Thomas Camilo is a Braves fan and music teacher based in Dallas. He shares how his love for the game started as a kid in North Carolina, watching the Kinston Indians with his grandfather and uncle, and how his grandmother helped turn him into a diehard Braves fan. We chat about his approach to ballpark travel, including a last-minute solo trip to see the Oakland Coliseum before the A’s left, and a recent honeymoon stop at Rogers Centre that sparked a new excitement about eventually visiting Coop...
Jun 12, 2025•39 min•Ep. 181
Paul Caputo is the host of Baseball By Design and proud member of the Curved Brim Media family. In this episode, which was recorded last fall shortly after his return from Japan, Paul shares stories from his first in-person experience with Nippon Professional Baseball. From electric ballpark atmosphere with nonstop cheering sections to beer vendors and unique ballpark food, Paul gives us an inside look at what makes Japanese baseball such an unforgettable adventure. He also reflects on what fina...
Jun 05, 2025•54 min
Scott Melesky is a lifelong Red Sox fan and seasoned sports journalist who has worked in and around baseball for more than three decades. Scott shares how a game between the Mets and Phillies lit the spark for his love of baseball as a kid, and how a middle-school moment of compassion for Bill Buckner turned him into a Red Sox fan for life. We also chat about his experiences seeing the Sox play nearly every year since 1983, including being at Dodger Stadium for their 2018 World Series-clinching ...
May 29, 2025•37 min•Ep. 180
Tony Gillen is a lifelong Twins fan who shares how a childhood trip to the Metrodome and the magic of Kirby Puckett cemented his love for the game. That childhood passion has evolved into a mission to visit all 30 Major League ballparks. We chat about the how Tony got started chasing ballparks, why he’s such a big fan of baseball-centered communities, and what it’s like to explore cities through the lens of baseball. Find Tony Online: Website: touchall30.com Find Baseball Bucket List Online: Twi...
May 22, 2025•35 min•Ep. 179
Sean Huie is a lifelong baseball fan who grew up in Michigan and now proudly roots for the New York Mets. Sean shares how his love for the game began with collecting baseball cards as a kid and watching a VHS tape of the 1984 World Series. We talk about how he fell in love with minor league baseball, his most recent baseball trip, and why some of his favorite moments at the ballpark have nothing to do with the final score. Find Sean Online: Instagram: @shcommatothetopdynasty8 Facebook: @sean.hui...
May 15, 2025•43 min•Ep. 178
Kenton Elmore is a Cardinals fan from Champaign, IL. Despite being a self-described casual fan, last year Kenton accomplished something most diehards only dream of—visiting all 30 Major League ballparks in one season. Kenton shares how a single idea sparked a months-long adventure across the country, complete with 30 ballpark visits, remote work, and a few surprise lessons along the way. We talk about how he mapped out the trip, what he learned about himself during the journey, and which parks m...
May 08, 2025•43 min•Ep. 177
James Patry is a lifelong Red Sox fan from New Hampshire who is closing in on his goal of visiting all 30 Major League ballparks. James shares how his love of the game was born in the backyard where his older brother Oscar patiently pitched tennis balls to him night after night, and how baseball has remained a constant thread in his life ever since. We hear stories of traveling with his late father to stadiums like the Metrodome and Jacobs Field, and how he plans to make Target Field the final s...
May 01, 2025•39 min•Ep. 176
Bill Boyle is a lifelong Mets fan from Harvey’s Lake, Pennsylvania. He grew up surrounded by baseball—playing wiffle ball in the yard with his brothers, being coached by his father, and learning to love the game while watching Mets games with his grandmother. Bill shares how those early experiences shaped not only his playing career through high school and college, but also his approach to coaching and giving private baseball lessons for the past 15 years. He talks about the joy of helping young...
Apr 24, 2025•35 min•Ep. 175
Tony Ebers is a lifelong Cardinals fan from just outside of St. Louis. He shares how his love for the game was passed down through generations, starting with radio broadcasts alongside his dad and grandfather, and how seeing Ozzie Smith turn a double play in person cemented his passion for baseball forever. We chat about the evolution of Busch Stadium, the unique hospitality of Cardinals fans, and Tony’s favorite ballpark traditions—from the seventh-inning stretch to sharing “Who’s on First” wit...
Apr 17, 2025•29 min•Ep. 174
Alex Haenke is a lifelong Detroit Tigers fan who recently wrapped up a 17-year journey visiting all 30 Major League ballparks with his family. What started as a fun idea between Alex and his dad turned into a tradition that shaped his love of baseball, travel, and culture. Alex shares how his ballpark chase changed as he grew up, how even his non-baseball-loving younger brother eventually got into the spirit, and how those trips inspired a broader love for exploring museums, local landmarks, and...
