Major League Baseball does a good job promoting itself on Father’s Day. It advertises a visit to the game with dad as a bonding experience that every child should have.
Some teams do this better than others, and a few are just horrible at it. From charging a small amount to get into a game to great giveaways, most teams make it a fun day for a dad and his kids.
Others, led by the Oakland A’s, gouge families at every chance they get on Father’s Day. Read my post from last year to see how the A’s rip families off. It continues this year in Oakland, where it costs $74 to play catch with your kid on the field after the game, and that doesn’t include the price of tickets if you want to watch the game. I’ll detail all of it later.
Best teams on Father’s Day
Here’s a roundup of what all MLB teams hosting games on Father’s Day on June 19 are doing to attract dads and kids, with an idea of how much tickets will cost: All game times are local at home ballpark. Not all ticket prices may be available, so buy tickets soon.
The teams are listed from best to worst for how they treat dads on Father’s Day, though much of this is open to argument:
LA Dodgers
1:10 p.m. vs. Milwaukee. Tickets: $35 to $1,050.
Unlike many teams 
that have promotions aimed at kid, the Dodgers have one for dads: Free Father’s Day boxers with the Dodgers logo all over them.
The Dodgers also have a free postgame catch on the field, allowing dads to play catch with their kids. There’s also a pre-game event called Viva Los Dodgers with live music and other activities.
Miami Marlins
1:10 p.m. vs. Colorado. Tickets: $16-$114.
The Marlins have a lot of promotions on this day, including a free Don Mattingly T-shirt to the first 5,000 dads, and a chance to play catch with dad after the game on the field for free. Yes, free.
The Marlins also have a deal for four tickets for $74, which includes four hotdogs and sodas.
San Diego Padres
1:40 p.m. vs. Washington. Tickets: $17.50-$100.
The Padres don’t have any specific events for Father’s Day, though dads can play catch for free on the field after the game. Like all Sunday games, San Diego hosts a bunch of events for kids.
Members of its Compadre Kids program can play catch on the field after the game with their dads, get player autographs, run the bases and attend a batting clinic.
There’s also Domingos Padres at Sunday games, a celebration of Hispanic culture with many family activities.
KC Royals
1:15 p.m. vs. Detroit. Tickets: $23-$103.
This is another great giveaway for dad: A BBQ spatula for the first 10,000 males. The Royals also have a Family FunDay Sunday event with many activities for kids, including the chance to run around the bases for free after the game. A pass for unlimited activities in the Outfield Experience is $10.
NY Mets
1:10 p.m. vs. Atlanta. Tickets: $25-$450.
The Mets are especially kind to dads on this Sunday, giving out a Father’s Day cap to all fathers and kids 12 and under. Yes, both child and dad get a free Mets cap, instead of one having to do without.
As they do on all Sundays, the Mets have a Mr. Met Dash for kids to run around the bases for free after the game.
Philadelph
ia Phillies
ia Phillies1:35 p.m. vs. Arizona. Tickets: $10-$100
The Phillies honor dad with a free Hawaiian shirt to men 15 and older. If there are any 15-year-old dads in Philadelphia, this is their chance to get a free Hawaiian shirt in the team’s colors. The team doesn’t say how many shirts it’s giving away.
Baltimore Orioles
1:35 p.m. vs. Toronto. Tickets: $15-$100.
The Orioles are giving a Father’s Day newsboy cap to the first 10,000 men 18 and older. Kids can run around the bases for free after the game.
Minnesota Twins
1:10 p.m. vs. NY Yankees. Tickets: $21-$102.
The Twins are giving away Twins Socks to the first 10,000 men 18 and older. The team also has a promotional package for families.
An event called Knothole Kids Day gives up to two kids $5 off specific tickets with a paying adult. Kids get an autograph from a Twins player before the game, and after the game they can run the bases for free.
Houston Astros
1:10 p.m. vs. Cincinnati. Tickets: $8-$100.
Some nifty looking Astros Socks are being given to the first 10,000 fans. The Astros also have a post-game picnic in the park for fans to eat on the field. It’s unclear if it costs anything to attend the picnic.
St. Louis Cardinals
1:15 p.m. vs. Texas. Tickets: $16-$306.
More socks, though these Cardinals dress socks are going out to a lot more fans than the Houston ones are. The first 30,000 fans 16 and older will receive the free Cardinals socks.
The Cardinals also give out free ice cream before Sunday games.
Cleveland Indians
1:10 p.m. vs. Chicago White Sox. Tickets: $10-$100.
The Indians let kids run the bases after the game as part of Kids Fun Day activities on Sunday games. But the best part is that all fans will get a Corey Kluber jumbo baseball card.
Tampa Bay Rays
1:10 p.m. vs. San Francisco. Tickets: $25-$300.
The Rays are giving a foam bat and ball set to kids 14 and under while supplies last. The team’s website doesn’t say how many kids that is.
The team also has Family Fun Days on every Sunday. Parking is free with four or more people in a car, and there’s a variety of activities and giveaways for kids. Kids can run the bases after the game for free.
Chicago Cubs
Time TBD vs. PIttsburgh. Tickets: $37-$149.
The Cubs really don’t do much on Father’s Day. Up to 5,000 children 13 and younger will get a hooded towel.
Worst teams on Father’s Day
When it comes to not doing much for dad on his special day, two teams stand out:
Boston Red Sox
1:10 p.m. vs. Seattle. Tickets: $30-$625
The Red Sox don’t care about dad at all on Father’s Day. No promotions, other than the normal Sunday promo where kids get to run around the bases after the game.
Oakland A’s
1:05 p.m. vs. Anaheim. Tickets: $15-$75.
The A’s must really hate fathers. Not only is the team not having any promotional giveaways on Father’s Day, but in its promotion for dads to play catch with their kids on the field after the game, the team is charging $74 to play catch — for only 15 minutes. That doesn’t include the cost of attending the game.
That’s $16 more than what the A’s charged in 2015 for the same dumb event — which sold out.
This season the cost is $30 per ticket, but you have to buy at least two tickets to this special event. There are also convenience and handling fees, bringing it up to $74. Add in another $60 or so for two tickets to the game, and you’re out $134 to go to a game and then play catch on the field for 15 minutes. Yes, 15 minutes for $74.
Having nothing would be better than this ripoff of a promotion. The A’s don’t even allow kids to run around the bases after this Sunday game, as most other teams are doing. A free run around the bases with your kids would be better than paying to play catch.
If you want to plat catch with your kid for free on Father’s Day, the only places to go is to a Dodgers, Padres or Marlins game. Don’t go to Oakland.
