in descending order:
The Metrodome (twice). I have been to two baseball games at the Metrodome. Several football games, which are actually quite pleasant, since the place was obviously built for football. The first baseball game was part of a Basler family vacation when I was a teenager. We sat in left field a couple rows behind the hockey glass. It was fun, probably better than whatever else we did on that vacation. I recall going to a science museum and camping outside of town. The second visit was with Kendra, Sam and Grace in 2000 to see the Cubs. Grace must have been two months old. Our seats were about 18 rows behind first base. Jon Lieber pitched and Sammy Sosa homered. Parking was fine as we were very close. The acoustics were awful, and I couldn't hear anything. (Very similar to Keith's visionless game). The atmosphere was sterile. The only reason to ever go to a game here is to take a two-month old to a Cubs game in July. I hope I won't ever go back. Sam got a plastic Twins batting helmet at the game, old-school insignia.
New Comiskey (twice). I have seen games in New Comiskey from the upper deck and from ten rows behind home plate. I didn't enjoy either experience. When I was in the upper deck, I wished I was watching the game on TV. When I was in the lower level, I wished I was at a game that people cared enough about watching that you couldn't buy tickets ten rows behind home plate at the box office on game day. The second game was the last part of a four games in four days trip with the guys that included Wrigley and Tiger Stadium. That was a great trip for a lot of reasons, but by the time we got to New Comiskey we were probably tired of each other and baseball. I know they played the Blue Jays, but I couldn't tell you who won. Frankly, I didn't care, which never helps.
The Vet (once). This really isn't fair since I have no memory of the game. It was either 73 or 74. My mom and dad took me to see the Braves. I have been told Hank Aaron hit a home run at the game. It was my first game, so I include it in on all my lists of stadiums visited. I rank it this low based on reputation only. My mom recalls the stadium was pretty new at the time.
Three Rivers Stadium (once). This game was part of a Basler family vacation when I was very young, probably 6 to 8. I remember we sat in the upper deck behind home plate. I liked being up so high. I liked the fake line on the turf that separated the infield from the outfield. I think they played the Cardinals, because for years afterwards I used a Pirates v. Cardinals scorecard to play fake baseball games with an antique pinball baseball game my dad had given me. I have always loved going to games with my parents, since they both love baseball. My dad grew up in Pittsburgh and was a Pirates fan. I wore his little league cotton Pirates jersey to the game, a button- down model with sewn-on letters. They don't make Little League jerseys like they used to.
Network Associates Coliseum (once). This was part of a business trip to Oakland in October, 2001. We saw game four of the playoff series between the A's and the Yankees. We were praying for a game four, as was Derek Jeter. As A's fans and Yankees haters we should have just been happy with a refund. We rode the train (BART) to the game which was very painless and easy. Got there when the gates opened and stood behind the Yankees dugout for BP. The chicks back there liked Jeter a lot. I recall eating some awesome garlic fries in our seats which were upper deck behind first base. Lots of line drives in the game, which the Yankees won easily. Jason Giambi would play one more game as an A before switching to the dark side.
Exhibition Stadium (once). This was part of a Basler family vacation to Canada and Niagara Falls when I was probably in junior high. They played the Orioles and we sat in a crowded outfield bleacher-type section. I remember little else about the game but I had fun. I assume I bought one of those plastic Blue Jays batting helmets at the game. When you are on vacation with your parents, you don't pay any attention to parking or ticket costs or anything else. You are just happy to be out of the car.
Busch Stadium (once). This was part of a summer vacation with my parents that Kendra and I went to when I was in law school or just out of school as a young lawyer. I took care of the tickets, which means we had decent seats. Loge level behind third base. It was the Cardinals v. Cubs, of course. Great game. I am pretty sure the Cubs won. I think we rode a shuttle from our hotel to the stadium, so it was painless. I think the Cards still had turf and I recall it was a very hot day. I hope it is a good sign that I remember more about the people I go to games with than I do about the games themselves.
Miller Field (once): Miller Field is way too big of a stadium for the product on the field, and the fact that it has a dome on top doesn't do anything but make it feel bigger. I saw the Dodgers play the Brewers here from the catacomb-like covered lower level bleachers in right field. I used to like County Stadium so much because of tailgating, which it appears they do here but in lots much more remote from the stadium. It is an OK place to watch a game but it also felt a little too much like a mall. I probably won't go back unless it is to see the Cubs. Going to a game nobody cares about is no fun in this sterile environment.
