Red Sox Road Trip No. 7: Endurance Tripping

Seattle Mariners - June 16-18
T-Mobile Park: Capacity 47,929
2024 Attendance: 2,555,813 (Averaged 31,553, seventh in AL, 14th overall)

The Red Sox opened the 2024 season in the Pacific Northwest, and they left Seattle with two wins and two losses after starting and ending the four-game set with victories. This annual, 3,000-mile, coast-to-coast journey has resulted in a combined 50-58 record since T-Mobile Park opened in 1999. Road trips to Seattle have almost always ended with a split series. As the Mariners look to start this West Coast marathon trip off with a bang, history points toward a fizzle being the most likely outcome.

T-Mobile Park dials up the fan experience with a retractable roof, beautiful sight lines, and stellar food and beverage options. This isn’t your grandpa’s Kingdome, for sure. Success hasn’t been a part of the Mariners’ story, but their current squad is on the way up. Established in 1977, the Mariners endured losing seasons every year until 1991. They hold the less-than-awesome honor of having never been in a World Series. So the town is hungry for change, even if the ballpark is now entering its 24th season.

The park hosts the Baseball Museum of the Pacific Northwest and Mariners Hall of Fame, which pays homage to great moments in professional baseball throughout the region. The ‘Pen is a foodie and pub crawler’s dream, and there is a Fan Walk with engraved bricks memorializing those who root for the squad.

If you can stomach heights, the Space Needle is calling your name. The Museum of Pop Culture does seem like a worthy stop, and a person can’t be in this part of America without the temptation of a pilgrimage to the filming sites of the classic filmThe Goonies. The Seattle Japanese Garden also looks amazing and perfect for healing and restoration, especially in the midst of such a grueling road trip. After an off-day on the 19th, the Red Sox head on south to San Francisco to face the Giants.

San Francisco Giants – June 20-22
Oracle Park: Capacity 41,265
2024 Attendance: 2,647,736 (Averaged 33,096, seventh in NL, 10th overall)

The Red Sox last traveled to San Francisco in 2023, and they lost two of three, with every game being decided by only one run. The history of Red Sox baseball at Oracle Park is limited, but Boston has held serve by winning seven and losing seven since the park opened in 2004. With the road trip occurring every two years now, some familiarity with the dimensions and atmosphere of the ballpark should be developing.

San Francisco baseball has a long history, but the most recent iteration dates back to 1957, when the New York Giants joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in heading west for newer and greener financial grasses. The Dodgers and Giants have kept the rivalry ridiculously strong, and both have seen great success in recent decades. In 1989, the Giants were getting ready to host the Athletics at Candlestick Park for Game 3 of the World Series, when the Loma Prieta earthquake struck and tragically shook up the series. Barry Bonds infamously broke records in the 2000s, and championships finally arrived in the 2010s, with three titles in six seasons.

Oracle Park opened in 2000, and people have been raving about it ever since. Whether it’s the temperate and pleasant weather, the majestic views of the San Francisco Bay, McCovey Cove and its homer-hunting kayakers, or the food and beverage options, Oracle Park is a must-see destination. Baseball travelers will find the wharf and its many attractions and seafood restaurants to be a fun destination, while the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz never disappoint either.

From San Francisco the Red Sox take the shortest trip of the entire week, traveling 408 miles to Anaheim to face the Angels.

Los Angeles Angels - June 23-25
Angel Stadium: Capacity 45,517
2024 Attendance: 2,577,597 (Averaged 31,822, sixth in AL, 13th overall)

The Red Sox traveled to Angels Stadium in April 2024, and they left town with 20 runs across two victories, bookended around getting shut down by Reid Detmers in a 2-1 battle in the middle game. 2024's offensive outburst in Anaheim stands out even more starkly when you consider that the Red Sox had averaged a measly 2.6 runs in their other 10 games at Angels Stadium since 2020. Overall, the Red Sox have gone 144-150 since 1966 in their excursions to the house that Disney built.

To say that Angel Stadium exists because Disney exists isn’t an overstatement. The birth of Disneyland in 1955 led to the pursuit of community development in the Anaheim area. In 1966, that pursuit involved building a baseball stadium, then known as Anaheim Stadium. The 1980s brought a change in architecture as the NFL's Rams filled in the outfield seating area to increase capacity. 1998 brought a return to the open-concept outfield, as the Disney corporation placed its imprint upon the setting and installed the “Outfield Extravaganza” rock pile in left-center field.

Mike Trout hits baseballs there for a living. Shohei Ohtani used to embody a modern version of Babe Ruth there daily as well, until he split across town and won a World Series. Attendance remains high in Anaheim despite the loss of Ohtani and the general losing ways of the club. Angel Stadium seats less than Dodger Stadium, but I wonder what might happen if the Angels could get on a roll again.

Beautiful June weather, summer on the beach, and sun for miles highlight this trip. Having a car is the name of the game when traveling to Angel Stadium. There is a bus option from downtown LA, but that doesn’t scream “relaxing road trip” to me. Also, with Disneyland right around the corner, there is no shortage of affordable hotel options in Anaheim. At only 2.5 miles southeast of Disneyland, a person has to go, right?

This trip includes 7,233 miles and how many wins? Boston returns home to face Toronto and Cincinnati after an off-day on the June 26, so hopefully they have great memories and some victories to welcome them back. Anyone going to these West Coast games?