MLB Boos and Cheers: Ranking the Majors' Home Field Advantages
It's what teams play 162 games to obtain. Home field advantage for any professional team can provide plenty of benefits.
In baseball, not all stadium dimensions are equal. The uniqueness of a park can really do some damage for the opposition.
Aside from the stadium itself, the fans can also influence a game—for better or worse. Playing in front of a loud, enthusiastic crowd can inspire a young team.
On the other hand, a stadium that resembles the attendance of a WNBA game can be troubling for a team to witness for 81 games a year.
Here are the rankings for the top home field advantages in Major League Baseball.
30. Florida Marlins
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The lifeless crowd infuses very little positive emotion into the Marlins players. Some of the least loyal fans can become cynical with their franchise.
The bright orange empty seats that fill each home game may distract the opposition a bit, but the Marlins have absolutely no home-field advantage to speak of.
29. Chicago White Sox
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US Cellular offers absolutely no home field advantage whatsoever. The park has quite standard field dimensions and the crowd rarely makes a difference.
The proof is in their 2010 splits, the White Sox only had two more home victories (45) than road wins (43).
28. Kansas City Royals
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They attract a wide variety of economic classes to their cheap tickets. Royal fans come from all walks of life. The fan base can be quite passionate for a franchise that has let them down seemingly forever.
When it comes to an advantage on the field, well not so much. But if these loyal fans ever get handed a winner, I can see a raucous crowd there to support the Royals.
But until then…
27. Washington Nationals
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A team that is still rather new to Washington, D.C., the only time the fans pack the house is when phenom Stephen Strasburg is on the hill.
The distinctive features of the ballpark are the views of the U.S. Capitol from the upper deck and the curly "W" logo mowed into the outfield. Not exactly distracting for the opposition.
26. Baltimore Orioles
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Camden Yards is a state-of-the-art stadium for its fans with beautiful scenery and food selection. But there isn't anything unique about the park. The measurements of the field are pretty standard and the crowds have been sparse over the past decade.
The O's have a strong and dedicated following that has the potential to rock the house, but the O's have to show their fans some sort of hope first.
25. Seattle Mariners
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The days of a fired-up, sold-out Kingdome are long gone. The unique turf is no more.
Known as "The House that Griffey Built," Safeco Field has been a beautiful stadium in the Northwest since it opened its doors in July 1999.
Safeco is a nice facility, but it doesn't offer any sort of home field advantage for the Mariners. The new grass is just like 90 percent of other ballparks. They tied for the worst home record at 35-46 and the lack of winning is starting to affect a historically strong fan base.
Mariners fans are notorious for being a passive bunch in recent years. Losing will do that to you.
24. Detroit Tigers
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Detroit is home to some of the most knowledgeable and hospitable fans in baseball. But for whatever reason, the noise level never gets that high at Comerica Park.
This is yet another park that doesn't have a unique quirk to the playing field that may affect the other team.
23. Arizona Diamondbacks
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The playing surface at Chase Field is natural grass and the park is quite symmetrical, although there are several quirks that come into play.
Beyond the right-field wall in center is a swimming pool that can be rented on a per-game basis. When Diamondbacks players hit a home run fountains shoot off, spraying water into the pool area. Maybe an opposing player could get distracted by a girl in a bikini swimming above him?
Most of the fans are transplants from other parts of the country and there are times when they do not know when to cheer for the D-Backs. There are a few die hard fans, but they are the exception, not the rule.
22. Pittsburgh Pirates
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Pittsburgh’s PNC Park receives plenty of praise as being one of the best 21st century ballparks.
There is no doubt that the Pirates did everything right. Location, scenery and fitting tributes to the Pirates' storied history are all done just right.
The right field wall is exactly 21 feet high in honor of Roberto Clemente’s retired No. 21.
Problem is, the product on the field is a joke. Hard to get fans show up when you haven't had a winning season in 18 years.
