Power Ranking the Best Home-Field Advantages in Baseball

Power ranking the best home-field advantages in Major League Baseball meant taking a handful of factors into consideration. When the dust cleared, facilities as different as Fenway Park and AT&T Park both placed near the top of the list.

Crowd size and intensity obviously affect the comfort level of the hosts. Information about clubhouse accommodations and the players' daily commute also influenced the following order.

Certain teams have been proactive, creating an edge for themselves by acquiring players to fit their ballparks' dimensions or simply moving the fences.

Now it is your responsibility, dear readers, to identify any details that may have been overlooked.

*All attendance statistics courtesy of ESPN.com

30. Marlins Park (Miami Marlins)

First MLB season: 2012. 

Average attendance in 2012: 27,400.

Home record in 2012: 38-43.

Marlins Park sold fewer than three-quarters of all available seats in its debut season. According to ESPN.com, such a low turnout is unprecedented among MLB stadiums that have opened in the new millennium.

See for yourself by scrolling through the years.

A large percentage of South Florida residents are transplants from elsewhere in the country, so opposing teams always get considerable support. Even fans who were born and raised in the region have turned against the Miami Marlins following their latest fire sale of talented players.

It doesn't get any more pathetic than this.

29. O.Co Coliseum (Oakland Athletics)

First MLB season: 1968.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 20,061.

Average home record (2010-2012): 47-34.

Though there are several exceptions, ballparks that suppress offense generally don't do well in ticket sales.

The Oakland Athletics may someday have a home to call their own, but ever since moving to the West Coast in '68, they have been tenants in O.Co Coliseum, a football stadium.

ParkFactors.com explains how that's a drawback:

"

One of the most pitcher-friendly parks in the American League, the huge open green of the Coliseum includes baseball's largest foul areas, which benefits pitchers by turning more foul balls into outs than any other park.

"

Contact that would result in loud strikes in other places ends rallies in Oakland because fielders have extra space.

Only about half of the facility's seats offer fans acceptable baseball views. The others spend the regular season covered in tarps.

28. Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City Royals)

First MLB season: 1973.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 21,076.

Average home record (2010-2012): 38-43.

For all its beauty, Kauffman Stadium doesn't help the Kansas City Royals compete. You would have to rewind to 2000 for the last season they finished above .500 at home.

The only active Royals who were in the majors back then? Bruce Chen and Miguel Tejada.

No American League ballpark has more square footage (according to Greg Rybarczyk). That puts this club at an obvious disadvantage because its modest resources aren't enough to woo any legitimate sluggers in their primes.

27. Progressive Field (Cleveland Indians)

First MLB season: 1994.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 19,986.

Average home record (2010-2012): 40-41.

Closer Chris Perez may want to censor himself in the future, but his criticisms of Cleveland Indians fans were justified.

Despite being situated in an attractive part of the city and offering clever promotions, Progressive Field has drawn the worst average attendance over the past three campaigns. And too many of those who come have a "woe-is-me" attitude.

26. Minute Maid Park (Houston Astros)

First MLB season: 2000.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 24,716.

Average home record (2010-2012): 36-45.

Minute Maid Park won't get much of an attendance boost just because the Houston Astros joined the American League.

The 2013 team is inexperienced and horrific. Its batters have been striking out at a ridiculous rate, according to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.

Failure to put balls in play is a surefire way to drive fans away.

25. Tropicana Field (Tampa Bay Rays)

First MLB season: 1998.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 20,297.

Average home record (2010-2012): 47-34.

Don't credit Tropicana Field for the team's stellar winning percentage. That has everything to do with homegrown talent and Joe Maddon's innovative managing.

When storied Northeast franchises invade St. Petersburg, their supporters outnumber Tampa Bay Rays fans.

Only artificial turf spares the Trop from being a bottom-five venue on this list. Rays players have ample opportunities to practice on the surface and study the trajectory of ground balls.

24. Petco Park (San Diego Padres)

First MLB season: 2004.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 26,331 (very constant).

Average home record (2010-2012): 41-40.

The San Diego Padres used to sympathize with the Kansas City Royals.

They too were a small-market team playing in a vast ballpark. With less power hitters than most, the Padres posted abysmal offensive numbers, thus deterring fans who idolize the home run.

Finally, club executives took matters into their own hands by deciding to move the fences in prior to the 2013 season.

