A Cross‑Country Baseball Pilgrimage
In early September the Hunts completed a marathon of ten games in just nine days, logging 2,823 miles across the eastern seaboard and the Mid‑Atlantic. The itinerary blended big‑league spectacles with intimate minor‑league experiences, turning a simple hobby into a full‑scale expedition.
The journey began as a modest tradition started in 2018, when John and Michael first paired a Hall of Fame pilgrimage with a handful of games. Their recent trek expanded that formula, adding six major league contests — including a doubleheader featuring the Chattanooga Lookouts — and four minor league outings such as a Salem Ridge Yaks game, the Class A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.
Travel logistics fell largely to Michael, who handled parking arrangements in bustling cities like New York and Philadelphia. John, who describes himself as an "old country boy," admitted that the urban sprawl and the vertigo that once threatened to cancel a planned trip added extra layers of difficulty, but the pair pressed on.
Highlights included a rain‑delayed tour of Fenway Park, a back‑to‑back Yankees doubleheader in the Bronx, and a scenic drive through Virginia’s countryside to catch the Salem Ridge Yaks in action. Each stop offered a distinct flavor of the sport, from the historic ambience of Boston’s ballparks to the electric atmosphere of a New York City showdown between the Mets and the Dodgers.
After concluding their final game in Pittsburgh, the Hunts drove 602 miles back to their home base in Chattanooga, completing a loop that stitched together eight states in a single week. Though they have now visited most major league parks, the West Coast, Florida and Toronto remain on their wish list for future adventures.
Reflecting on the trip, John expressed gratitude for a safe journey free of vertigo flare‑ups and for the chance to share countless memories with his son. The experience has only deepened their enthusiasm for the next baseball‑laden road trip, promising more stories to add to an already storied collection.