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a few years ago, i decided to make myself a goal. that goal was to see a baseball game in all 30 of the major league parks. a simple goal. and one that i am proud to say, i have put a large dent in the past few years. while there are a few out there that i really dread wasting my time with...there are some beautiful places to visit. this is my reaction to the 25 (23 active) ballparks i've visited. enjoy. and, for those who want to, feel free to let me know opinions about parks which i have yet to see.
devil rays vs yankees - july 12, 2007 - ah, summertime in the bronx...i mean, florida. that means it's time for indoor baseball. despite any misgivings i had going into this stadium, i have to say that from a ballpark standpoint, it wasn't nearly as bad as i thought. from, the shiny, velvety turf to the multitude of midway-like activities around the stadium to the DJ spinning tunes between innings...it is genuinely a fun place to go. besides, it's air conditioned! fake baseball? maybe. awesome? definitely. the only major negatives were the very uncomfortable seats and of course, the fact that there were 4 yankee fans for every 1 devil ray fan might have also hurt the experience. poor d-rays. atmosphere: 6 viewability: 7 architecture: 5 peanuts: 7
reds vs pirates- april 06, 2007 - game time temperature: 32° F. by far the coldest game i have ever attended. this white and red gem on the ohio river is far more quaint than its 42,000 capacity would suggest. it's unabashedly "river" themed and unique enough to stand up to any of the other chic parks built as of late. despite the cold, the small crowd was rowdy and energetic. there were mascots running amok and some dude won a year's worth of pizza thanks to brandon phillips. now if someone would just tell the sound guy to stop playing lame, canned sound effects after EVERY foul ball...this place would be a great park to call home. atmosphere: 8 viewability: 8 architecture: 7 peanuts: 5
dodgers vs cardinals - july 13, 2006 - on arrival to the new ballpark ridiculously dubbed "baseball heaven," one gets the feeling that it was kind of thrown together. sort of "rushed" to completion. well, any misgivings of the fake-looking bricks on the exterior quickly dissappear once inside. the view of the skyline, the close-set seating and the ample vantage points make this brand new park a true rival of any in baseball. the cards are beloved and the fans deserve this lovely stadium. and if they can just work on venting some of the overwhelming smoke from the countless grills in the concourses away from the spectators, they may have something really special. it's not quite heaven, but it's still pretty darn good. atmosphere: 8 viewability: 9 architecture: 7 peanuts: 6
dodgers vs padres- june 21, 2005 - despite the unforgivable name, the padres new home was a source of great anticipation for me. "let down" might be too strong a term...but not by much. while it is stunning on the exterior, inside was a little TOO retro. it reminded me of all the oldness and character of yankees stadium...which isn't a good thing. there were some nice bits to it (the open park outside right-center, the towers), but they were outnumbered greatly by the not-so-nice. my seat was upper deck, directly behind home plate. but the deck is so steep and "close to the field" that if anyone in front of me leaned forward, i couldn't see the plate. the park views open to a neighborhood that had better be revitalized, stat. the fans were rude (something i DON'T attribute to san diego) and i felt very unwelcome overall. plus I was heckled for standing up in the middle of the 8th inning. atmosphere: 6 viewability: 6 architecture: 8 peanuts: 7
rockies vs indians- june 14, 2005 - after a long stay atop my wish list, i finally made it to "the jake." i was not disappointed. it is a unique and spectacular place. so much so that it has inspired a new category of rating (architecture.) i can only imagine what it was like to see a game there in the mid-90's when every game was sold-out. as it is now, seats are quite easy to come by and i had a good one. jacobs field says "bye bye" to things like symetry and nose bleeds for a truly intimate and fantastic experience. basically, i loved this park. my only complaint was that there were no good baseball fans around me. i would expect there to be a large number of knowledgable and exciting fans in cleveland. i'm sure there are...they just weren't sitting near me. atmosphere: 8 viewability: 9 architecture: 9 peanuts: 5
