Well the Red Sox said here hold my beer when it comes to cranking out a nice bp to the Tigers.
Long story short, and for time purposes.
Four caught homers, Two homer scrums, One found baseball in CF.
7 baseballs, no gimmicks no tricks, 4 for 4 caught homers. Red Sox made it easy….
Saturday, 4/20
For those that know, I was up there for the holiday….. up, up, up
And the awesome action of hit balls that the Red Sox provided the day prior was back in effect.
I caught Ball #1, and Ball #2 on the fly on the LF cross walk, followed up by my first miss of a catch able bp homer, this got followed up with a Ball #3 scrum and a redemption caught homer, again all in LF for Ball #4.
Over along the RF foul line I got a toss up from an unidentified Red Sox pitcher, Ball #5.
So far so good with Tigers and Red Sox batting practices, Orioles were good too but limited due to the weather..
The Detroit Tigers were in town for a night game on Monday and a Tuesday day game, I could only attend the Monday game, it would have been great to see the Tigers take bp twice, they raked from both sides of the plate in not the most conducive air temperature. Lefties pounded the CF seats and river walk area.
This day began however with my first snagged ball on the river walk along the Allegheny, Ball #1 outside the ball yard, a Jack Suwinski homer (the Pirates post a video of bp on the score board that you can see from the spot you need to stand at, perfect), that skipped out with the quickness to my left, I knocked it down and it stayed close. No going in the Allegheny this time of year with the temperature and fast moving waters. Wasn’t needed anyway.
Inside the Tigers were just beginning bp when the gates opened.
I was along the LF foul line and got the attention of Tigers pitcher Alex Faedo for Ball #2.
I got not one, but two homers from a lefty batter who raked one off the track in CF and one into the bleachers more towards left field. Ball #3, Ball #4.
Ball #5 was a generous toss up from Tigers bullpen coach Tim Remes who was generous to a bunch of fans.
Ball #6 was a caught homer at the rail of the CF bar which might have wrecked some good liquor, and Ball #7 was a scrum of a bomb that busted up the Miller Lite sign in CF below the CF bar.
Opening Day 2024, the new season ticket holder gate is at the Willie Stargell statue LF gate.
I have been to many Home Openers, and probably at least the last 20. This one had all the weather which made it cool, I was bundled up good enough for it. Rain, Sleet, Snow and Hail were all in the mix for this opener against the Orioles. Hail littered the playing grass at one point here below.
Pittsburgh had also had floods triggered along local creeks and rivers due to a heavy week of rainfall for the first week of April.
Zack Hample was in town, Jose was super excited to meet him and have him sign 100 different baseball related items.
As for batting practice, it sucked, the Pirates were coming off a four game set in Washington so did not take bp. I was in early enough to catch the first bp homer of the year at the base of the LF wall, not sure which Oriole hit it, it was my only ball of the day. The place was pretty crowded quickly.
Adley Rutschman entering the bullpen prior to pre game warm ups, the Orioles have one hell of a talented young group of ball players.
Caliente pizza, first ball park food of the year, it got cold quick in the whipping of the wind.
Grayson Rodriguez pitched a nice game… Ryan O’Hearn, Cedric Mullins and Gunnar Henderson all went long on the day and the Orioles took the win 5-2..
4/6, Saturday
Pittsburgh season ticket holders had a string of bad luck last year during Saturday 2.5 hour openings for various reasons, this first Saturday game came with a lack of Pirates bp.
The first baseball I came up with was a toss up from Ryder Ryan of the Pirates when he finished throwing, Ball #1.
On the first base side I got the attention of Dillon Tate for a toss up of his warm up ball, Ball #2.
Ball #3 was a caught homer on the left field cross walk hit by I believe to be Gunnar Henderson.
A large chunk of some sort of old boat that washed ashore during the heavy rains.
Back to Miami for my third time at Marlins park, this time I was with my brother Bryan and met AJ who was still in Florida for spring training the weeks prior.
Last summer I was able to come to a game at Marlins park with my son and I came solo in 2014 or 2015, one of those years.
I love to visit Miami, we stayed in a beautiful air BNB one block away from Marlins Park.
