Going the distance: Trio embarks on nationwide ballpark tour

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A trio of baseball fans are on the trip of a lifetime.

Photojournalist Matthew Armitage caught up with the San Francisco friends. They’re are on a mission to see every Major League Baseball ballpark in five years with a few minor league stops along the way.

Wednesday night, Marc Christensen, Larry Bingham and Gary Bingham took in a game at the Cove where the South Bend Silver Hawks faced off against the Great Lakes Loons. The Hawks won 5-4.

They say the trip has always been a dream of theirs.

“We all went to elementary, junior high and high school together,” said Christensen. “We were sitting at AT&T Park watching a Giants game three years ago and we said, ‘Wouldn't it be nice to tour all the ballparks in the U.S.?’ so we decided to do it.” 

The men, all three retired teachers, spend a few weeks out of the year doing the tour and say it’s a great opportunity to meet people and see America, which they feel is the most important part.

“We've spoken to a lot of people and we tell them what we are doing, and every one of them without hesitation says, ‘Oh I wish we could do that,’” said Christensen. “We are just doing a dream that we wanted to do, so it’s been really enjoyable. We’ve met a lot of nice people.” 

The trio said they don’t just love seeing baseball and how it’s played in various parks, but feel it’s important to take in the ambiance of every city they visit.

“We just enjoy baseball, you know, whoever is playing,” said Larry Bingham. “Obviously we are partial to our San Francisco Giants, but we just enjoy watching the games.”   

The three men will wrap up the Midwest leg of their journey with stops in Minnesota, Kansas City, St. Louis and Wrigley Field in Chicago.