ASU Alumni Joshua Ortega, Completes Rare Journey of Visiting 30 MLB Stadiums in 30 Days

By Jared Figueroa

For most diehard baseball fans, visiting every MLB ballpark is a lifelong dream.

For Cronkite graduate Joshua Ortega, it became a month-long sprint across North America.

In 30 consecutive days, Ortega attended a game at every Major League Baseball ballpark, traveling to 28 cities, 18 states, one Canadian city and Washington, D.C. His rapid journey started here in Phoenix at Chase Field, including eight train rides, three bus trips, 16 flights and three car commutes, before wrapping up his journey on Independence Day at Nationals Park. 

But to Ortega, the journey simply wasn’t about checking stadiums off a bucket list.

“My whole goal is to meet fellow Americans,” Ortega said before starting his journey. “We’re better united than we are divided.” 

That mission remained the same after a month on the road.

“Americans are some of the most amazing and incredible individuals,” Ortega said after completing his journey. “Individual Americans are not as divided as some in the media would have you think. I’m not white by any measure of the imagination and yet people still welcomed me to sit with them and sometimes enter their homes.”

Originally, Ortega envisioned completing the journey in September before realizing Washington was hosting a Fourth of July game. From there, he pieced together the itinerary by hand. 

Not everything was perfect throughout the trip, as traveling to 28 cities in 30 days is a daunting task alone. 

“I only had one layover flight… and I missed it due to fatigue,” Ortega said. “But every time I’ve improvised, adapted and overcame it, with the help of the transportation workers.” 

Sleep also became a major obstacle, with constant flights and quick turnaround times. 

“Sleep has come at a premium given I have to move quickly from arrival in a city, to the stadium, to departure to the next city,” Ortega said. “I’ve gotten a full night’s sleep in only three places: Los Angeles, Chicago and Baltimore. But my service in the U.S. Army taught me to sleep wherever and whenever I can get it.” 

While the travel proved to be exhausting, documenting everything became another challenge.

“It’s been harder than I thought to document every single step of this journey,” Ortega said. “I tell people I’m not an influencer by any means, but I’ve done my best to not only chronicle my days in a journal, but update Facebook and Instagram.”

One of Ortega’s favorite memories came in Minnesota, where a Twins fan named Dustin offered him a couch to sleep on before driving him to the train station the following morning.

In Cincinnati, strangers went even further.

“A couple people worked together and put me up in a bed and breakfast out of the kindness of their hearts,” Ortega said.

Those interactions reinforced the purpose behind the trip more than the games themselves.

Among the ballparks, Ortega said Globe Life Field in Arlington deserves more appreciation than it receives. 

“I’m just as nostalgic as any fan for the (former) ballpark in Arlington,” Ortega said. “But day baseball in the middle of June is a lot better with air conditioning.” 

Meanwhile, Ortega believes the Tampa Bay Rays deserve a more modern home than Tropicana Field.

“The Rays and their fans should have an updated ballpark, perhaps a retractable roof and some windows,” Ortega said.

As for the atmosphere, iconic stadiums such as Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are also known for their passionate fans, but the loudest atmosphere was north of the border, visiting the Blue Jays.

“Rogers Centre was the most electric as it was a sold out show with a raucous crowd on a Tuesday night.” 

Some of Ortega’s most meaningful moments, however, had little to do with the game of baseball. His father joined him at Petco Park in San Diego, continuing a tradition that began when Ortega was a child.

“It’s something we’ve done since I was a kid,” Ortega said. “My family is why I have a love for baseball and the whole reason I’m on this journey.” 

Long before the first game at Chase Field, Ortega approached the challenge with careful financial planning.

Ortega searched for the least expensive ticket available at each stadium, with prices ranging from just $8 for a Reds game to $301 for the Athletics game in Las Vegas. His travel was equally calculated, with family savings and his own money helping make the month possible.

But even with the idea in place, friends and family struggle to believe the plan. 

“They’re like, ‘You’re going to do what?” Ortega recalled before the trip. “They can’t believe that I planned something like this.” 

Now that it’s complete, Ortega says he would visit every stadium, but at a slower pace.

“It may take more than 30 days,” Ortega said. “But I would embark on this baseball pilgrimage again, because every step of this journey has been ordered and guided by the power and presence of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

For Ortega, the accomplishment extends beyond being in an exclusive group of people to visit every MLB ballpark in a single month.

