Baseball is back and not many places do it like Northeast Ohio! There are a plethora of professional baseball teams within driving distance. Plus, a day or night out to the ballpark makes for a perfect family outing. Ticket prices are more than reasonable and you can usually find deals to save money, as well. Most teams also run great promotions for discounted concessions or freebies for everyone in attendance.
Plus…there’s baseball! All of the teams in Northeast Ohio pride themselves on the product they put on the field and it usually shows. Check out the list of baseball teams in Northeast Ohio — as well as the rest of Ohio — below.
Baseball in Northeast Ohio
Cleveland Indians
Website: mlb.com/indians
Stadium: Progressive Field, 2401 Ontario St., Cleveland, OH 44115
There’s not much better than heading downtown during the spring and summer for a Cleveland Indians game. Progressive Field is picture perfect. The team is exciting to watch. The food…the food is unbelievable since they’ve added space for tons of local restaurants. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate a big inning by the Tribe than with a Bob Feller Ballpark Sundae from Sweet Moses! Sugardale Dollar Dog Nights and KeyBank Kids Fun Day help make Indians games the perfect destination for family fun.
Notable Promotions
June 12 vs Cincinnati Reds: Jose Ramirez Cap Giveaway
June 22 vs Detroit Tigers: Progressive Field 25th Anniversary Celebration
July 20 vs Kansas City Royals: Francisco Lindor “Mr. Smile” Jersey Giveaway
2019 MLB All-Star Game
Website: mlb.com/indians/fans/all-star-game
Date: July 9th
The MLB All-Star Game is coming back to Cleveland for the first time since 1997. All of the MLB superstars will be in town to show off their skills. I’m sure tickets will be expensive, but how often do you get to see so many great baseball players and legends in one place? Don’t forget about the Legends & Celebrity Softball Game or the Home Run Derby, too!
Play Ball Park: Cleveland is pulling out all the stops during All-Star Festivities. Play Ball Park is an interactive baseball festival being held at the Huntington Convention Center July 5-9. There will be outdoor activities like batting cages, pitching and fielding drills, as well as live music — all for free. Indoor activities will require a paid ticket and include seeing some of the All-Stars, a virtual reality Home Run Derby, and Hall of Fame exhibits.
Akron RubberDucks
Website: milb.com/akron
Stadium: Canal Park, 300 S. Main St., Akron, OH 44308
Affiliation: Double-A, Cleveland Indians
Minor League teams are great at coming up with the craziest promotions to attract crowds. Nobody does it better than the RubberDucks! I’m a little bummed we won’t be able to make it out for more than a couple games because of our own kid’s baseball schedule! How often do you get to a chance to meet Mayor Goldie Wilson from Back to The Future?! Lost in all this promo talk is the fact that the Rubberducks are a legit baseball club and you can check out some great prospects before they reach the big leagues.
Notable Promotions
May 24 vs Richmond Flying Squirrels: Military Appreciation Night & Fireworks
June 11 vs Hartford Yard Goats: Dad Bod Appreciation Night (No joke!)
July 14 vs Bowie Baysox: Nerf on the Turf Night
Lake County Captains
Website: milb.com/lake-county
Stadium: Classic Park, 35300 Vine St., Willowick, OH 44095
Affiliation: Single-A, Cleveland Indians
When our kids were young, we went to tons of Captains games! Tickets are so inexpensive and the atmosphere is electric. Classic Park is a beautiful stadium and perfect to watch a baseball game. They really cater to kids and families, too. It’s been a little while since we’ve made it back for a game, but this year we are making plans to go to a couple of Captains games.
Notable Promotions
June 21 vs West Michigan Whitecaps: Daddy/Daughter Princess Dance
July 6 vs Lansing Lugnuts: Kenny Lofton Appearance
August 10 vs West Michigan Whitecaps: Harry Potter Night
Lake Erie Crushers
Website: lakeeriecrushers.com
Stadium: Sprenger Stadium, 2009 Baseball Blvd., Avon, OH 44011
Affiliation: Independent
The Lake Erie Crushers have only been around since 2009, but they have made a name for themselves in the area. That’s because of the quality of play on the field and the excellent service and atmosphere found at Sprenger Stadium. Did you know the Crushers won the Frontier League Championship in their very first season? How many teams can say that? They are an independent team, which means they don’t have an affiliation with any MLB teams. That doesn’t mean there isn’t quality baseball being played, though. You owe it to yourself and your family to get out to Avon for a Crushers game this season.
Notable Promotions
June 22 vs Evansville Otters: CoCo Crisp Bobblehead Night
July 9 vs Washington Wild Things: Christmas in July
August 2 vs River City Rascals: Star Wars Night
Baseball Heritage Museum
Website: baseballheritagemuseum.org
Address: 6601 Lexington Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103
Hours: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Did you know Cleveland had a museum dedicated to baseball? The Baseball Heritage Museum is a well-hidden treasure celebrating important contributions from the Latin and Caribbean leagues, the Industrial and Barnstormer leagues, and the Negro and Women’s leagues.
The museum is located in the former ticket office at historic League Park, which is the original home of baseball in Cleveland. Babe Ruth hit his 500th home run at League Park in 1929. Most of the legends of the game made their way through League Park at some point. Hours are limited, so check the website before going. Admission is free (donations accepted). If you are a baseball fan, make it a point to get to the Baseball Heritage Museum this summer.