I like the Biscayne Bay which has a lot of nice eats and shopping, the chickens running around in the streets, and the lifestyle, and the babes… a lot of eye candy ya mean.
We took a nice walk around the stadium after having some wicked strong Cuban coffee, which had the roof and windows open.
A lot of chickens roam the streets of Little Havana.
At the gate of Marlins Park we tossed the ball around and took some pictures.
The gates opened two hours early, the Pirates did not show much firepower and it was a tight squeeze in LF and RF, I came away with Ball #1 on the year, a toss up from a grounds crew along the RF line.
3/29, Friday
We went to a cool sports bar Thursday night.
At the ball game itself the roof was opened so that was neat.
Ball #1 was a toss up from Marlins reliever Burch Smith.
Ball #2, and Ball #3 were found over in the RF lower third base side area.
I suppose I should post about the last two games of 2023 before I get into the 2024 season.
The Marlins came into the set of games trying to make the Wild Card spot and did just that. Neither team took batting practice on Friday, Saturday was decent.
9/29, Friday
Ball #1 found on the lower third base side.
Ball #2 toss up by Pirates bullpen catcher Raul Hernandez.
9/30, Saturday
Nice setting to end the 2023 season.
In CF I caught a homer for Ball #1, and got Ball #2 from an unidentified Pirates pitcher.
Next, Ball #3 was a long homer by Oneil Cruz who had taken bp after a long rehab after his injury that occurred sliding into the plate against the White Sox on Easter last year.
Ball #4 was a caught homer in LF off the bat of Yulieski Gurriel, a nice way to end the season.
Jazz Chisolm Jr. hit an important home run.
The fish made it to the Wild Card round only to lose two straight to end their effort when they visited Philadelphia. The celebration was cool to see.
My initial plan for this year to see a new ball park was to see the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. I came short on getting my passport out of sheer procrastination.
The next best idea in my opinion was to go to Petco Park for a few, and they offer a pre game bp tour that drops you off in CF at the end of the tour around the middle portion of the Padres bp, so that was cool.
This was my 23rd ball park that I would record baseballs at.
San Diego I thought to be a clean, mostly safe city, some homeless camps around but most major cities will have that. They have an incredible park in Balboa park which is mostly free, even some of the small museums located there, the Gaslamp district which has a lot of bars and good food, and Little Italy that has tremendous Italian food. There is also the Navy located there, you can see several ships up close on the shore. 
The size of the Navy ships are incredible, thousands of men work on them. The technological capabilities of our Navy ships is beyond your imagination.
Onto the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego
The Gaslamp Quarter is a lively downtown neighborhood, known for its nightlife. Clubs, dive bars and cocktail lounges draw a young crowd, while the Spreckels and Balboa theaters have diverse programs of music, comedy and drama. There’s a mix of chain and independent restaurants in the area, with many global options.
Lauren posing for a picture in the Little Italy part of San Diego..
Next to Balboa Park
Flowers and a Church, Balboa Park
Balboa Park: Walking Path, Zen Garden, Forestry
Onto some view of the city of San Diego
Skyline San Diego views from close to the North San Diego Bay
Walking around Petco Park, stopping at the home plate gate for a photo..
There isnt too much to see outside of Petco Park except for the Western Metal Supply Co. area… This is a side view near home plate, boring.
Approaching the Western Metal Supply Co. behind CF and LF
Across the street from the Western Metal Supply Co.
Behind CF (Cronenworth, Tatis, Machado) and Behind Gallagher Square
Tony Gwynn statue
Trevor Hoffman statue
Padres in Cooperstown, highlighting this group is Gwynn, Winfield, and Hoffman; after these you have Sparky Anderson, Larry Doby, Rollie Fingers, Willie Mccovey, Bobby Doerr, Gaylord Perry, Ozzie Smith, Roberto Alomar, Rickey Henderson, and Goose Gossage
Friday, 9/22
I took the pre game tour which was okay, they didnt leave too much time to go for baseballs once the tour ended but it did allow some extra time.
Ball #1 I got from my old buddy Heberto Andrade on the first base side, this was mid pre game tour when the Padres had begun bp.
Once dropped off in CF at the end of the tour I got the attention of Dick Mountain, or elder statesman Rich Hill who had recently been traded off to the Padres by the Pirates, he tossed me Ball #2.
