These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Happy Minor League Baseball Opening Day.
Teams in the International and Pacific Coast Leagues begin their season Friday, which, for those keeping score at home, is the earliest start to a Triple-A season since 1951. The PCL kicked off on March 27 that year, a factoid that, if nothing else, proves how easy it is for me to get sidetracked while writing about Minor League Baseball.
So, it’s Opening Day. Next week the denizens of Single-A, High-A and Double-A will join their Triple-A brethren and then we’re really cooking with gas. Among those utilizing the high heat will be me, Ben Hill -- a.k.a. Ben’s Biz, your friendly neighborhood Minor League ballpark road tripper.
2025 will be my 15th season “Exploring America Through Minor League Baseball,” continuing a saga that officially began in 2010. I’ve now visited 186 Minor League ballparks, and 2025’s slate of new facilities will bring that total to 190.
📩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASEBALL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
In honor of my 15th season on the road, here are 15 memorable moments from my Minor League ballpark travels. I hope that, cumulatively, these vignettes give you a better idea of who I am and what I do as we head into the season.
It all began in 2010. The first stop of my first ever trip was Hank Aaron Stadium, home of the Mobile BayBears. Aaron’s childhood home was moved to the ballpark and converted into a museum; somehow, I was the only national writer in attendance at the star-studded opening ceremony. The below photo features Bob Feller, Ozzie Smith, Bruce Sutter, Reggie Jackson, Aaron, and Rickey Henderson. Not pictured, but also in attendance: Aaron’s fellow Alabaman, Willie Mays.
It’s good to have a plan while visiting a ballpark, but part of that plan is to embrace the unexpected. When I visited the Inland Empire 66ers in 2011, for example, I was invited to attend a pregame bat burning ceremony as the players attempted to exorcise their offensive demons.
In 2012, I was unexpectedly diagnosed with celiac disease, forcing me to adopt a gluten-free diet. This led to the creation of the Designated Eater -- an individual recruited at each ballpark I visit, whose “job” is to sample the ballpark cuisine that I cannot. The first Designated Eater was Jeff Vervlied, who I documented eating a pork roll sandwich at a Trenton Thunder game. Over 200 hungry individuals have since followed in his footsteps.
For me, visiting a ballpark means saying “yes” to just about everything. Over the years, I’ve said yes to many ridiculous things, a not inconsiderable amount of which ended in humiliation. Some were a triumph, such as my toilet paper first pitch while visiting the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2013. (This was later immortalized on a Topps card, as part of the first “Ben’s Biz” insert set within their Pro Debut series).
Writing stories about local ballpark icons is a huge part of what I do. One of my favorites of 2014 was Rod “The Toastman” Blackstone, West Virginia Power super fan. You’re toast!
Ballpark icons come in all shapes and forms. In 2015, I visited the Portland Sea Dogs and came face to face with the glorious Trash Monster.
In 2016, I visited the entirety of the Appalachian League in a 10-day span. Among the players on the Bluefield Blue Jays that season was 17-year-old Vlad Guerrero Jr. (Pictured here alongside Jesus Severino)
In 2017, within the span of two days in the state of South Carolina, I witnessed a ballgame with a built-in eclipse delay…
…and interviewed Bill Murray. Bill (we’re on a first-name basis) personally endorsed me on Twitter.
I ended the 2018 season with a visit to Suplizio Field, home of the Grand Junction Rockies, and with that I had finally done it. I had made it to every active ballpark. It was an emotional night. 159 of 159. #BenEverywhere
The journey continued in 2019. There were new ballparks to visit in Amarillo, Las Vegas and Fayetteville, and plenty of return trips to old favorites. Josh Jackson, a man who usually interrupts this newsletter, joined me in Vegas. That guy loves onion rings.
In 2020, there was no Minor League Baseball and February 2021 my son Harry was born. In the midst of that, the MiLB landscape was reconfigured. When I finally got back on the road, to Chattanooga, Wanda the Program Lady was there to greet me with a smile.
