Rating: 
Summary: Funny and Helpful... good pick-up
Review: As a lifelong fan, I plan on catching as many games in new stadiums (new to me, at least) as possible over the next couple years.I found this guide much more than a typical tourbook, or a baseball history ledger, or a comic tale of interesting travel adventures... it is all 3 in one, and the sum is definitely great than the individual parts.
Not only did I find the information helpful for the common-fan and fanatic alike, but also it is very funny stuff. I can tell the authors are true fans that also happen to be good writers, as their enthusiasm really got me going and ready to start my trips. Much more enjoyable then some other offerings out there by authors who just decide to write book on baseball for the paycheck... in Ultimate Baseball Road-trip, it is easy to see the authors really loved their experience, and it will help you to love your reading experience.
They provide a lot of historical context for each park and city, much more than I anticipated. These insights are balanced nicely with helpful local insights and stories, like how to order a cheesteak in one of Philly's best steak joints without offending the short-order cooks.
This book is thoroughly enjoyable and helpful, so I give this book a 5 star.
Rating: 
Summary: "The Ultimate Baseball Road-Trip: A Five-Tool Player"
Review: As an avid reader of baseball books, I am often skeptical of new baseball publications. Baseball books can be tediously academic (it is a game after all, Mr. Will) or, in the case of guide books, short on substance. Other works just seem to repeat the stories and cliches I hear every year during rain delays. When I saw "The Ultimate Baseball Road-Trip," I thought it might be another coffee-table book. But it has been a fun, informative read. The book appeals to the historian in me, especially in its efforts to tell about the Negro League and minor league entries in each respective MLB city and in its attempts to document old stadiums. Yet, O'Connell and Pahigian write in a style that is witty and engaging, and wise to the role of trivia in the seamhead's life . I have found myself continually sneaking a quick read at my desk or on the train. (The book is addictive and perfect for summer reading.) Finally, I can recommend this book as a travel guide nearly on par with the "Let's Go" or "Rough Guide" series. I used it on a trip to the Midwest and found it especially useful in less celebrated cities like Milwaukee and St. Louis. It is rare that a book of this type can succeed on so many levels.
Rating:
Summary: great guide to stadiums
Review: Having just return from a baseball road trip myself, visiting the new San Diego Petco Stadium, Oakland, Anahiem and BOB in Phoenix, I discovered that this book got a lot of merit in what it have to say. In almost all cases, I discovered that the authors have done their homework and their accessments of what is a good seat or bad turned out to be true. Although their reviews on food remains subjective, I discovered that what they say about it also got a lot of truth behind it. Oakland do have one of the best hot dogs and many dogs wrapped in up in these tin foils really do not tasted all that good. (Is that why we often overdose these hot dogs with massive amount flavoring?)
I have been to many other stadiums of the Major League and after reading the book, I discovered that what the authors' have to say would be a great guide to anyone else who may be looking to do such a vacation. Although the season is dying out this year, there is always next year and years on end.
When I go on such road trips, I usually do buy my tickets ahead of time and usually try to get the best seats money can buy. The authors' book seem to be written for people who do this on the fly or on the budget. There is nothing wrong with that but they should know that not everyone do it like they do.
The book come highly recommended by someone like me who likes to take a baseball road trips and have done so in the past. Its useful in planning such a trip, buying the tickets and eating out at these stadium. Great book which have been long over due.
Rating:
Summary: Good Baseball Reference
Review: I bought this book because I enjoy reading about ball parks both old and new. This is a different type of book because it helps people make the most out of their ballpark experiences while avoiding the pitfalls. The best parts of the book are the insider tips on little known aspects of the ball parks such as Bill Veeck's showerhead in New Comiskey Park or the secret of what is actually in Rocky Mountain Oysters. The book is also strong on information about parks no longer with us, especially parks like the old Polo Grounds or Ebbets Field or even newer ones like Candlestick or Riverfront. One problem with the book and the only thing keeping it from getting a five star rating is that numerous errors keep popping up. If it isn't a speling error (Louis Gonzalez or Louis Aparicio), its a factual error (Expos, Padres, Angels and Mariners joining the National League in 1969 or Ernie Banks playing shortstop from 1953 to 1971). Also, the pictures they use are not always the clearest. The book could have used an editor who is a ot more baseball savvy. This is still a useful book and handy for people who want to travel to different major league ballparks. Hopefully, they can revise it a bit to clean up the inaccuracies.
