Archive | Features

Janet Marie Smith and the Baltimore Orioles unveiled their vision of a renovated Ed Smith Stadium, provided the plan clears legal hurdles. On the table: a second-level concourse, new entryway, extended canopy and 1,500 more seats, all built in what's known locally as the Sarasota style of architecture. Janet Marie Smith and the Baltimore Orioles […]

Maybe we were a tad hasty in proclaiming the Cubbies firmly ensconced in Arizona, as several Cactus League teams and Commissioner Bud Selig have spoken out against a funding plan for a new Mesa spring-training facility that calls for a ticket surcharge on all Cactus League teams — and the opposition may give new owner […]

The next stop on our spring-training tour: McKechnie Field, the spring home of the Pittsburgh Pirates. McKechnie Field is authentically old, without the faux sheen of retro features so prevalent in new spring-training complexes these days. Built in 1923 for the St. Louis Cardinals and still known by many oldtimers as the former spring home […]

With spring training approaching, we'll be posting daily stories on spring facilities past and present. We kick off with a look at a Yankee classic still in use: Huggins-Stengel Field at Crescent Lake Park. The former workout facility of the New York Yankees — dedicated in 1925 by St. Pete Mayor Al Lang, with Miller […]

We dip into the vaults once again to bring you the story of another memorable ballpark: Crosley Field, the longtime home of the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati is often called the "cradle of baseball." When baseball fans think about Cincinnati, they think about firsts. The first professional baseball team. Charter members of the National League and […]

New Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts and crew are bypassing the ambitious Wrigley 2014 renovation plan for now and will instead work on a series of cosmetic changes costing far less — but at some point the long-term viability of the Friendly Confines must be addressed. New Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts and crew are […]

After posting our preview of Target Field, the new home of the Minnesota Twins, we were swept by waves of nostalgia for our misspent youth and put together a look back at Metropolitan Stadium, the first home of the Twins after the franchise moved from Washington. After posting our preview of Target Field, the new […]

Looking back, it's clear that 2009 was a fantastic year for ballparks old and new. But what will the future hold? Here are our top trends for 2010 and beyond. It was a record-setting year for new ballparks, with many, many new and renovated facilities opening on the major-league, minor-league and college levels. Given the […]

Here are the top stories of 2009, as measured by page views. It was a great year for ballpark fans, with several new and renovated facilities opening their doors in 2009. No surprise, then, that the most popular stories of the year were mostly related to new ballparks. Here are the most popular stories of […]

Tonight the Twins begin their final series under the roof at the Metrodome. They'll be paying homage to the great baseball played there — but very few fans will actually miss the place. Back in 1981 I was at one of the first Minnesota Twins games at the Metrodome, an exhibition match against the Philadelphia […]

Some procedural issues between the city of Sarasota and Sarasota County are delaying a deal for the Baltimore Orioles to train at a renovated Ed Smith Stadium as soon as 2010.The Baltimore Orioles and Sarasota County are close to an agreement to bring the team to Ed Smith Stadium for spring training in 2010, but […]

We visit Progressive Field, the home of the Cleveland Indians. If you ever questioned the great and mighty power of karma in our universe, take a visit to gorgeous Progressive Field in Cleveland. After years of suffering through the cold and damp of Cleveland Municipal Stadium – the original “Mistake on the Lake” – local […]

Talks are heating up over the future spring home of the Baltimore Orioles, with team officials meeting today with reps from Lee County — but don’t count out Sarasota just yet.Talks are heating up over the future spring home of the Baltimore Orioles, with team officials meeting today with reps from Lee County — but […]