Sports Travel and Tours Puts a New Spin on a Favorite Trip
OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS—While on a baseball trip with Sports Travel and Tours a few years back, Ted Baker of Overland Park, Kansas, began talking with the friends he’s come to know through years of traveling with the firm from Hatfield, Massachusetts.
They discussed where they might go in 2017. “We all kind of agree we wanted to go down to Atlanta and do the Major Minor Southern Swing trip there,” Baker recalled.
The group, all of whom have been inducted into the Sports Travel and Tours’ Stadium Hall of Fame for visiting all 30 major league ballparks, have grown close since Baker began traveling with the company in 2002.
This year, the Southern Swing High trip will be a little different from the trip of choice Baker and his friends took last year.
“This year we’re making it three trips in one,” explained Anthony Incampo, a member of the senior staff at Sports Travel and Tours. “All together it’s a nine-day trip. If you just wanted to do one of the splinter tours, it’s five. It’s adaptable.”
The complete Southern Swing High trip, which runs from Monday, June 11 to Wednesday, June 20, includes stops in Florida, Georgia, Texas and Colorado for a total of seven games in six different cities. The parks on the docket will be Marlins Park, Tropicana Field, SunTrust Park, Globe Life Park, Minute Maid Park, and Coors Field.
In addition to watching games, travelers will receive tours of SunTrust Park and Minute Maid Park. There will also be plenty of leisure time for travelers to rest and recharge between the many games.
Travelers who want to sign on for Southern Swing High have three trip options. The first is the full, nine-day trip. The second is the Southeast splinter tour, from Monday, June 11 to Saturday, June 16; it includes the games in Miami, Tampa Bay, and Atlanta. The third is the Texas Two Step High splinter tour, from Saturday, June 16 to Wednesday, June 20, which includes games in Dallas, Houston and Denver.
“With this format we’re hoping to give people who like to pick and choose their games those options,” said Incampo. “At the same time, we’re providing a trip for those who like to do everything.”
Baker’s love for baseball dates back to when he was just a kid in the 1950s, and would watch Dizzy Dean of the St. Louis Cardinals and Pee Wee Reese of the Brooklyn Dodgers in their newfound roles as sports announcers.
“I read a book recently that described Dizzy Dean as the best beer salesman ever,” he noted. “He’d always say ‘Pass me another Falstaff, Pee Wee!’”
For Baker, this lifelong love of baseball and Sports Travel and Tours proved to be a perfect fit. He’s now been to over 60 games through their trips, and he loves the convenience of each and every Sports Travel and Tours getaway.
“It’s an easy trip for me if I can survive the airline ride to wherever we’re going!” Baker joked. “I check into the hotel, and everything is provided for me. I don’t have to worry about driving anywhere. I just go to the games to relax and enjoy.”
Learn more about Sports Travel and Tours Southern Swing High trip.
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