My Ballparks

Number of visits: 23 (2002-2014)

With the exception of the original Yankee Stadium, I’ve seen more innings at Camden Yards than any other ballpark. In my opinion, this is the nicest attraction in Baltimore. The stadium has an open feel, which is rare for ballparks constructed in a downtown. Bronze plaques the size of a baseball are scattered along Eutaw Street, identifying the landing spot of the longest bombs ever hit in the park.

Fans once had a clear view of Charm City from their seats, but the construction of a Hilton hotel beyond left field has blocked some of the skyline. A view of an old train warehouse in right field makes up for it.

Oriole Park has some unique locations to watch a game. There’s a spacious standing area above the right field scoreboard, which is a great location to catch a batting-practice ball. Although it’s 350+ feet from home plate, Section 86 offers an up-close look at the bullpen. Beware, there are also a few bad seats in this park. The middle deck isn’t that tall and covers part of the lower deck. If you have tickets in the last few rows of the lower deck between the foul poles, you’ll lose sight of fly balls.

All ballpark reviews talk about food. I hate talking about food. I go to baseball games to watch baseball so I promise this will be the only food-related mention on this entire page: Boog’s BBQ is worth a mention. The line may look intimidating but it moves fast. Boog Powell is often present at the stand that bears his name.

Number of visits: 5 (2003-2015) 

PNC Park is #5 for the amazing view. This ballpark is best enjoyed from the upper deck, especially sitting along the third base side. Stunning views of Pittsburgh, the Allegheny River and the Roberto Clemente Bridge paint the perfect backdrop for a ballgame. Just don’t get stuck in the very last row of the upper deck. Each section up top has a steel beam holding up the roof, located in the middle of the second-to-last row.

At least a dozen restaurants and bars surround the stadium, so there’s plenty to do before a game. The Pirates have very loyal fans that love talking about their homegrown talent.

I’m not big on gimmicks like mascots and between inning promotions but the Pirates have plenty. Overall, it’s a great place to catch a game.

Number of visits: 3 (2004, 2010)

Tucked away in a neighborhood, the friendly confines of Wrigley Field did not disappoint. Unlike its scoreboard, the atmosphere is electric, and the singing of “Go Cubs Go” with the raising of the “W” flag after a victory is a post-game treat. Bars and pubs surround the ballpark and it truly is spectacular to watch a game in such a historic facility. New renovations in 2015 gave the stadium a fresh makeover, while maintaining much of its historic charm.

Number of visits: 1 (2004)

Fenway Park has personality. The quirky dimensions, organ music and true “box” seats make this historic ballpark special. Sure, it has obstructed views and tight quarters, but this is what a ballpark should feel like.

Number of visits: 1 (2013)

When I look at other ballpark rankings, I cannot figure out why Globe Life Park is ranked near the bottom. Formerly know simply as “The Ballpark,” this majestic stadium sits in a suburban area in Arlington, not far from the Six Flags theme park. It’s big, it’s clean and there’s a lot to do on the concourse level. The employees were incredibly friendly and helpful.

I was there in late September, so if I visited a few months earlier I may have been crippled by heat exhaustion, but on a cool evening I couldn’t find anything wrong with the actual park. It certainly helped that the Rangers were in playoff contention and Jurickson Profar hit a walk-off blast in the 9th.

Number of visits: 2 (2015)

Industrial looking on the outside, Safeco Field blends in with its neighboring shipyards, rail terminals and bus depots. Inside, the ballpark looks brand new, despite opening in 1999. Similar to AT&T Park, the lighting on the concourse level was stylish compared to the florescent lights you find at most ballparks.

Ultra-bright LED lights shine onto the field, replacing traditional stadium lighting. The lights are used for cool effects between innings, however, the retractable roof limits the height of the lights. I found them to be beaming into my sight line. Yes, I wore my sunglasses at night.

Their 11,425-square-foot scoreboard in center field features every statistic a fan could want.

Overall, I thought this was a lovely ballpark, and we were fortunate to see two Yankee victories!

Number of visits: 1 (2009)

Decorated with palm trees and water gardens, the grounds outside Petco Park may be the nicest in baseball. It’s a safe walk from the Gas Lamp District with plenty of bars to stop at and grab a beverage before the game.

