As you read this, I am vacationing in Orlando, Florida. Yes, I am riding the rides, seeing the sights and meeting all those popular characters. However, while I am vacationing I did not forget my friends at Inside Pulse. I got to thinking, what would be a good article for a vacation week. I came up with it while I was flipping through baseball games. Today’s Top 5 is, The Top 5 Places in the World I Want To See A Baseball Game.
Place #1 – Fairbanks Alaska
Fairbanks Alaska is 160 miles from the Arctic Circle. Every June 20, 21 and 22 there is 24 hours of sunlight. Therefore, what is better to do with sunlight than play baseball at night. The game usually starts about 10:30pm and can last until about 2am. Apparently the sun rises and sets every three hours (in a circular rotation) that time and is a sight to be seen. This game has been played every year since 1906 and has had over 5,000 people watching this game. One year I will be there.
Place #2 –Canberra, Australia
A good friend of mine called me last year from her job in North Dakota. My friend, Megan Salic, was the assistant general manager of the Forgo-Moorhead Redhawks of the Northern League. She had told me that she was hired by Major League Baseball to go to Australia and restart the Australian Baseball League. Megan is back there this year, starting a franchise in Canberra. He job is to build a competitive team from scratch and bring minor league baseball fun to the people of Australia. So, if I am going to go see a game “Down Under”, I will go and see my friend. Note: a future article about the Australian Baseball League will be coming this summer.
Place #3 – Dyersville, Iowa
Is it heaven? No, it is Iowa. Dyersville is the home of the Field of Dreams. This is the location where the movie was shot and it is still a baseball field today. It is surrounded by the famous farmhouse and the even more famous corn. I have been there three times, but I have been there alone. I would love to just see a little league game played on that field. Being there, you get a sense of feeling like you are at a safe place for baseball. You can disappear into the corn (as I actually watched someone try to do) but you do disappear into your mind, listening to the corn blowing in the wind.
Place #4 – Tel Aviv, Israel
When traveling to Israel, make sure you stop and catch a game in the Israeli baseball League. The feel is of a minor league game with the fan interaction, food areas, staff help and they have a few interesting rules as well. First, all games are seven innings. If the game is tied after seven innings, the game is decided by a Home Run Derby! Games decided by a Derby, excellent.
Place #5 – Anywhere in Japan,
We have seen the players in the majors and in the World Baseball Classic. They have won that tournament and watching the exhibition games on television, it seems fun to be watching baseball in Japan. So, get me some chopsticks and some sushi. Teach me the traditions and let’s go watch some 野球 (yakyu).
I will be back in New York soon. Have a great week all and enjoy. Happy Labor Day.
About Russ Blatt
