by My Tour Around Major League Baseball by Shane Scheckel
Some thoughts that go into a ballpark road trip. Yes, I’ve been to a lot of parks, but I have three key factors that MUST work for it to happen.
Can I/we walk on the trip (not walking to a city, but walking around once we get there) to help limit eliminate a need for a rental car. We also like to walk and see other things in any particular downtown.
Drive cost down! Can we stay somewhere inexpensive I mean we’re not going to stay at the Bates Motel, but we’re also not going to stay at the Drake either. Weekdays are also usually cheaper.
Can we double dip? Meaning if we go to Chicago can we see both the Cubs and the Sox in the same trip? Usually it’s a no. MLB doesn’t like both teams in the same city to be home the same weekend.
What we hope for is wraparounds. Meaning can we see the Cubs Friday, Saturday, Sunday then wait and hope the Sox start a home stand on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday? That way we can see two teams in one trip.
Also, Julie is an incredible planner! That being said here is a roundup of the stadiums I have seen so far!
Municipal Stadium
With so many memories as a little kid of this park, I’ll try to keep this short and sweet. Some of the best times were the “behind the park picnics” (free ice cream)! You just hoped your seats were not behind a pole! You also were lucky if there was 8,000 fans during a weekday game. Just wished the team was better back then!
Jacobs Field
As a city, we’re lucky to have such a gem of a ballpark! With very few “bad seats” in the house, the feel there makes it a very fun place to go. From the field seats, to the club seats, to the luxury seats and beachers, you always have a great view! Especially the downtown view. Probably my favorite park!
Tiger Stadium
By far (and it’s not even close) the absolute biggest ballpark I have ever seen! It was a real struggle from the upperdeck to the outfield seats to see home plate. Also unique was the upperdeck outfield seats ran even to the lowerdeck outfield seats, so the lowerdeck seats were in the shade early in a game. Also something I’ve never seen was a three seat sofa in the upperdeck!? And yes, I sat in it for an inning…not comfy!
Comerica Park
Probably the only time in my life where I didn’t feel safe! We parked literally two blocks away from the ballpark and not only did I fear for safety, but also hoped my car would still be there after the game! But having said that, it’s a nice park. The big Tigers at the entrance were cool. Also, the outfield Tigers with glowing orange eyes were neat as well. It’s a big park also.
Three Rivers Stadium
The only drop I’ve ever had happened here! Barry Bonds hit a ball off the fourth facing of the upperdeck, coming straight down at me…….and I missed it! To be kind, I was not happy! Not sure all fans remember how poor the old graphics were in some of these older parks? We have definitely evolved over the times.
PNC Park
The builder/designer did an incredible job making this park! The downtown view is great! And for some reason this park seems lower than others, making you feel closer to the game. With plenty of steel on the outside of the ballpark, you definitely know you are in Pittsburgh. But inside it has a great feel and enjoyable game experience. Parking was good too.
Riverfront Stadium
As was the case with most of these “70s” parks, Riverfront was no different. A circular cookie cutter place. The only difference from Three Rivers Stadium was instead of their seats being blue and yellow, the Reds had yellow and red. The one thing I can say about Riverfront that was unique was it sat on top of a parking garage!? Definitely different.
Great American Ballpark
If you ever want to see a baseball explode off a bat, go to this place! It is a nice place to see a game and as with Comerica Park, Great American also has a “missing” section in it’s upper deck. Not sure if that’s an “In” thing, but a few parks that I went to had that. Wish there was more to do around the ballpark instead of having to cross a bridge to get a cocktail in Kentucky.
The Vet
Without a question the absolute worst playing surface I’ve ever seen/been to! You could see the rips in the turf in the outfield! Again, a circular stadium with four decks. Also, the smallest scoreboard I’ve ever seen! Kind of felt bad for Philly fans back then. And no, I did not see the jail that was there, but an attendant did tell me there was there. I also didn’t see the world’s largest rats that were legend there…Thank god!
Fenway Park
Being in Bost for only 22 hours, I had to make Fenway a must and I’m glad I did! A special ballpark that smelled historic! I even sat on top of the monster for two innings. So cool! Then back to reality, I sat in my seat for the rest of the game. Let’s just say they’re not build for tall or wide men. One of the best sounds I’ve ever heard was a baseball hitting the Green Monster for a double, INCREDIBLE!
Wrigley Field
If you ever want to drown your sorrows away on a Tuesday afternoon, then the Wrigley bleachers is your spot! Not a fan of the fancy, the fans in the bleachers are in full effect by the second inning!
