East Coast Tour 2025

Eight Games, Five Cities and Another Trip to Remember

It's crazy how quickly these trips come around. It feels like only yesterday we were wrapping up our Midwest Tour, yet somehow we were all back at the airport ready for another baseball adventure. As always, a lot of planning had gone into this one. Train tickets booked, hotels secured, ballgame tickets sorted, restaurant recommendations researched and, naturally, far too much time spent looking at stadium seating charts. Before you know it though, all the planning is done and you're stood in Washington DC with a group of baseball fans wondering where the next ten days are going to take you.

After our flight and transfer into the city, we checked into YOTEL Washington DC, which always proves to be the perfect base for our stay. After freshening up, there was only one place to kick off the trip.

Yard House has become something of a first-night tradition on our tours. If you've never been, it's pretty much your archetypal American sports bar; huge TV screens everywhere you look, a ridiculous drinks menu, great food and plenty of sport on display. Truth be told though, one of my favourite things about the place is their bill-splitting system, which somehow manages to make settling up for a large group completely painless. It's a small thing, but anyone who has ever tried splitting a restaurant bill between ten or twelve people will understand why I'm so impressed by it!

Thanks to a combination of jet lag and excitement, most of us were awake ridiculously early the following morning. With no baseball until the evening, everyone had a chance to explore the city at their own pace. Some headed for the National Mall to take in landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the White House, whilst others simply wandered the streets, grabbed a coffee and enjoyed getting their bearings. Washington is a fantastic city for that; walkable, full of history and surprisingly relaxed compared to some of the other stops on the tour.

Game 1

Chesapeake Baysox vs Harrisburg Senators (Double-A)

Prince George's Stadium – Bowie, Maryland

With the Washington Nationals playing away during our stay in DC, there was an optional opportunity for anyone wanting an early baseball fix to head out to nearby Bowie for a Double-A matchup between the Chesapeake Baysox and Harrisburg Senators. The temperature was sitting somewhere around 32°C, the humidity was ridiculous and every weather app seemed determined to show thunderstorms rolling across the District of Columbia and neighbouring Maryland, so there was definitely a bit of a "shall we risk it?" conversation doing the rounds throughout the afternoon. Thankfully, we all decided to chance it and it turned out to be the perfect way to start the tour.

I've always had a soft spot for Minor League Baseball. The atmosphere is completely different to the Major Leagues. Families everywhere, kids chasing foul balls, staff chatting away with fans and a much more relaxed feel overall. It reminds you that baseball doesn't always have to be played in front of 40,000 people to be entertaining. The game itself was a cracker too, with Bowie edging Harrisburg 4-3 thanks to a walk-off line drive in the bottom of the ninth inning which immediately got the home crowd out of their seats. Not a bad way to start our baseball tally for the trip!

One of the highlights of the evening actually had nothing to do with the game itself. We met Phil, a Londoner who now calls Maryland home. After spotting our group, he came over for a chat and spent a good chunk of the evening sharing stories about life in the States and following baseball over here. Before we left, he insisted we take home a Samuel Basallo bobblehead that he'd picked up earlier. It was a lovely gesture and exactly the sort of random interaction that always seems to happen on these trips. The evening finished with fireworks, kids running the bases and plenty of smiles from the group. A cracking first night and a reminder that you don't always need a Major League stadium to have a great baseball experience.

Game 2

Baltimore Orioles vs Los Angeles Dodgers

Oriole Park at Camden Yards – Baltimore, Maryland

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The following morning we jumped on Amtrak and headed north to Baltimore. I've said it before and I'll say it again; Americans really don't appreciate how good they have it when it comes to trains (well at least where they have trains...). Plenty of leg room, comfortable seats and none of the usual squeezing yourself into a tiny carriage that we're all used to back home. After checking into the hotel, there was only one logical next stop: Pickles Pub. A couple of pre-game drinks, plenty of baseball chat and that growing excitement that always builds before a visit to Camden Yards. Camden Yards remains one of my favourite ballparks anywhere. The warehouse on Eutaw Street never gets old, the whole place feels connected to the city and there's always a brilliant atmosphere around the stadium. As always, we arrived early so everybody could do their own thing. Some headed straight for the team store, others went exploring and I made a beeline for Boog's BBQ. The queue was every bit as long as I remembered, but thankfully it was still worth every minute.

