Ballparks (that I've been to)

I'm thinking about big league ballparks today. I'm a ballpark junkie. I love to go to games almost as much to look around the ballpark as I do to watch the game itself. Together, they are the perfect combination. This is a list of my favorite major league ballparks that I have attended a game in. What are yours? Leave your list by clicking on the comments link at the end of this list.

10. Angel Stadium
In the late 90's, the Anaheim Angels (as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were then known) did a great job of turning an old multi-purpose stadium that was formerly used by both the Los Angeles Rams (remember when LA had a pro football team?) and the Angels in a baseball-only ballpark. Disney owned the Angels then, and the rock formation in the outfield also made me think of the Thunder Mountain Railroad at the theme park. Also, it's probably the cleanest stadium I've ever been in.

9. Turner Field
The home of the Braves, they missed a golden opportunity to name the yard for baseball legend Henry Aaron and instead named it after former team owner Ted Turner. OK, technically, it was named for Turner Broadcasting, but c'mon...we know what that was about. The stadium was built to serve as the Olympic Stadium for the Centennial Olympics in 1996, and Michael Johnson's famous golden-shoe run came here. Following the games, it was refitted as a ballpark. Lots of activity going on at this park, great sightlines, huge hi-def scoreboard and, of course, a great team that produced 14 straight division titles and a World Series title in '95.

8. U.S. Cellular Field
This ballpark gets a lot of grief for being the last park built before the "retro" ballpark building craze began in the 90s. I really like this park, though, and have been to several games here. Good atmosphere, good PA announcer, and you can see the field from the concourses, so never losing site of the game as you stroll around the park.

7. Dodger Stadium
This is a great park, and I was excited to take in a Dodger-Padres game here in 2000. So many great baseball moments have taken place here, including one of the best ever. Almost always great weather, another ballpark with a good PA announcer, world famous Dodger Dogs, and it's hosted eight World Series (although it's been 20 years since the Fall Classic was last played at Chavez Ravine).

6. Wrigley Field
Funny story. The first time I attended a game at Wrigley was when the Cubs hosted the Phillies in 1992. The game was sold out, so my dad and I bought some tickets from a scalper in front of the ballpark. I asked him where the seats were located and he replied, "They're up there, but they're in the park." He was true to his word. Barely. When we found our seats, they were the last two seats at the end of the last row in the upper deck. We were the furthest fans from home plate in the ballpark. But we were in the park, and it has a great atmosphere there. The ivy-covered outfield wall and the seventh-inning stretch are legendary.

5. Fenway Park
In 1996, I was in Boston for a conference. Walking around town, I noticed several banks of lights and thought to myself, "That's gotta be Fenway. I'm gonna go check it out." As I continued walking toward Fenway, I remembered that my favorite team, the Detroit Tigers were in town. Bonus! I purchased an obstructed view ticket, since that was all that were left and found my seat that sat directly behind a pole. I spent nine innings exploring the ballpark and watching the game from any location I could get to. And it was awesome. The next day, I took a guided tour. The fans at Fenway are real baseball fans and real Red Sox fans, which earns props from me. The park is a legend in itself, with the Green Monster, Pesky Pole, the crazy angles, the short porch, the Citgo sign, and the small seating capacity...and that's before you even talk about the legendary players and games. By the way, did you know the New York Yankees once owned Fenway Park? Check out the third paragraph on this page.

4. Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
The rest of the way, things get personal for me. I used to live around the corner from this stadium and walk to games here. Originally known simply as The Ballpark in Arlington, it later became Ameriquest Field, only to have its name changed to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington a few years ago. I love this ballpark, even if half the game are played in 100 degree heat. Different parts of the park pay homage to other parks, such as the right field "home run porch" which pays tribute to the right field stands at Tiger Stadium in Detroit. It also hosted the first-ever interleague game (against the Giants). There's not a bad seat in the house (I think I've sat in them all!). A great ballpark, in my opinion.

3. McAfee Coliseum
OK, this is where I start talking about the good 'ol days. I grew up going to Oakland A's games at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, when it had orange seats and bleachers in the outfield. Technically, this is the same ballpark, although you wouldn't know it. Al Davis ruined this ballpark to turn it into a football stadium for his Raiders. But, when I was growing up, there was nothing better than to take in a game at the Coliseum, enjoying sunshine, cool afternoons, "Billy Ball," the Bash Brothers, Rickey, Stewart and Eck. The A's deserve better than what they have now. For me, I'm going to remember the good times. (You can see the "old Coliseum" in the last photo near the bottom of the page that is linked to above.) By the way, yell leader Crazy George invented the wave at an A's game at the Coliseum.

2. Comerica Park
No surprise here. I'm going back to the Motor City to wrap up the list. Again, it's a favorite list. It's the current home of the Detroit Tigers, and it hosted the 2006 World Series, which my brother Barry will be quick to remind me was won by his St. Louis Cardinals. There's a ton of stuff going on at this park, from the gigantic carousel and ferris wheel to the even giganticer (new word) scoreboard with two tigers patrolling the top. The outfield features statues of former Tiger greats and a "dancing waters" display that erupts after the Tigers hit a home run. This is a great park where the past meets the present. Ford Field, home of the NFL's Detroit Lions, is located just beyond the left field wall. When I attended a Tigers game in 2003 (the year the Tigers nearly set a record for most losses in a single season in major league history), a church located just outside the stadium had a giant sign on its roof that read: Pray for the Tigers and Lions here! Funny.

1. Tiger Stadium
Seriously, did you think there would be any other? For me, it's not even close. From 1896-1999, the Tigers played at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull. During that time, the ballpark was built, rebuilt and added onto several times. It also had it's share of names (Bennett Park, Navin Field, Briggs Stadium, Tiger Stadium), and even had its interior paint color changed from green to blue in the '70s. This yard was awesome. The overhang in right field is legendary, and was even copied by the Texas Rangers, which payed tribute to it in its own stadium. Center field was death valley, reaching 440 field from home plate. The flag pole was located in fair territory in center field. And all my favorite players played here. For me, most of my favorite baseball memories took place at Tiger Stadium.

Others receiving votes (in no particular order): Metrodome (Minneapolis), Busch Stadium (St. Louis), Chase Field (Arizona), Candlestick Park (San Francisco), Kingdome (Seattle).