At long last, baseball season is here. As the Mets prepare to exact sweet revenge on the Cardinals, I can't help but think about one of my favorite aspects about America's Pastime: the ballpark.
Baseball is the only sport where the area of play is not consistent in each stadium. A football field is 100 yards, and a basketball court is 94-by-50 feet, but besides the distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate and the base paths, each stadium is unique (although every stadium built after 1958 has to be at least 325 feet to the foul pole and 400 feet to center field. But besides that, stadium designers can go wild).
That wasn't always the case. Once upon a time, baseball teams wanted cookie-cutter, fit-as-many-people-as-you-can ballparks (think the old Busch Stadium, Three Rivers Stadium and Cinergy Field). Fortunately, the majority of those eyesores have been demolished, and now nearly every stadium is a delight to visit and unique in its own way.
First, there are the classics: stadiums where the sight lines may not be the best and the seats may be tight, but are essentially landmarks. I'm talking about Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field and of course, Fenway. I've had the privilege of visiting two out of those three - I'll make it to Wrigley one day - and the rush I got just from sitting and watching the game was incredible. Although I have no love for the Yankees, I was upset when I learned Yankee Stadium is going to be demolished, since there is so much history there. For the same reasons, I hope Fenway and Wrigley are always maintained, even if the teams move elsewhere.
Then, there are the new parks, parks that are not only aesthetically pleasing but provide an enjoyable and comfortable atmosphere in which to watch the games. Compare Shea Stadium to Citi Field - the Mets current home versus the Mets future home. Citi Field holds about 12,000 fewer people than Shea but will have better sight lines, more seating room, more restaurants and will resemble Ebbets Field. The team makes up the money from lost seats with luxury boxes, and everyone is happy. Pittsburgh may still be in the basement of the National League Central, but at least PNC Park, with the highest seat only 88 feet from the field, there is intimacy.
Many ballparks have certain quirks that add to their uniqueness. I'm not just talking about the Green Monster at Fenway or the Ivy at Wrigley. I'm talking about more ridiculous things, like the swimming pool in right center field at Chase Field (formerly Bank One Ballpark, still nicknamed "The BOB") in Arizona (imagine floating on your back and being hit with a home run ball). Minute Maid Park in Houston has Tal's Hill, a 30-degree incline, in center field, which provides both hazards and amusement, and Miller Park in Milwaukee has a giant yellow slide that the Brewers' mascot slides down every time they hit a home run.
The great thing about the new parks is the retractable roof. As much as I love doubleheaders, having a game cancelled because of rain sucks, especially if you were supposed to go to the game. This technology prevents rainouts and provides relief from bad weather in warmer or colder climates. In addition, artificial turf seems to be a thing of the past. Real grass just looks better and has a less sterile feel.
All these differences make baseball so interesting. Before the humidor was installed, Coors Field in Colorado was a pitcher's worst nightmare. In contrast, every pitcher hopes his spot in the rotation comes up when the team heads to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Lefties that can pull the ball love the short porch in Yankee Stadium (I know Babe Ruth did), while gap hitters adore the power alleys at Shea.
With so many great ballparks, I'm a little upset I've only attended games at four of them: Shea Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park and Camden Yards in Baltimore. My friend Sarah is living out part of a fantasy (and part of a MasterCard commercial from a few years ago), trekking across part of the country to watch games at different parks. Although this trip will only include a small sampling of ballparks (such as Comerica Park in Detroit, Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia and the Rogers Centre in Toronto), I can only hope to one day follow in her footsteps and make the rounds to every ballpark in the country.
Now that would be a dream come true.
