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Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Big Train Home Game Tonight!


Big Train Lose Heart Breaker to Express in Extras
 
The Big Train traveled to Knights Field on Monday to take on the Rockville Express, as they looked to build some momentum after winning on Sunday.
 
Box Score: L, 3-2 (10 innings)

Danny Mooney (Davidson) - pictured above - got the start for the Big Train, and would pitch nine innings, giving up just one run on five hits and two walks while striking out two. But despite his outstanding performance, Mooney would ultimately get the no-decision with the game going into extra innings.

The Big Train would get their offense going right out of the gate, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. David Del Grande (Sacramento State), the very first batter of the game, would hit a lead off home run on the second pitch he saw to give the Big Train the early 1-0 lead.

The Express would answer with the run of their own in the bottom of the second, tying the game at 1-1.

From that point forward, pitching would take over the ballgame. Both Mooney and Rockville's Gurganus would go nine innings, giving up just one run apiece, meaning the game would be decided by the bullpens in extras.

In the top of the tenth inning, Ryne Willard (Tallahassee CC) would hit a lead off double for the Big Train, and then advanced to third base on a sacrifice hit by Kyle Wernicki (Virginia Tech). With one out and Johnny Cole (Coastal Carolina) at the plate, Willard would score on a passed ball, giving the Big Train the 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the tenth.

However, the Express would once again answer, this time in dramatic fashion. A walk-off triple by Will Kengor would score two runs for Rockville, as the Big Train were handed the 3-2 loss. 

The Big Train return to Povich Field tonight to take on the Youse's Orioles for Health Night, so come get some fresh air and enjoy some baseball.

Tickets can be purchased here or at the gate.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Big Train Use Long Ball to Knockout Nats

Big Train Use Long Ball to Knockout Nats 
The Big Train got back on track on Sunday night, as they beat the Southern Maryland Nationals 6-2 at Povich Field.
 
Box Score | VIDEO: Post Game Interviews (Cole, France, and Spano)

Luis Collazo (Virginia Tech) got the start for the Big Train, and kept the team in the game early on, giving up just two runs. However, he'd ultimately be forced out of the game after 4.2 innings after an apparent injury, and was therefore ineligible to pick up the win. The injury did not appear to be serious.

The Nationals scored the first run of the ballgame in the top of the first inning, but the Big Train quickly answered in the second.

Tim Yandel (Tulane) led off the bottom of the inning by getting hit by a pitch. He then stole second and advanced to third on a single by Ryne Willard (Tallahassee CC), putting runners on the corners with no outs forJosh Spano (High Point). Spano smacked a two-run double to give the Big Train the 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the third, the Big Train added to their lead, scoring two more runs. Ty France (San Diego State) led off the inning for the Big Train, and managed to pick up an RBI with nobody on base as he hit a leadoff home run to extend the Big Train lead to 3-1. Two outs later, Ryne Willard drew a walk and scored on another double by Spano.

In the top of the fifth inning, Collazo gave up one run and left with the injury, but Brock Larson (San Francisco) came on to pitch, and would go on to strike out six batters over the final 4.1 innings of the game, giving up no runs on just one hit and two walks.

The Big Train added two more insurance runs, scoring in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively. In the fifth, a sacrifice fly by Willard brought Tucker Tobin (George Mason) home to give the Big Train the 5-2 lead, before a solo home run by Johnny Cole (Coastal Carolina) pushed the lead to 6-2 in the sixth inning.

Larson's dominance kept the Nationals off the board for the remainder of the game, and he picked up the win as the Big Train beat the Nationals 6-2.

Danny Mooney (Davidson) takes the mound for the Big Train on Monday, as they hit the road to take on the Rockville Express at Knights Field at Montgomery College. Come out to support the team as they try to notch a season sweep of their cross-county rivals!

The Big Train then return to Povich Field on Tuesday to take on the Youse's Orioles. Tuesday will also be Health Night, so come get some fresh air and enjoy some baseball.

Tickets can be purchased here or at the gate.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Food-borne microbe may cause cancer

Cancer Defeated Publications

Could E. Coli Bacteria be Both a Cancer CAUSE and a Cancer CURE?


    When you hear the words E. coli, the first thing you probably think of is food poisoning. And you wouldn't be wrong—given that some strains of the bacteria have been linked to food recalls and serious illness.