diamondbacks vs white sox - june 13, 2005 - and the award for greatest over-use of the midi music file format goes to...THE BALLPARK FORMERLY KNOWN AS NEW COMISKEY PARK! that's right, they played everything from ac/dc to the red hot chili peppers to "santa claus is coming to town" (not making that one up) in that oh-so-annoying midi format; with an occassional organ ditty thrown in for good measure. it was horrible. as for the park itself, despite a recent, almost criminal name change, it's very nice. too nice maybe, in that it has no real personality. at least that i could see. the 30,000 fans were into it and it IS a beautiful park, but there is just nothing special about it. sorry guys. but they do also get the award for hottest stadium activities girl. so that's a plus. atmosphere: 6 viewability: 7 architecture: 7 peanuts: 8
cubs vs phillies - july 23, 2004 - having never been to philadelphia, i can say that my only impression of veterans stadium is the giant mud pit that remains where it stood until earlier this year. so, i have no reason to be nostalgic, or happy, or anything about it being gone. all i can do is praise the new home of the phillies. as spacious and beautiful as any of the new parks. not a truly bad seat in the entire place. food that will delight your palette, clog your arteries and kick you in the stomach all at the same time. a great place. the baseball gods were smiling for sure when a day full of rain cleared just at game time. a flawless venue, a great game, and a still-unopened phillies rain poncho: all things that make for a lovely, if humid night. atmosphere: 7 viewability: 9 architecture: 8 peanuts: 0 (unsalted = unacceptable)
astros vs marlins - may 20, 2004 - i'll be the first to admit that i had no particular "excitement" about going to this dual-purpose facility in southern florida. apparently i'm not the only one. but, despite very little character inside (though the exterior was surprisingly fresh) and the fact that MAYBE 5,000 people showed up to cheer on the defending world champions, it was one of the better experiences i've had. culminated by the fact that a policeman gave us free club level tickets when we walked up to the box office. and this much i know, the club level was a very nice indoor thoroughfare with access to some pretty great seats and all the necessities you need. all in all, you have to give it up for a baseball team with cheerleaders that follow the 7th inning stretch with an annoying, yet somehow catchy..."everybody do the fish." whatever that means. atmosphere: 5 viewability: 8 architecture: 6 peanuts: 5
reds vs diamondbacks - june 20, 2003 - on a day when it was 108 degrees out, i was not surprised that the roof was closed at bank one ballpark upon my arrival. just before the game began, the roof opened to powerful classical music and the pool in right field began to fill with people and we were in business. this oasis in the desert is incredibly family friendly...from the arcade to the carmel apples covered in m&m's. a unique, beautiful and surprisingly comfortable place to experience a game, for sure. plus, i sat on the 3rd row AND got a bob brenly mouse pad. did i mention the pool? atmosphere: 8 viewability: 7 architecture: 7 peanuts: 7
blue jays vs red sox- april 20 2003 - if you want an intimate, storied, great baseball experience, there is only one place. fenway park is so unassuming from the outside and, despite it's ancient-ness, it offers a truly rare way to view our nations past time. sure the seats are uncomfortable. sure, the concourses are uneven, but it's fenway. sure it's cursed, but that doesn't affect an afternoon of watching baseball as it was in the olden days. atmosphere: 8 viewability: 9 architecture: 6 peanuts: 7
tigers vs angels - august 14 2002 - two words: rally monkey. in their 2002 world championship campaign, the angels relied heavily on this little guy. to see the spirit of the rally monkey at work, live. well, it's something. edison is another huge place. 1000s and 1000s of empty seats, and there was a good crowd. but even though we all seemed spread apart...there is one unifying force that happens in the 7th inning..."rally time!" atmosphere: 6 (8 when the monkey shows) viewability: 7 architecture: 5 peanuts: 6
