - After ending the Midwest 1 trip in Chicago we took a bus over to Detroit to meet the rest of our group for our Midwest 2 MLB road trip. We stayed in an amazing hotel, just a few blocks away from the stadium, where each guest got to stay in style with their own personal suite.
This was a great way to start the trip and show our guests that we work very hard to give them first class accommodations in every aspect of Big League Tours sports packages. The Toronto Blue Jays came down to the Tigers Den to take on the Detroit Tigers. Unfortunately, for the Tigers the the Blue Jays came to play and ended up defeating the Tigers 6-4.
We had the privilege of seeing A.J. Burnett pitch his 15th win for the Toronto Blue Jays. He had a rocky first six innings, but his teammates were there to back him up. They came back with a rally against the Tigers to win the the game. To check out the official MLB stats please click here.
d time in his career. In the running against him was Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies, who beat Pujols in 2006. Having finished in the top 10 every voting season for the past eight seasons and has been the 11th player to receive the award twice.
ver seen anything like this. Eternal Image makes unique caskets and urns for their customers. Clint Mytych, CEO and only 27, of Eternal Image is determined to change the funeral industry with an array of new ways to celebrate the person who has passed. 
They had big boomers and small shooting fireworks that lasted for a very long time. They did a wonderful job timing the fireworks with the music and just did a fantastic job. 
My only complaint would be when you are in the outfield area it can get a little confusing to where you are supposed to go, but I found my way back to home plate. 
Red Machine era - coming of age as a baseball fan when Cincinnati fielded one of the greatest teams in baseball. In fact, one could argue that most, if not all, of the position players for the '75 Reds should be in the Hall of Fame - or would be if they played on any other team. (Compare Dave Concepcion's lifetime stats to Ozzie Smith's and tell me Davey doesn't deserve to be in Cooperstown...)