I usually try to catch the Reds AA team when they visit the Smokies at least once or twice a season. Was lucky enough to have free tickets left by one of the players thanks to helping out with a Reds website. One of the Reds AA pitchers was pitching that night, and we have him as a "Spotlight Player" so he was nice enough to leave us 3 seats about 3 rows up behind home plate. I watched Joey Votto belt two homeruns at Smokies Park. One of which nearly cleared the 2nd fence in Right Center Field. Been a huge Votto fan ever since then.

I haven't been to an Appy league game since Rick Ankiel was down there pitching for the JC Cardinals after his loss of control with the Cardinals. Me and some buddies went to JC twice to see him pitch. he was a man against boys at that level. I still have the scorecards from those games somewhere in my closet. If memory serves me correctly, he had 17 Ks in one of those games... THROUGH 7 Innings. and they took him out. Some bum was his catcher back then. Some guy named Yadier Molina. Not sure he even plays any more the Whiny Little **tch. The only other notable player i can think of that played then was a huge prospect/thug named "Toe" Nash.

As for big league parks, Camden Yards ranks somewhere between 2 and 3 for me. The more I go to GABP, the more I realize how nice it is. but neither Camden nor GABP compare to PNC Park in Pittsburgh. I already have family plans to skip a trip to Cincy this year and go to Pittsburgh instead to watch the Reds.