The baseball wasn't bad either. We made sure to be in our seats for first pitch as Shohei Ohtani was due up first, and unsurprisngy he obliged, launching one into the seats on just the second pitch of the game. By the time he came up again, a few of us were already joking that another one was inevitable. Turns out we weren't wrong. Ohtani homered again, Mookie Betts chipped in and Clayton Kershaw did what Clayton Kershaw has been doing for what feels like forever. The Dodgers eventually ran out 5-2 winners, but most of our conversations afterwards centred around just how ridiculous Ohtani is to watch in person. You can watch all the highlights you like on television, but seeing him live is something else entirely.

We rounded off the evening at Max's Taphouse in Fells Point where the Ravens somehow managed to squeeze out a 41-40 win against the pre-season favourites, the Buffalo Bills. The place was absolutely bouncing!

Game 3

Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Mets

Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Our next stop was Philadelphia, a city I've always loved visiting. It's got a bit of everything; plenty of history, some fantastic food and a sports culture that's unlike anywhere else. After (eventually) checking into the hotel, a few of us headed straight for Reading Terminal Market. Now everybody seems to have their own opinion on where to find the best cheesesteak in Philadelphia, but Gus's certainly did the trick. Safe to say nobody was leaving hungry. We then wandered over to McGillin's, the oldest pub in the city, for a pre-game pint. It's one of those places where you could easily lose a couple of hours just soaking up the atmosphere and reading everything hanging from the walls.

Eventually, it was time to jump on the Broad Street Line and head down to Citizens Bank Park for Margaritaville Night. There was live music outside the stadium, plenty of floral shirts on show and a proper summer atmosphere about the place. As always, we got through the gates as early as possible and spent some time exploring. One thing I really like about Citizens Bank Park is how easy it is to walk around. The concourses are spacious, the sightlines are excellent and there always seems to be something happening around Ashburn Alley. We took our usual lap of the ballpark, checked out a few different vantage points and grabbed some food before settling into our seats.

The game itself wasn't exactly a slugfest, but it was one of those games where every pitch felt important. Aaron Nola was excellent throughout and the Phillies eventually edged a tight 1-0 victory. The biggest reaction of the night probably came when new closer Jhoan Duran emerged from the bullpen to shut the door. It felt more like a heavyweight boxer making his entrance than a relief pitcher coming into a baseball game. The group were really impressed with the stadium as a whole and I still think it's one of the most underrated ballparks in Major League Baseball. Great views, plenty of food and drink options that represents the city, and a genuinely good atmosphere throughout. The club shop could probably do with a bit of a refresh mind... but apart from that, it's a cracking place to spend an evening.

Game 4

Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Mets

Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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One thing I always try to build into these tours is enough free time for people to explore each city properly. After all, whilst the baseball is the reason we're there, there's plenty more to these cities than what happens between the foul lines.

With no train to catch and no fixed plans for most of the day, everyone headed off in different directions. Some ticked off Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, others visited Betsy Ross House, Penn's Landing and Ben Franklin's grave. Naturally, a few members of the group couldn't resist recreating the famous Rocky scene on the steps outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I think that's pretty much compulsory when visiting the city.

By late afternoon, we'd all found our way back together and started discussing plans for the evening. Before long somebody spotted some reasonably priced tickets and, after very little debate, we decided one Phillies game wasn't enough. Good decision.

What followed was probably the most entertaining game of our time in Philadelphia. The Phillies bats were absolutely flying, Ranger Suárez was racking up strikeouts for fun and Citizens Bank Park was rocking from the first inning onwards. Kyle Schwarber's 50th home run of the season was the obvious headline moment and the reaction around the stadium was brilliant. Harrison Bader and Otto Kemp both went deep as well and before you knew it the Phillies were cruising towards a 9-3 victory. It's always fun being part of a crowd when they know they're witnessing something a little bit special, and Schwarber's milestone certainly gave everybody something to talk about on the journey back into town.

Game 5

New York Yankees vs Detroit Tigers

Yankee Stadium – Bronx, New York

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After Philadelphia it was time for one of the stops everybody looks forward to when they first book these tours: New York City.