“I met some amazing Americans and Canadians on this journey,” Ortega said. “They taught me a little about myself and a lot about what it means to be an American and one of God’s children.”  

Breaking down the logistics

The W or L at the end of each game is  based on the home team. 

1. Friday, June 5 at 6:40pm: WAS at AZ – Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ L
2. Saturday, June 6 at 6:10pm: NYM at SD – Petco Park, San Diego, CA W
3. Sunday, June 7 at 12:10pm: LAA at LAD – Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA L
4. Monday, June 8 at 5:38pm: HOU at LAA – Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA L
5. Tuesday, June 9 at 6:05pm: MIL at A’s – Las Vegas Ballpark, Las Vegas, NV W
6. Wednesday, June 10 at 11:45am: WAS at SF – Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA W
7. Thursday, June 11 at 12:10pm: CHI at COL – Coors Field, Denver, CO L
8. Friday, June 12 at 6:10pm: STL at MIN – Target Field, Minneapolis, MN W
9. Saturday, June 13 at 5:15pm: PHI at MIL – American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI L
10. Sunday, June 14 at 12:10pm: LAD at CWS – Rate Field, Chicago, IL W
11. Monday, June 15 at 7:10pm: COL at CHI – Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL W
12. Tuesday, June 16 at 6:15pm: SF at ATL – Truist Park, Atlanta, GA L
13. Wednesday, June 17 at 12:15pm: SD at STL – Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO L
14. Thursday, June 18 at 5:40pm: STL at KC – Kauffman Stadium, Kansas, MO W
15. Friday, June 19 at 7:10pm: BOS at SEA – T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA L
16. Saturday, June 20 at 3:05pm: SD at TEX – Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX L
17. Sunday, June 21 at 1:10pm: CLE at HOU – Daikin Park, Houston, TX W
18. Monday, June 22 at 5:40pm: KC at TB – Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL L
19. Tuesday, June 23 at 5:40pm: TEX at MIA – LoanDepot Park, Miami, FL W
20. Wednesday, June 24 at 6:10pm: MIL at CIN – Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH L
21. Thursday, June 25 at 5:40pm: HOU at DET – Comerica Park, Detroit, MI L
22. Friday, June 26 at 7:10pm: SEA at CLE – Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH L
23. Saturday, June 27 at 3:05pm: CIN at PIT – PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA L
24. Sunday, June 28 at 12:40pm: PHI at NYM – Citi Field, New York, NY L
25. Monday, June 29 at 6:07pm: NYM at TOR – Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON W
26. Tuesday, June 30 at 6:10pm: WAS at BOS – Fenway Park, Boston, MA L
27. Wednesday, July 1 at 11:35am: CWS at BAL – Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD L
28. Thursday, July 2 at 11:35am: PIT at PHI – Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA L
29. Friday, July 3 at 6:05pm: MIN at NYY – Yankee Stadium, New York, NY W
30. Saturday, July 4 at 10:05am: PIT at WAS – Nationals Park, Washington, DC L

The Stats:

Game tickets booked (TickPick): 30

30 MLB ballparks

28 cities

18 states, one Canadian city, and one District of Columbia. 

16 flights

8 train rides

3 bus rides

3 car commutes

“Freeway series” game in LA

“Show Me State” game in KC

“Keystone State” or “P00P” game in Philly

Weekend in Texas

Two consecutive days in Florida

Bus across Ohio

Train across Missouri

Team I seen the most: Nationals (4)

Team I seen  the least: Multiple, but I’ll say Dbacks, because only on Day 1

Most expensive travel: DCA to PHX $340

Least expensive travel: Phoenix, my car.

Most expensive game: Athletics $301, Vegas Series

Least expensive game: Reds $8

Longest travel time: Seattle to Dallas, June 20, 12:49 am to 6:58am

Shortest travel time: Phoenix. 

