Every year at this time my buddy Max and several other friends go on an annual vacation where they spend a week driving around the US taking in baseball games at several different major and minor league ballparks. This has inspired me to write this weeks blog on my own favorite ballparks. Feel free to weigh in
1) Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs) - Aside from Albert Pujlos, The Friendly Confines might be the only thing that makes the National League worth watching. It is the only ballpark I know planted right in the middle of a residential neighborhood, and the ivy brick outfield wall gives Alfonso Soriano and the rest of the Cubs outfielders an excuse for dogging it.
2) Yankee Stadium (NY Yankees) - I absolutely can't stand the Yankees but hey, it is Yankee Stadium. There is more history in that ballpark than the rest of the American league parks combined.
3) PNC Park (Pittsburgh Pirates) - I got to go to PNC field last year and the park really is amazing. Great sight lines for watching the games, a great view of downtown Pittsburgh and the Allageny (sp.?) River and awesome food. Once they get a major league team to play there it will be even better.
4) Skydome/Rogers Centre (Jays Baby) - I know its ugly and it has a stupid name, but it is the home of the Toronto Blue Jays and when you grow up watching a team, getting to go and see the place where your favorite players come and play everyday has a charm that can't be replaced. Its where John Olerud very politely made a run at .400, where Robbie Alomar made No Fear t-shirts the best selling clothing item in the world for boys between the ages of 7 and 12 and where Joe Carter touched em all'.
5) Labatt Park (London, ON) - I figured I should put one non-MLB park on the list. While some might suggest that I am biased because I grew up in London, I would challenge anyone to find a nicer minor league ballpark park. It used to be the home of the London Tigers, the AA affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, but currently only houses local and intercounty games. The field is kept in amazing condition, there is a great view of the downtown London skyline and if you are doing enough steroids you can probably hit a ding dong into the Thames River.
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Thank God - someone that doesn't have Fenway Park as a Top 5! A sense of history only covers up so much...it was pretty cool to watch the Jays play there, though (and see Adam Lind's first major league hit).
ReplyDeleteTouring ballparks is something I'd love to do, given the requisite time and funding...maybe some day!
My sentiments exactly Mike! Well said about the NL and Wrigley field (though I have not been there) they have my son's name sake shagging flies in Left! PNC looks like a cool place to see a game, maybe that will be the motivation to do a ball park road trip! I love that you added Labatt Park (how canadian!) that shit makes my heart swell, and miss london! I hear you about Yankee stadium and all the history. Last year the people calling the fan590 and getting sentimental about the place, not to disrespect the game or anything but all the history I care about and need to know has happened down at 1 Bluejays Way!
ReplyDeleteNick I always dug the name Arkells, now I'm totally loving the track "the boss is coming" and now courtesy of CFNY I now realized that your a fan of the bezzball!
Looking forward to seeing the Arkells when you come back? to The Swig aka Toronto left arm pit! aka The Shwaw!
great blog nick! you have a knowledgable opinion and a witty way of expressing it, keep the correspondents coming buddy.
ReplyDeletecheers,
larson
ps- was in the new yankee stadium last month. we were in the 3rd bline upper deck and still had a great view of joba chamberlain pitching AND was easily able to sneak in a mickey, hope u boys get to tour NY soon.
Hey Nick,
ReplyDeleteI think non-major league ballparks are definitely underrated. They are usually much more quaint and have an air of nostalgia about them - like you get the sense this is how baseball was supposed to be watched and not in super-structures. In fact, watching ballgames in massive stadiums almost seems dyssymmetrical.
Here are my 5 [Major League Parks] with my above concerns in mind:
1) Wrigley Field
2) PNC Ballpark
3) Miller Park
4) Minute Maid Park
5) Commerica
Minor League Ballparks to see:
1) State College Spikes - located on a beautiful Penn State Campus
2) Syracuse Chiefs - The train that often goes by completes the aura of this ballpark
3) West Michigan Whitecaps - A great ballpark complemented nicely by the atmoshpere of the fans
4) Brooklyn Cyclones -- right in the heart of Coney Island.
5) Buffalo Bison - Underrated park because it is Buffalo.
However, if you are a fan of baseball, you can't go wrong watching a minor league game of any level at any ballpark.
DB
Labatt Park for real? Yeah sure its nice if you can look past all the hookers and syringes -sometimes both at the same time - its littered with. This is nothing but a partisan answer - meant to appeal to the majority of your readers (namely stoned hookers). Some professionalism in the future would be appreciated.
ReplyDeleteG to the Izzo -- it is good to see that stoned hookers like yourself are learning how to use technology. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteG to the izzo:
ReplyDeleteAs for the hookers - who else would show up to watch Intercouny London Majors games? London needs another minor league team!
dunn_basher: I prefer the term sex worker, and yes we know how to use computers, you fascist.
ReplyDeleteNick: touche