What to Bring to a MLB Game

Thumbnail: MLB All-Star Futures Game by Erik Drost (CC-BY-2.0)

Take me out to the ball game. Take me out with the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack... But what are the best things to bring to a Major League Baseball game these days besides your singing voice and your body?

Bring Your Tickets

The days of printed paper Major League Baseball (MLB) tickets seem to have passed, but you can still print tickets from the MLB Ballpark app by selecting the month of the game or games you want to print out, selecting the button that says "Manage Games," and selecting "Print Tickets" from the drop-down menu.

Having the MLB Ballpark App in The Digital Age is ideal for many reasons. This mobile app not only lets you buy tickets to MLB games, but if you use the same email to log in, the tickets will automatically appear on your smartphone or device and can be used and scanned to gain entry into the ballpark.

The app also includes neat things like information on the team's (Home) schedule, parking, and how to navigate the MLB ballpark you are visiting. In this case, remembering to bring your tickets may mean remembering to bring your charged smartphone.

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Things To Bring in Case of Bad Weather or Too Much Sun, Cold

In the outdoor MLB stadiums, fans are always subject to the elements and MLB weather, which can mean too much sun and heat, wind, rain, and even snow. Here are some good things to take along to combat Mother Nature.

Players wear a hat to shield their eyes from too much glare from the sun, and it is a good idea for fans to bring either a baseball cap or knit hat to both reduce glare and keep their heads warm if needed. And bringing backup clothing like a sweatshirt or a long-sleeve jacket, gloves and a scarf, and even a small fold-up blanket is a great idea as it is better to have them and use them than to need them and not have them if it gets too chilly.

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Three Things To Bring to Make the MLB Game Experience Better

Seat Cushions or Bleacher Backrests

Bringing a seat cushion is a great idea as sitting in a ballpark seat for over two hours can be hard on the butt. But make sure to check the rules for the ballpark you are attending. The Colorado Rockies allow fans to bring in both seat cushions and bleacher backrests to Coors Field in Denver.

In Phoenix at Chase Field, Arizona, Diamondbacks fans can bring in a one-piece foam seat cushion as long as it measures less than 18 inches in width and doesn't have zippers, pockets, or any concealable areas.

You can usually find what you can and can't bring into an MLB game by Googling the team name and the word "policies."

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Radio or Ear Buds

Listening to radio coverage of the game can enhance your baseball experience. Bringing a small portable radio or using wireless Bluetooth-enabled earbuds can often make understanding what's going on on the diamond much clearer, whether you have seats close to the field or not.

You can also use plug-in earbuds if you have a radio that has an audio output jack on it. Here is a list of ESPN MLB live radio affiliates that carry MLB games in various markets.

Binoculars

The bigger modern MLB parks become, the harder it can be to get a good look at the players or the action. So, bringing a good pair of binoculars can let you get close-up looks at the players, dugouts, bullpens, other fans, and the action. Here is a list of the 10 best binoculars for sports in the US in 2024.

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The Thing To Bring to Buy Food, Concessions and Souvenirs

Don't go to an MLB game without bringing cash. You will need money for any parking, food, concessions, and emergencies. No matter where you go and what you do, cash (or digital money) is always king. And with MLB ballpark food vastly improved this millennium, why not treat yourself to a Triple Play BBQ sandwich at Guaranteed Rate Field—home of the White Sox—in Chicago or Chippewa Falls cheese curds at American Family Field in Milwaukee?

One of the great things about attending MLB games these days is the wonderful food choices and concessions, as well as Team Apparel stores now found at most MLB ballparks. So, bringing or having money to spend on yourself and your family is always wise.

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Things To Bring to Protect Your Eyes and Skin

Bringing sunglasses is also a pretty good idea for Day Games as it will reduce the glare and protect your eyeballs as the lenses block out some of the UV rays. The aforementioned hat will also prevent the top of your head from getting sunburned.

And unless, of course, the game is being played at night or in one of the indoor stadiums in MLB or your seats are in the shade, having sunscreen to protect your skin is vital. Always bring sunscreen for yourself and your kids to avoid sunburn or skin damage, and always remember that the skin is the biggest organ in your body.

Smartphone and/or Camera

Taking your smartphone and/or a camera is always a good idea to capture the memories in video form or still shots. In our social media age, having images of where you were, what you ate, and who was with you has all become part of The Digital Age fun. You never know what you are going to see and when you might see it, so being able to capture these moments is golden.

Snacks

Food at MLB parks can be expensive, so packing sensible snacks is always a good idea. Most MLB ballparks allow fans to bring food into games but remember to check each ballpark's rules for the specifics.

Here is the Diamondbacks "Clear Bag policy" for bringing snacks to Chase Field:

" Food is permitted as long as it's in a clear plastic bag. Any food item should be brought in an approved clear bag. Beverages: Only non-flavored/non-carbonated water in sealed, plastic bottles."

And here is the Cubs Food and Drinks policy for bringing snacks to Wrigley Field:

"Yes, you can bring a small amount of food and non-alcoholic drinks into Wrigley Field in a disposable bag, but glass bottles, cans, coolers, and alcoholic beverages are not allowed. Guests with dietary restrictions can also bring food from home in a clear bag."

Make sure you read each team's ballpark food policies before trying to bring snacks and/or beverages to the stadium. And, always remember there is a security screening process when fans enter parks and that non-clear bags, bottles, cans, or any other items that could be seen as projectiles usually aren't allowed.

Things not to bring to an MLB game? Folding chairs, weapons, alcohol, drugs, fireworks, beach balls, lasers, coolers, service animals, handbags, backpacks, skateboards, selfie sticks, aerosol cans, baseball bats, brooms, drones, and oversized bags are among the many items prohibited by most MLB ballparks. The safety of all fans is always a priority.

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Things To Bring to an MLB Game if You Are a Die-hard Fan

Baseball Glove

Hardcore MLB fans may want to bring a Baseball Glove to try to catch a foul ball or a home run ball in the stands. And even if the ball pops out of your glove, it will hurt less than if it hits your bare hand.

Fans attending MLB games are subject to the Baseball Rule, which limits the liability ballparks have to attendees for any possible injuries caused by baseballs entering the stands. This is a tort law addressing any injuries from fair and foul balls. In short, you know what you are getting into when attending an MLB game.

Baseball Cards or Player Pictures

For collectors and serious fans into things like MLB Power Rankings, getting a jersey, ball, picture or baseball card autographed by their favorite player(s), so bringing these items to games is a good idea for both young and old. A signed baseball card of a future Hall of Famer may be much more valuable with his signature.

The ideal time to try to get autographs is before the game and during batting practice, when players are close to the stand and more willing to talk and interact with fans. Asking for an autograph once the game has started probably isn’t the best idea.

Bringing a Sharpie marker for jerseys, hats, pictures, and baseball cards is the best writing utensil, while bringing a BIC ballpoint pen is the best thing for signing baseball as the ink won't smear like it will with a Sharpie.

Scorebook or Scorecard

For those old school enough to want to keep score at an MLB game, bring your scorebook or buy a scorecard at the stadium to stay on top of the game.

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Where to Buy MLB Tickets

You can find tickets for MLB games at the MLB.com website, each team's individual site, or the aforementioned MLB Ballpark App. Secondary ticket marketplaces like TicketX also offer ticket sales for MLB games, often at lower prices than you will find at initial sites. First-time TicketX users in June can apply this special promo code to get a one-time 10% discount.

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