Pacific Northwest Tour Day One: Seattle – June 13, 2023
We kicked off in Seattle where saw the Seattle Mariners take on the Miami Marlins at T-Mobile Park. Seattle was of course getting ready for its closeup, as it was just weeks away from hosting the 2023 All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park.
While we saw a great game (George Kirby retired the first 13 batters and Mike Ford hit two home runs), the coolest part of the evening took place before first pitch. Our group was invited down on the field prior to the game to watch the Marlins warm up and take fielding practice. Miami general manager Kim Ng was kind enough to spend some time with the group, giving us insight into what it’s like to run a front office and how team chemistry plays a huge role in an organization’s success. Ng is currently the highest-ranking female executive in all of Major League Baseball!
Also before the game, Ichiro popped out of the dugout to say hello and many Marlins players waved and said hello to the group! Perhaps most exciting though, 2021 World Series MVP Jorge Soler stopped to sign autographs and take photos with several JapanBallers on his way into the dugout!
We also had a chance to meet up with Washougal local John Scukanec again. A few of us may have even snuck in a few tosses on the warning track to participate in his “Catch Everyday” project.
What an incredible night! It’s hard to believe that was just the start.
– Anna
Pacific Northwest Tour Day Two: Spokane – June 14, 2023
Today was our longest drive of the tour – about five hours to Spokane. But we started the journey off right, stopping for a homemade breakfast at the beautiful Queen Anne neighborhood home of local JapanBallers Rob and Beth. With sprawling views of Seattle and a spread of your breakfast dreams (scones: 👌), this was hospitality at its finest. We left with full hearts and bellies.
We crossed the majestic Cascades and into the Eastern Washington desert…where it was raining! Fortunately, it cleared up just in time for tonight’s high-A game between the Eugene Emeralds (Giants) and Spokane Indians (Rockies).
We met legendary scout Bob Fontaine, who will join us for the next four games, at the hotel. Bob drafted Tony Gwynn, Ozzie Smith, and Randy Johnson, and has endless tales and knowledge from five decades in scouting.
Indians owner Bobby Brett (brother of George and Ken) greeted us at the entrance and arranged for a quick ballpark tour from general manager Kyle Day. We were also gifted souvenir shirts, hats, and baseballs! The most interesting part of the tour for me was learning about the lengths that the ballclub goes to honor and work with the local Spokane Native American tribe. Their primary uniforms are written in the tribe’s Salish language, but they do much more than that. I think it’s great that this local institution takes their relationship with the tribe very seriously and does it’s best to educate the community on the area’s native culture.
Another highlight was that Anna got to don the headset in the radio booth for a couple of innings! She braved the rickety, swaying 50s era press box while touting Baseball Bucket List and JapanBall in her baseball banter with broadcaster Mike Boyle.
It was an offensive game, ending 11-7 in favor of the Emeralds. In the past, this would have been a 4+ hour affair, but thanks to the pitch timer the game time was 3:01! That allowed us to get back for some sleep before driving to Walla Walla tomorrow!
-Shane
Pacific Northwest Tour Day Three: Walla Walla – June 15, 2023
On day three of the tour we headed for Walla Walla, Washington (which is ridiculously fun to say)! On our way out of town, we stopped for the amazing views at Spokane Falls and snagged free Frostys from the local Wendy’s, courtesy of a Spokane Indians in-game giveaway from the night before. After our ice cream and sightseeing, we made the 3.5 hour drive through the picturesque wheat fields of rural Washington and arrived in Walla Walla mid-afternoon.
The day’s main event was a West Coast League matchup between the Walla Walla Sweets and the Cowlitz Black Bears at historic Borleske Stadium. While the Sweets are now a collegiate wood bat team, Walla Walla’s baseball history is rich. And fortunately for our group, Bob Fontaine Jr. was along for the ride to share some of his favorite memories from the past. From 1973 through 1982, Walla Walla was the home of the Class-A Walla Walla Padres and saw many talented ballplayers. Some names you may recognize from the Walla Walla Padres: Tony Gwynn, Ozzie Smith, and John Kruk, all drafted by none other than Bob Fontaine Jr.! Our group really enjoyed hearing the stories of what Walla Walla and Borleske Stadium were like during the days of the Padres. One of Bob’s favorite memories was going to Black Angus steak house with the Padres’ roving pitching instructor of the day – Warren Spahn!
Before the game, tour guest Lynn Smith was tapped to throw out the ceremonial “First Onion” (the Sweets do things a bit differently) while the Sweets’ mascot Sweet Lou looked on. The game itself was a back-and-forth affair with several impressive defensive plays. The home team would take the lead in the bottom of the 8th and hold on to win! And, our group even walked away with a foul ball (caught by Anna) and souvenir t-shirt (caught by Remt)!
All in all, it was a great day and a sweet night at the ballpark!
-Anna
Pacific Northwest Tour Day Four: Pasco/Tri City – June 16, 2023
After strolling down Walla Walla’s quaint and lovely Main Street, we had a quick drive down to the Tri City area for tonight’s game between the host Tri-City Dust Devils and the Everett AquaSox (founded by JapanBall founder Bob Bavasi!). But before the game we met the one and only Erik Mertens (Erik the Peanut Guy) and his wife Cariña for lunch at LuLu Craft Kitchen. We had a delicious meal along the Columbia River and were fueled up for a fun night!