    Well, it might surprise you to learn there are harmless strains of the Escherichia colibacteria that are a normal part of your intestinal flora — the "good" bacteria in your colon.

    In fact, the good strains of E. coli can help you by producing vitamin K, a valuable nutrient that's only recently started to get the attention it deserves (I take it as a supplement every day). E. coli can also keep harmful bacteria from setting up camp in your intestines.

    So if E. coli can be so friendly—why are we talking about its connection to cancer? Glad you asked. . .keep reading. . .

Continued below...


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    But now you can get the same pain-halting, arthritis-reversing results by replacing the damaged CARTILAGE that's causing the trouble, instead of the entire joint. And it doesn't involve surgery -- or even a doctor's visit. Click here to find out how.
Cancer Defeated Publications

    New research suggests that the normally harmless E. coli may change its nature if your gut is inflamed.

    It seems that patients with inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS) develop colorectal cancer at significantly higher rates than people who don't have this digestive problem.

    And one study from scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill links this phenomenon with the presence of a strain of E. coli.

    Christian Jobin, PhD, associate professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, led a team that raised mice with a gene mutation that makes them susceptible to inflammatory bowel disease.

    After rearing the mice in germ-free cages, the scientists moved them to cages where bacteria-filled mice formerly lived.

    According to results published in the journal Science, five months later, all of the mutant mice had developed bowel disease.

    What's more, the researchers found that 60 to 80 percent of the animals had developed colon cancer!

    One common thread in the mutant mice was that they'd all developed a gut environment containing a much higher than normal proportion of E. coli.

    And one E. coli strain that stood out was NC101, which was linked to aggressive forms of bowel disease in mice. This E. coli bacterium also produces the DNA-damaging protein colibactin.

    In addition to these harmful bacteria, the researchers also found strains of E. coli in the gut that did not make colibactin.

    These other bacteria were associated with bowel disease—but did not contribute to tumor formation.
How does this relate to colon cancer in humans?
    Humans also can harbor the bacteria that produce colibactin. The North Carolina investigators found these bacteria at the following levels:
  • In 20 percent of 24 healthy people
  • In 40 percent of 35 people with inflammatory bowel disease
  • In two-thirds of 21 people with colorectal cancer.
    These are small samples, but if the rates hold up for the whole population, the findings indicate that people with IBS and colorectal cancer are infected with this damaging strain ofE. coli at much higher rates.

    The findings also indicate that many healthy people harbor this bug with no apparent problems. I'm willing to venture they can do this because they have strong immune systems plus plenty of "good" gut bacteria to keep the "bad" bacteria in check.

    As to how the colibactin-producing bacteria lead to cancer—Jobin's team isn't completely sure.

    One thought is that gut inflammation causes colibactin-producing strains to multiply.

    At the same time, these proteins can cause cells lining the stomach to weaken—leaving them wide open to DNA damage.

    Given enough time, cells subjected to these conditions can turn cancerous.

    In essence, the study results suggest a direct link between changes in the gut microbiome (the total ecosystem of gut bacteria) and the development of inflammation and cancer.

    Jobin said doctors could possibly construct a personalized plan for cancer prevention for each patient. This would involve using DNA sequencing to find microbes in a patient's guts that could produce cancer-causing genes.

    The doctors could then use antibiotics to eliminate these microbes or encourage the use of probiotics to destroy cancer promoting bacteria. Readers of this newsletter know I'm opposed to the use of antibiotics in all but the most dire circumstances.

    The use of probiotics plus healthy eating habits (more fresh fruits and vegetables, few refined carbs) should create a healthy balance of gut bacteria in most people.

    It's important to understand that ALL of us have disease-causing microbes in our bodies, and we handle them just fine if we eat right and support our immune system.
Scientists across the pond have found a
different way to use E. coli
    Remember, there are various strains of the E. coli bacteria. British researchers are working on a genetically altered strain of the virus as a possible treatment.

    Their idea is to tinker with an E.coli bacterium to make it target and destroy cancer tumors.

    Scientists at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham have managed to alter one strain of the virus to make it harmless to healthy human cells—while serving as an assassin to cancer cells.

    A Daily Mail article describes how doctors used a common cold virus to deliver the E. colibacteria to the cancer cells.

