Remembering the ultimate father-son baseball trip
Where it all started: how a vacation with my Dad in 1990 changed my life and foreshadowed a career working in baseball
Thirty-four years ago this week, I went on the ultimate father-son baseball vacation – five of the most historic ballparks in the country over nine days, plus the Baseball Hall of Fame – a trip that changed my life and foreshadowed my life working in baseball.
The year was 1990. I was about to start my senior year in high school.
I don’t remember exactly how the trip came about, except my Dad and I had been talking about it, and he said something like, “well, if you really want to go, get all the schedules and plan out some possibilities.”
Getting the schedules in 1990, before the internet, took some time. I remember dialing 411 for Information to get the phone numbers for about a dozen baseball teams, calling them up, asking for their schedule, then waiting for them to arrive through the post office. They all arrived about a week later. I spread them out on the kitchen table and start writing down possibilities.
I presented my dad at least two itineraries. It might have been three. But I know I was stunned at the one he chose because it meant that I was going to miss the first week of school. (I think it was because it fit his work schedule or maybe it was just the better itinerary.)
I had a job at Chili’s as a busboy. I know that I saved a bunch of money and contributed some money to this trip, but it probably wasn’t much.
What follows are a few of my Dad’s memories, my own memories, a bunch of the photos that I took, and looking up details of what else happened to help me appreciate the trip even more.
If you’re new to this Newsletter, hi, I’m Josh. I’m a former newspaper reporter turned minor league baseball play-by-play announcer. I write about baseball (but rarely about baseball games), while mixing in stories about life, society and history. Subscriptions are free, but you can also pay for a subscription to help sustain my work.
Day 1 — Saturday, Sept. 1, 1990
Wrigley Field -- Chicago
Reds 8, Cubs 1
Attendance: 34,388
Start time weather: 85°, Sunny
How we got there: We flew out of San Francisco first thing in the morning. We probably dropped off our bags at the hotel (or maybe left them in the rental car) and went straight to the ballpark because the game started at 1:20 pm.
Memories: I know we had Standing Room Only tickets. I assumed we’d find two empty seats. I was wrong. We looked and searched and roamed, but Wrigley Field was not like Candlestick Park. We ended up standing the entire game, which is probably why I don’t remember any details of the game. Remember, the Cubs were coming off a playoff appearance (but fading fast in 1990), and the Reds went wire-to-wire to win the division and ultimately the World Series. This was an important game and my below photo shows the bleachers were packed.
Box score details: Eric Davis hit a solo homer in the second inning, an RBI double in the fourth, and hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth. (Come to think of it, I do kinda recall Eric The Red having a monster game.) Rick Mahler pitched a complete-game, four-hitter with no walks.
Day 2 — Sunday, Sept. 2, 1990
Wrigley Field -- Chicago
Reds 6, Cubs 2
Attendance: 35,043
Start Time Weather: 75° F, Cloudy
How we got there: I remember both taking a train to a game and also what a nightmare it was trying to find parking around Wrigley Field. It’s logical to think we drove the first game and realized the train was the better option the second game once we were settled.
Memories: I know we had actual seats. I don’t remember where. In the above photo, the clock says 11:22 am, so the gates probably just opened and we were already inside. I also have this below photo of Dwight Smith who I thought for sure was going to the Hall of Fame at the time.
Box score details: Eric Davis was hit by pitches twice, both times by Greg Maddux, who also walked four and gave up four runs (three earned) in five innings. I totally forgot that Maddux pitched this game. Of course, Maddux wasn’t quite “Maddux” for a couple more years. Jose Rijo went the distance, throwing 124 pitches, scattering nine hits, and that was against a lineup with future Hall of Famers Ryne Sandberg and Andre Dawson.
Post game memories: It’s a blur which day was which, but I remember we stayed around Wrigleyville after at least one game to get food and drinks. I bought one of the famed “Top 10 Lies Told at Wrigley Field” t-shirts. I loved wearing that shirt and kept it for years, even when it was yellow and faded and gross, before I finally threw it away. Replicas are online and I might have to get one.
My favorite lies:
Dunston just needs a few years to develop
There will never be lights at Wrigley
Harry’s not drunk
Day 3 — Monday, Sept. 3, 1990
Old Comiskey Park – Chicago
White Sox 4, Royals 2
Attendance: 25,236
Start Time Weather: 77° F, Wind 10mph out to Left field
Getting there: We absolutely drove a rental car to Old Comiskey. My Dad remembers the neighborhood looked like a war zone. Entire cars and buildings were burned on the street. My memory was more how one street looked clean and nice, then you made a few turns and it seemed totally different, and how you’d quickly go from the Polish neighborhood to an Italian neighborhood to another with each turn.
