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WASHINGTON -- Angela Stanford knows what it takes to win. She has seven LPGA Tour victories, has won the past two Senior LPGA Championships and will be an assistant captain on the U.S. Solheim Cup team next month.

Over her 24-year pro career, Major League games have played a unique role in that experience.

“I love baseball, it's one of my happy places,” Stanford said after delivering the ceremonial first pitch at Nationals Park on Friday. “I love being in the ballpark.”

Stanford decided three years into her career that she would like to visit every big league stadium. She had played softball growing up and she still enjoys the excitement of the game. But as an adult, she finds a sense of calm and relaxation from it.

“When I started playing on tour, I knew I was going to travel a lot,” Stanford said. “It was a place for me to go at night to kind of just get my mind off of golf.”

Stanford accomplished her goal of visiting every Major League stadium with a visit to Target Field in Minnesota. She commemorated the milestone by purchasing a baseball and penning the date on it.

“I’m kind of proud of that,” Stanford said. “I think if you talk to any athlete, they’re going to find something cool outside of the sport that they do. I really feel blessed that I’ve been a golfer for 24 years on tour, but if I could have picked anything else to do, it would have been a shortstop playing baseball.”

Stanford highlighted the experiences at Oracle Park, Petco Park and T-Mobile Park. But there is that element of historical parks like Dodger Stadium, Fenway Park and Wrigley Field that makes them special.

“For me, it’s about tradition,” Stanford said. “Like, 'Who’s played there?' They’ve walked in the same footsteps.”

Based on her years of travel, one stadium stands out above the rest.

“I love Wrigley,” she said. “It’s hard to beat Wrigley.”

The golf champ ranks Nolan Ryan, Ryne Sandberg and Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez as her favorite players growing up. She showed off her own arm on Friday, when she threw the first pitch to Jose Ferrer. Stanford approached the pregame honor with her winning preparation and focus.

“We were throwing out in the parking lot at RTJ [Robert Trent Jones Golf Club],” Stanford said. “I don't remember the last time I threw a ball, so I'm like, 'I need to do that just to feel better about it.' It's like riding a bike.”