    Simply put, the scientists have managed to arrest the poisons in E. coli until they reach the inside of cancer cells.

    According to Dr. Nick James, the oncologist who coordinated the therapy trials, the researchers are targeting men who have been treated for prostate cancer, but experienced a recurrence of the disease.

    Additional trials are underway to determine how this therapy could be helpful to patients with cancers of the head and neck, kidneys and liver.

    So depending on the strain, E.coli may be either a cancer cause or a cancer cure. More research is needed on both angles before we know for sure. But you can be sure that eating plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to sweep gunk out of your colon.

    Not only will it help you maintain a 'smooth move' in your bowels—but it could also help protect you from disease-producing germs and bacteria.

Derby Pitches Gem, But Big Train Can't Capitalize

Derby Pitches Gem, But Big Train Can't Capitalize 
 
The Big Train traveled to Gallaudet University's Hoy Field on Saturday to take on the DC Grays, looking to bounce back from Friday's loss to the Baltimore Redbirds. Box Score: L, 1-0
Bubba Derby (San Diego State) started for the Big Train, and put together as good a start as you can without getting a win. Derby pitched an eight-inning complete game, giving up one unearned run on three hits and no walks while striking out seven.
But despite outhitting the Grays, the Big Train offense was unable to provide Derby with the necessary run support to reward him with a win. Bethesda got three hits from the bottom half of the lineup, but had just four total hits and ultimately left the bases loaded in the ninth inning to end the game. 

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Big Train Clinch Playoff Spot Despite Loss; ESPN's Tim Kurkjian Addresses Team

Big Train Clinch Playoff Spot Despite Loss
 
The Big Train hosted the Baltimore Redbirds on Friday night, as they looked to extend their winning streak to eight straight games. Box Score: L, 5-0

Michael Boyle (Radford) got the start for the Big Train, and went four innings, giving up two runs on five hits and five walks while striking out one.

Ty France (San Diego State) had a multi-hit game, but the Big Train would not push across a run, as Jack Fischer threw a complete-game shutout for the Cardinals. After the Redbirds got to Boyle for two runs, they'd score three more off the Big Train bullpen, ultimately winning the game 5-0. 
 
Despite the loss, the Big Train secured a trip back to the post season as a result of the Southern Maryland Nationals beating the Alexandria Aces last night.

The Big Train will look to get back on track on Saturday night as they hit the road to take on the D.C. Grays at Gallaudet University. Bubba Derby (San Diego State) gets the start for the Big Train.

Bethesda then returns to Povich Field on Sunday to take on the Southern Maryland Nationals. It's Activity Rocket Night, and the local organization will be out at the ballpark with fun activities for kids and local business partners.

Tomorrow night is also Bunt Mini Bobblehead Night! If you loved last season's bobblehead of Homer, make sure you show up early to snag the matching mini-bobblehead of Bunt that will go to the first 500 fans. 
 
Tickets can be purchased at the gate or by clicking here.
VIDEO: ESPN's Tim Kurkjian Addresses Team

Last night was Tim Kurkjian Night at Shirley Povich Field. The ESPN Baseball Tonight analyst threw out the Ceremonial First Pitch and also spoke to the Big Train players before the game. Watch the video to see what advice he had to give to the team along with some of his fascinating baseball stories!

In 21 days you can just about get rid of any cancer



From the desk of Lee Euler, Editor and Publisher
This American doctor said. . .
"In 21 days you can just about get rid of any cancer"
. . .and she proved it again and again!
Can you believe an American doctor actually said, "In 21 days you can just about get rid of any cancer"—and then proved it?
Well she did. My Cancer Defeated colleague Andrew Scholberg interviewed her. What's more, he talked to some of the patients whose lives she saved during the last 20 years.
I was so excited by Andy's findings I went to her clinic myself to take a look. We investigated her whole approach, and let me tell you. . .
There's absolutely no doubt her cancer breakthrough has helped one "terminal" patient after another get rid of cancer.
What's more, she did it with natural methods only—NO disfiguring surgery, NO burning radiation, and NO poisonous chemo. And here's what's really scandalous. . .
Cancer Defeated Publications

Michelle Latimer Attends NCAA Women's Coaches Academy

BOWIE, Md. – Bowie State University head cross country / track and field coach Michelle Latimer attended the highly selective NCAA Women's Coaches Academy, held June 24-28 in Atlanta, Ga.