Memories: The White Sox were trying to catch the A’s for the AL West. The A’s had just traded for Willie McGee and Harold Baines. I can’t begin to describe the feeling of euphoria that baseball writers used phrases like “the rich get richer” when describing the A’s that year. The White Sox answer was calling up a rookie named Frank Thomas. I remember Bobby Thigpen either tied or broke the single-season saves record in this game.
Box score details: Yep, it was Thigpen’s 47th save, breaking Dave Righetti’s then-record. Carlton Fisk homered off Kevin Appier, so we got to see the famed exploding scoreboard. My future friend and broadcasting partner Steve Lyons replaced Thomas (it was the 31st game of his MLB career) defensively at first base in the ninth. Bo Jackson didn’t start the game (I’m retroactively telling Royals manager John Wathan, “you suck!”) A young Sammy Sosa didn’t start either (I’m retroactively telling White Sox manager Jeff Torborg “you suck too”).
Day 4 — Tuesday, Sept. 4, 1990
Old Comiskey Park – Chicago, IL
White Sox 6, Royals 3
Attendance: 20,360
Start Time Weather: 90° F, Wind 0 mph
Memories: We definitely targeted Old Comiskey Park because it was the final year before it closed. We saw the 13th- and 12th-to-last games. I took the above photo with New Comiskey going up in the background. I remember wearing my “Just do it” Nike A’s t-shirt for one of these games and getting a few verbal insults hurled my way from White Sox fans.
They had these really interesting ground level seats in left field, below the regular seating, that were like a picnic area. The shade of green at the ballpark and those seats are seared into my brain.
Box score details: Ivan Calderon homered, so we got to see the exploding scoreboard again. Jack McDowell allowed three runs in 7 2/3 innings and Bobby Thigpen got the last four outs for another save.
Bo Jackson went 2-for-3 as the designated hitter. Maybe he was hurt. I just checked newspapers.com, and yep, his shoulder was bothering him. It went back to the famous game when Bo hit three homers at Yankee Stadium, then injured his shoulder trying to make a diving catch and Deion Sanders raced around the bases for an inside-the-park homer. People forget that it seemed like Bo was always hurt, even before his devastating NFL injury. That 1990 season was Bo’s fourth (and final) year playing both sports. I just checked and the Raiders first game was still five days away. But remember, Bo didn’t join the Raiders until after baseball season ended.
Day 5 — Wednesday, Sept. 5, 1990
Tigers Stadium – Detroit
Blue Jays 7, Tigers 3
Attendance: 16,677
Start Time Weather: 80° F
Getting there: My dad remember that we showed up at the airport and learned the flight left early, without us being informed. (I totally forgot this until he told me.) He remembers that there was another flight from Chicago to Detroit they quickly rebooked us on. I think we’ve totally forgotten what it was like flying before 9/11. I’m sure we rented a car. Rental cars were super cheap back then. I know we arrived early.
We didn’t take pictures of ourselves back then. I totally regret it. I’d give anything to have a photo of us together at every ballpark. I’d settle for just one ballpark. The only photo of either of us the entire trip is me outside Tiger Stadium.
My dad probably took this photo below. I’m wearing a Chicago sweatshirt that I probably just bought (loved that thing), an Arizona State cap (totally thought I was going to college there), and I think that’s my green A’s duffel bag over my shoulder.
Memories: I remember an usher asking for our tickets, me showing them, he took them (what?!?), walked us to our seat, and cleaned the seats for us. They never did that in Oakland or San Francisco. It was cool. My dad understood the man was working for tips and gave him a few dollars. Ohhhh! Maybe that happened in Chicago. Maybe it happened everywhere. I know it happened somewhere.
I always heard the baseball broadcasters mention how the Tiger Stadium upper deck hangs over the field and the flagpole was in the playing field. Of course, I went out there to examine. It was wild. I know I took photos, but can’t find any. I guess they got lost.
I remember Cecil Fielder hit a home run. I thought it landed on the roof, or over the roof, but I checked newspapers.com and the great John Lowe reported it landed about 10 rows into the upper deck. I don’t remember anything else from the game. We probably went straight to bed after the game because we had a long day ahead.
Box score details: That was Fielder’s 44th homer of the season. Remember, this was Fielder’s first year back in the states after becoming a star in Japan. He finished with 51 homers that year, becoming the first player since George Foster in 1977 to eclipse 50 in a season. Fifty seemed impossible back then. Tony Phillips played for the Tigers. He was one of my favorites with the A’s. I’m sure we cheered him loudly. Fred McGriff and Rancy Mulliniks homered for the Blue Jays. Holy moly, Mulliniks batted third?!?
