One on One: Baseball Fan John Salvo Witnesses Every Possible MLB Matchup

Paul Steinbach Headshot

A seasoned spectator shares his thoughts on the game's destinations.

John Salvo was sitting in Houston's Enron Field in April 2001 when he overheard a fan behind him tell of his travels to see every possible matchup within both the American and National leagues. Salvo, a school administrator from Racine, Wis., wheeled around and told Jim Waddell, "You can't do that; I'm the only one doing that." The two became fast friends, even attending 68 games together out of the 422 necessary for each to complete the feat. It took Salvo 55 years and cost him "well into six figures" (he purposefully didn't keep track) - making as many as 10 stops in a single youthful East Cost road trip and later flying to and from the West Coast to check single matchups off his to-do list. Retired by the 2003 season, Salvo (who's married) typically spent 60 to 70 summer nights away from home. On the eve of his final pairing - Houston at the New York Mets on Oct. 2 - he told Paul Steinbach that he can't explain what it is about baseball that drove him to such lengths of devotion (after all, his favorite team, the White Sox, play in nearby Chicago), but he shared some thoughts on the game's destinations.

Log in to view the full article
Page 1 of 462
Next Page
AB Show 2025 in San Diego
AB Show is a solution-focused event for athletics, fitness, recreation and military professionals.
Nov. 5-8, 2025
Learn More
AB Show 2025
Buyer's Guide
Information on more than 3,000 companies, sorted by category. Listings are updated daily.
Learn More
Buyer's Guide