View Full Version : Any Baseball Near the Trail?
malowitz
03-31-2010, 21:41
I'm in the midst of a thru-hike attempt and wondered if anyone knew of minor league or independent league teams with stadium near the trail? I'd love to catch a game this summer as I won't be able to attend any Iowa Cubs games if I'm on the trail.
Shorts
This isn't minor league, but the Damascus baseball team is apparently very good. Damascus in general is kind of a baseball hub for the surrounding area. They're building new fields as we speak. Small town baseball may fill that desire.
Toolshed
03-31-2010, 22:03
LV Iron Pigs. 10 miles from the AT in Allentown
Cookerhiker
03-31-2010, 22:03
Offhand, I can only think of 3 places reasonably near the Trail. In Maryland, you're almost halfway between Frederick (A) and Hagerstown (AA). It's too far to walk and I suspect the hitching is easier to Hagerstown. When you reach Duncannon, you're close to Harrisburg which I believe is also AA.
Actually, here is a good website: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/info/geographical.jsp
and it looks like there's teams all up and down the trail corridor. Hey, that would be a unique AT thruhike - see how many different games you can see. Looks like a lot in Tennessee & Virginia as well as the ones I mentioned. Have fun!
The Cubs AA (Tennessee Smokies) team are 25 miles from Gatlinburg up in Kodak TN. A possibility if you take a few zeros. Both Old Style and Yuengling are available. Ryno is the manager.
Lone Wolf
03-31-2010, 22:46
just down the road from Daleville/Troutville
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t414
RedneckRye
04-01-2010, 00:07
During my thru in '99 I got to see the Indians get beat by both the Yankees and the Red Sox.
As awesome as it was to sit in the bleachers at Yankee Stadium (the real one, not the current model), Fenway was much cooler.
For both of those trips, I met friends who lived in the area that picked me up and took me into the city. The fact that the Tribe was in town both times was pure luck.
The train runs from Harper's Ferry into DC, so catching a Nationals game or maybe even the Oriels wouldn't be too tough.
Hopping off trail to go to NYC and Boston was much more memorable than the hiking in NY and MA.
Be safe, have fun.
Dialeight44
04-01-2010, 00:28
Luray, VA has a summer league team of college players. Catch them on the weekends.
mkmangold
04-01-2010, 01:14
The Cubs AA (Tennessee Smokies) team are 25 miles from Gatlinburg up in Kodak TN. A possibility if you take a few zeros. Both Old Style and Yuengling are available. Ryno is the manager.
For real, Sandberg?
For real, Sandberg?I stand corrected - Ryno was managing the Smokies and is now managing the Iowa Cubs. Expect to him to take over for Piniella.
Cookerhiker
04-01-2010, 07:17
...The train runs from Harper's Ferry into DC, so catching a Nationals game or maybe even the Oriels wouldn't be too tough......
If you do that, you have to spend the night in DC. All the returning trains to HF are late afternoon and only on weekdays except for the one AMTRAK train. You could catch a Sunday afternoon game but make sure you leave by about 3:30 and hustle over to Union Station for the AMTRAK 4:05 departure..
Harrisburg Senators, just north of Duncannon, about 10 miles or so off the trail. The stadium landed in the top 5 list of the couple who hit every pro baseball stadium one summer. And if you time it right, maybe you'll get to see Stephen Strasburg pitch. However, I think he'll be pitching in D.C. by the time thrus hit PA. You can get to D.C. by train from Harpers Ferry. And you can get to NYC to visit Shea or the new Yankee stadium from Pawling, via train.
Be sure to carry an AM radio. Baseball at night in the tent is great way to wind down.
sasquatch2014
04-01-2010, 10:04
As others have said the trip into NYC to catch a game is easy to do. I can only imagine what a big difference to go from the emptiness of the trail to being part of a massive throng of people all moving to the noise and lights of a stadium. If you head in and need a lift back to the trail from the Pawling stop at night give me a shout before hand and I see if i can help.
Went to a minor league game in VA when I was working on a trail crew once. I thought it was Salem but Bristol seems more likely.
johnnybgood
04-02-2010, 19:47
The Valley League in western Virginia is a summer league sanctioned by MLB and has several teams that are within a short hitch from the trail.