Day 6 — Thursday, Sept. 6, 1990
Baseball Hall of Fame – Cooperstown, NY
Getting there: We probably took the first flight in the morning. I know we flew into Albany and I remember us studying maps to figure out the best roads to reach Cooperstown.
Memories: I know we roamed the hallowed hallways inside the Hall of Fame a long time. (I took a bunch of photos of statues and other displays that turned out terrible. What a waste of film.) The Hall was incredible. I didn’t read all the plaques, but I sure read a high percentage.
The entire Cooperstown village was smaller than I was expecting. We browsed through some of the memorabilia stores in town and ate dinner near the Hall. I’m 55% sure we then drove three hours to get closer to New York City. If so, goodness, that was an extremely long day of flying and driving and enjoying a museum and driving more. There’s a 45% chance we left the next morning.
Day 7 — Friday, Sept. 7, 1990
Yankee Stadium – Bronx, New York
A's 7, Yankees 1
Attendance: 27,034
Getting there: I know our hotel was in Tarrytown, which Google Maps just told me is 24 miles north of Yankee Stadium. Something about the name Tarrytown always remained in my mind.
Memories: It was my first time in a New York taxi, and my goodness, people were not exaggerating about crazy New York taxi drivers. All they did was honk their horns at each other and lines meant nothing. I know we did a huge tour of Manhattan, but can’t remember which day. Maybe it was two different days of tourism. We did one of those tours where you can get on and off a double-decker bus as often as you want. We went to the top of the Statue of Liberty (which took forever), the top of the Empire State Building, and I’m sure a few other things I don’t remember. I’m kinda exhausted thinking about all of this right now.
The game: The A’s won. I know the A’s won because the A’s went 12-0 that year against the Yankees. Out of all the awesome things the A’s did from 1988-90, the A’s going 12-0 against the Yankees in 1990 might be my second favorite thing behind sweeping the Giants for the World Series title.
My dad remembers Yankee Stadium was the first ballpark he ever visited where you could get mixed drinks, instead of beer and wine. As he was waiting in line, impatient Yankees fans started yelling that the line was moving too slow, so the bartender intentionally went even slower to piss off everyone more.
I think we sat down the right-field line. I remember the song “Wipeout” was played and some drunk Yankee fan was balancing himself on the top of seats, his hands out wide like he was surfing. Everyone cheered him on. Even though the Yankees were terrible that year, the energy at Yankee Stadium was electric.
More box score details: Mark McGwire homered in the fifth inning. Jose Canseco went deep in the ninth inning. (I must admit, I forgot this until now.) I’m sure it was the ultimate in A’s nirvana. We saw the Bash Brothers both bash homers in the Bronx. Curt Young pitched went five-and-dive, and perpetually unsung hero Todd Burns pitched four scoreless innings for the save. What a time to be an A’s fan.
Day 8 — Saturday, Sept. 8, 1990
Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY
A's 5, Yankees 2
Attendance: 35,721
Getting there: I think we drove one night and took the subway another night. I remember being stuck in massive traffic after one of these games, probably this one, and we were highly entertained by Post Game Yankee Talk (or whatever it was called). Some dude in the most stereotypical New York accent called and kept saying, “we gotta get Higuera next year! We gotta get Higuera!” [The Yankees did not get pitcher Teddy Higuera the next year.]
Memories: The U.S. Open tennis tournament was taking place that week in nearby Flushing. Jimmy Connors made it to the semifinals that year. I remember we were walking outside Yankee Stadium before a game. Every convenience store, restaurant, memorabilia shop, wherever, had the tennis match on those small box TVs from those days, and everyone were talking about Connors.
The game: This was the night of the famed Rickey Henderson GIF where he launched a home run, does a bat flip and tugs on his collar. I remembered Rickey homering, but barely saw his celebration. I watched the ball and cheered. It was a few years ago when I realized, “holy crap, I was at the game of the famed Rickey GIF!”
By the way, I can’t find a single photo from New York. This makes no sense. I brought a camera. I took photos everywhere. Of course I would take photos of my favorite team in the country’s most famous ballpark. What the hell happened to these photos? Did I run out of film? Did I lose them? Did I forget my camera at the hotel both games? I’m so pissed.