If you’re not in the bleachers, beware because there are lots of poles that can obstruct a view (reminds me of municipal stadium in that aspect). And yes, I saw Harry Carey and 29,000 others sing take me out to the ballgame! Plenty to do around the stadium as well!
Camden Yards
A great ballpark that probably was the springboard for all the other new parks! Great feel and seats are comfy! Plus, you can bring your own food into the ballpark, how cool! A perfect place for a Natty Boo and ballgame! Cool that they incorporated the old rail building on Eutaw Street! Also didn’t know you could spell Utah differently??
US Cellular Field
Please don’t walk around US Cellular Field! And if you take the train be carful! Wish they would have moved this park 90ft to the north to get a city skyline in their outfield. With that said, one of the pricier tickets $40 for an upperdeck outfield seat 15 years ago! I guess the Reinsdorf’s know how to make money in the Windy City!
Minute Maid Park
Plenty of cool features with this ballpark! From the glass outfield wall complete with working train to the scoreboard, to the right field overlook terrace area. A lot of views being an indoor facility.
Only one catch that I’ve seen in a retractable roof park was that it was raining outside (so you would think you would be good) but they cleared out a section of the upper deck and passed out umbrellas to other fans nearby! Yes, it rained inside the ballpark! Unbelievable!
Safeco Field
Such a cool ballpark with an awesome view of downtown Seattle from anywhere along the first base side! Nice scoreboard and friendly fans, Safeco was a great ballpark experience! Another cool feature is, yes it is a retractable roof, but you still feel the outside weather!
Meaning there are no walls with the retractable roof so you are not fully enclosed like Minute Maid Park. I thought that was neat! Lots to do around Safeco, but be prepared to pay, Seattle is expensive!!
Ballpark at Arlington
They say things in Texas are bigger and the Ballpark at Arlington is no different! Big big park as well as a big area in which it sits! Being shocked they were replacing it, I wanted to go. Was really impressed with its brick work on the outside of the park! Nice and clean…and HOT! Now I know why they just built a retractable new park.
Turner Field
Again, I wanted to go because they were closing it. Wasn’t overly impressed with the inside of the ballpark, looked more like a college stadium for baseball. The stonework on the outside though, was really nice. Unfortunately, you could barely see the Atlanta skyline from the park being so far away.
Busch Stadium
You talk about a city and builder/designer that did it right! The people in St. Louis nailed it with Busch Stadium! Probably the best baseball/ballpark experience in MLB! You don’t have to be a cards fan to have an awesome time here. So much to do beforehand from food and drink, to singing and dancing, to the ultimate sports experience with the Fox Midwest Sports Complex and it’s all attached to the entrance of Busch Stadium. Nice views from any angle with plush seats, you’ll definitely want to go back again! It’s called ballpark village just so you know.
Miller Park
One of the cool things about Miller Park is before you even walk in 60-70% of the outside surrounding area is woods/greenery! A nice, fresh smelling area! A neat feature with their retractable roof is it retreats into a “V” shape, instead of going only in one direction. A nice ballpark with a huge yellow slide in which Bernie the Brewer slides down after a home team home run! And yes, we saw him slide down after Ryan Braun crushed one to dead centerfield.
Petco Park
A sweet ballpark! Complete with a beach and dog park inside the ballpark, Petco is a gem! With how the warehouse is incorporated to be apart of the playing field/Homerun area. It’s a must see!
Also, the only ballpark that I’ve been to where they sell margaritas, and the vendors bring it to you! Wow!! And the Tony Gwynn statue in center field tops this place perfectly! If you are a craft beer enthusiast and like a wide array of foods to choose from then San Diego is you next stop!
Chase Field
If you ever want to see this retractable roof open, good luck! That’s because it’s only open on fireworks night or 10 a.m – noon. There fireworks nights are really cool with the roof open and the shadow boxes in centerfield open as well making it a good experience. Now I just have to find a way into that pool in centerfield for a game and I would be set!
Coors Field
Another ballpark with beautiful brickwork for it’s exterior! Right in the heart of downtown, Coors Field has a lot to see. A big park with a nice right field terrace. And who knew you could also be a part of the “mile high club”! Get your mind out of the gutter, they have a row of seats in the upper deck that spans the entire park that are purple.
That indicates that you are one mile above sea level. If there was on flaw about Coors Field it is that it needs to be turned 180° so that the entire downtown Denver would be it’s outfield skyline.
Coming tomorrow, I will take you around the NFL!