The Amtrak journey from Philadelphia always seems to fly by and before long we were back amongst the chaos of Manhattan. The group spent a few hours doing their own thing around the city before baseball inevitably took over once again. Some opted for the pre-game stadium tour, whilst the rest of us made a beeline for Stan's Sports Bar. If you've never been before, put it on your list. It's one of those places where you can feel game day building long before you've even caught sight of Yankee Stadium itself. There was plenty of baseball chat, a few drinks flowing and plenty of excitement ahead of what is still one of the most iconic venues in world sport.

Rather fortuitously, a few of us managed to get into the Yankee Stadium Hard Rock Cafe ahead of the crowds. We were outside taking photos and asked someone passing by if they'd mind taking a group shot for us. As it turned out, he was the manager of the Hard Rock Cafe and, after a quick chat, kindly ushered us inside whilst everyone else was still queueing outside. One of the perks of going in that way is that you can walk straight through into the stadium, so our first stop was Monument Park.

No matter how many times I visit Yankee Stadium, I always find myself spending longer there than I planned. From Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig through to Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, the history of the game is everywhere you look. Even if you're not a Yankees fan, it's impossible not to appreciate what this franchise means to baseball. I also finally managed to tick off the famous 99 Burger which, thankfully, lived up to the hype. It probably wasn't helping my attempts to eat healthily during the trip, but some things simply have to be done in the name of research.

The game itself wasn't quite as enjoyable for the home crowd. Things remained fairly competitive early on before Detroit completely blew the game open in the later innings. Home runs from Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter and Spencer Torkelson did most of the damage and by the end things had become so one-sided that the Yankees were using a position player on the mound, which is never usually a great sign. The Tigers eventually ran out comfortable 11-1 winners, but I don't think anyone left disappointed. Yankee Stadium remains one of those bucket-list venues that every baseball fan should experience at least once. The scale of the place, the atmosphere around the stadium and the amount of history packed into every corner make it feel every bit as big as its reputation suggests. Another iconic ballpark ticked off and another great day spent with a brilliant group.

Game 6

Brooklyn Cyclones vs Greensboro Grasshoppers (High-A Playoffs)

Maimonides Park – Brooklyn, New York

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September 11th is always a slightly surreal day when you're in New York. The city understandably pauses to remember and reflect, and there was definitely a different feel around Manhattan compared to the previous day. The group spent the day doing their own thing; some headed for the Staten Island Ferry, others explored Central Park and Times Square, whilst I took a stroll along the High Line before grabbing some lunch at Chelsea Market. It's one of my favourite areas in the city, especially when the sun is out as it was.

By the evening, we were all heading out to Coney Island for something a little different. Now, if you're visiting Coney Island, you simply have to get a Nathan's Hot Dog. I don't make the rules! With hot dogs consumed and the famous rides towering over us in the background, we headed into Maimonides Park for playoff baseball. I've always thought this was one of the most unique settings in the minors. You've got the fairground rides beyond the outfield fence, the beach just around the corner and that true community feel that you don't get at Major League level. Before first pitch there were some moving tributes to mark the anniversary of 9/11, which were handled brilliantly by the organisation and set the tone for the evening.

Once the game got underway, the Cyclones took care of business and booked their place in the championship series, much to the delight of the home crowd. What stood out most though wasn't necessarily the result. Several members of the group commented afterwards about how much they had enjoyed the Minor League experience. You're much closer to the action, the staff are always so welcoming (and surprised you are there), the entertainment never really stops and the whole evening just feels more relaxed. Safe to say the feedback was pretty unanimous. Minor League and Independent League baseball will definitely be featuring more heavily on future tours. 

Game 7

New York Mets vs Texas Rangers

Citi Field – Queens, New York

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Some days on tour are fairly straightforward. This wasn't one of them.

The day started with a coffee and a chat with somebody from the Savannah Bananas organisation, who happened to be in New York ahead of their visit to Yankee Stadium (watch this space...). As random baseball conversations go, that's right up there.

From there, I was invited to take a private tour of MLB headquarters in the heart of Manhattan. It's a beautiful, modern office space with plenty of nods to baseball's history throughout the building. One of the highlights was getting to see the MLB Replay Operations Centre, where all on-field challenges are reviewed before decisions are relayed back to the umpiring crews at the ballparks. As a baseball fan, it's one of those places you've seen on television countless times, so it was fascinating to finally see it in person. The surprises didn't stop there either. As I was leaving the building, I spotted a very familiar face walking towards me: Commissioner Rob Manfred. I couldn't resist stopping him for a quick chat and, despite probably wanting to get to his lunch, he was incredibly generous with his time and happy to talk baseball for a few minutes.