Apr 10, 2025•43 min•Ep. 173
John Foster is a lifelong Cincinnati Reds fan from Long Island, New York. Despite growing up deep in Mets and Yankees territory, John’s fandom was born from the Big Red Machine and a legendary on-field brawl during the 1973 NLCS. Since then, he’s stayed loyal to the Reds—no matter how long the rebuild. John shares how his job as a flight attendant has helped him chase ballparks across the country, allowing him to visit 29 out of 30 MLB stadiums (with Truist Park still on the list). We talk about...
Apr 03, 2025•31 min•Ep. 172
In this episode of Extra Innings on the Baseball Bucket List Podcast, we reconnect with Gabe Lerman, a Blue Jays fan and Japanese baseball aficionado from Toronto. Gabe recently authored The JapanBall Travel Guide to Japanese Baseball , a comprehensive resource for planning your own baseball adventures in Japan. We dive into his motivation for creating the guide, his 2019 trip that sparked the idea, and how it bridges the gap between full-service tours and independent travel. Gabe shares an in-d...
Dec 27, 2024•44 min
In this episode of Extra Innings, we catch up with Kelly and Christina Robinson, a husband-and-wife duo whose passion for baseball has taken them on countless road trips and adventures over the years. Together, they’ve visited over 182 ballparks, collected unique memorabilia like plush mascots and team caps, and shared their love for the game through the creation of CBM's newest platform—the Minor League Nerd YouTube channel and podcast. We dive into their most recent summer road trip, featuring...
Nov 22, 2024•51 min
Marc and Nate Wolpoff are a father-son duo from San Diego. Together, they’ve visited all 30 MLB ballparks, attended multiple All-Star Games, and created lifelong memories centered around the sport. Marc and Nate share stories of their favorite baseball experiences, including catching an autographed ball during a Home Run Derby and watching future stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Pete Alonso in Fall League ball. We also dive into their passion for minor league and collegiate games, and their ...
Oct 10, 2024•40 min•Ep. 171
Jason Massopust is a life-long Brewers fan from Wisconsin who spent over two decades in a sales role for the team. We chat about his favorite memories from his 23 years with the Brewers, including the excitement of the 2008 playoff clinch, the wild final days of County Stadium (think Office Space), and what it’s like to run into local legends. We also dive into his love for baseball road trips and hear some hilarious tales from his sports travels with his friend Rob, including an epic baked pota...
Oct 03, 2024•35 min•Ep. 170
Eddie Browning is a life-long baseball fan who has turned his passion into an extraordinary collection of memorabilia housed in his very own private museum. Eddie’s love for the game started as a kid watching Yankees games on black-and-white TV with his mom, and it has taken him on incredible journeys, from visiting all 30 MLB ballparks to collecting unique pieces like 832 autographed baseballs and stadium dirt from parks around the country. Eddie shares stories of living next door to Lou Piniel...
Sep 26, 2024•39 min•Ep. 169
Neil Solondz is one half of the radio play-by-play team for the Tampa Bay Rays. He shares his journey from growing up as a sports-loving kid in New Jersey to calling games for one of the most exciting teams in baseball. We dive into his unique approach to broadcasting, some of his favorite Rays memories, and the importance of creating memorable moments on the air. Neil also reflects on his experiences working in all 30 MLB ballparks, and the excitement surrounding the Rays’ new park set to open ...
Sep 19, 2024•42 min•Ep. 168
Solario is a life-long Giants fan originally from the San Francisco area, who now calls Honolulu, Hawaii home. He shares stories of growing up attending games at Candlestick Park, where freezing summer winds couldn’t keep him away from his beloved Giants. Now, a professional illustrator, Solario talks about how his love for baseball logos and uniforms played a big part in shaping his passion for design. We also dive into his experiences with international baseball. He's never missed a World Base...
Sep 12, 2024•47 min•Ep. 167
Crystal McKenzie is a life-long Cardinals fan from St. Louis. Even though she grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, she remained loyal to St. Louis thanks to her family’s roots. Crystal shares how watching Nolan Ryan pitch in person ignited her passion for baseball and how the 1998 home run chase pulled her deeper into the game. Now, as a mom, Crystal is on a mission to visit all 30 MLB ballparks with her family, sharing the magic of the game and teaching her daughters to love it just as much a...
Sep 05, 2024•43 min•Ep. 166
George Falkowski is a Yankee fan from New Jersey who spent a big part of his life in sports broadcasting, including ten years with NESN covering Boston sports. Despite growing up in a household that didn’t root for the Yankees, George found his way to baseball and never looked back. In this episode, we discuss what George calls “Ballpark Therapy” and why going to a ballpark feels like a much-needed escape from the stresses of life. We also dive into his most powerful baseball memory—the night af...