The NCAA Women's Coaches Academy is designed for women coaches who want to strengthen and improve their professional and team success. It provides skills training for coaches at all levels, to assist them in being more efficient in their usefulness of resources, their productivity in the quality of play they coach and ultimately more successful in their respective sport(s).

Latimer was appointed head coach of the women and men’s Cross Country / Track and Field teams in 2006, and under her leadership the program has flourished. Prior to joining the BSU family in 2004, Latimer served as Head Track & Field Coach of Division III Trinity College (Washington, D.C.) for two seasons.  Under Latimer’s direction, Trinity placed third overall in the conference in its inaugural 2002 season. Coach Latimer's focus is on the student-athlete, with an emphasis on the student. Academics are the number one priority.

Personal accolades for Latimore include USTFCCCA (Southeast Region) Indoor Coach of the Year (2007-2998), CIAA Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year (2008-2009) and CIAA Cross Country Coach of the Year (2009).

In 2009 Bowie State’s women and men’s Cross Country teams captured the conference Cross Country title, placed second (women and men) in the CIAA Indoor Championships three straight seasons (2008-2010) and finished as the conference Runner-Up at the CIAA Outdoor Championships (2009) on both the women and men’s side. Coach Latimer and her staff have produced 27 NCAA All-Americans and three NCAA Athletes of Year.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

LIVESTRONG Fitness Releases new Mission Statement

LIVESTRONG Fitness is part of Johnson Health Tech (JHT), a name synonymous with quality fitness solutions for more than 30 years. Their commitment to product innovation, superior value and unmatched customer service has made JHT a leading provider of high-quality home and commercial fitness equipment around the world. In addition, Johnson Health Tech is a proud partner of the LIVESTRONG Foundation in the fight against cancer. Each purchase ensures that a minimum of $4 million will go to the LIVESTRONG - Foundation to improve the lives of people affected by cancer.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Destroy cancer naturally in 40 days

Cancer Defeated Publications

Destroy Cancer Naturally in 40 Days


    Ancient Chinese medicine is bringing renewed hope to cancer sufferers, all thanks to an herb called thunder god vine. For starters, this herb may make it possible to purge tumors from the body without resorting to chemotherapy or other intense interventions.

    On top of that, early evidence shows thunder god vine could be particularly effective in hindering the growth of pancreatic, colorectal, and ovarian cancers, among others.

Continued below...


The One Word every cancer patient must know
    Your doctor's reading the results, you know it's the worst news, and you snap out of it just in time to hear him say...

    "I'm going to recommend an aggressive chemotherapy regimen."

    That's when you say one word that sucks the air out of the entire doctor's office.

    It's a new cancer therapy that doctors are whispering about behind closed doors...and doctors will be stunned you know about it.

    $4 billion has already been spent researching it--making it one of the largest research initiatives in medical history.

    And the results are powerful--Tumor shrinkage in 86% of lung cancer patients.

    Once "incurable" brain tumors put on hold. And these revelations are already rushing 374 clinical trials into hospitals.

    But you can't call this new hope therapy "aggressive" like chemo, because there is no poison, there are no toxins.

    In fact, this therapy could have you alive and thriving.
Cancer Defeated Publications
    Find out the one word that will have your doctor asking, "how did you hear about this?"


How this natural remedy quickly slays cancer
    The thunder god vine (Tripterygium wilfordii) is native to Japan, Korea, and China. For more than 400 years, those cultures have celebrated the healing properties of the plant, which include anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive benefits.

    The vine itself is a handsome perennial plant with small, white flowers. To get to the healing compounds, extracts are prepared from the skinned root of the thunder god vine. The leaves, flowers, and skin of the root are intensely poisonous and can cause death if eaten.

    Known as "lei gong teng" in Mandarin, this plant's skinned root has an uncanny ability to stop cancer in its tracks after as little as forty days of use. The speed and efficiency with which it appears to destroy tumors has stunned Western researchers.

    The healing secret of thunder god vine lies in triptolide, an active compound with anti-cancer properties. Heavy doses of this compound are responsible for the vine's therapeutic success. Triptolide appears to work by halting the production of RNA in cancerous cells, meaning the cancer cannot spread.
Researchers were shocked
by its cancer-killing power
    At the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, researchers were shocked to find how effectively thunder god vine reduced the incidence of tumors in mice. Even after other treatments were stopped, thunder god vine appeared to fully eliminate the tumors.

