MIAMI — The Miami Marlins had a special fan in the stands Friday night: an 86-year-old man chasing a dream of seeing every Major League Baseball ballpark in the country.
Sunny Botello, a lifelong baseball enthusiast, attended the Marlins’ game against the Philadelphia Phillies at loanDepot park with his family. The visit leaves him just one stop away from completing his goal.
“Beautiful stadium,” Botello said as he took in the sights. “Where’s the seat? Right here. Okay. Marlins Stadium. Miami. Miami. Florida.”
His family calls him a baseball encyclopedia.
“I look forward to baseball season every year,” Botello said.
At 18, Botello played baseball in Mexico, and in 1960, he earned a tryout with the then-California Angels. Over the years, he has seen legends of the game up close.
“Roberto Clemente, one of my favorite players at the time, I got to see him play,” he said. “In 1963, I had tickets for the fifth game of the 1963 World Series between the Yankees and the Dodgers.”
Botello said there was never a doubt in his mind that he wanted to visit every team’s home park.
“It’s just one of those things. You see a stadium, you want to see another one,” he added.
That dream nearly ended 10 months ago when Botello was on life support in the hospital, battling heart and kidney failure.
“What can I say? I could’ve died last year. And this would’ve never happened,” he said.
Now, even while on dialysis, his passion hasn’t dimmed.
“It make me feel alive,” Botello said.
This weekend, he will check off his final stop when he visits Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay.
“It’s worth it cause it’s a great great memory to have,” he said.
And even then, Botello said he won’t be done. With some teams building new stadiums, he wants to see those too — with Detroit next on his list.
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