ISL’s Craig Dragash ranks top MLB parks visited
By CRAIG DRAGASH
ISL Correspondent
DENVER — When I was seven years old, my stepfather took me to my very first Major League Baseball game at Comiskey Park in Chicago to see the White Sox play the Detroit Tigers. I loved it so much I asked to go again…and again…and again.
Throughout my childhood, I averaged about 1-2 games a year, all but one at Comiskey. I became an unquestioned White Sox fan, and I still am to this day, despite their bleak performance to date this season. The other game I attended was at “that other field” on the north side of Chicago, and I haven’t been back since.
While the White Sox are my team, I am much more of a fan of the game itself. My playing days ended after my senior year in high school, but after college I began what to this date is an 18-year coaching career at various secondary scholastic levels. I appreciate the intricacies of the game, which is why ballparks intrigue me so much.
I have been married 16 years to my wonderful wife Denise, who enjoys going to various sporting events with me; I truly am blessed in that regard. Early in our marriage we began attending baseball games in cities where we went on vacation, and after doing so I told her I thought it would be cool to visit every park in existence. Without hesitation, she said “OK”. I really wasn’t making a request, but when she said that, a bucket list item was created, and a ballpark tour was sprung.
On Sunday, I had the privilege of attending a game at Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies were hosting the Milwaukee Brewers in an afternoon contest. After checking Coors Field off of my list, I have now visited 18 Major League Baseball ballparks; over the years, Denise and I have had a few years where we didn’t visit any parks (we went to Hawaii when she finished her master’s…there’s no baseball team in Hawaii), and we had one year where we visited four parks in one trip (Yankees, Phillies, Pirates, Indians). I thought since I have this one fresh in my mind, I would reflect back and rank the ballparks I have been to in various categories. If you’re a baseball fan, I hope this helps you if you decide you want to visit a park in the future, or if you want to embark on a journey similar to mine.
First, let’s look at the parks I have seen:
Chicago (Comiskey Park/U.S. Cellular Field, Wrigley Field)
New York (Yankees Stadium…the old one)
Philadelphia (Citizens Bank Park)
Pittsburgh (PNC Park)
Cleveland (Jacobs Field)
Cincinnati (Great American Ballpark)
Baltimore (Camden Yards)
Washington (Nationals Park)
Atlanta (Turner Field)
Tampa Bay (Tropicana Field)
Miami (Sun Life Stadium)
Texas (Ballpark in Arlington)
Houston (Minute Maid Field)
St. Louis (Busch Stadium…the old one)
Milwaukee (Miller Park)
Arizona (Bank One Ballpark, now Chase Field)
Colorado (Coors Field)
Aesthetic Appeal
1. PNC Park, Pittsburgh PNC has it all; a great surrounding area that is closed off to vehicle traffic prior to game time, the Clemente Bridge that looks over the Allegheny River, and a great view of the Pittsburgh skyline, including a view over the river in right field. There is also a great riverwalk that goes right by the park for you to enjoy before the game.
2. Miller Park, Milwaukee The architects of this park did a great job including the historic nature of the Brewers’ organization outside of the stadium. You can find tributes to greats such as Hank Aaron and Robin Yount. Inside the park you can find a very modern atmosphere with another nice skyline view. Below is a video of the atmosphere for the NLCS in 2011. From YouTube user hs86183.
3. Busch Stadium, St. Louis I haven’t seen the newer version yet, but when I visited the old one, it was very evident that what people see about St. Louis being a baseball city is very true. Lots of decorative designs on the outside of the park, and a beautiful design on the inside.
Honorable Mention: Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati
Ballpark Food
1. Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay This was the first time we had pulled pork nachos, and they were excellent, and plentiful. There were plenty for my wife and me to share. They also sold souvenir cups that gave you unlimited soft drink refills throughout the game, a great value.
2. Miller Park, Milwaukee I had one of the better brats I’ve ever had at Miller Park. They had a great selection of many different types of food in the concourse, and of course, being sponsored by Miller, they had a rather expansive selection of beers to offer.
3. Comiskey Park/U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago I grew up on Chicago-style food, and of course, they serve plenty of it at Comiskey. I’ve had everything from brats, sausages, and hot dogs, to Italian beef and Mexican. For all the games I’ve attended there over the years, I have never complained about the food.