We'll need to wait several months before concluding anything, though common sense tells us that interest in San Diego baseball should grow. Fans prefer higher scores and more intimate settings.

23. Coors Field (Colorado Rockies)

First MLB season: 1995.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 34,779.

Average home record (2010-2012): 42-39.

As of Opening Day 2011, the Colorado Rockies employed Alan Bossart, who bent over backwards to make visiting teams comfortable at high altitude (via Thomas Harding, MLB.com).

His "neutral service staff" would spend 18-hour work days doing laundry, arranging equipment and preparing elaborate food service.

Other MLB teams surely have employees with similar titles, but not necessary ones who work so tirelessly to pamper rivals.

Colorado's starting outfielders have above-average athleticism, so most extra-base hits in the gaps come off the bats of Rockies players.

Then again, the pitching staff doesn't include enough sinker-ballers or strikeout artists to prevent home run derbies. The 2012 team finished with baseball's worst earned run average.

22. Rogers Centre (Toronto Blue Jays)

First MLB season: 1989.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 22,878.

Average home record (2010-2012): 43-37.

According to the Canada-Ontario-Toronto Memorandum of Understanding on Immigration and Settlement, half of all immigrants to the country arrive in Toronto. That explains why fans at the Rogers Centre have various rooting interests.

Former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Alex Rios made an interesting admission in 2011 (via Mark Gonzales, Chicago Tribune). He said he had been dealing with a toe injury for the past five years and wondered if the artificial playing surface at the Rogers Centre was partially responsible.

The stadium installed AstroTurf GameDay Grass a few months after his departure, which consists of synthetic grass, rubber and sand.

"The old turf was getting very, very hard," recalls Kelly Keyes, the Rogers Centre's vice president of building services (via Jordan Bastian, MLB.com). Former third-base coach Brian Butterfield added, "There was no home-field advantage."

Today's Blue Jays won't be dealing with the same aches and pains.

21. PNC Park (Pittsburgh Pirates)

First MLB season: 2001.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 23,440 (rising).

Average home record (2010-2012): 40-41.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have steadily gained support as fans recognize that the franchise isn't far away from bucking its trend of losing seasons.

Still, the turnout is nothing to brag about. A beautiful venue like PNC Park should not have so much trouble filling up.

20. Chase Field (Arizona Diamondbacks)

First MLB season: 1998.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 26,090.

Average home record (2010-2012): 44-37.

Fans at Chase Field aren't particularly raucous.

Much of them hail from Sun City, Ariz., one of the nation's top age-restricted communities (via Emily Brandon, U.S. News). In retirement, they understandably won't go to crazy measures to show support.

Transplants from elsewhere in the country make their presence felt when iconic opponents visit the Arizona Diamondbacks.

19. U.S. Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox)

First MLB season: 1991.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 25,356.

Average home record (2010-2012): 45-36.

U.S. Cellular Field on Chicago's South Side has seldom been discussed as a top major league ballpark. Even after slashing ticket prices in 2012, the Chicago White Sox have been embarrassed at the turnstiles.

Even if vocal support isn't where it ought to be, the dimensions suit this lineup. Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko, Dayan Viciedo and other power bats can go deep to the 375-foot power alleys with ease.

18. Target Field (Minnesota Twins)

First MLB season: 2010.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 37,728 (dropping).

Average home record (2010-2012): 39-42.

Target Field quietly attracted more than 40,000 fans during each of its first two years of existence.

Last season was a totally different story. The Minnesota Twins limped to a last-place finish and finished near the middle of the pack in attendance.

The spacious outfield suited them, but then Ben Revere and Denard Span were traded. Plus, it negatively affects the offense, which lacks legitimately power hitters outside of Justin Morneau and Josh Willingham.

17. Citi Field (New York Mets)

First MLB season: 2009.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 30,181.

Average home record (2010-2012): 39-42.

The New York Mets seemed poised to miss the playoffs for a seventh consecutive year. Citing financial issues, they were once again conservative in free agency.

Crowd size is gradually tapering off each season, but the fans who show seem particularly supportive.

Since adjusting the fences prior to 2012, Citi Field is considered a relatively neutral ballpark.

16. Nationals Park (Washington Nationals)

First MLB season: 2008.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 25,818.

Average home record (2010-2012): 45-36.

