Best ballpark? Right here(ballparks rated)

Chicago Tribune ^ | April 22, 2003 | Paul Sullivan

[anncoulteriscool]

I duly concede nothing can beat Fred McGriff's ongoing quest to be the first player to hit a home run in 42 major-league ballparks.

It takes plenty of talent and a keen sense of self-importance to try so hard to become the answer to a trivia question.

But I'm afraid McGriff inadvertently has overshadowed my own quest to be the first sportswriter to eat junk food in every major-league park, an anti-Atkins odyssey that came to a conclusion last weekend at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

[yarddog]

I remember watching MSU defeat Oklahoma State in the College World Series about 13 or 14 years ago. Okie State was riding something like a 25 game winning streak but got beat that day.

College baseball is becoming more popular.

[aruanan]

The best retrofit park in the world isn't retro at all, but the real McCoy-- Chicago's own Wrigley Field. And I say that as a near resident of Pittsburgh.

True. Too bad almost nothing ever happens there or, when it looks as though it's going to, its bat goes limp, so to speak. And I say that as a resident of Chicago.

[speedy]

Philly fans get an unjust rap. They've never had anything like Chicago, where fans run onto the field attacking umpires and coaches. Or like Oakland, throwing batteries at the opposition. Or beer night in Cleveland. When Denver fans threw snowballs at the place kicker and hit him, the entire city wasn't condemned. Eagles fans (of which I am not one) have more than their share of drunken idiots, but the supposed brutality of Philadelphia fans is vastly overrated. Every time I went to a Dodger game I saw a fistfight in the stands. It happens everywhere, but it makes a better story to pin the rep on Philly.

[commish]

As an Atlanta Braves fan I have spent many a day and night in the Launching pad and Turner Field. Turner Field is a vast improvement over the dump that was Fulton County Stadium. Turner Field is a wonderful place to watch a game, not a bad seat in the entire place.

That Said, FENWAY PARK is the absolute best baseball Stadium I have ever been to. The atmosphere, the Green monster, everything was awesome. Plus the price - $7 for Active Duty Military.

The worst stadium ever for me was the aforementioned Launching Pad, but the worst current Stadium I have been to is without a doubt Veteran's Stadium. What a dump! An EYESORE and a terrible place to watch a ballgame. Great to see the Phils will get a real stadium next year.

The one place I want to make it to is the HOLY GRAIL of Baseball -- WRIGLEY FIELD! I would absolutely die to step on to those hollowed grounds and see the field where Ernie Banks made all those wonderful plays, and the press box where Harry Carey drank all those wonderful Budwiesers!!!!

[M-cubed]

*LOL*...Yeah...I've been saying the same thing all of my life too!...If nothing else it's a damn strong New England tradition!....I do remember my first visit there as a 10 year old though...a kinda dark and dingy walk thru a bustling basement...then BANG!...There she was...The Green Monster... the beautiful shades of green Id never seen before!...Magical!...I still get a little thrill each time I visit....P.S. I've already been practising my annual Sept speech....YOU JUST WAIT 'TIL NEXT YEAR MISTER!!!

[Windcatcher]

Believe me, no one is happier than we here (in Philly) to see the Vet replaced. Great memories, true, but it IS a dump. We've wanted a replacement for a very long time.

[pnz1]

There's also a Harry Carey's restaurant. We didn't eat there but if you want to see Harry's face on the side of a building, it may be worth checking out.

[CroftonFreeper]

We will agree to disagree. Eagles fans are the absolute worst. I've seen most NfC teams. None are as bad as the drunken Eagles fans.

[Windcatcher]

They're not all drunken, but the drunken ones are indeed bad. Hence the judge. We're trying to deal with the problem.

[Pappy Smear]

I've been to about 20 major league parks, some here, some gone. I really liked old County Stadium for the Brewers. Nice atmosphere. Though it was a dump, old Comiskey Park was neat too. Lotta seats where you could get close to the action, lotta seats behind poles tho too!

Absolute worst was old Exhibition Stadium where the Blue Jays used to play. Nothing like playing in a football bowl.

Everyone should see a game in the Metrodome. Then they should know why baseball is not meant for domes.

Dodger Stadium is awesome. I like how they have changed the big A in Anaheim. #1 on my wish list to get there sometime is PNC in the Burgh.

[speedy]

No problem with that. Eagles fans are the most obnoxious of any of the Philly teams and I won't be the one to defend them. I just think boorish behavior is pretty well distributed around the country.

[OldFriend]

Coors Field in Denver........probably the most expensive hot dogs on earth......but it is fun to watch those home runs!!!

[shhrubbery!]

"Must register to read full article"

Type in "jamescarville" for the screenname and "isaliar" for the password.

Works for the LA Times too.

[pnz1]

Coors is a good park. That area around the park seems like it is being "redone". We ate at a pretty good place outside the park when we went.

[StarFan]

YANKEE STADIUM, The House that Ruth Built.

[speedy]

I've always hated the Vet too, but now that it is in its last days I'm getting a little nostalgic for it. It almost falls into the "so bad it's good" category. Lots of great memories of The Flying Wallendas and Kite Man and cheapo seats in the 700 level on a hot day, so far from home plate that you might as well have been in another city. Philadelphia Phil. All so 1970s. I can remember how excited everybody was that they were moving from Connie Mack Stadium, which was far more hated than the Vet ever was. But I miss that one too. Lucky if they drew 5,000 fans to a Sunday doubleheader in the late 1960s. But a nice old place and truly missed.

[UserFPC]

Camden Yards is a great park, but the thing that sets it apart (the Warehouse) is in a sense outside the stadium (yes I know there's a walkway between it and the outfield bleachers).

Coors Field has all of the retro touches of Camden Yards, plus one big item that CY lacks--you can see the playing field when you're in the concourse getting a beer.

[Vigilanteman]

Another reason that all Freepers should love Wrigley Field is because it is the only surviving park originally built for the Federal League-- a short-lived and non so successful challenge to Major League Baseball's government protected monopoly.

[speedy]

Sigh. A great view. Close to that from the site of the Polo Grounds. They can never leave The Bronx.

[speedy]

Yup -- originally Weegman Field, home of the Chicago Whales (think I have that right.)