Baseball Fan Travels to All MLB Stadiums in Memory of His Son

A lifelong baseball fan, Jonathan St. Clair, is pursuing a dream shared by many fans, albeit under tragic circumstances. Over the span of 30 days, St. Clair is visiting every Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium to raise awareness about water safety. This mission is deeply personal, as it comes 12 years after the drowning of his 21-month-old son, Jasper.

Tragedy struck when Jasper, left briefly unattended by a trusted babysitter near an ungated pool, drowned. Despite doctors’ efforts over the following week, Jasper unfortunately did not survive. Reflecting on this loss, St. Clair expressed his initial shock over water safety, emphasizing the importance of early swim lessons.

“He had not learned how to swim and had not been to any swim lessons yet,” said St. Clair in a recent interview with Fox News Digital, highlighting his surprise at not understanding the dangers of water at the time.

The interview occurred during his sixth stop in Toronto, where he had flown in from Denver after watching the Colorado Rockies. During this challenging journey, St. Clair has drawn strength from interacting with other families affected by similar tragedies. His campaign aims to convey that drowning can happen to anyone, and it involves collaborating with safety organizations in all 30 cities.

St. Clair wears a distinctive Wave Maker Tour life jacket to each game, which attracts attention and initiates conversations about his cause. His MLB cap, featuring logos of all 30 teams, signifies his unified approach and passion for the cause he supports.

During his travels, kind gestures from others have made significant impacts—one father gave up his first-class seat, and another provided an extra ticket for batting practice.

A native of Washington and a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Clair had previously visited about 10 or 11 stadiums. He reflects that each visit should have included his son, who could have played the game he loved so much.

St. Clair conceived this remarkable plan to visit 30 stadiums in 30 days following a year of numerous drownings in the U.S. He hoped this endeavor would prompt conversations about preventing such tragedies.

His journey took him from Toronto to Detroit and Cleveland, manifesting a detailed travel plan involving flights, drives, trains, a boat, and even a bike. Rainouts and other delays are concerns, but St. Clair believes in the support of the baseball community and his late son.

“Even though this whole campaign is only 30 days, the bigger goal is after the 30 days,” St. Clair explains. “What has transpired? What reach do we make? I hope the reach is significant.”

He voiced this sentiment after learning of recent drowning incidents, emphasizing the importance of life jackets and vigilance.

St. Clair maintains that the experience is far from solitary. A network of supporters assists with logistical details at each location, enhancing his journey beyond mere travel.

“I’m not doing this by myself. I have hundreds of people behind me … making my experience at each stop a real experience,” he shares, underlining the collective effort behind his mission.