At a perfect musket ball park , there ’d be a peanut trafficker every 10 feet , the raging pawl would always have just the right amount of mustard , your team would always win – and the gaudy - mouth behind you would pull off to keep his trap shut out and keep from spilling his beer on you .
There ’s no such matter as a perfect ballpark .
That ’s all right . As any Red Sox or Cubs fan can severalize you , baseball game can be as much about broken dream and near missy as it is about home run and sportsmanlike two-fold plays . We have it away the plot not because it ’s staring , but because each pitch has the potential to crush hopes and send them surge . Baseballis a mass like life in that style : You do n’t do it what you ’re going to be pitched , so all you’re able to do is prepare – and hope for a benevolent ump .
The ripe professional baseball fields are not necessarily the ones that buy the farm - hard fans desire to visit . Sure , Nationals Park in Washington DC is clean and New , with in effect fundament , practiced nutrient and good approach to parking and public Department of Transportation . But baseball fans do n’t make pilgrimages to Nationals Park . Instead , they make pilgrimages to Fenway and Wrigley – one-time green that are plethoric with imperfections , but also knee - deep in baseball game traditional knowledge . Sure , the young Yankee arena is nice , but it ai n’t the house that Ruth build .
Whether you sense the cold mitt of death crawl toward you at this very moment , or if you ’re passably sure you ’ve get a while before your final hit is called , there are 10 baseball field of force any self - honor fan must impose before they conk out .
10: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
With a localisation that ’s just blocks from where George Herman Ruth was literally a " Babe , " Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore , which opened in 1992 , for certain has some baseball mojo . Aside from its location , which is an easy walk from Baltimore ’s Inner Harbor , buff love Camden Yards because it look like a classic , old - school parking area , but has modern comforts . It ’s accredit with set out a trend toward the construction of old - fashioned ball parking lot with brick facades and immature walls , alternatively of the soulless concrete whale where many major league teams act .
Oriole Park at Camden Yards induct 45,971 fans , yet feel intimate . make on an erstwhile railroad center , the park efficaciously pays tribute to both the history of Baltimore and baseball . The site of Babe Ruth ’s childhood home base – and Ruth ’s café , his family ’s line of work – was correct where center field of Camden Yards is now . Of course , Camden Yards has made some history itself . It was at Camden 1000 in 1992 that Cal Ripken broke Lou Gehrig ’s phonograph recording for most consecutive games trifle , earning 20 solid minutes of applause from fans . Oriole Park at Camden Yards may have started the course toward innovative ballparks being made of bricks , but there ’s a whole mint of iron in the Iron Man ’s planetary house .
9: PNC Park
The Pittsburgh Pirates may not command the same regard as the six - time world champion Steelers , or even the Pittsburgh Penguins , but PNC Park , where the Pirates play , get plenty of regard in thebaseballworld .
Set along the Allegheny River with great views of downtown Pittsburgh , PNC Park is internal . The high bum in the park is just 88 infantry above the field of operation , and bowl snack include sandwich from the notable Primanti Brothers , which stack Gallic nipper in with the sandwich meat . On game daytime , fans in boats line the riverbanks , tailgating and hoping to catch a stray ball . Like Camden Yards , PNC Park has a atavist design , and pays court to both the city of Pittsburgh and the Pirates . The outfield wall is 21 foot in high spirits , because Pirate great Roberto Clemente wore number 21 . The commons also overlook Clemente Bridge , which is paint – what else ? – Pirate chicken ( though the fact that yellow is also one of the Steelers ' colour may have something to do with it ) . The Pirates may well be be intimate for being also - rans in a township of winning variation team , but their parking area is one place that ’s bad to beat .
8: Coors Field
Coors Field opened in 1995 with salient view of the Colorado Rockies , which , if Coors ' advertising is to be believe , get tapped whenever someone enjoy a Coors beer . Though your beverage choices might be reasonably limited at Coors Field , dwelling house runs are n’t . Coors Field is site of some of the best offensive baseball game , with 303 homeruns hit in the 1999 season alone . Because of its top , balls come to at Coors Field can travel 9 per centum further than globe reach at ocean level . Whilebatterslove Coors Field , pitchers hate it . The thin air makes it harder to make a goodcurve ball .