But Pittsburgh fans are passionate (see Steelers fans) so if the Pirates can ever pull it together, a sizable increase in attendance will follow.
Until then, getting 20,000 to show up will be a struggle.
21. Cleveland Indians
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Anytime there is a runner in scoring position, some guy bangs a drum. While quite annoying, it is unique to Cleveland.
They had a bad gnat problem in the ’07 ALDS, which aided the home team by infesting Joba Chamberlain’s neck and distracting him into throwing erratically.
Seagulls in the outfield blocked a visiting player from catching a ball, granting the Tribe a victory in '09.
So the Cleveland home-field advantages at Progressive Field fall in the insect and bird department.
20. New York Mets
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The New York Mets moved to Citi Field in March '09 and it is a dramatic upgrade over Shea Stadium, which had been their previous home since 1964.
It's a enormous field that really plays well for pitchers. The Mets have begun to build their team around this feature and the results have shown in '10.
They posted a 47-34 record in the friendly confines.
19. Tampa Bay Rays
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The dome at Tropicana Field is very necessary in the middle of the sweltering Florida heat.
But the dome turned into a home field disadvantage earlier last season when a fly ball that struck the roof dropped to the ground and stole a win away from the Rays and gave a gift to the Twins.
One can never underestimate the power of the cow bells, but the lack of a passionate fan base in the midst of a pennant race has to be disheartening to Rays players.
18. Cincinnati Reds
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Great American Ball Park is commonly referred to as Great American "Small" Park. At 320 yards away, the right field corner is a ideal place for sluggers. The tiny park has provided plenty of home runs that would other wise be long outs in the majority of parks.
The Reds used to think that focusing on offense would be the way to use the home field to its advantage. Now they realized that ground ball pitchers are the key and the results were a 49-32 home record in 2010.
Fans are passionate and very knowledgeable about the history of their team. Baseball is a sport that is passed down from generation to generation, and Cincinnati fans are a perfect example of that.
17. Los Angeles Angels
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The '02 thunder stick craze seemed to have a positive effect for the 'Halos, as 40,000 of those things waving back-and-forth had to distract the opposition.
The Angels won the World Series that season and the wonderful crowds were a big boost for the home team.
Since then, the thundersticks have gone the way of the dodo bird and the Angels are left with a above-average stadium that doesn't have any unique features.
The rally monkey is still around but the novelty has worn off. I don't think Torii Hunter gets extra fired up after seeing a monkey on the jumbo-tron.
16. Milwaukee Brewers
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A great fan base that shows up even when the team stinks, the Brew Crew always have the hometown's support through thick and thin.
Bernie the Brewer jumps down his slide in left field after every Brewer home run, and the sausage race has become as iconic as singing the seventh inning stretch in Milwaukee.
One thing to point out about Brewers fans, is that they are one of the few MLB fans that tailgate before baseball games.
Hours before a game you can find the parking lot filled with tailgaters, and the aroma of grills, brats and beer cheese soup floats in the air.
15. Los Angeles Dodgers
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The history in Dodger land is all around the park.
Dodger Stadium is the third oldest major league stadium, trailing only Boston’s Fenway Park and Chicago’s Wrigley Field.
The park claims the title of being the largest capacity stadium in the Majors.
As of 2010, there are a total of 2,098 club seats and 68 luxury suites. Both of these amounts will increase once the new renovations are complete. So most of the fans in the lower levels are of the corporate variety. This may be the reason for the tardiness of many fans to Dodger games.
But the passion for the team is there, and the park is filled to capacity more often than not. The fans support their team through thick and thin and can be very loud and obnoxious when they want to be.
14. Minnesota Twins
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The Twins hit and score consistently everywhere, yet are far bigger long-ball threats on the road, where they have connected for 90 of their 140 homers in 2010.
Target Field is the newest state-of-the-art stadium that is quite bland. The Metrodome's AstroTurf used to be a huge advantage for the Twins and even helped them win the '91 World Series. Now they play at a generic outdoor park in the cold in April and September.
