Petco Park is large scale in a number of ways. Padres sluggers are not especially enamored with the ballpark’s dimensions, especially when they glance at the extreme power allies. While straightaway center is a reachable 396 feet, the power allies extend to 402 in left and a whopping 411 in right. These are especially challenging […]
Archive | Visits
Minute Maid Park / Houston Astros
The folks in Houston aren’t afraid to think big. The original home of the Houston Astros, the Astrodome, was hailed a modern wonder of the world. Curiously, Minute Maid Park doesn’t seem to be quite as impressive an undertaking as the Astrodome, at least when you approach it from downtown Houston. True, the plan is […]
Jarry Park / Montreal Expos / 1969-1976
Jarry Park was a small, single-deck ballpark originally constructed as a temporary stadium — one that ended up being used seven seasons as the first home of the Montreal Expos. As such, it was the site of the first MLB regular-season game played outside of the United States on April 14, 1969, in a game […]
Colt Stadium / Houston Colt .45s / 1962-1964
This will not go down in the annals of baseball as one of the most beloved stadiums ever constructed. In fact, there are very few folks who seem to have fond memories of Colt Stadium, the three-year home of the expansion Houston Colt .45s. Seating: 32,601 (1962), 33,010 (1964) Original Cost: $2 million MLB didn’t […]
Astrodome / Houston Astros / 1965-1999
Astrodome / Houston Astros / 1965-1999Seating: 42,217 (1965), 46,000 (1966), 44,500 (1968), 45,000 (1975), 47,690 (1982), 54,816 (1990) Original Cost: $35 million Architects: Hermon Lloyd & W.B. Morgan; Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson Though domed stadiums had been proposed several times dating back to the 1950s — domed stadiums were designed for the Brooklyn Dodgers […]
Holman Stadium / Dodgertown Photo Gallery
Holman Stadium / Dodgertown Photo GalleryPrevious: a look at Holman Stadium and Dodgertown.
Holman Stadium / Dodgertown
A look back at Holman Stadium and Dodgertown when they served as the spring-training home of the Brooklyn Dodgers/Los Angeles Dodgers. Year Opened: 1953 Capacity: 6,474 Architect: Designed by Norman Bel Geddes (famous theatrical designer and architect of the Futurama building at the 1964 New York World’s Fair); engineered by Captain Emil Praeger Dimensions: 340L, […]
U.S. Cellular Field / Chicago White Sox
Commonly referred to as Chicago’s other baseball team, the American League White Sox reside at 35th Street and Shields and play at U.S. Cellular Field (Comiskey Park until 2003). While “The Cell” does not have nearly the romantic history of its rival in Wrigleyville or the “Old” Comiskey Park, it’s a vastly underrated ballpark. FACT […]
Charlotte County Sports Park / Tampa Bay Rays / Charlotte Stone Crabs
Longtime spring-training aficionados may be able to recognize Charlotte County Sports Park as the former spring home of the Texas Rangers, remodeled to serve as the spring home of the Tampa Bay Rays and the regular-season home of the Charlotte Stone Crabs. Maybe. FAST FACTS Opened: 1988; renovated in 2009 Cost: $5 million original construction; […]
Camelback Ranch / Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox / 3
Camelback Ranch opens this spring as the home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox and promises to be one of the best places to catch a game or practice in the Cactus League. Page 3 of our preview.< Previous: Looking at the actual ballpark As you sit in the grandstand, you’ll see […]
Camelback Ranch-Glendale / Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox
Camelback Ranch-Glendale, the spring home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox, has become one of the best places to catch a game or practice in the Cactus League. With a layout that invites fan participation and a design that looks like it’s been part of the desert forever, Camelback Ranch-Glendale is a […]
Goodyear Ballpark / Cleveland Indians / 4
The new spring home of the Cleveland Indians combines a state-of-the-art training complex with one of the more pleasant ballparks in the Cactus League. < Previous: Touring the training facility For a team training in recent years at Winter Haven’s Chain of Lakes Park – complete with cramped and old clubhouse spaces – the difference […]
Goodyear Ballpark / Cleveland Indians
Goodyear, located on the far western edge of the greater Phoenix area, isn’t the first place to come to mind when brainstorming for the ideal spring-training locale. But the new spring home of the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds combines state-of-the-art training complexes with one of the more pleasant ballparks in the Cactus League, in […]