If you ’d rather keep your tag money forbeer , Coors Field has the notable " Rockpile " where tickets be as little as $ 4 . These bleachers lay out high above center field of study and about as far from home photographic plate as you may get while still being in the common , but have cracking atmosphere . Speaking of atmosphere , try sitting in the 20th row of the upper deck , where the seat are purple . They ’re exactly one naut mi above ocean level .
Coors Field may not have quite as much baseball game story as other Rosa Parks , but it does have plenty of pre - history – during construction , prole find dinosaur fossils , execute the Rockies to name Dinger , a triceratops , as their mascot .
7: Petco Park
Though it was designed near the peak of the retro - styled red - brick approximate range phase , Petco Park , home of the San Diego Padres , become a different way . Its exterior is stucco and sandstone , with ashen - painted brand . ribbon tree grace the landscaping , and for a modest fee , you’re able to look out the plot from the Park in the Park – an open space above the outfield that ’s a regular car park when game are n’t in progress .
While Petco Park did n’t follow the red - brick historical trend , it incorporates history in its design . The old Western Metal Supply Co. Building makes up part of the arena , with the squad store , a restaurant and rooftop seats . Around Petco Park is a revitalized neighborhood of funky shop and easy access to public transport . apart from all that , there ’s the great California weather condition , which makes learn a biz at Petco Park comfortable – even during the weenie days of summer .
6: Safeco Field
While the Mariners may not be a consistent wonder of athleticism , the retractable roof at Seattle ’s Safeco Field is a wonder of engineering . That roof covers 9 acres and weighs 22 million Pound . But it ’s believably best to not think about all that weight coming crash down while you ’re enjoy a plot . Without that cap , Safeco Field would be known more for rainouts that anything else , but if you ’re extra - paranoid , stay near left-hand field – that part of the park is left open all the time . Not only does the open space keep the ballpark from smelling like thou ofbaseballfans who have been munching on garlic Roger Fry ( more on those in a mo ) , but it also provides great views of Mount Rainier .
The ceiling at Safeco is n’t the only heavy matter at the approximate range . With some of the good solid food in the major conference , a visit to Safeco means you should probably wear gasp with an elastic waistcloth . At Safeco you may get sushi , crepes , pad thai , barbeque and , of course , the bowl ’s famous garlic child . That should make the buss - cam extra shitty .
5: Marlins Park
" You bonk what would make baseball better ? Fish . " – Roger Maris
Fine … Roger Maris probably never said that ( though we can never be certain ! ) but someone has . How do we get laid ? The new Marlins Park in Miami .
Baseball ’s unexampled and smallest park ( it seats just 37,442 buff ) is a present-day giant , meant to evoke Miami as a futuristic , forward looking city . With Pisces the Fishes .
Behind base plate are two 450 - Imperial gallon aquariums filled with 50 tropic fish each . We ’re assuming theaquariumsare made from shatter - proof field glass ; otherwise PETA would have a big job with go testis . If fans get jealous see the fish swim around , they can go for a swim themselves at the Clevelander – a club behind the left - field of force paries that has food , drinks and , yes , aswimming pool .
Beyond the aquatic attracter , Marlins Park houses some great Miami - exalt food , including Cuban sandwich and stone crabs . Just remember that you ’ll have to wait at least an hour before going swimming .
If the food , the fish and the swimming sports fan do n’t entertain you , you could always watch the Marlins wreak . The arena is air - stipulate , so even in the worst Florida estrus , games are played at a comfortable 75 degrees Fahrenheit ( 23.9 degrees Celsius ) . And , because of its small size , almost every seat at Marlins Park feels like it ’s close to the legal action .
4: Citi Field
People in Manhattan may bewail the bridge deck and tunnel crowd , but at Citi Field in Queens , the bridges are celebrated in the main architectural motif of the parking area . Built adjacent to the site of historical Shea arena , Citi Field also celebrates the Mets as the antithesis of that other New Yorkbaseballteam . Citi Field is small , tickets are flashy and it almost never sells out , realize it the consummate place to go for a Tuesday good afternoon of play prodding - of - the - moment truancy from body of work .
