Great American Baseball Adventure, Week 21: August 23rd-29th, 2010

Last two weeks of the minor league season, and we've got some serious work left to do. Time to hit the Midwest for one last long stretch of games down on the farm. GABA Week 21:

Monday, August 23rd:
Indianapolis, IN (357 miles from Knoxville)
Indianapolis Indians (AAA Pirates) vs. Louisville Bats (AAA Reds)

Back in the Midwest for the end of the minor league season. It’s our International League finale, and our 4th time seeing Indy. Not the 1980s movie hero, the team… but how sweet would it be to see a team take the field in fedoras, wielding whips and pistols? OK, it has no basis in reality, but after more than 1,100 innings of baseball at this point, I’m game for anything.


Tuesday, August 24th:
Fort Wayne, IN (130 miles from Indianapolis)
Fort Wayne TinCaps (A Padres) vs. Lansing Lugnuts (A Blue Jays)

Remember, the Detroit Pistons got their start in Fort Wayne, so why can’t the TinCaps dream big? They’re named for Johnny Appleseed, who was one big guy if memory serves me right. Wait… crap, that was Paul Bunyan, who isn’t even real. OK, if planning this trip has affected my brain this much, I can’t imagine what actually taking the trip will do.


Wednesday, August 25th:
South Bend, IN (84 miles from Fort Wayne)
South Bend Silver Hawks (A D’Backs) vs. Dayton Dragons (A Reds)

This will be one of the few times to be ‘backstage’ pre-game, just to find out if there’s a sign in the Silver Hawks locker room that says ‘Play Like A Champion Today’. Or at least, a ‘Home Run Jesus’. I also thought about scheduling the Silver Hawks (named for a model of Studebaker) on a Saturday in football season opposite a Notre Dame home game, just to see if we would have the baseball game all to ourselves.


Thursday, August 26th:
Travel day. We have to drive across Chicago at this point, and it might actually take the entire day to do that.


Friday, August 27th:
Beloit, WI (190 miles from South Bend)
Beloit Snappers (A Twins) vs. Kane County Cougars (A Athletics)

A team named for one of the slowest mammals on the planet… Snappers reportedly just edged out “Beloit Bengie Molinas” in the team naming contest. Another all-you-can-eat affair – I’ll pack in as much as my gut can take for $25, then go buy stock in Maalox. There are rumors the Snappers will move to nearby Janesville, but I have a better solution – go 15 miles south to Rockford and change the name to the “Rockford Files”. Instant success!


Saturday, August 28th:
Grand Chute, WI (162 miles from Beloit)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (A Brewers) vs. Kane County Cougars (A Athletics)

Sorry, Kane County Cougars, but we trailed your team bus all the way here because we couldn’t find Grand Chute on the map. Seriously, the town of Grand Chute, Wisconsin is not in my Rand McNally Road Atlas (which, by the way, is in total disrepair after planning this GABA). Like the Green Bay Packers, the Timber Rattlers are publicly owned, which means we could buy a stake in the team! Oh, the possibilities…


Sunday, August 29th:
Peoria, IL (316 miles from Grand Chute)
Peoria Chiefs (A Cubs) vs. Clinton LumberKings (A Mariners)

We’ll be begging the Chiefs to make this a night game, since we’re driving 300+ miles after a Saturday night game in Grand Chute. The Chiefs have taken 21st century, everything’s-for-sale capitalism to a new level. You can buy naming rights on a game-by-game basis. Vienna beef Chicago-style hot dogs on a Sunday at “GABA 2010 Stadium” in Peoria? Better raise some more funds…