Sep 4, 2024 - Sports

Columbus baseball fan completes impressive park tour

Tyler Buchanan

An overhead view of Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, with a large U.S. flag unfurled in the outfield. — A view of Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. Photo: Ben Jackson/Getty Images

A Columbus resident has visited all 30 MLB stadiums — this season.

"I remember when I told people I was planning on doing this, and they were like, 'Well, that seems ambitious,' which felt like a nice way of calling me crazy," Justin Hemminger told Matter News.

The intrigue: To pull off this feat, Hemminger overcame grueling road trips, a cracked windshield, bad weather and a COVID-19 diagnosis.

One highlight was a trip to the decrepit and mostly empty Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Oakland Athletics are set to move to Sacramento (and eventually Las Vegas) after this season.
The final stop on the tour was Yankee Stadium shortly before Labor Day.

🤯 Tyler's thought bubble: Catching a game at every baseball stadium is a rite of passage for true fans, but it's mind-blowing to read about accomplishing this in one season.

I've got some catching up to do. To date, I have visited just 12 of the current 30 ballparks.
I'll add Target Field to the list when Axios reporters and editors gather later this month for a retreat in Minneapolis.

Go deeper: Hemminger detailed his year of baseball travel on his blog Bleachers and 'Bleeds.

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Columbus baseball fan completes impressive park tour

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