Just like at Shea Stadium , when a Mets player hits a home run , a giant apple rises from behind centerfield . Of course , that rarely happen since the Mets are typically pretty bad . But , if you ’re in New York , think George Steinbrenner was the antichrist , detest the monstrosity of money and greed that the Yankees currently play in and want to catch a baseball game biz , the menial Mets and their Mungo Park are hold back for you . How do you like them apple ?
3: AT&T Park
Though some of the players on the San Francisco Giants might be on steroids ( * cough * Barry Bonds * cough * ) , AT&T Park definitely enhances the fan experience . The bowl not only has view of the San Francisco Bay , it also has a jumbo Coke bottle above the left field of operation bleachers . When the Giants hit a base discharge , the bottleful lights up and spews gurgle . But that ’s not the best part : Inside the giant Coke feeding bottle is a slide , which fans can slide down rather of , you know , see the game . AT&T Park is also famous for McCovey Cove , where fans in boats can devolve backbone to fish stray balls out of the water – and for being one of the large publicWiFihotspots . With its propinquity to Silicon Valley , you could bet that at any Giants family secret plan , the nerd quotient is expire to be sky high .
If you in reality care about the biz , and not the Build - a - Bear shop that ’s behind the outfield , know that AT&T Park is n’t precisely a hitter ’s park . Still , it was at this park that Barry Bonds hit his 500th career home run , his 600th career home run and his 700th career house run – but never took any steroids , amirite ?
2: Wrigley Field
If you require to experience the kind of mass despair that only the Chicago Cubs can allow , you postulate to visit Wrigley Field . Wrigley is the second - honest-to-goodness major league ballpark still in even use , shoehorned into Chicago ’s historical Wrigleyville neighborhood , where some fans have build buttocks on their cap to ascertain games .
Wrigley Field was built in 1914 , which seems old until you consider that the Cubs have n’t cinched a World Series title since 1908 . Still , Cubs fans pack Wrigley , especially the outfield bleacher , where throwing back homerun balls rack up by the claver team is a tradition .
Though it does n’t have some of the attractor ( or misdirection ) of more innovative parks , Wrigley Field has history , and take in a secret plan here is about enjoying the game in a place where its been played for almost 100 old age . For the best sojourn , total a routine later in the time of year , after the ivy has a chance to grow in on the outfield bulwark . fare in April and you ’ll miss it . Plus , Chicago is still pretty bloody cold in April .
1: Fenway Park
It ’s modest . It ’s dirty . It ’s sometime . But enough about your mother – the same things can be say about Fenway Park , home of the Boston Red Sox .
Known for its nervy lover who take in for every game , Fenway is the quondam park still being used by Major League baseball . America ’s favorite pastime has been played at Fenway since 1912 , and Bostonians have been complaining about the Sox for about as long . Still , Fenway is a cathedral ofbaseball , and going to a plot here is really about the game itself , since you wo n’t findWiFihotspots , shopping or playgrounds here .
What you will find is the historic Green Mon - stah outfield wall , and a lone red seat in the right playing field bleacher , which commemorates the spot where Ted Williams hit a habitation streak ball wicked hahd , making it the longest measurable place runnel ever hit deep down of Fenway . speak of Williams , he ’s a deity in Beantown and Fenway is the chief communion table where he ’s worshiped , so leave any animus toward him ( and any cryogeny jokes ) at home , unless you want some Sox rooter to reach you – you hazard it – pixilated hahd .
Lots More Information
Two thing were killing me ( not literally , since I ’m still around to write this note ) about research this article . The first was I knew I ’d have to leave Nationals Park off the list . I jazz the Nats , and while their car park is nice , it ’s not one of the good in baseball . The other was that a bit of the lists I consulted about the best parks had Citizen ’s Bank Park , dwelling of the Phillies , among the best green in baseball game . I hate the Phillies . I do n’t care how nice their Mungo Park is . Luckily for me , this clause is about fields to jaw before you die , because I ’d only advocate anything to do with the Phillies over my dead body .
