A Journey Across the Diamond
John Hunt and his son Michael have turned a shared love of baseball into an annual tradition that began in 2018, when they first set out on a modest road trip that combined minor‑league thrills with a pilgrimage to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Eight years later, the duo embarked on a whirlwind eight‑day odyssey that stretched 2,823 miles across the eastern seaboard, taking them from the familiar hills of Chattanooga, Tennessee, to the bustling streets of New York City and the historic parks of Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
The itinerary was ambitious: ten games in eight days, including a tour of Fenway Park, a visit to the home of the Chattanooga Lookouts, and a stop at the Salem Ridge Yaks' stadium in Virginia. They also cheered for the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Jersey Shores Blue Claws, New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates, each stop adding a new chapter to their baseball story.
Despite battling vertigo that forced the cancellation of a previous expedition, Hunt says the latest journey was completed without a single episode of dizziness. “I’m grateful we made it safely and that the vertigo stayed at bay,” he told the Chattanooga Times‑Free Press, noting that the physical demands of the drive were offset by the excitement of each new ballpark.
The trip’s logistics were a team effort. Michael handled the bulk of the driving, logging more than 600 miles back to Chattanooga after the final game, while his father managed the schedule and kept an eye on the odometer — 733 miles on the first Sunday and 710 miles on the last day alone.
Now back home, Hunt reflects on the experience with a mix of exhaustion and awe. He estimates they are within striking distance of having visited a game in every major‑league park, though the West Coast and the Florida‑Toronto corridor remain on the horizon.
For Hunt, the trips are more than a checklist; they are a bonding ritual that blends the roar of the crowd with the quiet moments of father‑son conversation on the road. “I love the comforts of home, but I also cherish the adventure we create together,” he says, already planning the next itinerary.
Looking Ahead
The next chapter will likely see the pair head westward, chasing the remaining parks that have eluded them so far. Until then, the memory of eight days, ten games and a vertigo‑free adventure will linger as a testament to their shared passion.