Distinct/Unique Features
For this category, I defer to my wife; while my attention goes more to matters related to the game itself, she remembers the different features that different parks have to offer. Here’s her top three:
1. Miller Park, Milwaukee This one gets the nod because of the number of different things that were noticed. Benny the Brewer goes down his slide every time a Brewers’ player hits a home run. Then there’s the sausage races, which gained popularity in 2003 when Randall Simon of the Pittsburgh Pirates took one of the sausages out as it ran by the Pirates’ dugout. And Denise noted the pre-game tailgating atmosphere in the parking lot, which was reminiscent of a college football game.
2. Bank One Ballpark/Chase Field, Arizona Denise was thoroughly entertained by Rally Sally, who parades up and down an empty row of seats waving her Diamondbacks flag in an effort to rally the fans behind her team. There is also the pool just beyond the fence in right center field, where many a home run ball finds itself wet.
3. Comiskey Park/U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago I grew up on the exploding scoreboard invented by former owner Bill Veeck, and I still love watching the fireworks go off when the Sox hit a home run. Another unique feature is the shower on the outfield concourse, another Veeck innovation. When an opposing manager removes a pitcher from the game, the organist leads the crown in singing -Na-Na-Hey-Hey-Goodbye.”
This video from youtube user crosstraffic.
Best Games Attended
1. Busch Stadium, St. Louis I had the privilege of seeing Albert Pujols, one of my all-time favorites, hit a walkoff home run to defeat the Houston Astros. Doesn’t get any better than that.
2. Sun Life Stadium, Miami Juan Pierre, who later played with the White Sox, hit a walkoff double down the right field line to give the Marlins the victory over the New York Mets.
3. Miller Park, Milwaukee I like the long ball, and there were three of them hit in the first three innings of this one. There were a total of five hit in the game; three by the Brewers and two by the Blue Jays.
Favorite Memories
I’m listing five here, there are so many I couldn’t limit myself to just three.
1. Busch Stadium, St. Louis Again, it doesn’t get any better than witnessing a walkoff home run, especially when it comes from one of your favorite players. This was also a game where we were told there were only standing room only tickets left, then an opening appeared on the computer of the ticket worker, and we ended up with great seats along the first base line.
2. Camden Yards, Baltimore My son Vaughn attended his first game here. He went to Miller Park with us last year at age three, but you always remember your first.
3. Nationals Park, Washington D.C. This was special because we were part of what was then an attendance record for Nationals Park. Kinda cool to be a part of history.
4. Coors Field, Colorado There is a row of seats near the top colored purple amidst all other seats which are gray; the purple seats designate the row where you sit exactly a mile high above sea level. We actually sat a couple of rows above that.
5. Citizens Bank Ballpark, Philadelphia This is not just the only baseball game, but the only sporting event where I have ever witnessed hot dogs being shot out of a gun, similar to what t-shirts are usually shot out of. The dogs are wrapped tightly in foil, but one wasn’t wrapped so tightly, and exploded in mid-air. Funny stuff.
One moment that belongs in a category all by itself: spotting the place in each stadium where Jackie Robinson’s number 42 is retired. Robinson is truly a baseball hero in every sense of the word.
So here is my list of favorite parks I have attended and why:
1. PNC Park, Pittsburgh Yes, it’s not mentioned in as many categories as other parks here, but I thoroughly enjoyed my experience there. Everything from the atmosphere, to the view, to the friendly staff, to the fan support, to the beautiful view outside, this park had everything to offer, and it is one I’d love to go back and see again.
2. Miller Park, Milwaukee As you can see, this park showed up in the most categories of all parks I’ve attended. Great atmosphere, great food, great game. My then- 3-year-old son enjoyed it as well, so it is very family friendly.
3. Comiskey Park/U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago Ask most people and they will tell you this is one of their least favorite parks, but this is my home park, and I have many great memories there. I loved going there as a kid and rooting for my favorites such as Harold Baines, Carlton Fisk, and Frank Thomas. And the food just makes it that much more enjoyable.
4. Busch Stadium, St. Louis A great baseball town, a great ballpark; even though I’ve heard the newer version is even better. Add to the fact that I saw a walkoff homer by Pujols, and the experience ranks near the top.
5. Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati This one was one of the first I visited in my tour, so the memories are somewhat faded, but I remember the scenic view, and excellent customer service from the staff. And the fan support was something to be admired as well.
I hope you enjoyed my look back on my favorites when it comes to the ballparks I’ve had the privilege to go to. Being a baseball fan, it has been a joy to experience all these parks have to offer. The ones that didn’t make my top five still produced an experience that I wouldn’t give back if I could. Enjoy your next trip to the park, wherever you may do so.