This place is going to be packed throughout the summer, though with its fair share of lackadaisical bandwagon fans. Keep in mind that the Washington Nationals were perennial losers until last season's dominance.

The outfielders have great defensive skills, but none of them have extensive experience at Nationals Park.

15. Safeco Field (Seattle Mariners)

First MLB season: 1999.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 23,472.

Average home record (2010-2012): 38-44.

Safeco Field is approximately 800 miles from the next-closest MLB stadium.

As a result, visiting teams must take multi-hour plane rides prior to series openers. This becomes an advantage for the Seattle Mariners so long as they return home on an off day.

It remains to be seen whether the club's enormous new video board (via the Seattle Times) or new veteran sluggers will elevate attendance from its previously mediocre levels.

14. Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Baltimore Orioles)

First MLB season: 1992.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 23,405 (2012 uptick).

Average home record (2010-2012): 41-40.

By now, veteran outfielders Adam Jones and Nick Markakis can probably anticipate which direction a ball will ricochet off the walls of Camden Yards. They have started regularly for the Baltimore Orioles since 2008 and 2006, respectively.

Last year's postseason berth ended a long drought, and the once-dormant O's fanbase shouldn't take long to respond to the heightened expectations.

This beautiful venue doesn't crack the top 10 because it gets swarmed with rival fans when the New York Yankees pay a visit.

13. Angel Stadium (Los Angeles Angels)

First MLB season: 1966.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 39,007.

Average home record (2010-2012): 45-36.

By West Coast standards, the Big A gets pretty intense.

Los Angeles Angels step to the plate and expect a downpour of heartfelt cheers.

The chief inconvenience is probably the daily commute for those players. A lengthy drive separates their affluent communities from Anaheim.

12. Great American Ballpark (Cincinnati Reds)

First MLB season: 2003.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 27,248.

Average home record (2010-2012): 47-34.

Great American Ballpark has influenced how the Cincinnati Reds look at amateur players.

It's no coincidence that they have used high draft picks on potential power guys like Jay Bruce, Todd Frazier and Joey Votto.

Once again, ParkFactors.com connects the dots:

"

The park is cozy, with 328 and 325-foot corners and 370-foot alleys, and these dimensions combine with the shortage of foul territory to provide a hitter's haven on most days.

"

However, players don't receive all that much encouragement from fans.

Attendees surveyed by SI.com in 2008 claim that significant portions of the modest crowds cheer on opponents. Particularly when the Chicago Cubs come to town, their die-hards "harass" the locals.

11. Turner Field (Atlanta Braves)

First MLB season: 1996.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 30,301.

Average home record (2010-2012): 50-31.

Atlanta Braves fans should be ashamed.

Their team is often awesome and is flying out of the gate again in 2013, yet we see so many empty seats.

Nonetheless, Turner Field will be a house of horrors for the opposition. Jason Heyward and the rangy Upton brothers can cover every centimeter of the outfield. Meanwhile, spectators who actually attend break out into a bone-chilling war cry after every positive event.

10. Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs)

First MLB season: 1916.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 36,887.

Average home record (2010-2012): 37-44.

Chicago Cubs players can never get into a routine during the summer because they must constantly account for different start times.

In accordance with neighborhood restrictions, all their Friday and Saturday home games must begin in the afternoon. Of course, half the weekends are spent elsewhere, and it's difficult for their biological clocks to adapt to competing at earlier hours.

But the Cubs certainly benefit from how poorly their opponents get treated at Wrigley Field.

As Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal details, the park's visitor's clubhouse is tiny compared to those in other cities. Teams must make do with limited workout equipment and trek all the way to right field to get loose in the batting cage.

Despite having endured a century of disappointment, local fans fill the friendly confines and go bonkers for the Cubbies.

9. Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers)

First MLB season: 2001.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 35,717.

Average home record (2010-2012): 49-32.

Milwaukee Brewers home games consistently rank among the most affordable in Major League Baseball.

The result is fewer celebrity appearances and more working-class fans eager to guzzle down a few beers and let off some steam. The team isn't consistently great, but the fan enthusiasm would make you think otherwise.

8. Busch Stadium (St. Louis Cardinals)

First MLB season: 2006.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 39,741.

Average home record (2010-2012): 49-32.