    Similar results were found at the John Hopkins School of Medicine, where extracts of thunder god vine were used to eliminate tumors. A professor involved in the research reported that even small extracts of the plant appeared to be effective in halting growth of all 60 of the cancer cell lines tested, and that in some cases the cell lines completely died off.

    Because early studies with mice appear so promising, human clinical trials are expected to begin in the near future. Clinical trials in pancreatic cancer, known for being a virtual death sentence, will likely begin first.

    The only known downside is that side effects can be severe. They include a loss of bone density, infertility problems, hair loss, menstrual changes, and headache. Gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, indigestion, and nausea have also been reported. Some of those side effects sound serious, and I would like to know more.

    For this reason, the treatment should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner, and unfortunately I can give you no guidance on finding one. I hope that some of the cancer doctors who read this publication will see this article and consider incorporating thunder god vine into their protocols. For now, a qualified practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine would be the most likely source of knowledge and clinical experience with actual patients.

    If you're in the U.S., it can be a challenge to get consistent, high-quality thunder god vine products. You may be able to get them directly from China, but be warned there's no process for verifying their safety or efficacy.
Harness the power of this herb
while you can still get it cheap
    Along with being such a potent cancer-killer, early evidence shows autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis also respond well to treatment with thunder god vine. It's a potential wonder drug.

    All this is terrific news, as is the fact that thunder god vine treatment is quite inexpensive. But be warned, with big dollars being poured into research on this herb, somebody down the line will undoubtedly come up with a triptolide drug that requires FDA approval and can be protected by patent. Needless to say, that means this low-cost, extremely effective treatment will be turned into an expensive merger between greed and healthcare.

    The unpatented herb will still be available (I hope), but patients will be under pressure to use the pharmaceutical version.

    In fact, the researchers from the University of Minnesota have already isolated a highly water-soluble form of triptolide and dubbed it minnelide, a combo-word of Minnesota and triptolide. They are in talks with the Food and Drug Administration and are currently preparing to launch a Phase I trial.

    Meanwhile, let's hope research on the natural form continues and an increasing number of doctors and patients begin to try it, thereby adding to our knowledge of this exciting discovery (and its side effects).

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Big Train Bats Blast Braves! ASG Tonight at Povich; BT Fan on a Mission

Big Train Bats Blast Braves, Head into Break at 25-7
 
The Big Train traveled to Herndon on Tuesday to take on the FCA Herndon Braves. Riding a five-game winning streak, the team was looking to go into the All-Star Break on a high note. Box Score: W, 11-4

Brock Larson (San Francisco) started for the Big Train, and gave up three runs (two earned) in four innings on three hits and three walks while striking out four batters.

The Braves got on the board first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning. However, the Big Train would respond quickly.

In the top of the third inning, a great bunt by David Del Grande (Sacramento St.) forced an error that allowed Mike Miedzianowski (High Point) to score for the Big Train. An RBI single by Kyle Wernicki (Virginia Tech) and a sacrifice fly by Ty France (San Diego State) pushed across two more runs, suddenly turning a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead for Bethesda.

In the fourth inning, Tim Yandel (Tulane) crossed the plate for the Big Train after reaching on a single and stealing a base, to extend the lead to 4-2.

The Braves got one run back in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 4-3, but the Big Train continued to score.

Kit Scheetz (Virginia Tech) - pictured above - came in to relieve Larson in the bottom of the fifth, and pitched a scoreless inning out of the gate, setting up the Big Train offense to start pulling away.

The bats did just that in the following innings, scoring runs seven runs in the last four innings.

In the sixth, RBIs from Wernicki and Tucker Tobin (George Mason) added some cushion to the Big Train lead, extending it to 6-3. A mammoth home run by Johnny Cole (Coastal Carolina) made the score 7-3 before RBI walks by Cole and Yandel extended the lead to 9-3 in the eighth.

The offense continued to pad the lead in the ninth, as RBIs from France andRyne Willard (Tallahassee CC) made the score 11-3. The lead would prove insurmountable for the Braves, as they plated just one run in the bottom half of the ninth inning.