County Stadium (~10 times): There is very little one needs to say about the County Stadium experience except that it was like going to a college football game. In other words, half the fun (or more) was the pre-game tailgate party. It seems as though we always made time to grill out and share a few coldies before games at County Stadium. I have photographs of such gatherings that go a long way towards documenting my various haircuts from 1986-1991 (Beatles, crew cut, spike, mullet). In terms of games attended, I know I got Rich Gedman's autograph at a Red Sox game. I got Don Mattingly's autograph at a Yankees game. I think it was the same Yankees game where the Yankees were warming up near home plate and a stray ball came over to the stands where we were standing and we picked it up. I think it was Rickey Henderson who asked us to give the ball back. We did not oblige Rickey. At various games I sat in the bleachers and the lower deck and the upper deck and I recall all of the seats being good. I also seem to recall Sam Horn throwing Jim a tin of chewing tobacco in the bleachers. And how could I not mention the secret brat sauce? Tasted like it was brewed in heaven!
Dodger Stadium (once): Dodger Stadium reminded me a lot of County Stadium, except with palm trees. It is outdated and slightly faded, kind of like the Dodgers themselves. Sharon Stone throwing out the first pitch was cool, except that it bothered me to watch the major leaguers fawning all over her and her son and pretty much ignoring the poor inner-city kids she had brought with her on to the field as part of some charity night. I like the idea of building a ballpark on the side of the hill and back when Dodger Stadium was built it seemed like the bigger the ballpark felt, the better. I much prefer intimate ballparks, but recognize the value of this classic.
Tiger Stadium (two times): Terry Nims still tells stories about visits to County Stadium the year (and a half) that Miller Park was being built. Terry claims that they started the season with working restrooms and a case of toilet paper and never re-stocked, repaired or even cleaned the restrooms after opening day. The same could be said about our visit to Tiger Stadium for two Red Sox games the year before Comerica Park opened. What a dump! Paint was falling off the walls and everything was broken. The beer stands were the most inefficient I have ever experienced...women adding up order totals doing math by hand on scratch paper. Notwithstanding this fact, Tiger Stadium was a great place to watch a ball game. We parked 100 yards from the entrance and sat in the upper deck...one night in right field and one night in left. I loved the flag pole in center field and how small everything was when you got inside. Guys were pounding home runs off of the steel beams supporting the roof during BP....seemed like we should be running for cover. During a rain delay we even got to see MLB's worst grounds crew roll out the moth-eaten tarp on the field. There is nothing to like about Detroit as far as I can tell, but Tiger Stadium was intimate the ways ball parks should be. The crack of the bat in a mostly-empty stadium during BP sounded louder than life. I also recall a morbidly obese man sitting in the centerfield bleachers...as I recall they were walled-off from the rest of the stadium by a chain-link fence. He was quite a bit larger than life. So much so that we thought he might have been dead, until he finally moved.
Kauffman (Royals) Stadium (~10 times): I went to Royals Stadium an average of once a year from 1976-1982, and I have been back three times as an adult. In the old days, when we lived in the middle of Kansas and went over with the family or the Cubs Scouts for games, we always sat in the upper deck. During the late 70s the Royals were always in the thick of things and the place seemed like it was always packed. They won five division titles in those years and one pennant, with George Brett, Hal McRae, Amos Otis and Larry Gura leading the way. None of them captured my attention like the two Willies--Willie Wilson and Willie Mays Aikens. Not to mention U.L. Washington with his toothpicks. There was no such thing as small market teams or large market teams, but I do recall sitting in the back row of the upper deck to see Reggie Jackson and the Yankees visit. The park has not changed much since then, with the exception of a beautiful grass field, which is much better suited for the skills of the Sodfather, George Toma. Royals Stadium always had lots of parking as it sits on a cement plateau alongside Arrowhead Stadium...now that the stadium is often mostly empty when I visit parking isn't a problem. I went and saw the Cubs play the Royals and got Sammy Sosa's autograph during his incredible June run in 1998. I went and saw the A's play the Royals and got Jason Giambi's autograph during his MVP season in 2000. If only somehow I could manage to get Kyle Farnsworth to give me his autograph in Kansas City...he could become a Cy Young-winning closer. The fountains in the outfield make an otherwise plain ballpark beautiful, but it is the memories that keep me coming back.
