Cardine's Field, Newport, Ri: Possibly the oldest field still in use, by high school, men's amatuer and semi-pro, and a summer collegiate team: The only field I've ever been to where both dugouts are on the same side of the field. More pictures here can be found from this link: http://www.digitalballparks.com/Newport_640_1.html
Re: Cardine's Field, Newport, Ri: Agreed. I was just there last weekend, actually, watching the 2nd round of the NCAA tourney in the Mudville Pub along the first base line. Fantastic park and great pub. They have a screened back porch that actually opens up onto right field. http://www.aboutri.com/Hospitality/Restaurants/Reviews/ReviewMudvillePub.htm "Mudville Pub, a great little Irish pub and sports bar, is located in one of the many hidden corners of Newport. It’s really right in the downtown area, about the distance of a Fenway fly from the gateway center, the same distance from Thames Street and Washington Square, and right next to Brick Market Place. It’s built into the right field wall of Cardines Field, a venerable Newport landmark and home to the Sunset League since 1908, and more recently the Newport Gulls, as well as the local high school team, and a variety of special baseball events."
As for more modern parks, Toledo's new Mud Hens stadium (I'm not going to call it Fifth Third Field) is a great AAA sunken park right in downtown. Has some very cool quirky designs, like a "roost" built up along the brick facade of a neighboring warehouse. For the majors, I've only been to the following: Fenway Wrigley Comerica (Tigers) PNC (Pirates) Jacob's Field (Indians) PNC is probably the best of the new modern ones: fantastic view of the city skyline over the CF fence. Fenway and Wrigley live up to their billing, IMO. PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Sunken Diamond, usually referred to as the best facility in college baseball (especially since the '01 renovations), and home of the current #1 team in NCAA D-1 baseball, the Stanford Cardinal: Seven minutes from my house to parking, if the traffic gods deem it so.
Tigers Stadium. Not used anymore, but it brings back good memories for me when the Tigers were good. Of the new stadiums, I really liked PNC Park.
Why is this even a discussion? Best ballpark EVER!. No ads inside the ballpark. Pure baseball... well that and beer, peanuts, hotdogs. I could be biased.
I'd have to say Pro Player Stadium. Just kidding...but really, I think Petco Park is the best. Although, I am a little bias because I am from San Diego
Fenway in first, with Shea a close second. Fenway just has this aura of passion, determination. Shea is juat a great stadium. The fans there really care.
I'm with M9 fanatic but I have to say that there are still many ball parks that I need to go to....... on another note........I went to now imploded Veterans stadium............. man what a dump.
Look at the attendance at Yankee Stadium during the mid 80's, and the look at the attendance at Shea during the mid 90's, and then get back to me. If the difference is less than a 5k average, then I will go to a Mets game and not wear a Yankees hat.
Damn straight they do. I'll never forget the moment I walked into Shea for game 3 of the 1999 NLDS which was also the first home playoff game in 11 years. The place was rockin before the first pitch and it never stopped. Lost my voice and had to take the SAT's the next morning but it was worth it. God knows it ain't pretty, but when the place is packed, there's no place I'd rather be. The only other ballparks I've been to were the Bronx Zoo err I mean Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park. Gotta love Fenway, despite the tiny seats and its dirtiness. Who knows, maybe from an objective standpoint I'd like Yankee Stadium, but I hate that team so much I can't like it. Eh, what can ya do?