The Big Train enter the All-Star Break with a 25-7 record and hold a five-game lead over the Gaithersburg Giants for first place in the CRCBL. The Big Train will host the CRCBL All-Star Game on Wednesday at Povich Field! There will be six players representing the Big Train in the mid-summer classic, so come on out to see the best that the league has to offer! The All-Star Game begins at7:30 with the Home Run Derby preceding it at 5:00.

After Wednesday's All-Star Game, Bethesda will play 12 more regular season games before the playoffs start at the end of July. The next Big Train home game is on Thursday against the Presstman Cardinals on Carnival Night. Tickets can be purchased here or at the gate. 

The next Big Train home game is on Thursday against the Presstman Cardinals on Carnival Night. Tickets can be purchased here or at the gate. 
Man Behind Big Train Name on a Mission
The Gazette
Published: Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Bethesda man caps off visits to baseball stadiums, By Kent Zakour

For most of Glenn Orlin's life, baseball has been an integral part of it. His passion for the game goes well beyond cheering for his favorite team, the Washington Nationals. The 1969 Wheaton High School graduate owns an impressive amount of baseball caps that's he picked up touring the country.

In the basement of his Bethesda home on wooden display cases, Orlin has a collection of 313 hats, representing every single Major League team in the country and nearly every minor league affiliate in the United States and Canada. Since 1985, Orlin has made it his lifelong goal to attend every professional ballpark in North America.

"They've got to be fitted hats and I try to get the home version of the hat," said Orlin, who wears a size 7 5/8 or 7 3/4 hat.

He also has a program and scorecard from every stadium as well as several other random souvenirs, ranging from seat cushions to bobblehead figurines to soda cups.

Orlin's quest began in 1985 and he's traveled with his good friend Bob Simpson, his wife, Lena, or by himself since. He's received inspiration from his family and friends as well as Bob Wood's book "Dodger Dogs to Fenway Franks," a story about the author's trek to all of the Major League Baseball stadiums during the 1985 season.

"He's a great guy," Bethesda Big Train co-founder Bruce Adams said during an interview before a game last month. Orlin, who serves as the Big Train's official scorer in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, occasionally brings back souvenirs for Adams from his trips. "I'm a little jealous of his excursions."

Orlin, who is the Deputy Administrator of the Montgomery County Council, has also started a collection of scarves representing various soccer clubs from around the world.

"Growing up, my dad took me to games and then I was away from baseball for a little bit," Orlin said. "In the summer of 1985 my friends and I were thinking about a place to go on a summer weekend and we said, "Let's go to Philly." So we saw a [Philadelphia Phillies] game at old Veterans Stadium on a hot day with miserable seats, but we still had a great time.

"I heard about [Wood's trip] and I said, 'Eh. That sounds fun.' A couple years later we went to a Hagerstown Suns game and loved it. It was the perfect Minor League experience. .. It was genuine and I decided I was also going to go to every minor league ballpark. I knew it might take my entire life, but I was going to do it."

Orlin's travels peaked in the early 1990s when he made seven or eight trips per summer to see approximately 30 stadiums a year. As of 2004, he had accomplished his goal. Now, because of new teams or old stadiums getting replaced or renovated, he has a handful of cities and towns to return to and he wants to add teams based in Mexico. He keeps track of his travels on a map in his office with different sized and color-coded pins.

"On weekends, I would drive to South Carolina and see a game Saturday night and spend the night in a hotel. I would then go to another game Sundayafternoon and then one Sunday night. I would then get home just in time for work."

As stadiums became checked off his list and the distance between destinations grew, it became difficult to plan trips in the Midwest and West.

"My wife likes going on these trips and [Simpson] wants to drive every U.S. route and see every national park and monument," Orlin said. "We've done a lot of day driving for that and then at night go see a game I needed to."

At every ballpark - particularly the minor league locations - Orlin, who likes to sit behind the first or third baseline in the lower level in the shade, makes it a point to soak in each stadium's ambiance.

"Ballparks have a lot of things and it's a fun atmosphere for the kids," Orlin said. "To me, I like it, but it gets kind of old when you go to so many. I'm more interested in the ballpark architecture.

"You want to sit somewhere where you can overhear conversations. It gives you the local flavor of the area, particularly in the Northeast and South. Where else can you go in a small town and get a sense of a place in just one night? A ballpark!"