Safeco Field (twice): If I had never been to Coors Field, I would have been a lot more impressed with my first visit to Safeco. They are basically the same park in the same neighborhood. Coors has the the mountains to look at and Safeco has the retractable roof. Safeco has good food (garlic fries) and good fans and they do love the Mariners. I saw them play the A's (a night game and a day game). I found out that John Mabry isn't black, which was interesting. I think both games were pretty close, including one where the Mariners won in the last at-bat. Safeco is pretty enclosed, as are Coors Field and Miller Field and even Turner Field. I prefer an opening to the rest of the neighborhood, which is why I like Pac Bell, PNC Park and Wrigley so much better. But Safeco is a good place to watch a ballgame.
Coors Field (once): Greg Nims and I visited Coors Field and saw the Diamondbacks play during June 2001. It is a great looking stadium and Greg had purchased tickets along the first base line with the perfect view of the mountains. Too bad the game was a one-sided rout. I recall that we left early (maybe in the sixth) but we already had spent five hours or so in the park (BP plus game). Before we left, Mike Hampton was allowed to bat for himself even though he was being pulled from the game, kind of a homage to the great hitting season he was having. We explored the whole stadium and even sat in the RockPile way up in centerfield. It is a good place to watch a game, notwithstanding the playground equipment in left field, and I hope to go back for a better game someday.
Turner Field (once): I went to Turner Field on September 11, 2003, with a bunch of people for whom going to a major league game is still a really big deal. (The way it is for Sam, and used to be for me). There was a very touching memorial ceremony before the game with a 21-gun salute, bagpipes, a helicopter flyover and the whole works. When the game started (Greg Maddux on the mound) Bobby Cox got thrown out before the end of the first inning. Anyway, Turner Field is a neat ballpark. Anyone who visits it needs to go up to the children's area above left field. There is a great view of the city from up there and it kind of feels like you are watching the baseball game from the roof of the stadium. Kids can run the bases and there are some cool things for them to run through, etc. There is a big plaza in center field with a steakhouse and a huge patio where people stand to watch the game. Good food, parking close by. It was a good experience.
Oriole Park at Camden Yards (once): I visited Camden Yards during the first season it was open (1992) and the place was slam packed. We sat in the upper deck along the first base line. Off to our right was the huge warehouse wall...the most famous feature of a great ballpark. We ate Boog Powell's barbecue and stood behind the scoreboard in right field for BP. I recall Kendra was afraid she was going to get killed by a Harold Baines line drive. He sure kept pounding them out...I think he was 58 years old at the time. I seem to recall that our seats were awkwardly facing away from home plate, which made for an uncomfortable neck ache. I had to visit the stadium infirmary to get some Advil. Couldn't tell you who the Orioles played or who won the game, but I remember the Advil. I think Cal Ripken may have played that day. Kind of hard to say. I went back to Camden Yards for Opening Day in 2003 and we had a snow delay. It is still a great ballpark. Boog was there but Cal Ripken wasn't.... I always preferred Boog anyway.
Old Comiskey Park (~10 times): When I started going to games at Comiskey Park in 1982, the White Sox were a good team. We would win reduced-price or free tickets for making the honor roll and I remember going to one game with the Trahans. I recall there was a threat of rain and Tom and his siblings did not want to bring their ponchos from the car. Mr. Trahan uttered those words now made famous by George Bush: "Read my lips. Bring your ponchos." I too recall that whenever I went to White Sox games, something magical happened. I recall back-to-back-to-back home runs, a Julio Cruz grand slam, and roof shots. It was a great old ballpark and it seemed like we were always close to the action. I recall once having particularly good seats and not believing me eyes as a Tigers batter (pretty sure it was Nelson Simmons) appeared to start and stop his swing three times while waiting for a Tom Seaver breaking ball. Those were the days...listening to WLS radio on the way down and singing the praises of Ron Kittle, Lamar Hoyt and Greg Luzinski. It is a shame that they call the current travesty on the south side Comiskey Park. I knew Comiskey Park. Comiskey Park was a friend of mine. That is not Comiskey Park.