I'm not knocking Target Field, but it doesn't offer the same home-field advantage as the Metrodome once provided.
But the fans are spectacular and the Twins did post a impressive 53-28 home record.
13. Chicago Cubs
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The uniqueness of Wrigley Field certainly helps the Cubs. Opposing players always complain about the small and cramped locker rooms at Wrigley.
With a full stadium for every game, the crowd can really get into a close contest. The decimal levels can reach ear plug status.
But what's up with the home field advantage in 2010? They finished 35-46 at home and 40-41 on the road.
The direction of the wind is different on any given day at the "Friendly Confines" and is very noticeable thanks to the outfield flags.
When the wind is howling in, a pitcher's duel will be in order, while 7-6 games are the norm on days when the wind is blowing out.
And don't forget about the ivy in the outfield. Certainly unique to the Cubbies.
12. New York Yankees
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The short right field at the new Yankee Stadium is a huge plus for the Yankees. Only 314 yards away, the Yanks sluggers are more than aware of the short porch.
The line-up is filled with sluggers that can use the short field to their advantage.
Seven players had at least 20 HR in '09 and they had a whopping 244 as a team.
It's a fact that the Yanks have the biggest fan base in the world, but the fans who actually attend games are a different breed.
Due to the outrageously priced tickets, the average fan is being priced out. More and more people going to games are there to shmooze a business client than cheer for their team.
This was never more evident than when Yankee Stadium was a ghost town in the ninth inning in two consecutive losses against the Texas Rangers in the ALCS.
11. Toronto Blue Jays
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This once proud franchise has been reduced to an afterthought in Toronto. The result is an atmosphere at the Rodgers Centre that allows you to hear the echoes of the few fans that show up. The sea of empty blue seats doesn’t exactly fire up the Blue Jay players.
But playing on the indoor turf is a huge plus for the Jays. One of the only teams with turf, it is a big advantage for the Blue Jays infield. Balls move so fast and the Blue Jays always have stellar defense up the middle. The large outfield will also cause headaches for opposing defenses.
If the Blue Jays continue their success at home (45-33 in '10) with a better mark on the road, the fans will be back in full force and ready to create an even better home field advantage.
10. Oakland A's
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The Oakland Coliseum is littered with empty seats for most of the summer. A franchise with plenty of history has loyal fans, but they are few and far between.
You are more likely to hear a guy’s cellphone ring across the stadium then hear a loud A’s chant.
Yet the park features one of the biggest advantages in the game.
The large foul ground territory is the biggest in the league. There are plenty of foul balls that are uncatchable in 95 percent of parks that are playable in Oakland, a sizable advantage for the home team.
This allows pitchers to not have lower pitch counts and the defense is very comfortable with the dimensions while the opposition isn't.
9. Texas Rangers
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The Rangers were 51-30 at home in '10. The fans were loud and proud for the entire postseason, although it didn't exactly work out in the World Series.
Rangers fans are always very attentive and stand behind the local team through the good and the bad.
After a World Series appearance, the fans will be very energized next season.
The dog days of the summer can provide some excruciating heat. This can be an issue for teams that play indoors or in northern cities.
The park itself doesn't offer any unique benefits.
8. San Diego Padres
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Baseball people tend to group a stadium as a "hitter's park" or a "pitcher's park", but the Padres' Petco Park is the true definition of a pitcher's park.
Since it opened, the park has finished last in the league in runs scored four times and second to last the other two seasons. It has ranked last or second to last in HR hit five of those six seasons as well.
The outfield is enormous and the roster is built around it. The remarkable pitching staff ensures most games at Petco are low-scoring affairs.
The offense doesn't quite swing for the fences, playing more of a small ball game. Opposing teams aren't as likely to adjust and can get caught up in making a lot of 400-foot outs.
7. Houston Astros
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Minute Maid Park is one of the most unique parks in baseball. I mean c'mon, it's got a train!
But the biggest advantage for the home team comes in the form of a small hill in dead center field.
