Houston Astros – May 31-June 2
Minute Maid Park: Capacity 41,168
2023 Attendance: 3,052,347, up from 2,688,998 in 2022 (Averaged 37,683, ranked 2nd out of 15 AL teams, 7th overall MLB)
As this grueling road trip begins, the Twins head to the ballpark that has hosted four of the last seven World Series. On the bright side, it is also the ballpark that hosted the last Twins playoff victory! Minute Maid Park carries history, scandal, success, and futility all in one amazingly crafted and retro-fitted setting.
I think what’s probably most important for Twins fans to appreciate about baseball in Houston can be traced back to the O.G. stadium: the Astrodome. The sporting world’s first fully enclosed and air-conditioned stadium, the Astrodome changed the game and almost all other games around the world. The Astrodome gave us the first synthetic turf playing surface (hence why we call all the new stuff Astroturf even if it isn’t!), the ability to play ball in any type of weather or geography, and the introduction of year-round civic and sports arenas within a city.
The current ballpark was constructed around a former Union Station railway concourse, and harkens to the culture and community that it serves. Oil, agriculture, trains, Bar-B-Q, Mexican food, boom/bust economics, and espionage/waste disposal (couldn’t resist). The retractable roof might come into play in May, with an opportunity for outdoor baseball early and late in the season. This element allows for a natural grass playing surface.
Originally named Enron Field in 2000, my kids’ third favorite orange juice stepped up to the plate for naming rights once Enron imploded. Hopefully, the Minute Maid Train will fail to leave the station due to a lack of Astros homers, but recent history would argue to bet the “over.” The Twins were a mere 4-16 at Houston since 2015 until they took two of three during the 2023 regular season and split the two games held at Minute Maid in the postseason. How will Yordan Alvarez and crew welcome the Twins in 2024?
Minute Maid Park used to contain the legendary and questionable “Tal’s Hill” in centerfield. The berm & flagpole served up quite a few highlights and lowlights for fielders, and it stretched the dimensions out to 436 feet. The hill left the building after the 2016 season, replaced by a restaurant, standing-room seating, and a lower medical liability deductible.
The dimensions also came in with its removal to a reasonable 406 feet. Interestingly, berms or mounds in the field of play used to be a way to give a better view to standing-room overflow fans ON THE FIELD!!! Can you imagine? Showing up to a game, discovering that it was sold out, but being told to “Worry not! Centerfield has some room for you!” It sounds like an alternate reality.
A trip to Houston offers a few sights worth your time. A Twins fan should plan to check out the Space Center, and enjoying some beach and fishing time out at the Gulf of Mexico are potential highlights. Mainly, just get excited to watch high quality baseball, in a crazy cool stadium, alongside a fan-base that has doubled-down on their team. I’m sure there will be many stops on a tour-de-baseball this year where the hometown fans could care less. Houston ain’t one of those stops.
The reward for surviving this series? A 1,600-mile flight to the evil empire. Bring on the Yankees!
New York Yankees – June 4-6
Yankee Stadium: Capacity 47,309
2023 Attendance: 3,269,016, up from 3,136,207 in 2022 (Averaged 40,358, ranked 1st out of 15 AL teams, 3rd overall MLB)
Yankee Stadium screams “we own you” to Twins fans. Up until last season, the Twins had gone 3-24 at Yankee Stadium since 2015. But 2023 brought a four-game split at the newest house that Ruth built and a season series victory for the Twins. Will 2024 bring more redemption, or will the arrival of Juan Soto swing the mojo back in the Yankees’ direction?
What Yankee Stadium lacks in hospitality to opponents’ chances for success, it makes up for in baseball history and charisma. Monument Park shares the rich tradition of the pinstripes and is the place to be before the first pitch. The tiered outfield seats provide a few too many flashbacks to Twins crushing defeats of the past, but being present for the “roll call” tradition of the Yankees’ outfield bleacher bums and knowing that millions of humans are within blocks of you offers a lot of excitement.
Expect long lines outside of the stadium, and prepare to pay a premium (even with resale) for anything not in the top deck. The stadium feels corporate, but that’s just because the Yankees are big business, and visiting fans won’t have much of a presence at the game. Yankee Stadium is a must-see for any baseball fan, but it’s definitely not the most hospitable environment for away teams.
Yankee Stadium resides in the heart of the Bronx, so parking and any “quick” travel to destinations don’t happen. With an off-day before the series begins, the Twins have an opportunity to take in the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Big Apple. The Statue of Liberty takes most of a day to visit appropriately, and traveling the New Jersey coast to see Ellis Island also offers a wonderful view of downtown NYC. If you do find yourself in Manhattan, Broadway, TV show scenery, and Central Park are must-sees. Finding affordable lodging and navigating the traffic are obstacles, but the public transit system is top-notch and can get Twins fans most anywhere they want to go.
The reward for enduring the Yankee faithful? A trip west to face a team on the rise, the young and hungry Pittsburgh Pirates!
Pittsburgh Pirates – June 7-9
PNC Park – Capacity 38,747
2023 Attendance: 1,630,624, up from 1,257,458 in 2022 (ranked 14th out of 15 AL teams, 25th overall MLB)
The 2023 Pirates squad stayed in the mix for the majority of the season, but faltered down the stretch. With stud pitching prospect Paul Skenes warming up for his MLB debut, the 2024 squad seeks to make the transition from over-performing youth to tested veterans. The infield duo of Ke’Bryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz looks to take the next step, and Pirates fans began to show their appreciation for a team on the rise.
PNC Park consistently makes Top 10 lists for its scenic beauty and baseball viewing sightlines. When it opened in 2001, its city-centered orientation and river views awed baseball fans (while the product on the field left something to be desired). Now that the team has a squad to match the view, attendance should continue to climb. Visiting fans will find hospitable hosts, but Twins fans shouldn’t expect too much success at the end of such a grueling road trip. Hopefully a few “raised Jolly Rogers” won’t pirate the Twins’ playoff hopes for the season.
Pittsburgh itself has plenty to offer a baseball tourist, from its downtown atmosphere of food and entertainment to the Andy Warhol and Roberto Clemente Museums. June is the perfect time of year to walk about the city and to take in the unique landscape.
The Twins will be traveling 4,041 miles for nine games, one off day, and ____ wins?
How do you see the Twins faring against these mighty foes? Should we be happy to steal four wins, or will last year’s momentum in Houston and New York continue into 2024? What else should Twins fans know before they head to any of these three amazing ballparks? Let’s get talking!
Let’s Road Trip is a series of stories exploring the Twins’ 13 road trips during the 2024 season. I will focus on stadium highlights, attributes, Twins history, and community amenities. Potential pitfalls and roadblocks get considered, and travel considerations get mentioned. My handy-dandy Baseball Road Trips by Timothy Malcolm and Moon travel guides will be a go-to for this conversation.