More Baseball in Ohio
Cincinnati Reds
Website: mlb.com/reds
Stadium: Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202-4109
Ohio’s other Major League baseball team is the Cincinnati Reds. They play in the National League. I haven’t been to Great American Ball Park yet, but have heard it’s a great venue for baseball. The Cincinnati Reds have a rich baseball tradition that continues on today. Cincinnati is also a great Ohio city for families to visit. Why not make a weekend of it and hit a Reds game and a throw in a trip to Kings Island too? The kids will love it!
Notable Promotions
June 14 vs Texas Rangers: Fireworks Friday featuring the Cincinnati Pops
July 6 vs Cleveland Indians: Ohio Cup T-shirt Giveaway
August 16 vs St. Louis Cardinals: Johnny Bench 150 Series Bobblehead Giveaway and Ohio Lottery Post-Game Concert featuring AJR
Columbus Clippers
Website: milb.com/columbus
Stadium: Huntington Park, 330 Huntington Park Lane, Columbus, OH 43215
Affiliation: Triple-A, Cleveland Indians
The Columbus Clippers are the last stop before players make their way up to the big leagues. Get ready to see some serious baseball skills. You may see some players who will end up playing in an MLB All-Star game during their career. Huntington Park is nestled into the Arena District in downtown Columbus and is a great place to watch a baseball game, as well.
Notable Promotions
May 24 vs Indianapolis Indians: “Major League” 30th Anniversary Celebration featuring Corbin Bernsen
June 9 vs Norfolk Tides: Princesses & Pirates Day
August 6 vs Pawtucket Red Sox: Mike Clevinger Bobblehead Giveaway
Toledo Mudhens
Website: milb.com/toledo
Stadium: Fifth Third Field, 406 Washington St., Toledo, OH 43604
Affiliation: Triple-A, Detroit Tigers
Although they are an affiliate for the Indians’ division rival Detroit Tigers, the Toledo Mudhens are very much an Ohio team. (What in the world is a Mudhen anyway?!) The Mudhens have been playing baseball in Toledo since 1965 and are part of the International League, same as the Columbus Clippers. Many great ball players have made their way through Toledo on their way up to major league teams.
Notable Promotions
May 31 vs Charlotte Knights: Paws and Pints
June 1 vs Charlotte Knights: Pregame Special Needs Field of Dreams Clinic
July 18 vs Durham Bulls: Mud Hens Cooler Giveaway
Dayton Dragons
Website: milb.com/dayton
Stadium: Fifth Third Field, 220 N. Patterson Blvd., Dayton, OH 45402
Affiliation: Class A, Cincinnati Reds
To the west, we find another great minor league baseball club in the Dayton Dragons. They are the Class-A affiliate for the Cincinnati Reds. If you were wondering how serious Dragons baseball is in Dayton, the fact that they hold the record for most consecutive sellouts should be a good indication. Oh, that’s not for just minor league baseball. They hold the longest sellout streak for any professional sports team in the U.S. They have sold out all of their home games for 20 seasons straight. That’s over 1,300 games in a row. Get to a Dragons game this season and become part of sports history!
Notable Promotions
Fifth Third Bank Photo Days (May 10, June 23, July 13): player autograph and photo session for Fifth Third customers (must RSVP through their website)
Wendy’s Family & Friends Nights (May 23, May 30, June 2, June 8, July 6, Aug. 11, Aug. 23): Get a ticket to the game, a limited-edition hat, and a Wendy’s 4 for $4 meal voucher. Post-game kids run the bases.
Mahoning Valley Scrappers
Website: milb.com/mahoning-valley
Stadium: Eastwood Field, 111 Eastwood Mall Blvd., Niles, OH 44446
Affiliation: Short-Season A, Cleveland Indians
Another Cleveland Indians affiliate is the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. They play in the Pinckney Division of New York–Penn League, which is a short season league (only 73 games). But fewer games doesn’t mean less excitement on and off the field for the Scrappers. They average over 4,000 fans per game. Many current and former Cleveland Indians made stops in Niles to play for the Scrappers.
Notable Promotions
June 16 vs Batavia Muckdogs: Opening Night Fireworks
July 6 vs State College Spikes: Scrappy Bobblehead Giveaway
August 31 vs West Virginia Black Bears: Fan Appreciation Night
Chillicothe Paints
Website: chillicothepaints.com
Stadium: VA Memorial Stadium, 17273 St. Rt. 104, Chillicothe, OH 45601
The Chillicothe Paints are not a professional baseball team. They actually are a collegiate summer baseball team. They are part of the Prospect League, which is a collegiate summer baseball league. The Paints are founding members of the league. In order to play, players must have NCAA eligibility remaining. They do not get paid to play. VA Memorial Stadium also is home to many high school baseball games and tournaments. If you want to see some excellent, pure baseball talent, make a road trip to Chillicothe this summer to check out the Paints.
As you can see, Ohio is a hotbed of baseball talent. Baseball games make the perfect family entertainment option. There’s nothing like cheering on your favorite team or checking out a new team from the list above with your family.