Front Royal, Luray & Waynesboro are the nearest towns with teams.
www.valleyleaguebaseball.com/landing/index (http://www.valleyleaguebaseball.com/landing/index)
Lynchburg is about a half hour from where the trail crosses the James
River in Central Virginia. A long tradition of baseball with a nice stadium with a view of the mountains. Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, Lenny Dykstra played here when the team was a Mets affiliate. This year will be the Hillcats' first year as a Reds' farm team. Class A Carolina League.
The closest minor league in North Carolina is the Asheville Tourists. (http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t573) They are are a minor league baseball team in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. They are a Class A team in the South Atlantic League and have been a farm team of the Colorado Rockies since 1994.
Hot Springs is a little over 30 miles north of Asheville. Franklin is not much farther; about 52 miles west of Asheville.
The next closest is Hickory Crawdads (http://www.hickorycrawdads.com/) in my neck of the woods, but I don't think you'd want to go that far. They are are a Minor League Baseball team in Hickory, North Carolina, USA. They are a Class A team in the South Atlantic League, and have been a farm team of the Texas Rangers since 2009.
From Asheville, you'd drive east on I-40 at least an hour and a half; you'd drive about that long from Hot Springs too.
My sources are Google, Wikipedia and memory; these may not be completely accurate.;)
I hope you have a great minor league tour! ~K2~
malowitz
04-10-2010, 09:17
Thanks for all the info and research folks.
I made it to the Tourists' opening game on Thursday. I've got friends in Asheville I'm staying with for a couple of days and made it to the game. I even ended up with the season's first t-shirt sling shotted into the crowd.
Cookerhiker
04-10-2010, 09:26
Looking down the road, if you complete a thruhike while simultaneously taking in a dozen or more games along the corridor, I suggest you write an article and submit to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.mqLTIYOwGlF/b.4805859/k.BFA3/Home.htm) for publication in Journeys. They like to feature different types of AT experiences.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t522 (http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t522)
malowitz
06-15-2010, 21:12
Going well. So far:
Asheville Tourists
Baltimore Orioles
Washington Nationals
Harrisburg Senators (Yahtzee -couldn't believe that was an AA stadium!)
This coming Friday looking at the Philliadelphia Phillies thanks to thru-hiker Hoover
This coming Saturday - hoping for Reading Phillies
That being said, I missed these 3:
Salem Sox
Frederick (MD) Keys
Hagerstown (MD) Suns
I'm still hoping to end up with more than 10 games by the time I'm done.
Harrisburg Senators (Yahtzee -couldn't believe that was an AA stadium!)
It was just completely redone this year, a HUGE upgrade. Beautiful park on the river, just watch for the Mayfly snow at night under the lights
Luray, VA has a summer league team of college players. Catch them on the weekends.
Part of the Valley Baseball League, made up of college players. A few of them are recruited each year by Scouts from the Majors and wind up with minor league contracts. In fact, the league is partially funded by Major League Baseball.
Currently eleven teams in and near the Shenandoah Valley. Teams closest to the AT are in Waynesboro, Luray, and Front Royal.
More info at: http://www.valleyleaguebaseball.com/seasons/2010/standings
Went to a minor league game in VA when I was working on a trail crew once. I thought it was Salem but Bristol seems more likely.
Salem Red Sox, see above link by Lone Wolf. Roger Clemens son used to play for them a couple of years ago.
wilconow
06-16-2010, 00:03
Bluefield, WV/VA is a half hour northwest of Bland. Orioles rookie ball. I went there last year on the way home from WNC. Beautiful stadium with a hiking trail adjacent
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rW8Hbr5p96k/Sk-oiwV490I/AAAAAAAAEOM/dwuvRzTw2Xw/s640/IMG_0569.JPG
It was just completely redone this year, a HUGE upgrade. Beautiful park on the river, just watch for the Mayfly snow at night under the lights
You already blinked and missed this guy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Strasburg) playing for the home team there. Before 1955 the A.T. crossed the Susquehanna over the island where this stadium now is.
You already blinked and missed this guy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Strasburg) playing for the home team there. Before 1955 the A.T. crossed the Susquehanna over the island where this stadium now is.
Holy smokes, that's cool. That's the first I have heard that the AT went over City Island. Me likey.
expat2005
06-22-2010, 18:23
Salem, VA - Red Sox A ball :)