cubs vs giants - august 06 2002 - finally, a worthy park for such an amazing city. there's nothing quite like pac bell. the only thing that keeps it from topping my list is the fact that there are too many seats. it's very easy to have a bad seat. it's also very easy to have a great seat, though. mccovey's cove is a great thing to watch if you get bored with the game. a beautiful park, for a beautiful city. definitely worth a ferry ride from the other side of the city. of course, it's all good when you get to see barry bonds hit his 599th home run. atmosphere: 8.5 viewability: 7 architecture: 9 peanuts: 8
giants vs dodgers - july 19 2002 - quite possibly the most fun i've had at a game outside of kc. the dodgers, the giants, a race for the post season. crazy fans. close game. cal tech students fashioning hovercrafts out of napkins. the revine is a great place. the seats were borderline uncomfortable and way too close together, but it's all family in l.a. and everyone is there to root on the dodgers. except, of course, for the giants fans interspersed in the crowd. conflict at it's best. atmosphere: 9 viewability: 7 architecture: 7 peanuts: 7
brewers vs athletics - june 11 2002 - i was pleasantly surprised when i went to the coliseum. it's big, it's concrete and it has all the character of a big, concrete coliseum. but, given the fact that i could wander and sit just about anywhere and enjoy the game, you gotta have respect. and i loved the drummers in left field. the a's flags that are waved constantly from the bleachers and a simple elephant mascot named stomper, who spent most of the game by himself on mt. davis in the 5th deck. just make sure you bring a coat. atmosphere: 5 viewability: 8 architecture: 3 peanuts: 7
giants vs astros - april 19 2002 - whatever you want to call it, it's an anomoly. maybe it's the flag pole in center field. maybe it's the valley of the shadow in left field. or the train that rides the left-center field wall. it is a site. make fun all you want. these were some of the best outfield seats i've ever seen. plus, while i was in houston, i went to the astrodome as well. "the juice" is a much better place to see anything. little quirks and all. atmosphere: 7 viewability: 8 architecture: 8 peanuts: 6
padres vs pirates - august 11 2001 - inaugural year of a great new park. yellow stone as opposed to red brick gives it a unique look over it's "retro" siblings. excitement for the new park gave way to standing room only tickets. which was okay, because the standing room offered a great view from the outfield. lot's of energy, and the always real possibility of someone hitting one into the allegheny river. atmosphere: 8 viewability: 8 architecture: 9 peanuts: 7
brewers vs mets - august 08 2001 - i am a mets fan. there i said it. they are my national league team. i was pumped to go to a game at shea, despite warnings from friends about it's lack of comfort. for me, the experience was worth getting to see my boys play live. the seats weren't bad. the heat (100 degress +) was a little more hindering. i got to see the apple rise when edgardo alfonso hit a homer, and i got to see armando benitez almost blow another save. as for shea itself, or "the big blue bowl" as i like to call it, there are some bad seats, some good, and you can always walk over to the world's fair if you get bored. atmosphere: 6 viewability: 6 architecture: 4 peanuts: too hot for peanuts
angels vs yankees - august 06 2001 - the mecca of all baseball. the house that ruth built. the enormity. as i said i grew up in kc, so as a small market fan, i have to hate the yankees. but i don't have to hate yankee stadium, right? true, it's rich in all that is baseball history. true, i sat in the bleachers in right field and couldn't see a thing. true, it was worth it just for the angry, judgemental yankee fans that sat around me as the yankees lost. to really appreciate a game there, i would have to sit somwhere closer*, but who can afford that? atmosphere: 8 viewability: 4* architecture: 5 peanuts: 7
rangers vs mariners - april 16 2001 - seattle in april. cold, rainy, gray. yet, none of this matters when you're tucked away inside safeco field. when the wind, unbearably comes in off of elliot bay, they close the roof and all is well. it's a great place. i happened to be there for alex rodriguez's first game as a ranger after leaving seattle, so the air was a little extra charged. it made for a great evening. plus, you can eat fish and they fresh roast their peanuts right there. so, how can you go wrong? atmosphere: 8 viewability: 8 architecture: 8 peanuts: 10
