Top Ten MLB Parks to Visit
Written by Nolan Thomas, Monday April 13 2009
1. Wrigley Field, Chicago Cubs – Wrigley has some quirks that no other ballpark has. The Ivy on the outfield walls, the manual scoreboard, the pennants flying in the order of current division standings and the majority of the games are played in the sunlight. Wrigley Field is what you imagined a baseball park would be like when you were growing up. Wrigley both amazes you with its greatness and delicately reminds you of your childhood. It combines the aura of your neighborhood sandlot field with the awesome ambience of major league baseball action. At Wrigley Field, you do not get fake entertainment, you just get baseball and only baseball. Moreover, that is what a true ballpark should be.
2. Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox - Generations of fans have come and gone, but Fenway Park remains. Because of its age, Fenway is loaded with tradition. Walking into Fenway and through its tunnels is like stepping into a time machine and going back in time. Fenway’s weirdly shaped triangular outfield is like nothing else in the Major Leagues. It creates excitement for the fans in the stands, but all out panic for the players on the field. It has the towering left field wall, which is fondly known as The Green Monster. It also has one seat which is painted red. It is the landing place of the longest home run ever hit at Fenway, by Ted Williams, and is in right field, 502 feet from the batters box.
3. Camden Yards, Baltimore Orioles - Although a new stadium, it is a state-of-the-art stadium, yet it is unique because it was designed with older more traditional ballparks in mind. It fits well with the urban setting of downtown Baltimore. Steel trusses, an arched brick facade, and a sunroof over the upper deck, an irregular playing field along with natural grass turf are just a few of the facial characteristics that connect it to those glorious big league ballparks which were built in the early 1900's.
4. Coors Field, Colorado Rockies – has the the luxury of a more modern stadium with the aura of an old-time ballpark. It has hand-laid brick with an old-fashioned clock tower atop its main entrance. With its overall old time feeling, fans might get the impression that they were walking into a modern day Ebbets Field. Coors Field incorporates the nostalgic feel of a 1920s urban ballpark with 21st century technology. With its breathtaking view of the Rocky Mountains, Coors Field has become one of the most fan favorite ballparks in baseball.
5. Turner Field, Atlanta Braves - Originally built for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Turner Field is now one of the best ballparks to watch a baseball game in. As the fans approach the ballpark, the brick and limestone walls of Turner Field and the blue seats in the upper deck come into view. Upon walking into the ballpark, the fans are on the field level. Fans can walk the entire lower concourse and never lose site of the game. From the concourse section, fans can see downtown Atlanta. The upper level includes Coca-Cola Sky Field and this area has picnic tables and a 38-foot tall Coke Cola bottle. The 80ft by 72ft high definition video board is located above the hitter’s backdrop in centerfield. In Centerfield, there is a huge beer garden where fans can mingle, watch the game, and tip a few beers.
6. Ballpark at Arlington, Texas Rangers - Ballpark in Arlington is a ballpark featuring a combination of the old and new ballparks. As fans walk up to the ballpark, it might remind some of Ebbets Field with its red brick exterior and arches. Once inside the ballpark, great views can be found from just about anywhere in the ballpark. It is a state-of-the-art building with the maximum in customer convenience. It is in the heart of Texas and Texas architecture is displayed throughout, from the exterior to the Lone Stars in the concourses and on the seat aisles.
7. Progressive Field, Cleveland Indians – Originally called Jacobs Field, not one single word comes to mind when defining Progressive Field. But alluring, angelic, appealing, charming, dazzling, delightful, enticing, exquisite, gorgeous, marvelous, and statuesque come to mind. Progressive Field blends right in with downtown Cleveland. Three levels of stands extend from the left field foul pole to home plate. Excellent views of downtown Cleveland are visible from the majority of these seats. In left field, there is a 19-foot wall, which has been nicknamed the mini Green Monster. Above the centerfield seats is a 120-foot by 200-foot scoreboard.
8. Dodgers Stadium, The Dodgers - The fourth-oldest park in the Majors and the oldest on the West Coast, walking into this park is like walking back through some of the great moments of the game. Dodgers Stadium holds the MLB record with 856 straight games without a rainout. The stadium was voted by MLB players to have the best playing field in the league. Since opening in 1962, Dodger Stadium has awed fans with its breath-taking views of downtown Los Angeles, its tree-lined Elysian hills, and the San Gabriel Mountains.
9. Safeco Stadium, Seattle Mariners - Safeco Stadium opened in 1999, and is in a great setting for baseball and is a wonderful place for baseball fans. All-around views of the downtown Seattle skyline and the breathtaking sunsets combine with superior views of game action from all angles of the stadium that give fans at Safeco an experience like no other in Major League Baseball.
10. Miller Park, Milwaukee Brewers - Miller Park is a grand structure with its exterior consisting of red brick, arched windows, and a clock tower at the main entrance. Once inside the Park, regardless of where the fans sit, there are great views of the field. In centerfield, a huge video board is above the hitter’s backdrop. Manual scoreboards are also located on both the left and right field walls to keep the fans up to date on the scores of other MLB games. Miller Park has a great all around atmosphere surrounding it, from tailgating outside the park before the games start, and the action on the field inside the park during games.
Photo Credit: Warren Wimmer / Chicago Sports R
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3 comments
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Another real nice park is PNC Park in Pittsburgh, I was there a couple years ago, it and Heinz Field are the only two colorful, nice places in an otherwise dreary city. I'm from Boston and have been to Fenway many times, and agree that in comparison to the other parks I've seen or been to it's at the top of the list. I'd like to visit Wrigley this year though, my brother lives out that way so I may be able to do that.
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Gotta show some love to AT&T Park. The Phone Booth has a very intimate feel for such a new park. The lack of foul territory is a bit of a concern for some, but it does put fans right on the field. Everything about the facility is state-of-the-art and being right on the Bay is fantastic. That, and the Gilroy Garlic Fries are bangin'.
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Okay, I've been to 5 of those 10, so I'll sign off on that half of the list. And yeah, Wrigley goes to number one because of where and what and when it is. The biggest flaw with Arlington (my home field) is the location...no metro rail, so you have to drive. Nothing around it except parking lots and King Jerry's Pyramid. No outside environment to push it higher on the list. Two other parks I want to praise: They may not make the top 10, but still.... For whatever reason, I really like Kansas City. The towering light standards, the ballpark built into the ground, the waterfalls. All better than I was prepared for. And Nationals Park in DC. Is anti-retro a word? The color scheme, gigantic video board, and ballpark layout all scream futuristic. Pure purists probably hate this place, but I loved it. And the mascot race featuring the Rushmores moves it up the list...