A Guide To Major League Baseball Stadiums

Over the course of the past five years I was finally able to tackle a feat I've always wanted to conquer. At the end of the 2006 season I could finally say that I have in fact visited all 30 of the current Major League Baseball stadiums. Please note: I'm referring to the 30 stadiums in use during the '06 season. I thought I should make that clear considering most teams nowadays ask for a new stadium whenever someone so much as spills a soda in their current ballpark. With plans for even more new stadiums popping up everywhere, it won't be long before my proud little accomplishment will be obsolete. In the meantime however I'll share my thoughts on the best of the bunch.

The Classics You Can't Afford To Miss

Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox - If baseball is Boston's religion, then Fenway Park is their Cathedral. The faithful come out in droves to pack this legendary stadium and for good reason. Fenway may not be the most well maintained stadium but it certainly has more charm and history than any other baseball venue I've ever seen. Everything from the old fashion score board in left field, to the famed Green Monster, to the pre-game street fair on Yawkey Way jam packed with incredible food and a party-like atmosphere, celebrates a genuine love and respect for the game of baseball.

Yankee Stadium, New York Yankees - Love 'em or hate 'em, you've got to recognize the chills-inducing greatness that is Yankee Stadium. It's hard not to act like a kid the first time you see the famed white Facade running along the outfield billboards and scoreboard. It's so thrilling that it actually nullifies the tackiness that is ballpark advertisements. Monument Park, which contains the plaques and monuments of Yankee greats, is yet another powerful part of the park. So what's the biggest complaint surrounding Yankee Stadium? Perhaps the fact that it's expected to close in 2008, with the Yanks set to play in a new stadium in 2009. Even the most hardened Red Sox fans might miss the joint. I said might.

Wrigley Field, Chicago Cubs - Aptly nicknamed The Friendly Confines, there's simply not a bad seat to be found in all of Wrigley Field. Better yet it's an ideal setting, as a gorgeous stadium sits amidst Wrigleyville, the surrounding neighborhood filled with a hodgepodge of atmospheric eateries and bars. But the most spectacular aspect of the stadium is that when you go to Wrigley, you go for only one reason - to watch a ball game. There's no big screen in the outfield blasting obnoxious videos, nor are there any gimmicks or gadgets, like Arizona's insufferable swimming pool or a children's fun zone, to compete with the game. It's probably baseball's last pure stadium.

Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles Dodgers - With a breathtaking view of downtown Los Angeles on one side and the Elysian Park hills and San Gabriel mountains on the other, Dodger Stadium truly is, to quote Tommy Lasorda, "Blue Heaven on Earth". While some things may have changed in recent years, such as the inclusion of ballpark advertisements and a slew of renovations, the heart and soul of the decidedly pristine early 60s architecture has been preserved. On a less aesthetic note, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that a visit to Dodger Stadium would not be complete without tasting your first Dodger Dog. It's a definite must!

The New Classics

AT&T Park, San Francisco Giants - It's a bold statement but when all is said and done, AT&T Park may hold the title as the most beautiful stadium in baseball today. Fans were overjoyed when the Giants moved out of baseball's most unfriendly stadium, the atrocious Candlestick Park, and into their new ballpark in 2000. Its biggest marketing point is that homeruns hit hard enough into right field can drop into the San Francisco Bay (nicknamed McCovey Cove) as kayak paddlers race to retrieve the balls. I think the park's main strength however lies in the fact that it's quaint without being cute about it or self-indulgent. Its brick façade, manually operated scoreboard, and cutting edge culinary choices strike the perfect balance between nostalgia and modernity. Make sure you get there early so you can walk around the entire stadium. Various spots throughout the stadium allow full spectrum views of the entire ballpark, the Bay, and the city's skyline.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore Orioles - Camden Yards opened in 1992 but can already be considered one of the most influential ballparks to date. It was the first in a series of newly erected stadiums who not only embraced the retro, neighborhood ballpark look but more importantly whose inceptions helped revitalize struggling downtown areas. Architecturally speaking Camden capitalizes on the neighboring inner harbor seaport with its industrial feel as well as the incorporation of the B&O warehouse, located behind right field. The brick warehouse serves as a dramatic backdrop to the Yards and has become the stadium's defining image since its opening. The highlight of Camden Yards however is the enormously popular Eutaw Street. Located directly behind the outfield it's a pedestrian-only thoroughfare that hosts a series of booths and restaurants, while also including a clear-cut view of the game.

PNC Park, Pittsburgh Pirates - The Pittsburgh Pirates haven't had much to celebrate on the field over the past few years but in 2001 they were bestowed quite a gift: the extraordinarily beautiful PNC Park. Built with only two decks (unheard of for most baseball stadiums), it has the smallest capacity of any MLB ballpark and thus produces a cozy game viewing environment from any vantage point. Enormously pleasing to the eye, PNC Park itself is emblazoned with speckles of its now trademark rich gold coloring. Located on the banks of the Allegheny River the stadium also overlooks a marvelous view of downtown Pittsburgh as well as the adjacent gold painted Roberto Clemente Bridge. The bridge is closed to traffic on game days, allowing patrons the opportunity to walk to the stadium. The Clemente Bridge also drops you off into the bustling and charming River Walk located almost directly behind the outfield.

Safeco Field, Seattle Mariners - Opened in 1999, Safeco Field certainly has its share of retro characteristics but it's the modern sleek traits, as well as its spectacular natural setting, that sets it apart. It's an enormous edifice, composed of steel and other hardened materials yet there's a warmness about it that makes it comforting and inviting. One of its more famous attributes is the retractable roof which has been dubbed, appropriately enough in Seattle, the "umbrella". When rain begins to fall it covers only the playing field and seats, preserving its status as an open-air venue. You can get majestic views of downtown Seattle and Puget Sound from various points throughout Safeco. It also maintains its local feel by displaying works of art by numerous regional artists throughout the ballpark. The most popular piece would probably be the bat chandelier, a sculpture containing 1,000 bats, perilously suspended above the home plate entrance staircase.