It is a relic of the myths surrounding the origins of America’s Pastime, a quaint village ballpark that for many years hosted a major-league exhibition game due to its proximity to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Still, Doubleday Field in downtown Cooperstown is a charming little ballpark that plays host to high-school, college and […]
Author Archive | Kevin Reichard
SunLife Stadium / Florida Marlins
SunLife Stadium is a great place to catch a football game, but so far unsuccessful in sustaining any kind of fan base for baseball. This will be the final season there for the Florida Marlins. FAST FACTS Year Opened: 1987 Capacity: 47,622 Architect: Populous Dimensions: 330L, 385LC, 434LC, 404C, 385RC, 345R Playing Surface: Grass Website: […]
Dodger Stadium / Los Angeles Dodgers
When you talk about venerable major-league ballparks, a short list must contain Dodger Stadium. Built in 1962 by the O’Malley family and designed by Emil Praeger on the hillside of Chavez Ravine, Dodger Stadium for many years was the gold standard in ballparks, the facility by which all other ballparks were compared. FACT FACTS Year […]
Dickey-Stephens Park / Arkansas Travelers
If you’re going to replace a legendary ballpark, you had best make sure the replacement is a worthy successor. In the case of Dickey-Stephens Park, the new home of the Arkansas Travelers is a worthy successor to Ray Winder Field, the team’s longtime home. FAST FACTS Year Opened: 2007 Capacity: 5,288 fixed seats; berms […]
Dehler Park / Billings Mustangs
It is so hard to follow in the footprints of a legend. Dehler Park, home to the Billings Mustangs, is the replacement for Cobb Field, one of the great old ballparks in the minor leagues. Cobb Field ended up being one of the sadder ballpark stories in recent years: built in 1948 and housing a […]
Dick Putz Field / St. Cloud River Bats
Dick Putz Field was originally built as the home of the St. Cloud Rox of the original Northern League, with the team playing in the unfinished facility in 1971. When that circuit folded, the ballpark served the needs of St. Cloud’s many amateur, Legion, high-school and college teams. For them, a 2,000-seat ballpark was more […]
Jackie Robinson Ballpark / Daytona Cubs
You don’t get any more Floridian than Jackie Robinson Ballpark, home of the Daytona Cubs of the Florida State League. Much of Florida’s baseball history intersects on this small island outside of downtown Daytona Beach, while one of the most important events in baseball history took place there as well. FAST FACTS Year Built: […]
Fifth Third Field / Dayton Dragons
Fifth Third Field would fit well within the Class AA Eastern League or even the Class AAA International League: the ballpark is highly comfortable, and the management of the Dayton Dragons throws a great ballgame. There’s little to dislike about the Midwest League’s flagship. And the fans of Dayton seem to agree: Dragons games are […]
Champion Stadium / Atlanta Braves
The spring-training home of the Atlanta Braves, Champion Stadium (formerly known as Disney Field, Disney’s Wide World of Sports, Cracker Jack Stadium and The Ballpark at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex) is architecturally one of the flashier venues for spring training.It’s also one of the largest: with 9,500 seats (80 percent between the first […]
Copeland Park / La Crosse Loggers
You know a ballpark is in the right location when there are three neighborhood bars within easy walking distance. It would be un-American not to put down a brew or a snort before a La Crosse Loggers game, so you can take your choice of Honest Paul’s L&M, the Sports Nut or the Krazy L. […]
Coors Field / Colorado Rockies
Spend some time in Denver’s LoDo District and you’ll soon realize how homogenous the area is: the former warehouse area surrounding the train station is on a human scale (most buildings are three or four stories high), with darker brickwork the dominant architectural element. So the challenge facing the designers of Coors Field, the home […]
Cooper Stadium / Columbus Clippers
One of the oldest ballparks in North America still in use in affiliated ball (it opened in 1932), Cooper has added a few modern amenities like rooftop suites, a picnic area and some between-inning activities. But the main gist of a visit here is to experience old-time baseball in an old-time setting with old-time values. […]
Comerica Park / Detroit Tigers
Comerica Park is never going to be as beloved or as celebrated as Tiger Stadium. It is a ballpark Donald Trump might like because there seems to be an endless font of ways for people to spend money. Owner Mike Ilitch looked at his club’s past and decided it had merit as a first course […]