eBaseball Parks
your online home for baseball's homes
Archive for January, 2011
January 18, 2011 at 12:00 am · Filed under Go, Stadium Recommendation, Stadium Review
Must See Status: 6/10Threat Level: Green (Renovated in 2009)Home of: Kansas City RoyalsThe bad news first, in order to enjoy this classic gem of baseball stadium design, you will have to endure the atrocious product the Royals regularly deliver on the field. Assuming the usual early-season cellar dive holds true for foreseeable seasons in the future, Kauffman Stadium can only be recommended to fans who are able to appreciate baseball architecture, even at the expense of actual baseball. With that said, Kauffman Stadium is a true diamond in the rough as far as stadiums built in the 70′s are concerned. In an era when uninspired construction plans dominated the Major League Baseball landscape, Kauffman stadium brought a fresh dose of fresh creativity and imagination. With its trademark outfield fountains, representing Kansas City‘s famous moniker, “The City of Fountains,” beyond the Kauffman wall is a sight that can’t be replaced or replicated anywhere in the game today. Recent renovations have taken a ballpark that was once on the verge of antiquation and revived it with state of the art amenities, all while tastefully preserving the spirit of the stadium, adding a gargantuan HD scoreboard, fine dining and updated concession establishments, a right field sports bar, revamped bathrooms, an improved kids area, an impressive outfield concourse and a left field Hall of Fame/conference center. Read the rest of this entry »
January 14, 2011 at 12:00 am · Filed under Go, Stadium Recommendation, Stadium Review
Must See Status: 7/10Threat Level: Green (constructed in 1996)Home of: Atlanta BravesWhile the Braves are one of the winningest franchise in the past two decades, their legendary 14 straight division title streak began in Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, including their only World Series title while in Atlanta (1995). During its latter years, Fulton County Stadium was simply shoddy and out-of-date, albeit historic, now existing only a parking lot across from The Ted. Fortunately for those who would like to re-visit Braves memories of yesteryear, demolitionists preserved the stretch of wall and backdrop where Hank Aaron’s famous 715th home run landed. Also, a large amount of Braves lore has been preserved at Turner, including the Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum and Hall of Fame, full of history dating all the way back to the teams inaugural days in Boston. Read the rest of this entry »
January 12, 2011 at 12:00 am · Filed under Go, Stadium Recommendation, Stadium Review
Must See Status: 10/10Threat Level: Yellow (Constructed in 1916)Home of: Chicago CubsIf there’s one destination on the baseball map truly worth a visit, no inhabitants have a better argument than Chicago Cubs fans. Though Wrigley Field is certainly in no danger of being torn down (putting your mind at ease about the Yellow threat level), the chances Wrigley Field undergoes substantial renovations down the line is significant. Yes, in many cases renovations are a good thing, but after seeing the spaceship re-designers dropped on the Chicago Bear’s Soldier Field, any talk of touching this quintessential baseball classic is sure to make locals nervous. Wrigley’s charm is largely dependent on its old-timey feel, something any sort of wide sweeping “upgrade” could very well compromise. As it currently stands, Wrigley is one of the few remaining portals to baseball’s past, something well worth enduring less than pristine amenities. Certainly some refurbishing is good for public health and keeping up with the times, as seen in the offseason prior to the 2010 season, when bathrooms were redone, the scoreboard was restored, along with player clubhouse improvements and press box expansions. What worries Cubs fans and fans of baseball in general are larger scale structural changes. Read the rest of this entry »
January 8, 2011 at 12:00 am · Filed under Go, Stadium Recommendation, Stadium Review
Must See Status: 8/10Threat Level: Green (constructed in 2000)Home of: San Francisco GiantsFittingly located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, AT&T Park plays home to the 2010 World Champion San Francisco Giants. While the World Series winning squad may have taken home the end of the year hardware to the stadium, the relatively young ballpark is still perhaps most commonly associated with the long balls launched from the bat of Barry Bonds, reigning home run king and arguably the most controversial figure in baseball. Bonds two most significant home runs, his 715th to pass Babe Ruth and his 756th to pass Hank Aaron, both occurred in home games, with neither the AT&T fence nor gravity posing a formidable threat. Sending several fastballs and hanging curves well beyond the right field wall into the watery depths of McCovey Cove, San Francisco’s splashdown home runs (55 by the Giants with 35 by Bonds) provide perhaps the most unique big fly setting in the Majors, sending kayakers scrambling across the water in pursuit of a take home souvenir. Read the rest of this entry »