The park's name echoes the original name of the early-1900s ballpark used by the Washington Senators/Nationals, which was called National Park until it was rebuilt and renamed Griffith Stadium.
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The park's name echoes the original name of the early-1900s ballpark used by the Washington Senators/Nationals, which was called National Park until it was rebuilt and renamed Griffith Stadium.
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It is commonly referred to by locals simply as "The Bank" or "C.B.P.". Citizens Bank Park opened on April 3, 2004, and hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 12 of the same year, with the Phillies losing to the Cincinnati Reds, 4–1.
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When Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened on April 6, 1992, a new era of Major League Baseball began. It replaced Memorial Stadium that opened in 1954 when the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore and took the name of previous franchises that played in Baltimore.
The park was brand new, but still old-fashioned. State-of-the-art, yet quaint. At less than a day old, it was already a classic.
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Miller Park is a ballpark located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is home to the Milwaukee Brewers and was completed in 2001 as a replacement for Milwaukee County Stadium. The park is located just southwest of the intersection of I-94, US-41, and Miller Park Way (WIS-341). The title sponsor is the Miller Brewing Company. Miller's contract with the stadium was for $40 million, and runs until 2020.
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Shea Stadium formerly known as William A. Shea Municipal Stadium was a stadium in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, New York City. Built as a multi-purpose stadium, it was the home park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets for 45 seasons (1964–2008), as well as the New York Jets football team from 1964 to 1983.
The venue was named in honor of William Shea, the man who was most responsible for bringing National League baseball back to New York after the Dodgers and Giants left for California in 1957. It was demolished in 2009 to create additional parking for the adjacent Citi Field, Shea's replacement and the current home of the Mets.
It was originally to be called "Flushing Meadow Park Municipal Stadium" – the name of the public park within which it was built – but an ultimately successful movement was launched to name it in honor of William Shea, the New York attorney who brought National League baseball back to New York.
After 29 months of construction and $28.5 million spent, Shea Stadium opened on April 17, 1964, with the Pittsburgh Pirates beating the Mets 4–3 before a crowd of 50,312. There were no prior exhibition games or events, and the stadium was barely finished in time for the home opener.
The stadium opened five days before the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, across Roosevelt Avenue. Although not officially part of the fair grounds, the stadium sported steel panels on its exterior in the blue-and-orange colors of the Fair, the same team colors of the Mets. The panels were removed in 1980.
Shea Stadium was the home of the New York Mets starting in 1964, and it hosted what would be its only All-Star Game that first year, with Johnny Callison of the Philadelphia Phillies hitting a home run in the ninth inning to win the only Mid-Summer Classic held in the Queens ballpark. A month earlier, on Father's Day, Callison's teammate, future Hall of Fame member and U.S. Senator Jim Bunning, pitched a perfect game against the Mets.
The stadium was often criticized by baseball purists for many reasons, even though it was retrofitted to be a baseball-only stadium after the Jets left. The upper deck was one of the highest in the majors.
The lower boxes were farther from the field than similar seats in other parks because they were still on the rails that had swiveled them into position for football. Outfield seating was sparse, in part because the stadium was designed to be fully enclosed.
At one time, Shea's foul territory was one of the most spacious in baseball. This was very common for ballparks built during the 1960s, in part due to the need to accommodate the larger football field This was also because the stadium was designed to be fully enclosed. However, seats added over the years in the lower level greatly reduced the size of foul territory by the dawn of the 21st century.
On the plus side, Shea always used a natural grass surface, in contrast to other multi-purpose stadiums such as Three Rivers Stadium, Veterans Stadium, and Riverfront Stadium, which were built in the same era and style and had artificial turf.
Shea Stadium hosted postseason baseball in 1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 1999, 2000, and 2006; it hosted the World Series in 1969, 1973, 1986, and 2000. It had the distinction of being the home of the 1969 "Miracle Mets"— led by former Brooklyn Dodger Gil Hodges that defied 100–1 odds and won the World Series, after seven straight seasons in last or next-to-last place.
Shea became famous for the bedlam that took place after the Mets won the decisive Game 5 of the World Series, as fans stormed the field in celebration. Similar scenes took place a few weeks earlier after the Mets clinched the National League East title, and then defeated the Atlanta Braves in the first National League Championship Series to win the pennant.
