Stadium Journey Magazine Ranks the MLB Ballparks
By (Senior Analyst) on May 10, 2012
2,133 reads
Fenway Park Ranks at the Top
The sports travel website, StadiumJourney.com, recently published their fourth Stadium Journey Magazine. The most recent edition covers the ballparks of Major League Baseball. Included in the magazine is a ranking of each MLB ballpark.
Ranking lists like these always cause debate and this will be no different, with Tropicana Field ranking ahead of PNC Park being the primary criticism of this particular list.
What do you think?
1. Fenway Park, Home of the Boston Red sox
Fenway Park Night Game
There's little doubt that Fenway Park is an icon of the sport, but even after a century, it is amazing that this could still be considered the best in all of baseball. Perhaps the retro-style park can never match the original.
2. Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Home of the Baltimore Orioles
Orioles Love Playing at Camden Yards
Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
This was the first "retro-style" park, and it's still a fabulous place to see a game. If the Orioles can continue to have a surprise 2012 season, perhaps this venue can become a hot ticket again.
3. Target Field, Home of the Minnesota Twins
Opening Series at Target Field, 2010
No longer the new park on the block, Target Field remains the best new ballpark built in the 20 years since the Orioles opened their stadium on the Inner Harbor.
4. Wrigley Field, Home of the Chicago Cubs
The Marquee of Wrigley Field
When the ivy hangs on the walls on Wrigley Field on a warm summer day, it can feel like you're home. That is, if you drink a lot of Old Style beer at home.
5. Safeco Field, Home of the Seattle Mariners
A Rainy Day at Safeco Field
This park may have the best food in all of MLB. Luckily the roof can close for those rainy Seattle days.
6. Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Home of the Texas Rangers
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
Known as an offense-friendly park, Rangers Ballpark has become just that much better since the Rangers became consistent contenders.
7. PETCO Park, Home of the San Diego Padres
Game Action at PETCO Park
With the Western Metal Supply building down the left-field line, and the great downtown location, PETCO Park is one of the best in baseball. Now if only the Padres would have a good season.
8. Busch Stadium, Home of the St. Louis Cardinals
Busch Stadium from Above
Only the Yankees have more championship pedigree than the Cardinals. The third incarnation of Busch Stadium is by far the best.
9. AT&T Park, Home of the San Francisco Giants
Game Time at AT&T Park
The statues are fantastic surrounding AT&T Park, but the smell of garlic fries when you enter the gate is intoxicating.
10. Great American Ball Park, Home of the Cincinnati Reds
A Ferry Chugs Along the Ohio River Outside GABP
Cincinnati is a baseball town, and GABP is a comfortable, and often overlooked gem.
11. Citizens Bank Park, Home of the Philadelphia Phillies
Phillie Phanatic Performs at the Bank
Hunter Martin/Getty Images
Phillies fans love to cheer and jeer, and that energy is part of what makes a trip to Philadelphia special during baseball season. That, and the Chickie's & Pete's Crab Fries that go along with it.
12. Yankee Stadium, Home of the New York Yankees
Monument Park at Yankee Stadium
In many ways, the new Yankee Stadium is much better than the original. Expensive, but better.
13. Turner Field, Home of the Atlanta Braves
Evening in Atlanta at Turner Field
The Braves almost always turn out a very watchable product on the field, which certainly helps the overall ballpark experience in Atlanta.
14. Coors Field, Home of the Colorado Rockies
Entrance to Coors Field
When the Rockies entered MLB, they broke attendance records season after season. Since that time, the experience has normalized somewhat, but the LoDo location, and beautiful park continue to provide a great baseball venue.
15. Progressive Field, Home of the Cleveland Indians
The Scoreboard at Progressive Field
Sometimes overlooked as one of the truly historic franchises in Major League Baseball, the Indians provide a great baseball experience. I love spending time in center field speaking with John Adams, who has been pounding his bass drum at Indians' games for nearly 40 years.
16. Minute Maid Park, Home of the Houston Astros
The High Left Field Wall at Minute Maid Park
It is astounding how different the experience is when the roof is open vs. when it is closed in Houston. When the roof is open, this is one of the best ballparks in the majors, and the unique quirks of the playing field, including Tal's Hill, really add to the wonderful game day experience.
17. Miller Park, Home of the Milwaukee Brewers
Inside Miller Park
Roll out the barrel, the sausage race, and Bernie heading down the slide in left after a Brewers home run. There's lots to love at Miller Park.
18. Comerica Park, Home of the Detroit Tigers
Ty Cobb Slides Among the Statues at Comerica Park
Tiger Stadium may still be missed, but Comerica Park is definitely an upgrade. The downtown is beginning to offer some resiliency as well, and the Tigers' winning ways certainly help make this a solid day at the ballpark.
19. Citi Feld, Home of the New York Mets
Outside Citi Field
Citi Field is in such a desolate location, it is a shame that the area around the ballpark isn't better. Still, you would do well to make the trip to see the Mets.
20. Tropicana Field
Inside Tropicana Field
There is no doubt it looks awful on television, but Tropicana Field is too often dismissed and called the worst in the majors—and it is far from that. Granted, it's hardly the best, but it has a lot to offer: The Ted Williams Hitters Museum, the wonderful neighborhood, the Rays tank...the point is, don't dismiss this experience out of hand.
21. Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Home of the Los Angeles Angels
Entrance to Angels Stadium
A rather ho-hum baseball experience.
22. Kauffman Stadium, Home of the Kansas City Royals
The Carousel at Kauffman Stadium
If only it were 1985 again. Kauffman Stadium is kid-friendly, adult-friendly and BBQ-friendly. Sounds good to me...
23. Chase Field, Home of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Opening the Roof at Chase Field
Walking into the stadium, the first thing that catches your eye is the 136'-by-46' high-definition big screen, which is the largest in MLB. Chase Field is a good example of these new age ballparks that work to make the game more of an event than what it actually is—just a game.
24. Marlins Park, Home of the Miami Marlins
The Home Run Sculpture
Marlins Park has received mixed reviews in its first year. It is certainly unique, and as the fans come back and the neighborhood evolves, this could still become one of the better experiences in baseball, as long as you keep an open mind.
25. PNC Park, Home of the Pittsburgh Pirates
The View from PNC Park
It just goes to show that there aren't any truly bad experiences in MLB. PNC Park with a Primanti Brothers sandwich? Yes, please.
26. U.S. Cellular Field, Home of the Chicago White Sox
Getting Off at the Red Line to see the White Sox
Great food and a wide lower concourse make this one stadium where you really should sit in the lower deck. It gets a bad reputation, but The Cell is still a great place to catch a game.
27. Rogers Centre, Home of the Toronto Blue Jays
Outside Rogers Centre
The first retractable roof stadium, the Rogers Centre leaves a lot to be desired. The good news, is that you won't have a hard time finding tickets.
28. Dodger Stadium, Home of the Los Angeles Dodgers
Game Action at Dodger Stadium
The place is old school, and really lacking charm. What's astounding is that after 50 years, you rarely hear talk of the ballpark being replaced.
29. O.co Coliseum
Interior of the Coliseum
Please, please, let the Athletics have a new park. This is the last team to share its facility with an NFL team.
30. Nationals Park, Home of the Washington Nationals
Center Field Gate at Nationals Park
Time will tell, but the response to this new park has been underwhelming, to say the least. It may be a pivotal time in this franchise's history, and in how this ballpark is perceived. If the Nats can make a run and win the NL East, everything may change.
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