Stadiums I've Been To... #1 - FirstEnergy Park (Lakewood BlueClaws)

In 2019, as a new homeowner who no longer needed to save every penny for a down payment, I got the idea to use some spending cash to see how many stadiums I can attend over the summer. That has since developed into somewhat of a personal challenge to attend games at all 30 MLB parks over the next few years in addition to hitting some minor league parks along the way. It's only right that we started with the local favorite.

I've lived at the Shore for 20+ years and have never seen an actual BlueClaw

Stadium: FirstEnergy Park
Team: Lakewood BlueClaws (Lakewood, NJ)
Class: Low A
Affiliate: Philadelphia Phillies
Game Date: June 9, 2019
Final Score: Greensboro 3, Lakewood 4

FirstEnergy Park

Minor league baseball is something I enjoy more than most baseball fans. Games are cheap, fan friendly, and generally more accessible for the average person. On top of which, since there's no TV timeouts or anything like that, games are a little bit shorter. Overall it creates for a more relaxing environment. Additionally, there's something cool about being able to look back years down the road to see what MLB caliber player came through the organization.

I moved to the Jersey Shore in 1999 and soon thereafter, my father informed me that a professional baseball team was being established locally. That team was hosting a contest where kids were submitting their ideas for what the team should be called. I don't remember what my idea was, probably something shark related, and I don't even remember if we even sent in the idea. I do vividly remember learning that the what the team decided on and my first reaction being, "what the fuck is a BlueClaw?"

I've probably gone to this stadium more than any other ballpark in America, aside from Skylands Stadium where my family had season tickets to see the now defunct New Jersey Cardinals when I was still living in Union, NJ. Typically I go watch the BlueClaws 2 or 3 times a year for a variety of reasons. I live about 15 minutes down the road so going is a pretty easy commute, but I've also attended games here as part of school field trips, work functions, and even as a pre-game honoree as the softball team that I coached was recognized for their season accolades. Over the years, I've been able to see Hall of Famer Roy Halladay make a rehab start, current MLB star Bryce Harper play as an 18 year old, and I've even had the experience of watching a friend from high school play against the BlueClaws during his minor league baseball career.

Unique Stadium Features:
Every game features a pork roll, egg, and cheese race where fans root for which delicious breakfast sandwich ingredient they want to win. I always vote for cheese because he's more aerodynamic. If you don't know what pork roll is, El Jefe Eats should be able to help you out. Also, if you call it Taylor Ham you are a fucking idiot.

Lakewood also has "sod squad" seats where fans can pay for general admission, bring a blanket, and watch the game from the grassy hill behind the left and right field walls. The sod squad has an incredible mix of parents enjoying a game with their kids without seat restrictions as well as college kids blacking out on cheap thirsty Thursday beer.

Ball Park Rating: 8.1/10
I'm going to rate the minor and major league stadiums on different scales. As far as minor league stadiums go, I'm biased but I like this park. It's clean, super easy to get to, and just a fun and friendly atmosphere.

Shoutout to Lakewood for being one of the few minor league teams that sells shot glasses on site