Ball #3 was tossed by a Padre player I could not identify.
Ball #4 was a scrum of a homer that landed on the party deck over the CF fence.
Ball #5 I picked up was tossed errantly to another patron and rolled at me, I tried to give it up to the man it was intended for but this was declined.
Ball #6 was tossed to me by Cardinals pitcher Juniel Querecuto, that would be all on the baseballs for this game.
I then took some pics around the ballyard.
A picture of Petco Park from the top most seat behind home plate.
High view from LF looking into CF and RF
Saturday, 9/23
Heberto Andrade did not fail to come through two days in a row and tossed my Ball #1 as I passed through on the pre game tour.
The tour guide was a bit more lengthy and detailed so by the time we got to CF the Padres were about done taking batting practice, I did get one toss up on the CF party deck from an unidentified Padres player for Ball #2.
Ball #3 was a scrum for a moonshot up toward the top of the upper LF bleachers, and that was all for baseballs. 
Gallagher Square at night
It was Hispanic night, they had out some nice low riders..
Goodbye to San Diego, the time was great, hopefully next year onto SF and OAK to see the Pirates as they swing through each city for a west coast trip in 2024.
Ball #1 splashed down into the Allegheny, I splashed in after it and came up with Ball #1.
Inside I found Ball #2 hanging out in this portion of the lower 3rd.
Saturday, 9/16
The Pirates were a non participant in batting practice on this fine Saturday and second to last Saturday early opening of gates for the year.
I did take a swim in the Allegheny River to retrieve a slowly sinking baseball that got torched out of the PNC ballyard. Ball #1
On the Roberto Clemente wall I was able to get a toss up from an unidentified Pirates player for Ball #2 on my way over to the lower third and lower left field side to see the Pirates warm up.
Things went good over there, Ryan Borucki toss for Ball #3, and Oneil Cruz who was regaining his throwing form from his April ankle fracture tossed me one for Ball #4.
Ball #5 was tossed up by one of the Pirates coaches on the lower third side, unidentified.
Ball #6 toss up above the LF bleachers, unidentified Yankees player.
Ball #7 was a scrum of a mammoth homer way over the North Side Notch that found its way squibbing around underneath the upper bleachers hit by Aaron Judge.
Construction/Renovation on Roberto Clemente Bridge should be done by Spring 2024
Allegheny River with Boat and Duck
Long time bullpen guy Ricky Bones made eye contact with me standing over the bullpen watching various Nationals players throw the pill, when the session ended he gifted me with a toss up for Ball #1.
CF scrum for Ball #2
Toss up from Nationals pitcher Jose Ferrer, Ball #3.
Caught homer in CF for Ball #4, and toss up from one of the Pirates new relievers, unidentified for Ball #5.
Wednesday, 9/13
Travis Blankenhorn tossed up Ball #1 to me in the LF bleacher area.
Ball #2, unidentified Nats player tosses one up in CF.
Playing the Roberto Clemente wall payed off as two lefties worked to deposit a pair of homers I was able to get to on the steep, but low crowded wall. Ball #3, and Ball #4.
Over in LF ex Pirate from last year Michael Chavis hit a homer that I caught on the LF deck for Ball #5, and hit one that I got to on a scrum for Ball #6.
At the Pirates bullpen Carmen Mlodzinski again hooked up a baseball for the second time in two weeks, Ball #7.
The Brewers took batting practice on Labor Day which was nice to see.
Former Pirate Bryse Wilson was on the CF/LF area shagging fly balls, apparently in a good mood he tossed up multiple baseballs with one coming my way for Ball #1.
Over in CF another seemingly friendly Brewers shagging fly balls also threw up a few with one coming my way for Ball #2. Joey Wiemer.
Over in LF I came up with a toss up of Ball #3 from an unidentified Brewers player.
Tuesday, 9/5
Ball #1-LF scrum
Ball #2-Toss up by Abner Uribe
Ball #3-Caught Yelich homer on the fly above CF seats.
Ball #4-Found in LF
Ball #5-Scrum for homer in LF
Ball #6-Toss up at Pirates bullpen, maybe from Carmen Mlodzinski.
Steel City Ballhawk 