And now for something completely different: In 2022, colleagues Kelsie Heneghan and Sam Dykstra and I drove from New York City to Dyersville, Iowa, to see the MiLB Field of Dreams Game.
There have been thousands of MiLB team alternate identities over the past decade. My favorite was the Exploding Whales, so in 2023 I went to Eugene to learn more.
I’m now in middle age, but when I’m at the ballpark I feel like a younger man. Last season in Memphis, I proved that I can chicken dance with the best of them.
A 45-year-old traveling Minor League Baseball writer is asked to compete against local youth in a @memphisredbirds Chicken Dance competition.
— Benjamin Hill (@bensbiz) July 8, 2024
What happens next will shock you: pic.twitter.com/FU271Zw6zm
What will the 2025 season hold? Stay tuned. Ben’s Biz season 15 starts now.
Benjamin Hill is a reporter for MiLB.com and writes Ben's Biz Blog. Follow Ben on Twitter @bensbiz.
2025 TICKETS: On Sale Now
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Tickets for the 2025 Fort Wayne TinCaps season are set to go on sale Tuesdayevening (November 19). Beginning at 6 p.m., fans who purchase a ticket in person for a 2025 TinCaps game will be granted free admission to Parkview Field’s Holiday Lights Tuesday night. Tickets
'CAPS CALENDAR: April 4-6
Presented by Groundworks Friday, April 4 (7:05pm)* - Opening Day 2025! - Magnet Calendar Giveaway presented by Velvet Ice Cream - TICKETS Saturday, April 5 (1:05pm) - Magnet Calendar Giveaway presented by Velvet Ice Cream - TICKETS Sunday, April 6 (1:05pm) - Postgame Autographs presented by Midwest Box Breaks -
Top Padres Prospect De Vries Highlights 2025 TinCaps Roster
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The San Diego Padres have announced the preliminary 2025 Opening Day roster for their High-A Minor League Baseball affiliate, the Fort Wayne TinCaps. The team is highlighted by 18-year-old switching-hitting shortstop Leo De Vries, who MLB.com ranks not only San Diego’s best prospect, but also the
ALL-ACCESS EVENT: Wednesday, April 2nd
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Leading up to Opening Day, the Fort Wayne TinCaps will host a free All-Access Event for fans on Wednesday, April 2 (5 p.m.) at Parkview Field. Similar to Meet the Team and Open House events of the past, fans get the chance to watch the TinCaps
HELP WANTED: Apply to Work for 2025 Season
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – A new season of Fort Wayne TinCaps baseball at Parkview Field begins April 4, so as Opening Day approaches, the team is hiring hundreds of part-time, seasonal employees. CLICK HERE TO APPLY Available positions range from working concessions to ballpark sanitation, The Orchard Team Store, and
260 TO THE SHOW: TinCaps Alums on Opening Day Rosters
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – As the 2025 Major League Baseball season commences, a total of 32 former TinCaps players appeared on MLB Opening Day rosters. Since Fort Wayne’s Minor League Baseball franchise was established in 1993, there have been 228 players who’ve ascended from playing in the Summit City to
TinCaps, PNC Bank Going to Bat for Small Business
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Fort Wayne TinCaps, in collaboration with PNC Bank, will continue their “Going To Bat for Small Business” program in the 2025 season. The program will provide an opportunity for small businesses to be selected from a pool of peers for their business accomplishments and positive
NUEVO ESTILO: New Manzanas Luchadoras Style for 2025
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Fort Wayne TinCaps will have a new style for their Hispanic Heritage games in 2025. Playing as the Manzanas Luchadoras (“Fighting Apples” in Spanish), the new season brings a new style with fresh colors, a crisp newly designed jersey, and a vibrant new hat. As
NEW HOME JERSEY: Now on Sale
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – With Opening Day at Parkview Field less than a month away on Friday, April 4 (7:05 p.m.), the Fort Wayne TinCaps have unveiled a new home jersey for their 2025 season. The white jersey features a new block wordmark that’s dark green and outlined in bright
PSM BASEBALL CLASSIC: Tickets on Sale
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Parkview Field, the home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps, will host a dozen high school and college baseball games, featuring 24 local teams, this April and May as part of the annual Parkview Sports Medicine Baseball Classic. Matchups will feature rival teams from around Northeast Indiana
PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE: Fireworks & Much More
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Fort Wayne TinCaps have announced their exciting 2025 promotional schedule, including fireworks, giveaways, theme games, and special appearances. With Opening Day at Parkview Field only 50 days away on Friday, April 4, tickets are on sale, starting at just $7. Fans can purchase their seats
MAJOR AWRD: MiLB's CommUNITY Champion
The Fort Wayne TinCaps have won another major Minor League Baseball award. At Minor League Baseball’s Business Summit in Charlotte on Tuesday, MiLB announced that the TinCaps earned the 2024 CommUNITY Champion Award. Team President Mike Nutter and other staff members were in attendance to accept the honor. This marks
260 TO THE SHOW: Alumni in MLB
A total of 53 former TinCaps players appeared in Major League Baseball during the 2024 season, including six all-stars. Now, more than a dozen alumni are on postseason rosters vying for a World Series championship. Since Fort Wayne’s Minor League Baseball franchise was established in 1993, there’ve been 228 players
These Minor League promos are set to celebrate girls and women in sports in 2025
A great night at a Minor League Baseball game can instill a strong sense of community, and communities are at their best when they're able to welcome and empower people who have traditionally been sidelined. Baseball, like many sports, can still sometimes be so male-centric as to feel exclusionary, making
TinCaps shine a light on mental health issues
Back in 2022, the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps front office posted a sign on the clubhouse wall. It featured a simple, but unusual request: Would any players want to speak publicly about mental health? The front office was not obligating anyone to do anything, and couldn’t predict what kind of
Get to know Padres player development's Allison Luneborg
PEORIA, ARIZ – Prospects like Ethan Salas and Jackson Merrill are a large part of why the Padres have the No. 4 farm system in baseball. But there are many folks behind the scenes who also help make the organization shine. One of them is Allison Luneborg. The Ohio native
Salas, Snelling highlight Padres' Organization All-Stars
Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each organization and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in each farm system. Next up in our 2023 Organization All-Stars series are the San Diego Padres. 2023 organization summary: Triple-A El Paso:
The Road to The Show™: Padres’ Snelling
Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at Padres fourth-ranked prospect Robby Snelling. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here. With multiple options in front of him coming out
Casual Friday: Kate Flannery's MiLB-filled weekend
In the fictional world of the hit NBC sitcom “The Office,” Meredith Palmer is prone to mishaps, can be snarky and is known to enjoy a beverage or two. But Kate Flannery, the actress who portrayed the Dunder Mifflin employee for nine seasons, is nothing like her character. Just ask
The best of the Padres' Minor League ballparks
The Minor League Ballpark Guides series presented by Wyndham brings all the most fun features of Minors ballparks across America (and one in Canada!) onto your desktop, tablet or mobile device, whether you're interested in taking a virtual tour from where you sit or planning a trip to catch some
Wanna have a catch? MiLB celebrates Father's Day
"Hey, Dad, you wanna have a catch?" The timeless quote from "Field of Dreams" film resonates much deeper on a certain Sunday in June. Several teams around Minor League Baseball paid tribute to that moment by bringing out fans and their fathers to have a catch (or play catch, however
TinCaps, city of Fort Wayne honor AAGPBL club
On a warm June night in northeast Indiana, Fort Wayne's Parkview Field was full of daisies. The Daisies of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, to be exact. The High-A TinCaps honored the city's AAGPBL team on Saturday, wearing replica jerseys and unveiling a monument dedicated to the club that
Merrill leads way in new-look Padres system
Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each organization and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in each farm system. Next up in our 2022 Organization All-Stars series are the San Diego Padres.