Rating:
Summary: This is one fantastic book
Review: I got this book in the mail a couple days ago, and have not been able to put it down. It's much more than just a travel guide. It's full of interesting local trivia, tales of local ballpark celebrities, and entertaining little stories about two ordinary baseball fans on the roadtrip of a lifetime. I never expected a "travel book" to be so engaging. This book is just what every baseball fan needs to get him through the long winter months and plan his summer vacation. There's also a lot of information about things to see and do around the ballparks, which might make such a vacation idea a little easier to pitch to the wife (or significant other.) I highly recommend this book to anyone contemplating or even just dreaming of a baseball roadtrip.
Rating:
Summary: Captivating Reading for Baseball Fans
Review: I picked up a copy of this book a week ago and haven't been able to put it down. Now I'm REALLY itching for the season to start. The authors weave a hilarious narrative in with plenty of off-beat and quirky information about the major league teams and their ballparks, past and present. I'll never visit a new park again without re-reading its corresponding chapter in my copy of The Ultimate Baseball Road-trip--to make sure I don't miss anything during my visit (like the scare-crow owls that scare the pigeons out of the rafters at Wrigley, or the morse-code message on Fenway's green monster, or the yellow seat in the Tropicana Field bleachers that Wade Boggs hit with his 3,000th hit, a home run. The only thing I don't understand is how the authors visited the new parks in San Diego and Philadelphia, since they don't open for another week--I guess that's what they call creative expression...anyway, it's helpful to have the inside scoop on those parks...even if they still haven't officially joined the major league landscape. happy reading.
Rating:
Summary: Captivating Reading for Baseball Fans
Review: I picked up a copy of this book a week ago and haven't been able to put it down. Now I'm REALLY itching for the season to start. The authors weave a hilarious narrative in with plenty of off-beat and quirky information about the major league teams and their ballparks, past and present. I'll never visit a new park again without re-reading its corresponding chapter in my copy of The Ultimate Baseball Road-trip--to make sure I don't miss anything during my visit (like the scare-crow owls that scare the pigeons out of the rafters at Wrigley, or the morse-code message on Fenway's green monster, or the yellow seat in the Tropicana Field bleachers that Wade Boggs hit with his 3,000th hit, a home run. The only thing I don't understand is how the authors visited the new parks in San Diego and Philadelphia, since they don't open for another week--I guess that's what they call creative expression...anyway, it's helpful to have the inside scoop on those parks...even if they still haven't officially joined the major league landscape. happy reading.
Rating:
Summary: Funny and Helpful... good pick-up
Review: My work will be taking me to many cities this summer, and several of them will be towns in which I have not yet seen a baseball game. As a lifelong fan, I plan on catching as many games in new stadiums (new to me, at least) as possible. I just received this book last week and after reading just a few sections so far (Philadelphia's new park, historic Fenway, and the Rockies homefield) am now more then ever ready for the spring and summer baseball season to begin. Not only did I find the information helpful for the common-fan and fanatic alike, but it is pretty funny stuff. I can tell the authors are fans first and writers second, as their enthusiam really got me going and ready to start my trips. They provide a lot of historical context for each park and city, much more than I anticipated. These insights are balanced nicely with helpful local colloquialisms, like how to order a cheesteak in one of Philly's best steak joints without offending the short-order cooks. I'm looking forward to diving into more chapters on other ballparks as I make plans for the rest of my trips for this summer. I would give this book a 5 star, but as I've not yet finished it, I cannot fully rate it yet. So far, so good, so I give it 4 starts right now.
Rating:
Summary: Finally a Baseball Book Written by Fans
Review: Other than my volume of Total Baseball, this one moves to the spot of honor on my bookshelf and will accompany me in my suitcase when I travel for business. Funny and full of info. I'm really enjoying it. (I usually wait to finish a volume before reviewing, but this one is going to take a while. I've been reading a chapter each night before bed. It's a thick book.) The photos aren't bad either. I particularly like the one of Crazy Tuba Guy in Seattle and Heckling Harry in San Diego.
Rating:
Summary: Finally a Baseball Book Written by Fans
Review: Other than my volume of Total Baseball, this one moves to the spot of honor on my bookshelf and will accompany me in my suitcase when I travel for business. Funny and full of info. I'm really enjoying it. (I usually wait to finish a volume before reviewing, but this one is going to take a while. I've been reading a chapter each night before bed. It's a thick book.) The photos aren't bad either. I particularly like the one of Crazy Tuba Guy in Seattle and Heckling Harry in San Diego.
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