Inside, The Western Metal Supply Co. structure in left field adds unique charm and it is nice to see a ballpark from 2004 that doesn’t feature the typical dark green seats and red brick accents. The outfield fence has been renovated a few times over the last decade and is now a mess. It juts in and out with hard angles and is littered with advertisements, scoreboards and chain link fencing.

Similar to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Petco offers a lot of open space for fans to stroll and kids to play. The outfield entertainment area is so large that you may forget you’re still inside the park.

Number of visits: 1 (2014)

Believe it or not, Coors Field is the third oldest ballpark in the National League, but you would never know by looking at it. The structure appears brand new and the grounds crew keep this diamond groomed to perfection. I love the small forest of pine trees that fill the batter’s eye. [Note: The “batter’s eye” is the location just beyond the center field fence that must remain clear of fans and other distractions. Some stadiums just have a solid wall.]

In the 20^th row of the upper deck, purple seats stand out from the other 50,000. Fans that make the hike to that row are officially one mile above sea level.

You would think that the view beyond the outfield fence would be amazing, but it’s actually quite disappointing. There is an official MLB rule, Rule 1.04 to be specific, that states: “it is desirable that the line from home base through the pitchers plate to second base shall run East Northeast.” Unfortunately for the fans, the mountains are to the West and the skyline is to the South. It’s hard to call this a “missed opportunity” since there is an official rule regarding the direction a stadium faces, but a better outfield view would bring this park to another level.

Number of visits: 7 (2004-2008)

A great ballpark with rude fans. I sat 10 rows behind LeBron James when he infamously sported his Yankees cap in the 2008 playoffs. The next night, I was in the upper deck when Joba Chamberlain was attacked by the midges. However it wasn’t just the pitcher being attacked, but Yankees fans took a lot of abuse from Indians fans. Cleveland fans were ruthless to us, even throwing items at my father. I’ve been to plenty of opposing ballparks in Yankees gear, but never will I return to Cleveland dressed in my interlocking NY cap. That said, the ballpark is nice and is easy to walk to from downtown hotels.

Number of visits: 1 (2009)

With it’s close proximity to Disneyland, it makes sense that Angel Stadium was such a family friendly environment. We were surrounded by families enjoying a nice evening at the ballpark.

Angel Stadium is an older park disguised with a fresh, modern and well-maintained look. They have a nice rock formation with trees and shrubs beyond the outfield fence and a walking path with a view of the game in left field.

I’m not sure if this is a common occurrence, but at least a dozen beach balls hopped around the stands during the game. Normally, I’m not a fan of game distractions such as mascots and the wave, however, I can live with the beach ball bounce.

Number of visits: 1 (2007)

Situated along the banks of the Ohio River, the stadium has a steamboat structure beyond center field that adds character to this comfortable ballpark. Cincinnati is the smallest city to have a baseball team, yet it remains a good baseball town despite recent disappointing seasons.

Number of visits: 1 (2005)

I was there for Opening Day 2005 and it was wild! The parking lot was packed with tailgaters and at times it looked more like a frat party than a baseball game. Once we made our way past dancing girls on cars and fist fights, there was a lot less to see in the park. It’s a retractable roof, so the cold weather wasn’t a concern and Bernie Brewer took a trip down the slide in the outfield. Otherwise, it’s a fairly standard ballpark.

Number of visits: 3 (2004-2008)

A nice park in a decent area of Detroit. The stadium features beautiful tiger sculptures both inside and out. Overall, I like this place, however, the upper deck is really far from the field. The lower deck is horizontally built compared to, say, their “neighbor” Progressive Field.

I’m not much of a foody, but they have a nice food court with a merry-go-round close by.

Number of visits: 2 (2014, 15)

Although the Yankees are New York’s most successful franchise, the Mets win for best ballpark. Both Citi Field and Yankee Stadium opened at the start of the 2009 season but Citi feels more comfortable. The home run apple appears after every Mets blast and a walking bridge beyond the right field wall adds character to an otherwise average ballpark.

Number of visits: 2 (2009, 2017)

There’s not a lot I can write about this ballpark. Nationals Park is as average as it gets. There’s a wide open food court near the right field entrance, but Turner Field did that first. It’s definitely nicer than their two previous homes, Olympic Stadium in Montreal and RFK Stadium, but this is a great example of the modern, cookie-cutter ballpark.

