172. John Foster: 29 Ballparks from 30,000 feet, A Lifetime of Reds Fandom, & Crashing the 1990 World Series
04/03/25 • 31 min
John Foster is a lifelong Cincinnati Reds fan from Long Island, New York. Despite growing up deep in Mets and Yankees territory, John’s fandom was born from the Big Red Machine and a legendary on-field brawl during the 1973 NLCS. Since then, he’s stayed loyal to the Reds—no matter how long the rebuild.
John shares how his job as a flight attendant has helped him chase ballparks across the country, allowing him to visit 29 out of 30 MLB stadiums (with Truist Park still on the list). We talk about how the game has changed over time, his recent shift in perspective after a health scare, and how he’s come to appreciate baseball—and ballpark chasers—even more deeply.
Find Baseball Bucket List Online:
Twitter: @BaseballBucket
Facebook: @BaseballBucketList
Instagram: @Baseball.Bucket.List
Website: baseballbucketlist.com
This podcast is part of the Curved Brim Media Network:
Twitter: @CurvedBrim
Website: curvedbrimmedia.com
John Foster is a lifelong Cincinnati Reds fan from Long Island, New York. Despite growing up deep in Mets and Yankees territory, John’s fandom was born from the Big Red Machine and a legendary on-field brawl during the 1973 NLCS. Since then, he’s stayed loyal to the Reds—no matter how long the rebuild.
John shares how his job as a flight attendant has helped him chase ballparks across the country, allowing him to visit 29 out of 30 MLB stadiums (with Truist Park still on the list). We talk about how the game has changed over time, his recent shift in perspective after a health scare, and how he’s come to appreciate baseball—and ballpark chasers—even more deeply.
Find Baseball Bucket List Online:
Twitter: @BaseballBucket
Facebook: @BaseballBucketList
Instagram: @Baseball.Bucket.List
Website: baseballbucketlist.com
This podcast is part of the Curved Brim Media Network:
Twitter: @CurvedBrim
Website: curvedbrimmedia.com
Previous Episode
Extra Innings: Gabe Lerman — Writing the Playbook for Japanese Baseball Travel Adventures
In this episode of Extra Innings on the Baseball Bucket List Podcast, we reconnect with Gabe Lerman, a Blue Jays fan and Japanese baseball aficionado from Toronto. Gabe recently authored The JapanBall Travel Guide to Japanese Baseball, a comprehensive resource for planning your own baseball adventures in Japan. We dive into his motivation for creating the guide, his 2019 trip that sparked the idea, and how it bridges the gap between full-service tours and independent travel.
Gabe shares an in-depth look at Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), breaking down its history, league structure, postseason format, and the rich traditions that make Japanese baseball unique. He also highlights key storylines, such as the rise of players like Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki, and what makes Japan’s baseball culture so captivating.
Whether you’re dreaming of a trip to Japan, curious about NPB, or simply love hearing baseball stories from around the world, this episode is packed with fascinating insights and practical advice for every fan.
Purchase The JapanBall Travel Guide to Japanese Baseball on the JapanBall website or Amazon.
Find the full transcript and show notes here: https://baseballbucketlist.com/podcast/extra-innings-gabe-lerman/
Find Gabe Online:
Link Tree: Gabe LermanFind Baseball Bucket List Online:
Twitter: @BaseballBucket
Facebook: @BaseballBucketList
Instagram: @Baseball.Bucket.List
Website: baseballbucketlist.com
This podcast is part of the Curved Brim Media Network:
Twitter: @CurvedBrim
Website: curvedbrimmedia.com
Join us in June of 2025 for the Alaska Midnight Sun Game! Learn more at https://baseballbucketlist.com/alaska
Next Episode
173. Alex Haenke: Tigers Family Fandom, Road Trip Rituals, & The Next Big Chase
Alex Haenke is a lifelong Detroit Tigers fan who recently wrapped up a 17-year journey visiting all 30 Major League ballparks with his family. What started as a fun idea between Alex and his dad turned into a tradition that shaped his love of baseball, travel, and culture.
Alex shares how his ballpark chase changed as he grew up, how even his non-baseball-loving younger brother eventually got into the spirit, and how those trips inspired a broader love for exploring museums, local landmarks, and everything cities have to offer.
We also dive into Alex’s latest goal—visiting every affiliated minor league park—and his YouTube channel, Traveling Sports Nerd, where he documents sports-fueled adventures across the country.
Find Alex Online:
Youtube: @TravelingSportsNerd
Instagram: @TravelingSportsNerd
Twitter: @TSN_Alex
Find Baseball Bucket List Online:
Twitter: @BaseballBucket
Facebook: @BaseballBucketList
Instagram: @Baseball.Bucket.List
Website: baseballbucketlist.com
This podcast is part of the Curved Brim Media Network:
Twitter: @CurvedBrim
Website: curvedbrimmedia.com
Join us in June of 2025 for the Alaska Midnight Sun Game! Learn more at https://baseballbucketlist.com/alaska
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