For the youth baseball family, at least those that I have covered over the past 10 years or so, there are places on the baseball map that just seem to be a little more special than the rest. Off the top of my head, Williamsport and the Little League World Series, Cooperstown Dream Park, Baseball Heaven, Orlando, and the Ripken Experience. Places where you spend an entire year prior fundraising through comedy nights, bake sales, car washes, popcorn, candles, anything you can do to raise enough funds to travel to and play in one of these special places on the baseball map. With the exception of the Little League World Series, which you have to win tournaments to get to, all of the other above mentioned locations are achievable baseball destinations. And with a short walk across the lawn from Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium the other day, I visited one of the best – The Ripken Experience, Aberdeen.
I mentioned in my blog yesterday (Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium) that I had arrived in Aberdeen with limited sun and photography time. With this in mind, I made my way up and into the Ripken Experience complex of fields with a bit of hustle and purpose. I stopped to view a map of the complex and paused as I caught a glimpse up a small incline of all of the amazing fields. Probably lost precious photog time in doing so, but it was oh so worth it. For the baseball purist, the true baseball fan, the first impression of the Ripken Experience complex is just jaw dropping joy.
Ok, here is the map of the complex and those replica fields I have heard and read about so much. First things first, I saw a few workers tending to the fields, so I asked if I was okay touring the facility and taking photos. I got the okay from a few of them and headed back to the map for my first stop. Fenway Park, oh yeah let’s start there.
The replica baseball stadium concept – absolutely brilliant. I love that idea and headed over to my first stop – Fenway Park. There was a green monster-like wall in left field, which I found out later was the back end of a batting cage structure. Very cool. Great first stop.
From Fenway Park, I walked down a small hill, passed Memorial Stadium (former Baltimore Orioles home field) and over to Wrigley Field. I wasn’t as familiar with the dimensions or quirky nuances of Memorial nor Wrigley as I am with Fenway. Lucky for me/us, there is/was a placard on the outskirts of the field entrance explaining the history of both Memorial Stadium and Wrigley Field. Again, well thought out and very cool.
From there on, I just sort of wandered around checking things out. There was still a bit of sunlight left and I wanted to hit as many spots as possible. For a large complex, it was very easy to get around. There were batting cages and bullpen areas and offices and souvenir shops and baseball card centers. The place was immaculate and very easy to shift from field to field. Here are a few more photos along the way.
And the fields I was able to photograph as the sun was setting…
Throughout the park, there were statues and plaques dedicated to the work of the Ripken family. I didn’t have a chance to read all of the plaques but it is clear the Ripken family have done a ton of charity work not only for the state of Maryland, but nationwide as well. I snapped this photo in the center field area of Cal Sr’s Yard.
Having only viewed the Ripken Experience complex through the lens of others before Tuesday afternoon, I can only imagine the wonder and chaos and excitement of a packed weekend tournament. All the teams, all the anxious and excitable parents, all the fields packed with players and fans and the cracks of the bat, the diving catches, the home runs hit so far no one can find the baseball, all the memories, all the comradery. I don’t have to know a single thing about the Ripken Experience operation to know with full confidence that they put out a fantastic product for youth baseball organizations. Heck, it was November and the place was being cleaned and serviced and maintained and it look absolutely incredible.
The replica fields, the easy walking path from field to office to field to batting cages, the convenient hotels nearby, the restaurants on site, the baseball card shop, the Ripken Experience – 1000% worth the trip for any baseball fan, of any age, regardless if you have a kid playing Tee Ball or in the Major Leagues. Visit this baseball utopia, you will smile from ear to ear from the moment you walk in until much later in the day when you get home or to your hotel. What an amazing baseball experience there in Aberdeen.
The Rhiter 
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