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| NO MOOSING AROUND: BASEBALL IN ALASKA IS DIFFERENT |
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| A TYPICAL DAY IN ALASKA: MOOSES IN THE CROSSES IN THE A.M.; BASEBALL AND SNOW PEAKS IN THE P.M. |
"Thank you for
your great tour guide to all of the baseball parks. We have been using your guide every step of the way. It is extremely helpful."
– Traci, Lake Forest, California "I found your guide
very helpful. Thanks so much." – Margie, Stratham, New Hampshire What
do C.J. Wilson, Randy Johnson and several other current and former All-Star caliber Major League Baseball players have in
common with Alaska of all places? Well, they all played in the
Alaska Baseball League, which prepares the nation's top college players for
a future in Major League Baseball. A Fan’s Guide To The Ultimate College Summer League Ballpark Experience, available
for purchase at the Buy Joe's Guides page, features everything you need to know to plan a baseball trip to "The Last Frontier," as well as some
of the Best North American College Summer League Ballparks elsewhere like in the Cape Cod League, and ballparks througout the Coastal Plain League, Jayhawk League and others. If
you want to view a sample of the guide and how easy the guide works, visit the MLB Ballpark Trips page.
| ALASKA BASEBALL LIFE: GROUNDS CREW AND BUS RIDES |
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| CHALKING THE BATTERS BOX IS ONE THING; ENCOUNTERING BEAR ON A BUS ROADIE IS QUITE ANOTHER! |
Collegiate players from all over North America make the summer trek to Alaska
and live with "host" families. Competition to make one of the six teams is fierce. By day, the players work
jobs or clean up their home ballpark (yep, they’re the janitors and grounds crew). By night, they play ball. By
day or night, it rarely gets dark in Alaska. In 2013, Fairbanks
celebrates the 108th Midnight Sun Baseball Game on June 21. Played annually on the summer solstice, the game begins at 10:30
p.m. and never requires artificial light!
| IMAGES OF ALASKA BASEBALL: FROM KENAI TO PALMER... |
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| (above left) A RUSTIC ATMOSPHERE ALONG THE KENAI PENINSULA; (above right) PLENTY OF BEER AT BUZZY'S |
The Alaskan baseball experience is unique as a direct result of Alaska itself. Most ballparks have snow-capped peaks in
the distance - but plenty of natural light and sunshine, even in the wee hours of the evening. The ballparks are also
a reflection of Alaska - rustic and blue collar while at the same time, quaint and charming. They represent everything
we love about the great game of baseball and a ballpark. And the Alaska scenery and wildlife, well, that speaks for itself.
Where else in the world can you go fishing after a night game? Only one place: Alaska.
| EAT YOUR HEART OUT JIM MORRISON: WAITING...FOR... |
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| ...THE SUN...! (above left) A MIDNIGHT SUNSET IN FAIRBANKS; (above right) A SUNRISE ONLY HOURS LATER |
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