Baseball is called America’s favorite pastime, but if you are like me, you need something else to do while attending an MLB game to pass the time. I grew up going to Phillies games with my entire family (mom, dad, brother, sister, cousins, aunts, and uncles). I was the only one brave enough to admit to not have the interest or attention span to watch over three hours of baseball. My solution was to bring a stack of print magazines to read in between the exciting moments of the game. I would like to note that I was a pioneer in this realm and felt rather validated when the MLB introduced the pitch clock in 2023 in effort to shorten these everlasting games. Even with the changes, I still find the games too long. This compilation of best magazines to bring to a baseball game goes out to the art kid who wants to be part of the family outings, while staying true to themself.

W Magazine

When bringing magazines to a baseball game, go big or go home. W is known for their oversize magazine format (130 square inches compared to standard 93.5 square inches) accompanied with splashy high fashion photo spreads, creating some of the best visuals for mainstream celebrity-focused publications. The current volume, “The Pop Issue” features Rihanna as the cover star, with additional articles highlighting Dua Lipa, Björk, and the glamour behind the walk of shame dressing. 

Perfect Magazine 

If you want to impress baseball fans with your indie fashion mag cred, Perfect Magazine is the perfect choice. Only six years old, the UK-based publication holds its own against larger legacy publications with artsy and edgy photoshoots featuring a growing roster of celebrities. They also create special editions focused on one celebrity, including Sabrina Carpenter, Miley Cyrus, Chappell Roan, and A$AP Rocky each having a “Perfect Zine” dedicated to them with multiple cover option editions to choose from. To obtain a copy, you can order from their website or for resale on e-bay. 

Vanity Fair

This is the magazine to pull out during the seventh-inning stretch. The last two picks rely heavily on the visuals and lighter on the quality of the writing. They are great for when you are periodically engaging with the game and can pause without forgetting your spot. Vanity Fair is for the final push when all hope feels lost and you need to get lost in the reading material. Bonus: their latest issue is the Sports Issue, so you will be on theme, with features covering the inaugural Enhanced Games, sports gambling addictions, and an inside look into luxury sports tourism.

Cherry Bombe

Food is the first thing people reach for when needing to assuage their boredom at a baseball game, i.e. a hotdog, popcorn, and ice cream in a tiny upside down plastic baseball cap of the home team. In honor of this tradition, I have included my favorite independent food magazine Cherry Bombe. Focusing on women in the culinary scene, their issues are full of recipes and profiles on stars of the industry. Their latest issue is about game changers and is available now for pre-order on their website. They also sell copies in select stores, including Bold Fork Books and Salt & Sundry in the Washington, DC area. 

This piece is in Recommend If You Like The Baseball Issue Summer 2026. You can find physical copies in bars, cafes and stores in Chicago and Washington, D.C. The newspaper is available for purchase here. 

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