Two priests fittingly concluded their ballpark tour with a Padres game

By Andrew Mearns

June 4, 2019

The ballpark tour is a dream shared by countless baseball fans. It's on my bucket list, and I still have over half the parks to go. It began at the old Yankee Stadium, but I have no idea where it will end. Phoenix? Detroit? Who knows?

For two priests from Danbury, Conn., however, it couldn't end anywhere else -- a Padres game. Father Michael Skrocki called it "divine providence," and I'm not going to disagree with him.

Hey, look! Padres at the Padres game! pic.twitter.com/Jh7tBQqaY1
— Cut4 (@Cut4) June 4, 2019

Father Skrocki and his pal, Father Linus Klucsarits, grew up together as fans of the Red Sox and Mets, respectively. After visiting each other often and attending various ballparks during these occasions, they made a pact in 2011 to visit all 30 MLB parks.

Monday marked the end of their journey, as they saw the Padres take on the Phillies at Petco Park. Perhaps due to the fathers' blessing, they got to see Manny Machado break the game open with a grand slam.