46 days until pitchers and catchers report. That day can't come soon enough. In the meantime, here is what's on tap for us in 2013:
Our major trip that we are kicking around right now is centered around Kansas City. We have once again attended all 30 parks, and there is really no team on the horizon that is getting a new park anytime soon, so Erik and I have interest and free reign now to revisit some parks and get more creative with our trips. Kauffman Stadium underwent a huge renovation in 2008, and we've been itching to get out there and see the upgrades. It would have been nice to go there last year when KC hosted the All-Star Game, but Marlins Park took precedent. We really don't know much more at this point than we want to see a game at Kauffman. As usual, a lot will just depend on Erik's ever-fluid job and time situation. I'm hoping we can make a long weekend out of it and catch some minor league ball and visit the Negro Leagues Museum while we're down there. And of course, lots of barbecue.
There are also a few smaller side trips we need to do. Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton and Siebert Field at the University of Minnesota are both receiving extensive renovations slated to be ready for 2013, and Target Field is hosting the Big 10 Tournament this season, so those are all must-see. We knocked out a big chunk of the Northwoods League tour last year, and Erik living in Minnesota again affords us the opportunity to get to places like Eau Claire, Alexandria, and St. Cloud that were previously out of reach. I am also going to a wedding in Virginia in August that I am going to try to turn into a week long roadtrip and catch some ballgames on the way to and from. So a lot of ideas for 2013 but nothing at all set in stone, which isn't really how I operate, but it is what it is. The one thing I do know for certain is that the Brewers' home opener is on April 1st, and for the 6th year in a row I will be fortunate enough to attend.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the staff at The Houses That Erik & Peter Built!
touch with baseball when his childhood heroes Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, and Jim Gantner retired but the Great Home Run Chase of 1998 reignited his passion. As a student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Erik became involved with the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity. With this group Erik traveled to Portland, OR and Baltimore, MD to work on construction projects and help the group raise $25,000 to partially sponsor a house in Milwaukee. Also at UWM, Erik met Peter Nagel. The two attended their first Brewers game together during Opening Weekend 2003. Despite their failure to ignite the coals at their first tailgate, the two had a blast and were soon making weekly trips to the ballpark. Erik has gone on to several colleges and changed careers several times, and has moved all the way out to New Hampshire, but has always stayed true to his baseball roots by holding part-time stadium usher jobs. To this day he looks back fondly on his incredible cross-country journey.