Nine Ballparks I Love
November 19, 2007 by Geoff Young
Filed under Minor Leagues, Odds and Ends
Apropos of nothing, here are nine of my favorite ballparks to visit:
- Petco Park: San Diego, Calif. So much more conducive to baseball than Qualcomm Stadium was. Love me a park next to the water.
- The Diamond: Lake Elsinore, Calif. Some of my fondest baseball memories call this place home.
- Tony Gwynn Stadium: San Diego. There are more beautiful ballparks, but I love this one anyway.
- The Epicenter: Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Another great Cal League park. Surrounded by softball fields; usually there are multiple games being played.
- Raley Field: Sacramento, Calif. Another ballpark near water.
- Durham Bulls Athletic Park: Durham, N.C.. History, Bull Durham, my buddy Jeff. What could be better?
- Banner Island Ballpark: Stockton, Calif. More water.
- Surprise Stadium: Surprise, Ariz. Great place for a night game.
- Bricktown Ballpark: Oklahoma City, Okla. More history. Statues of Johnny Bench, Mickey Mantle, Warren Spahn, etc.
And two more (because these go to eleven!), old school:
- The Ballpark: Old Orchard Beach, Maine. First minor-league game I ever attended. Maine Guides vs Columbus Clippers, Opening Day 1987. Jay Buhner, Orestes Destrade, Al Holland, Ron Jones…
- Tiger Stadium: Detroit, Mich. Made it here once, during the ‘84 World Championship season. Closest I’ve ever come to catching a foul ball.
So, where do you like to watch a game?
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Fenway, by far my favorite park nothing has even come close.
Goeff, I thought this post was good, and I submitted it to Ballhype.
Hope you are not annoyed.
Steve: Haven’t been to Fenway; I hear conflicting things about it.
Six: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
Really? I cant see how anyone would not like Fenway, its like stepping back into the 1920’s
The one criticism I’ve heard is that it’s a little too much like the ’20s in some respects.
Those all sound like good choices, but if you get the chance checkout Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, KY. It’s similar to Durham Bulls Athletic Park, but a little easier to move around in. If DBAP is your number 6, LSF could be your new number 5. Oh, and it is very close to the Ohio River, so more water. I’m biased of course, (Go, Bats!), but several people from out of town I’ve taken there have all had nice things to say about it.
Thanks for the tip on LSF. I’ve heard good things about it but never gotten up that way. Hmmm, sounds like a road trip may be in order…