Attendance:

1. June 5: Chase Field: 24,272 / 48,330‎ = 50.2%
2. June 6: Petco Park: 40,770 / 42,000‎ = 97.1%
3. June 7: Dodger Stadium: 49,535 / 56,000‎ =88.5%
4. June 8: Angel Stadium: 25,474 / 45,517‎ =56%
5. June 9: Las Vegas Ballpark: 8,422 / 10,000‎ =84.2%
6. June 10: Oracle Park: 32,459 / 42,300‎ =76.7%
7. June 11: Coors Field: 35,128 / 46,891‎ =74.9%
8. June 12: Target Field: 23,089 / 38,544‎ =59.9%
9. June 13: American Family Field: 40,157 / 46,000‎ = 87.3%
10. June 14: Rate Field: 38,507 / 40,615‎ =94.8%
11. June 15: Wrigley Field: 38,337 / 41,649‎ =92%
12. June 16: Truist Park: 31,266 / 41,084‎ = 76.1%
13. June 17: Busch Stadium: 29,859 / 44,494‎ =67.1%
14. June 18: Kauffman Stadium: 18,363 / 37,903‎ = 48.4%
15. June 19: T-Mobile Park: 45,775 / 47,943‎ =95.5%
16. June 20: Globe Life Field: 35,383 / 40,300‎ =87.8%
17. June 21: Daikin Park: 36,807 / 41,168 ‎ =89.4%
18. June 22: Tropicana Field: 11,298 / 25,025‎ =45.1%
19. June 23: loanDepot Park: 9,971 / 37,442‎ =26.6%
20. June 24: Cincinnati: 22,981 / 43,500‎ =52.8%
21. June 25: Detroit: 25,066 / 41,083‎ = 61%
22. June 26: Cleveland: 32,832 / 34,820‎ =94.3%
23. June 27: Pittsburgh: 30,077 / 38,747‎ =77.6%
24. June 28: Citi Field: 38,770 / 41,922‎ = 92.5%
25. June 29: Toronto: 41,634 / 41,000‎ =101.55%
26. June 30: Boston: 33,669 / 37,755‎ = 89.2%
27. July 1: Baltimore: 19,045 / 46,971‎ = 40.5%
28. July 2: Philadelphia: 37,851 / 42,901‎ = 88.2%
29. July 3: New York: 45,104 / 46,537‎ =96.9%
30. July 4: Washington DC: 28,125 / 41,373‎ =68%
31. Chase Field: $31
32. Petco Park: $47 + $52 (dad)
33. Dodger Stadium: $161
34. Angel Stadium: $17
35. Las Vegas Ballpark: $301
36. Oracle Park: $49
37. Coors Field: $24
38. Target Field: $46.61
39. American Family Field: $31.29
40. Rate Field: $33
41. Wrigley Field: $35
42. Truist Park: $24.38
43. Busch Stadium: $12
44. Kauffman Stadium: $39
45. T-Mobile Park: $36
46. Globe Life Field: $36.31
47. Daikin Park: $31.39
48. Tropicana Field: $21
49. loanDepot Park: $12
50. Great American Ball Park: $8
51. Comerica Park: $17
52. Progressive Field: $42
53. PNC Park: $34
54. Citi Field: $60
55. Rogers Centre: $44.07
56. Fenway Park: $111
57. Oriole Park at Camden Yards: $20
58. Citizens Bank Park: $41
59. Yankee Stadium: $44
60. Nationals Park: $45.20

How many steps I took in a day per city?

1. June 5: Phoenix – 8,233
2. June 6: San Diego – 9,082
3. June 7: Los Angeles – 8,546
4. June 8: Anaheim – 11,187
5. June 9: Las Vegas – 9,226
6. June 10: San Francisco – 10,789
7. June 11: Denver- 28,479
8. June 12: Minneapolis/St. Paul – 17,620
9. June 13: Milwaukee – 9,398
10. June 14: Chicago – 14,832
11. June 15: Chicago – 11,912
12. June 16: Atlanta – 12,746
13. June 17: St. Louis – 19,429
14. June 18: Kansas City: 8,668
15. June 19: Seattle: 20,073
16. June 20: Arlington: 11,627
17. June 21: Houston: 16,609
18. June 22: Tampa Bay: 8,765
19. June 23: Miami: 8,490
20. June 24: Cincinnati: 7,128
21. June 25: Detroit: 9,147
22. June 26: Cleveland: 11,137
23. June 27: Pittsburgh: 14,765
24. June 28: New York: 14,475
25. June 29: Toronto: 15,728
26. June 30: Boston: 15,326
27. July 1: Baltimore: 8,733
28. July 2: Philadelphia: 18,607
29. July 3: New York: 20,974
30. July 4: Washington DC: 20,990