Pac Bell Park (once): Ranking a ballpark that is this good fourth seems like something of a misprint. I had the second-best seats I have ever had for a ballgame here, in one of those special dugout sections that are closer to home plate than the pitcher's mound. Too bad Barry Bonds didn't play. I wanted to give him a hard time in the on deck circle, which was five feet from my seat. Pac Bell is a great stadium and my favorite features are the obvious ones: McCovey cove, the walkup area outside where you can watch a few innings for free, the statue of Willie Mays. The day I went to the game it was sunny and perfect, not cold like you often hear people say about Candlestick. This was a day game on a Thursday in August and believe it or not it was a sellout. I had a big meal at a restaurant right outside the park so I didn't really sample the food. We parked close but I can see parking being a hassle. Otherwise, it is a great place.
PNC Park (once): I had the best seats I ever had for a baseball game here: front row behind the visiting dugout. I went with a good friend and we ate at the Outback in left field before the game. PNC Park's best feature is the view of downtown Pittsburgh and the Roberto Clemente bridge. However, there are other good features as well. The park is surrounded by statues of famous Pirates, including Pops Stargell, one of my favorites growing up. The out of town scoreboard is cool as it shows the scores and even the baserunners, outs, etc. The stadium is small and intimate, but yet has a surprising number of food options. There is plenty of parking nearby, but I think the coolest thing to do would be to just stay in the city and walk across the bridge to the game. The only thing I didn't like was the player pictures on the scoreboard: they looked a little too artsy for my taste. It was good to see my old friend Matt Stairs, though. He put one in the river on the bounce just for old times sake.
Fenway Park (twice): My first impressions of Fenway were very favorable. It is a neighborhood ballpark, just like Wrigley Field, although parking is even tougher. Now that they have closed Yawkey Way to cars, you can get tasty sausages and stuff outside the park; Fenway Franks are available inside. When you walk in, you have to walk through a convoluted tunnel system before you can even see the field. But stepping out of the tunnel, the place just reeks baseball. I love the Green Monster and Pesky's pole and every asymetrical inch of the outfield. I like how the bullpens are situated and the huge bleachers. The fans love baseball and they worship Nomar and there was quite a buzz both nights (they were playing the Cardinals in interleague play). I imagine the Green Monster seats to be the greatest in all of baseball. Everything is so close to the action...where we sat the first night it seemed like the runners going to first would run right into us. All that having been said, I wish for two improvements: I wish the seats actually faced the field; I also wish there weren't ads covering every square inch of space inside the park. It really, really tarnishes what would otherwise be a beautiful park. Fenway isn't beautiful in my opinion, just quirky and old and great.
Wrigley Field (~50 times): Considering I only lived in Chicago full-time for 6 summers (three of those when I didn't have a driver's license), I feel pretty good about the number of Cubs games I have attended at the Friendly Confines. Going to games and sitting in the bleachers is something that I need to do. The best are Friday afternoon games in the summer...when you should be at work. I have seen a number of memorable games at Wrigley...the first night game that was actually played, Sammy Sosa day, and a game against the Mets that Sammy won with a home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. I have been to double headers when it snowed and double headers when Todd Hundley started in left field for the Mets (making an error on his first chance, as I recall). I have been to a bunch of Cubs v. Cardinals games, one where the Cubs prevailed notwithstanding the fact that Jerry the Lucky Redbird was in attendance (a long story). I recall Greg asking Cliff Floyd where he went to high school and Chris Molsen getting more excited than he should have been over getting Chico Lind's autograph. I have been to Wrigley as part of bachelor parties and birthday parties and on holidays. I have now gone to two playoff games at Wrigley and someday hope to go to more. It really is loud, kind of like a college basketball environment. I took my dad to game 3 of the NLCS in 2003 and we both just sat there and soaked it all in. It was magical. I have taken my son to games at Wrigley and he loves the bleachers too. (His mom said he wasn't allowed to sit there until he was 21, but he made it when he was 2). Oh? You noticed that I haven't said anything about the park itself? That is because the park speaks for itself. You just need to go. I was actually considering ranking Fenway Park above Wrigley until a recent visit to Wrigley where I sat behind home plate (I almost always sit in the bleachers). It is such a great view...the scoreboard, the row houses, the lake, the el train. They keep trying, but they still haven't invented anywhere better to watch a baseball game.
I have been in the BOB, but haven't seen a game there. I would place it at #12 probably. I have also been to both the old and new Durham Bulls Stadium. I would rate the old one at #7, the new one at #8. Ho Ho Kam would be #13 behind the BOB.
Chris's Review
Keith's Review
Steve's Review
Dave's Review