Busch Stadium has been an extreme pitcher's park since its opening. The St. Louis Cardinals appropriately make it a top priority to create surpluses of starters through contract extensions and the farm system.

Sustained success through the generations and a pair of 21st-century World Series titles have bred fan loyalty.

7. Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles Dodgers)

First MLB season: 1962.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 40,418.

Average home record (2010-2012): 44-37.

Dodger Stadium is the third-oldest functional stadium in the league, and it isn't going away anytime soon.

New ownership just spent $100 million renovating the scoreboards and clubhouses, according to The Associated Press. However, L.A. may eventually regret embellishing the visitor's area with an indoor batting cage.

We should take 2013 attendance figures with a grain of salt at this early juncture of the season, but the Los Angeles Dodgers have been attracting fans in droves.

6. Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (Texas Rangers)

First MLB season: 1994.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 36,676 (rising).

Average home record (2010-2012): 51-30.

Josh Hamilton insists Dallas is a football town, but the numbers don't lie.

Rangers Ballpark in Arlington has experienced a huge spike in attendance figures since 2010. Among AL teams, only the New York Yankees drew more people last season.

The dry heat is a unique factor of this facility. Chase Field and Marlins Park also get brutally hot come summertime, but their retractable roofs close in extreme conditions.

The Texas Rangers can take advantage of outsiders who have limited experience in triple-digit temperatures.

5. Yankee Stadium (New York Yankees)

First MLB season: 2009.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 45,110.

Average home record (2010-2012): 52-29.

This past winter, the New York Yankees refrained from trading or signing top left-handed sluggers, even though players fitting that description have historically succeeded in pinstripes.

Recent rosters were built to exploit the short porch in left field. The 2013 edition, however, won't reap the same benefits.

Despite a steady dip in attendance figures, Yankee Stadium continues to serve enormous crowds. 

The franchise's illustrious history also intimidates younger players. Individuals making their maiden voyage to the Bronx cannot be expected to remain completely calm on the home turf of 27 previous World Series champions.

4. Fenway Park (Boston Red Sox)

First MLB season: 1912.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 37,627.

Average home record (2010-2012): 42-39.

Greg Rybarczyk's table of ballpark square footage shows that Fenway Park is the smallest of all MLB venues. The Boston Red Sox have athletic outfielders like Jackie Bradley, Jacoby Ellsbury and Shane Victorino, but their speed would be best utilized if there was more grass to cover.

That's it for the nitpicking.

Considering Fenway's modest capacity, crowd size has been remarkable so far this decade. Beantown fans are particularly passionate too.

MLB players say the away clubhouse is the worst of any in the American League, according to an SI.com poll conducted in 2011.

3. Comerica Park (Detroit Tigers)

First MLB season: 2000.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 33,462.

Average home record (2010-2012): 51-30.

No MLB team has done a better job than the Detroit Tigers of acquiring players to conform to specific ballpark features.

Austin Jackson and Torii Hunter, both elite athletes, cover an expansive right-center field gap. Power pitchers like Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Anibal Sanchez generate tons of whiffs and pop-ups. In either case, they prevent opponents from exploiting Detroit's slow-footed infielders.

And even though the city's population dwindles, turnouts at Comerica Park will surely rise for a third straight season.

2. Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia Phillies)

First MLB season: 2004.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 44,829.

Average home record (2010-2012): 49-33. (no typo)

Citizens Bank Park lists its capacity as 43,651, though it has averaged more per contest during each of the past four seasons.

However, fans from the City of Brotherly Love are gradually losing their motivation to attend.

Philly's 257-game sellout streak—which was the longest in National League history—officially ended last August. And so far in 2013, with several key veterans struggling, the team has been noncompetitive.

The Phillies still gain a decided advantage from there die-hard supporters. Unfortunately, the atmosphere ain't quite what it used to be.

1. AT&T Park (San Francisco Giants)

First MLB season: 2000.

Average attendance (2010-2012): 40,337.

Average home record (2010-2012): 48-33.

The San Francisco Giants have assembled a pitching staff that suits AT&T Park.

Key contributors like Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain and Sergio Romo pound the strike zone. With dimensions and climate conditions that keep fly balls in play, they don't shy away from inducing contact.

Let's not overlook the fan factor.

Credit the sexy views of San Francisco Bay for drawing big numbers. Clinching two of the past three championships has also kept fans enthusiastic about the Giants.

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