The only outfield with the hill, opposing center fielders are left stumbling and bumbling around it while trying to keep their eye on the ball.
Lance Berkman perfected the hill and it has been a huge advantage for the Astros.
They finished this season 10 games under .500, but had a 42-39 home record.
6. Atlanta Braves
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There may be no single thing in all of baseball that gets fans behind a rallying team or a celebration of a run quite like the tomahawk chop, and when the foam tomahawks are present, it is a sea of red.
In '10 the Braves had the best record in baseball at home, posting a 56-25 mark. The chop is back in full swing!
5. San Francisco Giants
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On cool, wind-swept nights, AT&T Park can be a major deterrent for visitors. The winds are always a factor and can throw off the opposition.
The big glove in the outfield is a cool thing to look at, but doesn't exactly create an additional home field advantage.
The Giants finished 49-32 at home before getting a huge boost from the home fans all the way to a World Series title.
The often-tortured fan base was finally rewarded after over 50 years of misery. It was a very impressive showing and a reminder to the rest of the country that Giants fans are the real deal.
4. Philadelphia Phillies
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The Phillies routinely sell out their stadium, and the past two seasons they have averaged over 102 percent attendance. Phillies fans come out in force, and with the recent success of the team, they have only been more enthusiastic. The white towels fans wave can be a distraction to opponents.
Citizens Bank Park is one of the toughest places to get a win and the Phils had a 54-30 home record in '10 to prove it. The intensity is taken to the next level in the playoffs.
So while it is the players on the field that make the plays, having a fan base like the Phillies do can go a long way towards getting a team fired up for a game, and giving every game a playoff-type atmosphere.
The field itself is one of the smallest in the league. So having mashers like Ryan Howard and Jason Werth to go along with aces Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt give them the perfect combination for their small park.
3. St. Louis Cardinals
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The Cards had an outstanding 52-29 home record this season.
The fans in St. Louis are extremely passionate about their Cardinals. The stadium can be extremely loud in a tense moment and the sound of the park echos to the arch.
The fan base is quite possibly the most knowledgeable in the sport. They will support their team through thick-and-thin.
Being a Cardinal means playing in front of fans who truly care. It's not just an event to go to a game, it's a way of life.
The stadium itself holds no true advantages. It's 400 feet to dead center and no funky hills in the way. But it's the passion of the fans that can really add an extra gear to the players.
2. Boston Red Sox
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The Green Monster is the most recognizable landmark in all of sport.
Originally made of wood, the wall is now hard plastic and you can sit up there.
The big wall can be a huge advantage for the Red Sox. Playing a ball off it takes lots of practice, something opposing teams don't have the luxury to do. They are taught early too, as the Low-A and Double-A fields both have similar walls in left field.
For every line-drive home run that hits the wall, there are two fly outs that turn into double once they bang off the wall.
Oh yeah, and I think the Red Sox nation cares about their team juuust a little bit. Fenway can get extremely loud and the passionate fan base is a huge asset for the home team.
1. Colorado Rockies
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The best home-field advantage in all of baseball rests in the Mile High city. The elevation alone has wreaked havoc on the opposition.
The thin air makes any player unfamiliar with the altitude winded much quicker than playing at sea-level. There is no way to prepare for the unique condition.
Fly balls travel farther and this has caused a plethora of errors by the opponent. Judging a fly ball is just plain harder to do when your a mile high above sea-level.
The Rockies had a 52-29 record at home while only sporting a 31-50 record on the road.
The large outfield is also prime for plenty of triples. The Rockies routinely are amongst the league leaders in the three-base hit.
While the fan base may not be as die hard as say the Red Sox or Cubs, they have became extremely loyal over the past 17 since the franchise was created. There is always a big crowd at Coors and the fans will stay to the end.
Check out the 2010 splits:
Home: .296 team average, 108 homers, 460 RBI.
Road: .226 team average, 65 homers, 281 RBI.
Now THAT'S a home-field advantage.