Before the game, Tri City manager and JapanBall friend Jack Howell spent some time with us. Jack is a legend in Japan for his time with the Yakult Swallows. He was the league MVP in 1992 and led the Swallows to the 1993 Japan Series title!
Erik and the Dust Devils staff made us feel welcome from the moment we entered the gates. Anna threw out the first pitch and Shane was chosen as the fan of the game and was given a bag of warm donuts! Our group got multiple shoutouts and the home team won, making the already-fun game day experience even better.
Thank you Tri-City Dust Devils for a great time at the ballpark!
-Shane
Pacific Northwest Tour Day Five: Tacoma – June 17, 2023
On day five we departed Pasco and headed northwest back towards Tacoma. We broke up the drive with a stop at the beautiful Ginkgo Petrified Forest, and lunch in Snoqualmie Pass. In a matter of hours our views changed from desert to a landscape lush with evergreen trees. The wide range of topography in this state is astounding.
After arriving at the hotel we departed for Cheney Stadium to see the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers take on the Albuquerque Isotopes. Cheney Stadium is a beautiful park with a gorgeous evergreen backdrop. Though it was cloudy during our game, rumor is you’re able to catch glimpses of Mt. Rainier past the outfield on a clear day.
The game was a quick-paced, but high-scoring affair, ending with an 8-5 home team win. Our group saw three home runs including a dramatic grand slam from Albuquerque’s DH Michael Toglia. We also saw several pitch challenges, which are being tested in Triple-A this year.
With our Washington segment winding down, this “W” brings our home team record to 4-1 on the trip so far, so our group must be good luck. Plus, it’s always more fun when the home team wins!
-Anna
Pacific Northwest Tour Day Six: Seattle – June 18, 2023
We bookended our four-games-in-four-days loop around Washington state with another Mariners game, this one against the White Sox.
After dropping off our trusty rental Sprinter van, I met up with childhood friend Ben for a drink at Sluggers, the Seattle baseball bar institution. And then Ben snapped a pic of me in front of my doppelgänger, Eugenio Suarez!
We had a great crew of #JapanBallers at the game, and we witnessed our fifth home team win of the trip! If The Alaska Goldpanners win the Midnight Sun Game on Wednesday, we will be 6-1 on the tour! The M’s won despite a franchise-record-tying 16 Ks from Sox starter Lance Lynn.
That’s a wrap on the Washington segment – now it’s on to Alaska!
-Shane
Pacific Northwest Tour Day 7: Alaska Day 1 – June 19, 2023
This morning our group departed for the final leg of our trip. We left Seattle and took the 3.5-hour flight to Fairbanks, Alaska. The scenery from the airplane was incredible, featuring plenty of snow-covered mountains and impressive glaciers. As we got closer to the airport, the landscape started to become greener and we landed in perfect 70-degree weather and sunshine.
A bit after our arrival, the entire group assembled in the hotel lobby for introductions. With several new faces, we got to know each other before walking over to a delicious dinner at theBig Daddy’s Bar-B-Q — the northernmost southern BBQ restaurant! After a great meal and even better conversation we dispersed to rest up for the upcoming adventures we’ll embark on over the next few days, including the main attraction, The Midnight Sun Game!
-Anna
Pacific Northwest Tour Day 8: Alaska Day 2 – June 20, 2023
On the eve of the Midnight Sun Game, we had a sightseeing day in and around Fairbanks. There is tons to do around here. Some guests visited North Pole, where it’s Christmas year-round, or the Arctic Circle and great Alaskan pipeline, but most spent the day at wondrous Denali National Park.
We had a close encounter with a moose and saw caribou, doll sheep, and cool birds. Our tour through the park was full of breathtaking views, although we will have to come back to see a grizzly and a clear view of Denali mountain!
-Shane
Pacific Northwest Tour Day 9: Alaska Day 3 – June 21, 2023
Today was the third and final day in Alaska for our group, and the main event! We started the solstice with a three-hour tour along the Chena River aboard the Riverboat Discovery. We saw sled dog teams, learned about life in the Chena Indian Village, and learned all about the history of Fairbanks, the Golden Heart City. And enjoyed delicious, complementary local blueberry donuts and smoked Alaskan salmon aboard!
After our tour, we headed back to the hotel to rest up and give the rain a chance to pass over, then started our walk along the Chena River to Growden Memorial Park to watch the Alaska Goldpanners take on the Michigan Monarchs in the 118th Midnight Sun Game!
The pregame energy was palpable, with almost the entire crowd arriving two hours early. As soon as you entered the gates, the buzz of the crowd made us feel both welcome and like we were part of something special. That excitement culminated in an epic, surprise flyover performed by the F-35 squadron out of Eielson Air Force Base.
First pitch was at 10pm and the game lasted well into the midnight hour. As promised, no lights were used during the game. The ‘Panners ran away with it and took the game 5-1, bringing our home team record to 6-1 on this trip (pretty fun when our adopted teams keep winning!). Our group participated in the local Alaska traditions of singing the state song in the 6th inning, and playing along with “Happy Boy” on our kazoos during the 7th inning stretch.
It’s hard to believe our trip has come to an end. We’ve all made so many great memories and new friends along the way, and I can’t wait for the next one. Thanks for following along on our epic baseball adventure!
-Anna
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