rangers vs orioles - june 14 2000 - to date, my favorite ballpark. the original "retro style" park is truly unique. it's beautiful, it's active, and it has a warehouse just over the left field fence. truly there is no other place like it. great seats and, more importantly, a variety of ways to view the game. shamefully, this is one of the few games i have ever left early. it was raining, cold, and 2 1/2 hours in...it was still the 5th inning. i can't wait to go back. atmosphere: 8 viewabilty: 8 architecture: 9 peanuts: 6 (they were wet, after all)
royals vs cardinals - june 07 2000 - ah, the '60s. is there anything better than the "cookie cutter/multipurpose" stadium? the answer...yes. alot of things are better. fortunately, they are all going by the wayside. even more fortunately, is the fact that busch stadium is not like the others. for some reason, in st louis, it works. maybe it's the fact that the cardinals don't share it with a football team. all i know, is that busch stadium is a great place to watch a game. granted, i've never sat in the upper deck, but there's a reason for that now isn't there. it's unique, it's thriving, and if you catch it at the right time of day, there are cool light spots all over the outfield. atmosphere: 7 viewability: 7.5 architecture: 5 peanuts: 7
braves vs rockies - august 19 1999 - coors field is a very nice "retro style" stadium. being the first one i visited, it struck me as a great place. and it is. it has a ton going for it, a downtown, brick and steel, lovely park...with a so-so team and a knack for destroying pitchers due to the altitude. it was not the best experience i've had, nor the worst. it just simply, was. beautiful stadium? yes. beautiful place to watch a ballgame? i'll have to go back and see. atmosphere: 6 viewability : 6.5 architecture: 8 peanuts: 6
phillies vs cubs - june 25 1999 - what's not to love? the history. the tradition. the friendly confines. wrigley is as deserving of praise as any park in the majors. it's quaint, surrounded by everyday city life, and you can watch the game from a nearby rooftop. a gorgeous day, a great game...what's not to love? even from "way up top" (unless you're behind a post) the views are great. and cubs fans love their cubbies, so the experience is worth every cent. atmosphere: 9 viewability: 9 architecture: 6 peanuts: 10 (maybe it's just the air)
cubs vs giants - august 14 1997 - first off, i have to say that i love san francisco. it is, quite possibly, my favorite city in the u.s. that said, it was a happy, happy day when the city voted to build a new downtown stadium...and move the giants out of 3com park. don't get me wrong, for a football game, there's no place quirkier or better than the "stick." but for baseball, it was the dumps. weird angles, distant views. if not for the group of cubs fans i sat with, the experience would have been lost altogether. atmosphere: 5 viewablity: 4 architecture: 4 peanuts: n/a
royals - continuously from 1982-2004 - growing up in kansas city, kauffman stadium (or royals stadium) has long been the stadium of note for me. i would say i am a little biased, but it is one of the best, most beautiful places to watch a baseball game in the country. There are few bad seats and an open outfield complete with the largest fountains in major league baseball. the fact that it is 30 years old and still in incredible shape and rivals any newer park out there, is more than impressive. atmosphere: 7 viewablity: 8 architecture: 6 peanuts: 8
top parks on my current wishlist: -miller park - milwaukee, wi -the ballpark - arlington, tx
footnote - i also had a goal of going to all 4 of the grand slam tennis events (australian open, french open, wimbledon, and u.s open.) this has been completed and can be seen here.
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*NEW*
TROPICANA FIELD - St. Petersburg,
FL 
*NEW*
GREAT AMERICAN BALLPARK-
Cincinnati, OH
BUSCH STADIUM
- St Louis, MO 
PETCO PARK
- San Diego, CA
JACOBS
FIELD - Cleveland, OH
U.S. CELLULAR FIELD - Chicago,
IL
CITIZENS BANK PARK- Philadelphia,
PA 
PRO PLAYER STADIUM- Miami,
FL
BANK ONE BALLPARK - Phoenix, AZ
FENWAY PARK - Boston, MA
EDISON INT'L FIELD - Anaheim, CA
PACIFIC BELL PARK - San Francisco, CA
DODGER STADIUM - Los Angeles, CA
NETWORK ASSOCIATES COLISEUM - Oakland, CA
ENRON/ASTROS FIELD/MINUTE MAID PARK - Houston, TX
PNC PARK - Pittsburgh, PA
SHEA STADIUM - Flushing Queens, NY
YANKEE STADIUM - Bronx, NY
SAFECO FIELD - Seattle, WA
ORIOLE PARK at CAMDEN YARDS - Baltimore, MD
BUSCH STADIUM - St. Louis, MO
COORS FIELD - Denver, CO
WRIGLEY FIELD - Chicago, IL
3COM
(CANDLESTICK) PARK - San Francisco, CA
KAUFFMAN STADIUM - Kansas City, MO