Tommie Agee, Lenny Dykstra, Todd Pratt, Robin Ventura, and Benny Agbayani hit postseason, walk-off home runs at Shea (although, while the ball hit by Ventura over the fence may have been the most famous of the postseason walk off hits, it was famously called "the Grand Slam Single", because when he hit the game winning ball over the fence, he was mobbed by his teammates before he could reach second base, and never wound up touching second base, third base and home plate. It was not ruled a home run as he never circled the bases completely. It probably made Ventura, known for his penchant for hitting grand slams, even more famous, and the hit itself more famous, because of the very fact that he never circled the bases fully, technically not making it a homer).
On October 3, 2004, it was the venue for the last game in the history of the Montreal Expos, and the Mets won 8–1. Montreal's major league story ended where it had started 35 years earlier: at Shea Stadium.The following year, the Expos relocated to Washington, D.C. and became the Nationals.
The last game played at Shea Stadium was a loss to the Florida Marlins on September 28, 2008. However, the Mets were in the thick of the playoff chase until the last day. A win would have meant another game for Shea as the Mets were scheduled to play the Milwaukee Brewers in a one-game playoff for the National League Wild Card berth.
Following the game, there was a "Shea Goodbye" tribute in which many players from the Mets' glory years entered the stadium and touched home plate one final time so that fans could pay their last respects to the players and the stadium the Mets called home for 45 years.
The ceremony ended with Tom Seaver throwing a final pitch to Mike Piazza, then, as the Beatles' "In My Life" played on the stadium speakers the two former Met stars walked out of the centerfield gate and closed it behind them, followed by a display of blue and orange fireworks.
Ballpark: D - It’s a dump, but it’s Mets fans' dump. You are so fair from the action if you are sitting along the lines because of foul territory. You cannot walk around the stadium, just to the left and right corners. Old multi purpose stadium, windy and cold in the spring and fall. Not enough bathrooms and it takes forever to leave because of packed ramps and limited access to the subway. Escalators are always off after a game and you cannot walk down. People are always blocking the action walking around, especially vendors. One concourse at Shea on the field level with the charm of a dungeon. Scoreboard sitting beyond the right field wall is amazing. If you are sitting in boxes, you will enjoy a game. You will never catch a foul ball in green and red seats.
Fans & Atmosphere: C - For Halloween, Yankee fans wear a Mets cap and say they're a dick. Real die hard fans who love the team and are passionate about the game. Many who think 1986 was last year, when the team has not won anything since then. Some like to bully fans of opposing teams. Piazza and Wright jerseys everywhere. Planes from nearby LaGuardia Airport always fly overhead during the course game.
Food: D - Leftover food from the 1964 World’s Fair is available but needs to be eaten with extreme caution. Hot dogs, nachos, pretzels, beer and soda. Some stands serving sausage and peppers with complimentary rolaids. Fresh popcorn is good before they dump pounds of salt all over it. Diamond Club is okay if you are a Season Ticket Holder. Eat before arriving or bring a sandwich and sealed bottle of water.
Mascot: A - Mr. Met, always around greeting kids and all fans. Posing for photos before the game and during the game. Then shooting t-shirts from the field during 4th and 7th innings with Pepsi Party Patrol. One of the best in baseball, fans love him.
Staff: D - Rude ushers who always have palms open for tips. Many have been there since Shea opened, they think they own the place. You can see them picking promotional items when fans leave seats. Security has a tough job dealing with fans who come to abuse booze and players. Some seedy security and some that are very professional.
Team Tradition: C - Diamond Club has a Hall of Fame, a few busts and plaques. Need a ticket to view them. Retired numbers and pennant placards in outfield corners. In ramp ways some photos are hung of classic moments at Shea. Not many of them. Great looking marker in left field where Met Tommie Agee blasted a home run in the upper level. Championship teams from 1969 and 1986 recognized but not the predecessors from Brooklyn and Coogan's Bluff.
Location: B – Stadium has a large parking lot, 15 bucks to park here. Fans tailgate before the game. The 7 trains are the best way in and out. 40 minutes from midtown Manhattan. Train station needs to be renovated and made handicap accessible. LI Railroad is accessible to the city and island.
Photos taken 2002-2008, using a Canon EOS 30D Digital Rebel, Canon EOS Digital Rebel with a EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Standard lens and 100-400mm f/4L IS USM Standard lens and a PowerShot SD970 IS Digital Camera.
Located on the winding banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, Great American Ball Park serves as the home of the Cincinnati Reds, baseball's first professional franchise.
It opened in 2003, replacing Cinergy Field (formerly Riverfront Stadium), their home field from 1970 to 2002. The park's name comes from Great American Insurance Group. Great American Ball Park was built by the architectural firms HOK Sport (now Populous) and GBBN at a cost of approximately US$290 million. Read more
After spending their first five years of existence playing at Wrigley Field and Chavez Ravine, the Angels landed in their new home in Orange County.