The baseball gods clearly weren't finished either, as later that afternoon, I had organised a surprise VIP experience at Citi Field for our group, including access onto the field during batting practice. I'll save most of that story for another blog because it deserves one of its own, but it's fair to say it was a pretty special experience for everyone involved. We even managed to get a hat signed by Francisco Lindor.

As for Citi Field itself, I came away even more impressed than I expected. The Jackie Robinson Rotunda remains one of the best stadium entrances anywhere in baseball, the Home Run Apple outside (and inside) the ballpark are an iconic feature, and there are nods to Mets history everywhere you look. The club shop also deserves a mention because I genuinely think it might be the best team store I've ever visited. The amount of merchandise on offer was ridiculous and I'm fairly certain a few suitcases became noticeably heavier after this stop. Also, as a self-confessed aviation geek, I also love the fact that planes from LaGuardia seem to fly directly over the stadium every few minutes. I appreciate that's probably not everyone's thing, but I could happily sit there watching them all evening with my flight FlightRadar24 app on the go.

The game itself started disastrously for the Mets, with Texas piling on six runs in the first inning and immediately taking the wind out of the home crowd. Jacob deGrom looked every bit the ace we've all come to know over the years, keeping his former team largely quiet apart from a Francisco Álvarez home run. The Rangers eventually ran out comfortable 8-3 winners and, after the short ride back into Manhattan on the 7 Train, a few of us rounded off the evening with a nightcap at one of our favourite spots in the city, DB Cooper's on 9th Avenue. It's a friendly Irish pub that's become something of a regular stop whenever we're in town and the perfect place to sit back and process what had been one of the most surreal days I've ever experienced on a baseball trip.

Game 8

Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees

Fenway Park – Boston, Massachusetts

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Before you knew it, it was time for our final city. The train journey from New York to Boston is actually one of my favourites of the entire trip. The scenery is constantly changing and the four-and-a-half-hour journey always seems to fly by. A few hours later we were checked into YOTEL Boston and, after a quick refresh, heading straight back out again. There was only one destination on the agenda: Fenway Park.

No matter how many ballparks you visit, there is still something special about walking towards Fenway for the first time on a trip. The history, the atmosphere and the anticipation all hit you at once. As always, the group did what we tend to do before every game. Some headed straight for food, others disappeared into the team store and a few went exploring in search of the perfect photo spot. Meanwhile, I found myself helping one of the group at the ticket office after the MLB Ballpark App decided it no longer wanted to cooperate. Thankfully the staff sorted it quickly and he actually walked away with a printed ticket stub. In a world where everything is digital these days, that's become quite a nice little souvenir.

The game itself had everything you'd hope for from Yankees versus Red Sox. The Yankees raced into an early 4-0 lead and looked in complete control, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. starring and the travelling Yankees fans certainly enjoying themselves. Then Fenway started to wake up. Alex Bregman somehow wrapped a home run around Pesky's Pole almost directly in front of us, which got everyone out of their seats, and Jarren Duran added another late on to crank the volume up even further. The Yankees eventually held on to win 5-3 to the delight of most of our Yankee supporting group. The atmosphere was brilliant throughout; plenty of banter between both sets of fans, plenty of noise and exactly the sort of occasion you'd hope for from one of the biggest rivalries in sport.

Afterwards, we headed to where else but Yard House, for one final meal and a few drinks together. Ten days earlier we were introducing ourselves and talking about the week ahead. Now we were sat reflecting on eight games, five cities, countless train journeys and a whole load of memories.

As always, it wasn't really just about the baseball. Of course, the games were fantastic and we visited some of the most iconic ballparks in the sport, but it's the other moments that tend to stick with you just as much. The Amtrak journeys between cities, the food, the bars, the random conversations with locals, the laughs shared as a group and all those little moments in between that somehow become the stories everybody remembers long after the final out has been recorded.

Another tour, another brilliant group and another reminder of why I love organising these trips so much. Roll on the next one :)