More box score details: Oh dang, Rickey hit two homers that night! In the 8th inning, his homer off Mike Witt tied it. Willie McGee singled, went to second on an error by Jesse Barfield, to third on a wild pitch, and scored on another wild pitch. [I remember none of this.] In the ninth inning, Rickey’s two-run homer off Lee Guetterman provided the final score.
The A’s lineup was Rickey, McGee, Baines, Canseco, Lansford and McGwire. My goodness, how did this team ever lose to the Reds? Sigh.
Day 9 — Sunday, Sept. 9, 1990
Fenway Park – Boston, MA
Mariners 3, Red Sox 1
Attendance: 33,923
Start Time Weather: 67° [we got lucky with the weather on this entire trip. No rain or delays. I don’t remember ever being too hot or too cold]
How we got there: I know we woke up early and drove the four hours from New York to Boston. The game started at 1:06 pm, so we probably arrived pretty close to first pitch.
Memories: Our seats were way down the right field line, almost on like a porch or something. I remember just being surprised the seats even existed and the energy was pretty stale up there. The above and below photos are from our seats.
My dad remembers a young Red Sox fan kept yelling that Wade Boggs was a bum. I had forgotten that, but once he told me, I totally remembered. (Boggs was already a five-time batting champion and six-time All Star in his career at this point. What the heck was that kid thinking?) I also remember it was a big deal that Ken Griffey and Junior Griffey both played in this game and I think they both got back-to-back hits.
Box score details: Boggs was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, very rare for him, which lowered his average to .306, which also seems impossibly low for him. Is it possible Boggs was a bum?
Senior didn’t start, but pinch hit in the seventh and walked. Junior followed by hitting into a double play. They both had back-to-back singles in the ninth inning. I’m actually not positive if we saw the Griffey’s get consecutive singles.
Getting home: I have a memory that we had to leave early to get to the airport to catch our flight home. I could be making that up. I definitely remember the traffic was a nightmare getting to Boston’s airport. I think we were stuck in some tunnel and feared we’d miss our flight.
I also remember my Dad’s pager went off (evidently, my Dad was fancy) and had to fly somewhere for work immediately. Maybe that’s why we the game left early. Anyway, we got to the airport, returned the rental car, he switched his flight and went one direction. He handed me a plane ticket and said something like, “you’ve been doing this all week, you’re now an experienced travel, you know where to go.” I went the opposite direction.
We didn’t have cell phones. I must have used a pay phone to call my friend James Elliott to pick me up at SFO. My biggest memory of the flight home was I got stuck in the middle seat, when I should have taken my dad’s aisle seat. Also, two guys almost got into a fight. One was super drunk and kept saying, “ohhhhh, he’s suuuuuuch a gentlemen” in a slurred mocking voice of the dude he almost fought.
I landed around midnight. I went to baggage claim and there was James and his dad waiting for me. I don’t know if parents would do that for their kids’ friends nowadays. They’d probably just shame the parent who let their kid fly alone. Back then, it was no questions asked. They just waited and waited, no cell phone to check on flight status, and eventually I showed up. Imagine if they had not showed up or we couldn’t find each other? There was no BART to SFO back then. I have no idea what I’d have done or how I’d have gotten home.
Anyway, by the time we got back to Pleasanton, it was like 1 am. About six hours later, I was on campus for my first day of high school of my senior year. I’d missed the entire first week. I’m sure some teachers were pissed. I remember a lot of classmates were in awe of my trip. I’m still in awe. It’s mind boggling everything we did. I always knew the trip was special and writing all this makes me even more grateful.
Over nine days, we saw eight games at five different ballparks — probably the most famous five at the time — plus the Baseball Hall of Fame! We saw three of the four future 1990 playoff teams (A’s, Red Sox, Reds).
Another memory: the shortly-lived publication “The National” was at its peak during this time. We picked up copies every day in each city. I devoured them, reading every story from cover to cover. This was my like my own Sports Journalism graduate school class, while I was still in high school, and this was the trip when my future came into focus.
This is what I was going to do for my career. Someone was going to pay my flights to all these baseball games, pay my salary, and I’d write about baseball, just like Frank DeFord and Peter Gammons and Ray Ratto and Kit Stier and Dave Newhouse. (Ten years later, that’s exactly what happened when The Oakland Tribune made me their Giants beat writer.)
I’ve spent almost my entire professional career working in baseball, taking flights and busses from city to city, filing stories as a newspaper scribe, then a radio reporter and postgame talk show host, and now a minor league play-by-play announcer.
This trip is where it all started.
Thanks, Dad.
Awesome memories and some great pics on film!
I think the memories are the best part of this story. Shoutout to your Dad