After an Aug. 31, 1964 groundbreaking ceremony, Anaheim Stadium, as it was originally known, was completed in 1966 at a cost of $24 million. The facility’s centerpiece was a giant A-frame scoreboard standing 230 feet high and was the source of the stadium’s nickname.
With a seating capacity of 43,250, Anaheim Stadium was built with “Convenience, Comfort and Courtesy” in mind. Narrow foul territory areas and quickly rising decks gave fans an up-close view of the action. Gradually- inclined ramps, escalators, wide aisles and helpful ushers as well as three surrounding freeways, 26 entrance lanes and 28 exit lanes added to the Big A’s accessibility.
Since opening the doors for its first exhibition game Apr. 9, 1966, Angel Stadium has played host to some of the Club’s memorable events including seven Western Division clinching games (1979, 1982, 1986, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2014), three All-Star Games (1967, 1989 and 2010) and the 2002 World Series, including the Angels’ Game 7 victory over the San Francisco Giants to clinch the franchise’s first championship.
Angel Stadium has also seen several individual Halos leave their indelible marks on the game of baseball. Whether it be the four Angels no-hitters, Rod Carew’s 3,000th hit, Reggie Jackson’s 500th home run, Don Sutton’s 300th win or Albert Pujols’ 600th home run, Angel Stadium has housed some of Major League Baseball’s most prestigious accomplishments.
Presently, Angel Stadium sits as baseball’s fourth-oldest ballpark, trailing only Boston’s Fenway Park, Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium.
Affectionately known as “The Big A”, Angel Stadium has seen over 119 million fans pass through its gates since 1966, including a current stretch of 17 consecutive seasons of three million fans, a streak only the Angels and Yankees have achieved since 2003.
Anaheim Stadium underwent construction to enclose the stadium in 1979 for additional seating to accom- modate the Rams’ football games. Seating capacity was increased to 64,593 for baseball and more than 70,000 for football. A total of 108 executive style boxes were added to surround the rear of the Club Level. In addition to the Stadium Club, there were two other private dining areas designed for groups — the Stadium Pavilion and the Football Press Box.
At that time, the Big A board was preserved and moved to the edge of the parking lot adjacent to the Orange Freeway behind the right field area.
When the Rams left for St. Louis, Anaheim Stadium’s primary tenant remained the Angels, who originally signed a 35-year contract (through 2001). Renovations began Oct. 1, 1996, to revert the 30-year old structure back to a baseball only facility and the ballpark was renamed Edison International Field. The total cost for the stadium renovation was estimated at $100 million and the project was completed in time for the Angels' Opening Day, Apr. 1, 1998.
New enhancements were added all around the ballpark but perhaps the most noticeable is the center field waterfalls and rock formation that come together to form an “A”. Settled inside the waterfall’s rapids are water geysers that originally shot water into the air whenever an Angels player hit a home run.
Other unique features of Angel Stadium include terraced bullpens in the outfield, widened concourses, new restroom and concession areas, family-oriented seating sections, state-of-the-art club-level and dugout-level suites, a youth-oriented interactive game area and landscaped courtyards (with statues in remembrance of Gene Autry and Michelle Carew).
Nestled in the corner of the Angel Stadium parking lot is one of the ballpark’s most recognizable features, “The Big A” message board. With the completion of Anaheim Stadium in 1966, the facility’s centerpiece was a giant A-frame scoreboard standing 230 feet high. At the time, it was the largest scoreboard ever constructed and became the source of the stadium’s nickname.
The Big A’s original home was just beyond the left field wall where it served as the facility’s main scoreboard for over a decade. When the stadium underwent construction to accommodate the Los Angeles Rams in 1979, The Big A was preserved and moved to its current location in the southeastern corner of the parking lot, adjacent to the 57 freeway. Contractors used a 125-ton crane and two large dollies to move the structure over 1,200 feet across the stadium lots.
The Angels have long utilized The Big A to celebrate each of the club’s victories. After every Angel win, both home and road, the 70-foot wide halo atop the Big A is illuminated for fans both inside the ballpark and out to see. It is customary for the halo to remain lit until dawn of the day following a victory. The Angels are one of the few sports franchises whose post-victory tradition signals a win to all within sight of their facility.
Since its construction in 1966
The Big A has undergone several modifications and facelifts. The scoreboard’s original color palette was all white with a gold halo before becoming green, gold and beige when the stadium was renamed Edison Field. In February, 2002, with the club switching their uniform scheme back to red as the primary color, the Big A was painted red and beige.
