Great American Baseball Adventure, Week 10: June 7th-13th, 2010

Hanging chads, alligators, and Mickey Mouse... it must be Florida, Florida, Florida! GABA Week 10 criss-crosses the Sunshine State:

Monday, June 7th:
Port Charlotte, FL (105 miles from Dunedin)
Charlotte Stone Crabs (A Rays) vs. Clearwater Threshers (A Phillies)

A team called the ‘Stone Crabs’ managed by a guy named Jim Morrison? That’s just too easy and I’m not going there. The ex-Rangers spring home was gobbled up by the Rays in 2009 when they realized it’s a drag having Spring Training across the street from your regular season home. The GABA research staff is investigating what the hell a ‘Thresher’ really is.


Tuesday, June 8th:
Jupiter, FL (144 miles from Port Charlotte)
Palm Beach Cardinals (A Cardinals) vs. Daytona Cubs (A Cubs)

Now we’re really getting into the heart of the Sunshine State. Roger Dean Stadium is built into a planned, mixed-use community with business and apartments literally across the street. Gucci handbags and wallets are required to enter, and non-millionaires are banished to the bleacher seats.


Wednesday, June 9th:
Port St. Lucie, FL (33 miles from Jupiter)
St. Lucie Mets (A Mets) vs. Jupiter Hammerheads (A Marlins)

Our second (and not last) time seeing the Hammerheads on the road. Wednesday is Wii Wednesday at Tradition Field, where you can win the popular video game system by playing Wii Home Run Derby. And if you’ve never played it before, here’s a warning: two rounds of HR Derby and you won’t be able to move your upper body for a few days. Doesn’t mean I won’t play, though.


Thursday, June 10th:
Daytona Beach, FL (150 miles from Port St. Lucie)
Daytona Cubs (A Cubs) vs. Brevard County Manatees (A Brewers)

This was our nearest ballpark when we lived in Orlando, and home to some great memories. There are plaques all around the stadium commemorating Jackie Robinson, who was allowed to play at Daytona when other cities weren’t so tolerant. We’re missing Belly Buster Monday, maybe the best promotion in the minors (10 bucks for a seat and all-you-can-eat burgers, hot dogs, pizza, popcorn and peanuts), but Thirsty Thursday (dollar beers) is a close second. Blueberry beer, here we come!


Friday, June 11th:
St. Petersburg, FL (161 miles from Daytona Beach)
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Florida Marlins

The FSL is on All-Star break, so we’ll shoot across I-4 to Tropicana Field, which looks like a spaceship landed on its side. The two Florida MLB teams plan to get together and talk about how they’ve made 3 World Series in their combined 29 seasons. And somewhere, at that exact moment, Cubs players will get really, really jealous.


Saturday, June 12th:
Viera, FL (151 miles from Tampa)
Florida State League All-Star Game

Note to self: when planning future GABAs, don’t go to Florida in mid-June. It’s 150 degrees in the shade, plus the FSL goes on its All-Star break. So to make the schedule work, we have to go to an All-Star Game here, instead of a regular-season Brevard County Manatees game. Then again, I’ve always been confused by the Manatees, a Brewers farm team playing in the Nationals’ spring training home.


Sunday, June 13th:
Travel day. I’m making my wife sit through 150 baseball games in all corners of the globe, so she gets this day to ride every ride at every Disney park in Florida. Think we can convince Disney we’re still eligible for the Florida residents’ discount?