My Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: What I’ve Done—And What’s Left To Experience

If you love baseball, The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List by Robert and Jenna Santelli is one of the most enjoyable guides ever written for America’s pastime. It’s a celebration of the sights, sounds, and stories that make baseball more than a sport—it’s a lifelong adventure.

The book lists 162 must-experience baseball moments, from ballparks and movies to memorabilia, historic sites, and quirky cultural traditions.

We’ve visited ALL of the MLB stadiums (minus the new one in Atlanta and the soon-to-be Athletics stadium in Las Vegas) and have completed many of the experiences listed in the book. Below are things we’ve yet to experience.

Movies & Baseball Entertainment

Movies To Watch (Not Yet Completed):

The Pride of the Yankees
Bang the Drum Slowly
Eight Men Out
61
The Bad News Bears
The Jackie Robinson Story
The Stratton Story
Fear Strikes Out
Cobb
The Babe
Mr. 3000
The Winning Team
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
Sugar
Talent for the Game
The Final Season
Trouble with the Curve
Million Dollar Arm
The Perfect Game
Hardball
A Player to Be Named Later
The Bronx Is Burning (TV)
The Brothers K (book)
Pastime
Rhubarb
The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg

Major League Ballparks & Teams Still To Visit

MLB Teams/Parks Not Yet Visited:

See a game in Canada on Canada Day

See the Athletics at their new ballpark (future)

Attend a game on the 4th of July

See a game on Memorial Day

See the Giants–Dodgers rivalry game

Attend a Saturday FOX Game of the Week

Attend ESPN Sunday Night Baseball

Attend MLB Opening Night (not Opening Day)

Attend a franchise “turn back the clock” night

See a game at the oldest MiLB park (other than Rickwood)

See a rooftop game across from Wrigley

Take a Wrigleyville tour

Attend a makeup doubleheader

Attend Korean Heritage Night

Attend a Mexican League game

Attend a Caribbean winter league game

Attend a minor league playoff game

Attend a stadium’s final game before it closes

Attend a stadium’s inaugural game

Minor League & Independent Baseball (Still To Do)

Visit a collegiate summer league game
Attend a Cape Cod League game
Attend a spring training game in Florida
Attend a spring training game in Arizona
Watch an Arizona Fall League game
Attend a minor league game in a historic stadium
Attend a minor league game in a very small town
See a minor league no-hitter
Attend a minor league Irish Heritage event
Attend a minor league game with bizarre food
Attend a minor league “princess & superheroes” night
Attend a minor league “Christmas in July” night
Attend a minor league “Turn Back the Clock” night
Attend a minor league record-breaking crowd night
Attend a minor league “Peanut-Free Night”
Attend a minor league natural disaster community night
Attend a minor league super-fan event

Baseball History, Culture & Memorabilia (Still To Do)

Museums, History Stops & Experiences:
Visit the Ty Cobb Museum
Visit the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum
Visit the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum
Visit the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Museum
Visit Ballpark Districts nationwide

Memorabilia / Collecting Items Left:
Own a vintage baseball uniform
Own a game-used bat
Own a rare baseball book
Own a World Series program
Own a Negro Leagues artifact
Own a ticket stub collection
Own a vintage baseball pennant collection
Own a replica historic jersey
Own a vintage scorecard
Own a baseball stamp collection

Closing Thoughts

Working through this list has been one of the most fun ways to enjoy baseball more deeply. I’ve completed 68 items—but the remaining 94 offer a lifetime’s worth of games, history, films, stadiums, and experiences still to come.

If you love baseball, I highly recommend grabbing a copy of the book and starting your own journey.