Ballpark: C - Felt like an imitation of Dodger Stadium and other concrete donuts from the 1960's. Stadium renovated for the Rams in the 1980's really reminded me of RFK and Shea with palm trees. The Big “A” is now in the parking lot along the highway. Green seats are great with fans dressed in red. A waterfall and rocks in the outfield. That's baseball to me!
Fans & Atmosphere: D - Dodger fans only in red, no fans in their seats at the start or at the end of the game, need to beat traffic. Some of the fans are not there for the game, too busy on cell phones and gambling. Lots of Big A’s. Some die hard fans who stopped after the game to say hello and chat.
Food: C - Tried their version of a Dodger dog. It's a hot dog! Looked around for something unique and no signature food was available. Angel hair pasta maybe?
Mascot: D - Disney left the park with it’s characters years ago. They still show the rally monkey video whose time has come and gone. No mascots stuffed animals to bring home.
Staff: B - Very friendly staff. Security was nice and ushers were curious what a Met fan was doing in Anaheim. Well the Angels were playing the Mets. Security was nice when I walked around taking photos.
Team Tradition: D - Looked for a Hall of Fame or something to honor teams history. Wanted to see some Bo Belinsky, Dean Chance and Clyde Wright stuff. The exterior of the park is decorated with full scale banners of stars John Lackey, Torii Hunter, Chone Figgins and Vladimir Guerrero. Statue outside of Gene Audrey and a large Angels helmet.
Location: C - I stayed in Los Angeles and drove there for a few games. Google maps said less than an hour drive...it lied. Bad idea on my part was that traffic was a horror show. Met a friend there who lived in Anaheim and they were late for the game. Have no idea what there is to do in Anaheim? No bars or restaurants nearby.
Photos taken June 17-18, 2008 using a Canon EOS 30D Digital SLR with a EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Standard Zoom Lens, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens.
The stadium was opened in October 1961 as the District of Columbia Stadium (D.C. Stadium for short). The stadium was renamed in January 1969, for U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, who had been assassinated in Los Angeles the previous June.
The announcement was made by Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall on January 18, in the last days of the Johnson Administration.
As attorney general in the early 1960s, Kennedy's Justice Department played a role in the racial integration of the Redskins. Along with Udall, Kennedy threatened to revoke the team's lease at the federally-owned stadium until it promised to sign African American players.
The expansion Washington Senators of the American League played at RFK Stadium from 1962 through 1971. They played their first season in 1961 at Griffith Stadium, now the site of the medical center for Howard University.
In its ten seasons as the Senators' home field, RFK Stadium was known as a hitters' park. Slugger Frank Howard hit a number of tape-measure home runs in his career, a few of which landed in the center field area of the upper deck.
The seats he hit with his home runs are painted white, rather than the gold of the rest of the upper deck. Left fielder Howard came to the Senators from the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1965.
He also hit the last home run in the park's original tenure, in the sixth inning on September 30, 1971.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, a fan riot turned a 7–5 Senators lead over the New York Yankees into a 9–0 forfeit loss, the first in the majors in 17 years. The Senators only had one season over .500, in 1969 with Hall of Famer Ted Williams at the helm, and never made the postseason.
The stadium hosted the All-Star Game twice, in 1962 (first of two) and 1969, both won by the visiting National League. President Kennedy threw out the first ball at the 1962 game.
The Senators' final game was at RFK on Thursday night, September 30, 1971, with less than 15,000 in attendance. Rains from Hurricane Ginger threatened the event, but the game proceeded.
Fan favorite Frank "Hondo" Howard hit a home run (RFK's last until 2005) in the sixth inning to spark a four-run rally to tie the game; the Senators scored two more in the eighth to go up 7–5, but the game was forfeited (9–0) to the Yankees after unruly fans stormed the field with two outs in the top of the ninth.
Subsequent efforts to bring baseball back to RFK, including an attempt to attract the San Diego Padres in 1973, and a plan to have the nearby Baltimore Orioles play eleven home games there in 1976, all failed.
The former was derailed by lease issues with the city in San Diego, and the latter was shot down by commissioner Bowie Kuhn, who wanted to bring one of four expansion teams instead.
The expansion for 1977 was later reduced to two teams, Toronto and Seattle, and the next wasn't until 1993.
Formerly the Montreal Expos, the Washington Nationals of the National League played their first three seasons (2005–2007) at the stadium, while Nationals Park was under construction.