Number of Visits: 3 (2005, 2014)

This ballpark is not in a great neighborhood, but it’s an easy train ride from downtown Chicago to the South Side. White Sox fans seem to be very knowledgeable of the game, but the ballpark itself is just bland. The ballpark opened one year before the revolutionary Camden Yards, and many teams have used the Orioles stadium as a guide to build their new ballpark. I’m sure if the White Sox ownership waited to see Camden Yards before building Guaranteed Rate Field, this ballpark wouldn’t be as low on my list.

Number of Visits: 2 (2009, 2013)

I’m sure in the ’60’s, the ballpark that sits atop Chavez Ravine was considered quite groovy. The fun colors and oddly shaped outfield roof were all the rage. However, the bright seats have now faded and the third oldest park in the majors can now use some major renovations.

The stadium sits in the middle of a giant parking lot that is nearly a mile from corner to corner. Obviously, there’s not a bar or restaurant in sight.

I found Dodger fans to be among the rudest and most disrespectful in the game. Many did not stand for the National Anthem or God Bless America. I don’t know if it’s an L.A. thing, but during both visits, fans appeared genuinely uninterested in the game.

Number of Visits: 17 (2009-2017)

Yes, I am a huge Yankees fan. Yes, I was sad they demolished the old stadium. Yes, the new stadium stinks. The concourse level reminds me of a crowded airport and the atmosphere is very dull.

Yankee Stadium is an experience for the upper-class, not for the average baseball fan and certainly not for the fan that enjoys going to multiple games per season. On any given night, the cheapest seats in the ballpark run $18 for a bleacher seat with an obstructed view. How can you build a $2.3 billion stadium and with obstructed view seats? For the 2017 season, these seats will be removed for some standing-room areas.

Monument Park is essentially the Yankees Hall of Fame. My biggest disappointment with the old Yankee Stadium was that this  shrine was closed during the game. You think this would no longer be an issue at the new ballpark, but since it is in the batter’s eye, it remains inaccessible after the first pitch. This is such a major design flaw.

The museum is a very nice attraction and it is actually open during the game. There can be long lines to enter so it is best to get there early.

Number of Visits: 3 (2004, 2009)

The stadium opened in 1989 and the architecture certainly reflects that. Towering concrete walls decorate the outside. Inside, you’ll discover a slightly outdated concourse level. If you like intimate ballparks, this isn’t for you. This is a grand venue that is intimidating in size, yet managed to leave me slightly underwhelmed. I did like the vertical grade of the upper deck, keeping fans close to the action. As of 2015, Rogers Centre is the only ballpark to have a retractable roof and an artificial playing surface.

Toronto itself is a very nice city and people were friendly and welcoming to all of the visiting Yankees fans.

Number of Visits: 3 (2013)

The worst of the new ballparks, Minute Maid is an eyesore that sits on the fringe of Downtown Houston. This is where baseball meets an amusement park, but trust me, I was not amused. The staff appeared overwhelmed and unfriendly. The field has many nooks and crannies. The ballpark is near the convention center and the walk from local hotels was a bit spooky, especially at night.

The highlight of this trip was seeing Andy Pettitte pitch his final game, throwing a complete game and picking up career win #256.

Number of Visits: 1 (2005)

Despite the fact that I have it ranked very low, this stadium was better than I thought it would be. Back in 2005, they didn’t charge for parking. That was a nice first impression. Entering the ballpark was like entering a shopping mall. There was a large lobby where they were raffling off a car, sting rays swimming in a tank and a fairly bustling atmosphere. Of course that could be because the Yankees were in town. It is just a shame to watch indoor baseball on AstroTurf in sunny Florida. It’s also a shame I didn’t take a photo! Just imagine me in the last row of the upper deck, keeping score and drinking a beer.

Number of Visits: 1 (2009)

The location was a fairly quick train ride from San Francisco. Nothing special going on outside the ballpark. Inside, it was outdated in so many ways. The scoreboards are small and located off to the side. There is too much foul territory, which means you can have a good seat and still be watching the game from a distance.

The Coliseum is the last full-time, multi-sport facility, sharing duties between the Athletics and the Oakland Raiders. Recent problems with the stadium sewage system have sparked a new ballpark debate. Stay tuned…