Most people view road trips as a summer thing, but those of us who live for baseball travel know that as long as there are games that are scheduled, there’s a road trip that is worth planning. While it’s true that I do most of my traveling from May onward, I’ve taken a number of April trips over the years — an idea that has worked out sometimes and failed miserably on other occasions.
I thought it’d be fun to share some of the pros and cons of April road trips that I’ve noticed over the years with the hope that these points could help you make the most of your early-season adventures. (I should note that the baseball landscape is a lot different in 2021 than it has been in years past. The biggest anomaly is that the start of the MiLB season has been pushed back to May, but I hope it’ll be back to April in 2022. As such, some of the following may not directly apply to the wacky baseball world of 2021, but should be relevant beyond this season. I hope. Gulp.)
Pro: Excitement in the Air
There’s no disputing that a September pennant chase is an exciting time to be a baseball fan, but there’s something magical about the start of the season. While Opening Day is a day that we mark on our calendars months in advance, I’ve often said that my personal “opening day” is whenever I travel for the first time. It’s extremely exciting to have a trip to enjoy as early in the season as possible. If you’re the type of person who obsessively watches Spring Training and follows every detail of your favorite team online, you’ll feel pumped to hit the road in April instead of waiting until the summer months.
Con: Bad Weather
The biggest disadvantage of attending baseball games in April is the bad weather. It’s worth mentioning that all of my April games so far have taken place in the Northeast, so I realize that weather-related experiences can be much different in other geographical regions. In April, I’ve sat in rain, snow and freezing cold weather, all of which have hindered the overall experience to some degree. In fact, as I look at my game database, I’m aware of how much bad weather has impacted my trips in April. Since 2013, I’ve traveled for 11 April games. Of those, four were canceled due to rain or snow without a single pitch thrown, and another was canceled after just two innings. That’s pretty grim, and when you consider that two of the April games I attended were in Toronto’s domed stadium, it’s clear that hoping for an April game in which the weather doesn’t have an impact is an iffy proposition at best in certain parts of the country.
Pro: More Doubleheaders
In the minor leagues, it’s common to find early-season doubleheaders. This is especially true in the Northeast, given the prevalence of weather-related cancelations. If teams lose a game due to bad weather early in April, they’ll often try to play a doubleheader the next time they see each other — which might be just a week or two later. Doubleheaders are a sweet deal for a number of reasons, and if you’re the type of fan who enjoys scheduling your road trips around them, April can be a good month to look at. I’ve had decent success with doubleheaders in April over the years. I’ve attended three in total, and only one was shortened by inclement weather. The one thing that all of the doubleheaders had in common was that they were absolutely frigid.
Con: Scheduling Conflicts With TV Sports
Hockey and pro basketball begin their playoffs (in “normal” times, anyway) in the middle of April, the NCAA basketball tournament wraps up early in the month and the Masters golf tournament takes place in April, too. If you follow any of these sports closely, especially if your team is doing well, you might be reluctant to attend live baseball games in April. While you can certainly follow scoring updates on your phone, the idea of being at home in front of the TV may be a little more appealing.
Pro: Fewer Fans
There are some fans who love packed ballparks. I’m typically not among this group, which is one reason that I find April road trips to be desirable. While Opening Day games are often sold out, you’ll find in several markets that attendance drops quickly in subsequent games — especially in the minor leagues and in areas where the weather is still cold. To me, low-attendance games make it easier to move around the park to explore, take in the game from different seats and, of course, not have to stand in long lines at the concession stands or team shops. A lower turnout of fans also makes it easier to get tickets, especially if you’re buying at the last minute. I’ve been at a few MiLB April games where it would’ve been easy to individually count the fans in just a couple of minutes. Teams must hate this, but I love it.
Con: No Independent League Games
I really enjoy watching independent baseball when I’m able to fit these games into my schedule. Seeing young players fighting to get picked up by affiliated clubs and former MLBers closing out their careers in ballparks that can be surprisingly nice is a fun way to enjoy the sport. Unfortunately, most independent leagues don’t begin play until May, which means that these games aren’t an option during your April road trips.
Pro: Possibility of NCAA Games
Although you don’t have any independent baseball to watch during April road trips, you do have the ability to fit in some NCAA action. The college baseball season is in full swing by April, and with so many teams playing in so many cities across the country, it’s relatively easy to add NCAA games to your itinerary. I’ve always focused on MLB/MiLB games on my trips, but I decided in early 2020 that I’d make a point of checking out some NCAA parks when I’m able. I actually had a few college games (Memphis and Vanderbilt) scheduled for my first big trip of 2020 … but you know how that turned out. Nevertheless, I’m going to try to see some college baseball whenever possible during future April trips.
Con: Not Conducive to Family Trips
If you have children and you enjoy taking baseball road trips as a family, April’s probably not a month that will work for you. Because your kids will still be in school, you’ll risk them getting behind in their studies if you travel at this point in the year. If you decide to take a family trip in April, you might have to cut it shorter than you’d like so that your kids don’t miss too many school days. For those with children, it’s generally better to wait until the school year wraps up.
Are you an April baseball road tripper? If so, what are some of your favorite April memories?