RFK Stadium is the fourth-oldest active stadium in the majors, behind Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and Yankee Stadium.
Unlike the Senators era, as the Nationals' home field, RFK was known as a pitchers' park.
Photos taken Aug. 17, 2007, using a Canon EOS 30D Digital SLR with a EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Standard Zoom Lens.
The ballpark's rich history began with Dodger President Walter O'Malley's foresight six decades ago. In 1957, O'Malley lobbied for a new stadium to be built for his Brooklyn club, but when a deal could not be reached, the Dodgers made the unprecedented move to California.
In September of that year, the city of Los Angeles agreed to give 300 acres of land to the Dodgers in exchange for the deed to Wrigley Field in Los Angeles and their commitment to construct a 50,000-seat stadium.
While Dodger Stadium was being built, the Dodgers played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum through 1961, before the true Opening Day- April 10, 1962 - when the Dodgers finally played in their new home before 52,564 fans.
The 56,000-seat Dodger Stadium, the first privately financed ballpark since Yankee Stadium in 1923, is a reflection of the careful study Walter O'Malley put into this seminal project.
Dodger Stadium was designed by O'Malley and New York based architect and civil engineer, Emil Praeger with support from Los Angeles based Edward Fickett, FAIA, a fourth generation California native and prolific architect who brought a regional flare to the engineering feat that is Dodger Stadium. Praeger designed the stadium so that each entry is at grade -- from the Top Deck to the Field level seats.
The 21 terraced entrances on the six different seating levels presents a unique vertical circulation along the landscaped plazas around the stadium perimeter and each section of seating has parking immediately adjacent the entrance.
There is parking for 16,000 cars on site, carved as the stadium is, into the hillside of Chavez Ravine. Fickett's contribution of style and color gives the building a uniquely Southern California 1960's "modern" style.
The stadium was originally designed to be expandable to 85,000 seats by expanding the upper decks over the outfield pavilions; the Dodgers have never pursued such a project.
Dodger Stadium was also the home of the Los Angeles Angels (now Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) from 1962 through 1965. To avoid constantly referring to their landlords, the Angels called the park Chavez Ravine Stadium (or just "Chavez Ravine"), after the geographic feature in which the stadium sits.
Ballpark: B - In great shape despite being the fourth oldest stadium in Major League behind Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and RFK Stadium (which is being replaced next year). Pulled up and was told where to park, walked for five minutes to the stadium and had to take the elevator down to the field level. The stadium was renovated back to its original look, the new seats are in the original (more muted) 1962 color scheme consisting of yellow, light orange, turquoise, and sky blue. Gorgeous from upper level behind home plate. The baseline seating sections have been converted into retro-style "box" seating, adding leg room and a table to place food and beverages on. Could hear Mets 1B Rickey Henderson coach talk about himself from seats.
Fans & Atmosphere: A - Dodger Blue everywhere! Great crowds by the third inning and everyone listens to the game on the radio heading home. Everyone loves Nomar Garciaparra, too bad he is done at 33 years old. Fans are still wearing Eric Gagne jerseys. Was told to go back to New York a dozen times. Fans love the team. Met one guy who rooted for both the Angels and Dodgers, huh? His buddy originally from Long Island asked me to explain why you cannot do that. Lost cause.
Food: B - Had a Dodger dog. It's just a hot dog! But why did I eat four of them? They were good. All-you-can-eat buffet in the right-field pavilion, seats are awful there.
Mascot: NA - No mascot for the Brooklyn Dodgers of Los Angeles. Maybe Tommy Lasorda in a strange kind of way or Vin Scully?
Staff: B - Friendly security and vendors. One staff member tried to take my photo for the Dodgers website who did understand that I did not want a photo. I had a better camera than him and was there taking photos. Ballpark tour was very good, better than most teams' attempts and took you on field and dugouts.
Team Tradition: A - Honors the long history of the Dodgers going back to the early Brooklyn days. No player's number is retired unless they are inducted in the Hall of Fame. Great stuff all around the stadium to check out. Many photos from Brooklyn days I never seen before. Jerseys of Hall of Famers hung outside the Dodger locker room.
Location: B - Chavez Ravine in Solano Canyon, the stadium overlooks downtown Los Angeles and provides views of the city to the south, the green tree-lined hills of Elysian Park to the north and east, and the San Gabriel Mountains beyond the outfield pavilions. I stayed in Little Tokyo near downtown, a ten minute drive to park.
Photos taken July 20-21, 2007, using a Canon EOS 30D Digital SLR with a EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Standard Zoom Lens.