Take Me Out to the Ballgame - Talk Aboot Baseball Parks

Finally knocked one more baseball item off my bucket list this past weekend, saw the Pirates play the Giants at PNC Park. I've been to a lot of the classic parks (Wrigley, Fenway, Orioles Park at Camden Yards, original Yankee Stadium, original Busch), but the views at PNC park blow the others out of the water. I can see how fans of the Giants may rank AT&T Park higher for views, but from pictures/TV broadcasts I've seen, I don't think Dodger Stadium or Coors Field could be better. Sorry about that ya non-Yinzers.

Also been to some horrific parks, Three Rivers Stadium, Shea Stadium and RFK Stadium come to mind. Never made it to the Vet, thank God.

Definitely a well-deserved electricity around the Burgh for the Pirates. They have the second best record in the Senior Circuit, just behind the, ahem, Washington Nationals. Long personal story, but despite growing up in Connecticut, I rooted for the Buccos from 1970 to 1992 - the 80's were rough. (After that, it's been my local teams, the O's and then the Nats. Would prolly still be the O's if not for Angelos.)

Even though baseball is mostly for the traditionalists (Wrigley in particular), I thought the game-day production (scoreboard intro's, etc.) were very well done at PNC.

Walking across the Clemente bridge to the game is one of the ultimate game day experiences. I also like the statues of Pops Stargel, Clemente, Maz and Honus in well-situated spots, esp Maz. I like the Bucs-inspired color of the exterior stone. Camden Yards made brick cool again, but I like how a lot of later parks have gone in their own direction.

I will rank a few other ballparks higher in a few categories. But hey, each park is special in it's own way. Mebbe I'm being a homer, but I think Nationals Park has slightly better site lines for viewing the game (versus the city vista) and has a bit more variety for viewing the game. Nats Park has the Red Loft Porch in CF and some incredible open concourses and open areas behind the seats for viewing the game from a huge variety of different angles. It encourages ya to meander. Plus a prominent, retro-feel HD scoreboard. (But with the park location and vista, the Pirates would have been foolish to block the view.)

Pre/post game bar action was highly disappointing (despite some great company.) Wrigleyville blows the other 29 teams out of the water.

Conclusion on my limited samples:

Ballpark: PNC #1

Destination for a Roadtrip: Wrigleyville

Some pix from 3/29/08, the first MLB game in Nats Park (exhibition game against the O's in nosebleeders.) Also was there the next nite for Opening Day. Edit: JimK needs to insert his pic from the Strasburg thread here. Hint, hint.

What you call oddball outfield dimensions, I'll call character. Uniform dimensions are for football fans. Also, I wouldn't call the distances to the Fenway Green Monster to be "severely limited", though they are unique. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/stadium/fenway_park.shtml It's 310 down the line (a bit short by today's standards, but not by historical standards.) The area that is shortest per norm is likely the power alley in left center. The Green Monster also takes away from nearly as much as it gives to hitters. There are plenty of well-hit balls that turn into singles that would be doubles, triples or even homers in other parks.

I personally hate parks that play to one extreme or the other (extreme pitcher's parks or hitter's parks.) The Met's Citi Field is a prime example, though the changes they made over last season have probably helped. Bandbox parks such as those in Cincy or Philly can be ridiculous. With the thin air, Colorado's park distorts the baseball game (breaking balls and distance ball travels) and required field dimensions.

Outfield aspect I hate the most is the contrived CF slope in Houston. Plus isnt' there some sort of flagpole in the field of play?
 

Interesting that you have Oakland and The Astrodome in the good pile. I've never been to either, but many have complained about both. For Oakland, I think it's mostly the extreme foul area size.

I've got a decade on you, I remember Shea from the 70's (even saw the Yankees play there.) Back then, there were no (or fewer?) OF bleachers or that Big Apple thingamajig. You just stared at the vast parking lot (and train tracks) off in the distance.

I think I saw more concerts at Shea in the 80's than baseball games. The Who's original farewell tour (with The Clash and David Johanssen), Simon and Garfunkel come to mind.

The new ballpark in Arlington, TX does not have a retractable roof, correct? With CF closed in like that, I'd imagine that park could get quite toasty.

AT&T (SF), Chavez Ravine (LAD), Target Field (Minn) and Coors (Col) are tops on my bucket list.

Though it is more likely I get to CBP (Philly), Citi/New Yankee (NY) and US Cell (CWS) first, due to logistics. Already spending too much money on baseball this year.

Any minor league parks of note? I think the New Hampshire Fisher Cats park in Manchester, NH is pretty nice. Overlooks the Merrimac? River. Cheaper baseball alternative than Fenway for a family.

There is at least on ballpark right on the Mississippi. I think it is in Davenport, IA. Seen pictures of it.

Anyone been to the Iron Birds park in MD, just off I-95? Looks like a mini Camden Yards.

After a Cubs win, the Go Cubs Go singalong is pretty sweet. Along with the W flag flying in CF. Ya see it later on that nite stumblin home after Murphy's Bleachers, Cubby Bear, Sluggers, etc. Plus no park sings Take Me Out to the Ballgame like they do in Wrigley. They do need to upgrade from Old Style, that stuff is rot gut.

Nats vs the Brew Crew in Milwaukee last Thursday nite. Miller Field is a very interesting ballpark (only fan shaped retractable roof in MLB which merges the outside and inside in a bit of a weird manner.) But the park is situated a bit out in the muddle of nowhere - similar to FedEx field in DC area. Took the wildest party bus to/from the game I've ever been on in my life (and that says a lot in my depraved life.) http://www.milwaukeebrathouse.com/ OHSA would have shut it down in a second, but it was a wild, wild ride. DC police would have pulled it over before OHSA. But on to baseball.

View of outside the stadium from behind home plate. Notice the distinctive trusses for the retractable roof.

It is not a classic retractable domed stadium, since there are windows down each foul line (and also in the outfield.) While opening the stadium up, this does cause very tough light conditions for the players, based on the time of day.

CF views.

Bad rez pic - cell phone zoom. Relic from old Milwaukee County Stadium. Bernie the Brewer slides down after the Brew Crew hits a homer. Only happened once during the Nats game after H-Rod was pitching.

Another bad rez pic. The original mascot race, the Racing Sausages. Pittsburgh has it's Pierogies, Washington it's Presidents.