Aug 29, 2024•59 min•Ep. 165
Spencer Schwartz joins the show for his third appearance. Spencer, who has been a life-long Yankees fan and season ticket holder, shares his recent battle with a rare autoimmune disorder that led to the sudden loss of his eyesight. In this episode, Spencer recounts his journey and shares how his life and love for baseball have been profoundly affected. From the initial diagnosis to the overwhelming support from the Twitter baseball community, he shares how his enduring passion for the game has h...
Aug 22, 2024•42 min
Terry McCutchen recently found his love of lower-level baseball reignited by the newly minted Abilene Flying Bison. Anna and Terry chat about growing up in a baseball focused Texas town, the best parts of having a collegiate wood bat team in your backyard, and his favorite baseball memories. Terry also recently started his own #catch365 journey and touches on his favorite experiences and biggest lessons learned so far. Find the full transcript and show notes here: https://baseballbucketlist.com/...
Aug 15, 2024•40 min•Ep. 164
Eytan Saenger is a Red Sox fan currently living in the Bronx, NY. Originally from Boston, his family moved to Yankee country when he was 10 years old. Anna and Eytan discuss what it's like to be a Sox fan in the middle of Yankeeville, the Jewish connection to baseball, and how the younger generation feels about the game. They also chat about the role of music and ambient sound at the ballpark, and share some ideas for bringing even more of a community aspect to baseball. Eytan is a passionate mu...
Aug 08, 2024•41 min•Ep. 163
Stan Cole is a life-long baseball fan from Buies Creek, NC who fell in love with the game as a kid thanks to AM radio broadcasts and NBC’s Game of The Week. He’s also the associate athletic director for community and alumni engagement at Anna’s school, Campbell University. Stan and Anna discuss the history of baseball at Campbell, including the surprising number of major leaguers who have come through "The Creek". They also touch on a recent trip Stan took to Cooperstown to celebrate his 60th bi...
Aug 01, 2024•46 min•Ep. 162
Rohn Brown is a Washington Nationals fan from Mechanicsville, VA, whose love of baseball got started in the 1970s thanks to the Valley League. In the mid 80s he interned for the Richmond Braves, a team that featured a few names you may have heard of, including Tom Glavine. Rohn and Anna chat about the charming differences between collegiate wood bat leagues and minors leagues as compared to the pomp and circumstance of MLB, and how interesting it is to watch prospects at the lower levels, knowin...
Jul 25, 2024•41 min•Ep. 161
Join Anna on the concourse of Globe Life Field for the 2024 MLB All-Star Week in Arlington, Texas. In this special episode Anna interviews passionate fans from all over the country, capturing their unforgettable stories and experiences at the midsummer classic. You'll also hear from ballpark personnel about what makes the Rangers' home park unique, and hear the most famous words in Texas baseball from legendary public address announcer Chuck Morgan. Interviews in order of appearance: • Annie liv...
Jul 18, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 160
Richard Sullivan is a Braves fan living in Louisville, Kentucky. From a young age, he had two loves in life: art and baseball. Throughout his life, he found ways to combine the two, culminating in a baseball career at one of the preeminent art schools in the country, Savannah College of Art and Design. Richard was drafted by the Atlanta Braves while at SCAD and would go on to spend five years in the organization before eventually being released. As his baseball career was winding down, Richard w...
Jul 11, 2024•44 min•Ep. 159
Mike Ritz is a Pirates fan living in New York City. Though he was born and raised on Long Island, he became a fan of the Pirates thanks to seeing Roberto Clemente play in a game at Shea Stadium back when Mike was a kid. We chat about how a marketing job once forced him to visit each ballpark several times over, what the adult softball scene is like in New York City, and which baseball adventure Mike is looking forward to next. We also hear some funs stories about Willie Mays, Carl Yastrimeyski, ...
Jul 04, 2024•33 min•Ep. 158
Eugene McMahon is a Milwaukee Brewers fan from London, England. He found his love for baseball a little differently than many fans do, through a love of literature, thanks to a particularly captivating description of Bobby Thompson’s “Shot Heard Round the World” in a novel he was reading. As he continued to delve deeper into baseball journalism and non-fiction, he wanted to understand the game he enjoyed reading about so much. We chat about how a 2018 baseball trip to the U.S. resulted in him cl...
Jun 27, 2024•38 min•Ep. 157
Andrew Iden is an Orioles fan living in Atlanta, GA. Originally from the Washington, DC area, Andrew became an O’s fan at a young age, and has stayed a fan of the team even after moving out of the area. We discuss the shifting of the local fandom that took place when the Nationals came to town, Andrew’s ballpark travel, and what he finds appealing about the minor leagues. We also touch on why experiencing the lean years with your team makes the highs even more enjoyable. Find the full show notes...
Jun 20, 2024•45 min•Ep. 156
