While many who enjoy travel have bucket lists with the likes of the Galapagos or Santorini, I believe Kendrick Lamar put it best: They Not Like Us. I mean, blue-footed boobies are great and all, but remind me again what they have to do with baseball! And as for Santorini, take it from Yogi: “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.”
Yes, for those of us with more refined appetites for travel, we prefer—really, demand—only the sorts of adventures that can (or should!) be found on the SABR Baseball Map. Not to be snobby or anything, but c’mon, are we really gonna waste our time sipping a Mai Tai or hang gliding across the Straits of Gibraltar when there’s baseball to be enjoyed?
Now, as to where the enthusiastic hardball voyager might land, here are ten destinations that are less recommendations than destiny. One might even say visiting them is “in the cards!”
10.
Destination: Roberto Clemente Statue, PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Card: 1998 Topps Jose Guillen
Note: The Guillen card shows the statue’s former location at Three Rivers Stadium.
9.
Destination: Jackie Robinson Statue, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Card: 2020 Topps Opening Day – Team Traditions and Celebrations
Note: While you’re in the neighborhood, why not also check out the Jackie and Mack Robinson statues across from Pasadena City Hall and the Jackie Robinson football statue at the Rose Bowl!
8.
Destination: Hank Aaron Statue, Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
Card: 2020 Topps Opening Day – Team Traditions and Celebrations
Note: The real-life model for the statue was C.J. Stewart, a former Cubs minor leaguer who even has his own baseball card!
7.
Destination: Ryne Sandberg Statue, Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Card: 2024 Topps Now
Note: Also find statues of Cubs legends Ernie Banks, Fergie Jenkins, Ron Santo and Billy Williams just to the left of Ryno, not to mention Harry Caray on the nearby corner of Sheffield and Waveland. But alas, still no Hack Wilson!
6.
Destination: Washington Monument, Washington, D.C.
Card: 1974 Fleer Laughlin “Baseball’s Wildest Days and Plays” Gabby Street
Note: We know the Washington Monument isn’t an actual SABR Landmark (yet!), but who doesn’t love a great Bob Laughlin card! (And here’s a more modern card for Washington Monument lovers.)
But speaking of monuments…
5.
Destination: Monument Park, Yankee Stadium, New York, NY
Card: 1971 Topps Ken McMullen
Notes:
- No need to head onto the playing field anymore to visit Monument Park. In fact, we recommend you definitely don’t do that!
- Thanks to Shlabotnik Report for nominating this terrific card.
- And thanks to Matthew Glidden for this card, which offers a close-up of the Gehrig monument.
4.
Destination: National Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY
Card: 2019 Stadium Club
Note: The perfect card for collectors AND flippers!
3.
Destination: Niagara Falls, NY / Rainbow Falls, ONT
Card: 2022 Topps Homefield Advantage Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.
Notes:
- The U.S. side of the Falls is just three miles from Sal Maglie Stadium in Niagara Falls, NY.
- The body of Hall of Famer Ed Delahanty was recovered from the bottom of the Falls following his mysterious death in 1903.
2.
Destination: The Sphinx, Giza Plateau, Egypt
Card: 1994 American Archives “Origins of Baseball” 1889 World Tour
Notes:
- Yes, there’s a SABR Games story for this!
- The same set is chock full of landmarks, including the Elysian Fields.
- Thanks to Chris Kamka for the tip here.
1.
Destination: Renata Galasso headquarters, 6305 10th Ave, Brooklyn, New York
Card: 1985 Renata Galasso Dwight Gooden #16
Note: RGI is long gone, and the place looks a lot different now. Still, who wouldn’t want a photo op in the exact spot Dr. K and Henry Aaron hung out!
The Hardball Voyager 