Arlington Stadium

Ballpark Visited: Arlington Stadium Submitted By: Dan Hawkins Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: For awhile, I practically lived at Arlington Stadium.  I went to my first game there in 1978.  My last game there was the last at the old stadium, October 3, 1993.  The seats were cheap, especially in the huge outfield bleacher sections.
Cons of the ballpark: Sure, Arlington Stadium was quaint and rundown, and it was put together piecemeal over the years.  The concession and restroom areas behind home plate were dark and smelled bad.  But I have so many good memories of the place that those things don't even matter.
Additional Comments: My favorite memory there is of course, Nolan Ryan's seventh no-hitter on May 1, 1991.  I was on the edge of my seat for the last four innings, and that last out was just baseball ecstasy.  I also got to see his 5000th strikeout there.  I also remember sitting in the high plaza section for a game and seeing one of the cars in the parking lot catch on fire and burn.  While this was going on, a bench-clearing brawl broke out on the field.  At the end of that inning, an Eagles song was played over the PA beginning with the words, "Somebody's going to hurt someone before the night is through...."  I have a ton of other memories, but I think I'll cut this short for now.

Busch Stadium

Ballpark Visited: Busch Stadium Submitted By: Tim Creek Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark: The St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis fans are what make this stadium great.  The field area looks really good especially with the scoreboards, pennants, and retired numbers in the outfield.  You have to walk around the outside and see the statues of all the great Cardinals too.
Cons of the ballpark: It is old and it is a cookie-cutter stadium.  The outside is ugly and the concourse in just gray concrete.  The concourse is crowded.  You always hear stories about what's wrong in the guts of the stadium.  Tony LaRussa has loud pipes in his office, the press box drips water when it rains, grills for the concession stands barely work.  But the Cardinals do a good job of keeping the broken parts of the stadium behind the scenes.
Additional Comments: I'll miss the way the stands encircled the entire field at Busch Stadium, creating the sea of Cardinal red, when they move to the new park next year.  You don't have a view like PNC or Coors behind the outfield at Busch, but you don't miss it either, everybody is watching the game.  And 'everybody' refers to the BEST fans in baseball.

Ballpark Visited: Busch Stadium Submitted By: Fred B.Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark: The upper deck is not too high and provides good shade during the day games. There's much available, inexpensive parking in decent walking distance. Even though built as a multipurpose stadium the recent renovations, such as natural grass, the out-of-town scoreboard (and a good club) makes it hard to complain for a new stadium.
Cons of the ballpark: The flying eagle is gone!!! The concourse is narrow and choked by lines to vendors.
Additional Comments: The organist-or at least the former organist, Ernie Hayes, doesn't play at the games.

Ballpark Visited: Busch Stadium Submitted By: Niko Dugan Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark; Like some of your other contributors, I was born and raised in St. Louis, so I'm pretty biased, but I LOVE this stadium.  It's ringed with statues of Cardinals greats and has Best Moments banners at every entrance.  For being a multipurpose stadium once, it has really embraced it's baseball side, with natural grass and an extended manual scoreboard.  On my birthday this year (my 21st) I was fortunate enough to sit front row just to the right of the Cardinal's dugout.  You can still chat up some of the players when you sit there.  Amazing.
Cons of the ballpark: Well, I admit, from the outside, the stadium itself does look pretty crummy because of all the undecorated concrete.  But walk around it once and you'll pick up the ambiance really quickly.  Plus, once you get inside it's amazing.  The concourses can get a little crowded with concession lines but the view is great.  Oh and since they started construction on the new stadium, parking is now $12 at the garages on either side, instead of $8.
Additional Comments: The best place to see a game of baseball -- just ask visiting teams.  They all say we have the best fans.  Just be sure to wear red, because you won't see much else there.  According to Mark McGwire, St. Louis was "the best four years of my entire career."  I'll be there for the final game.  Hopefully it'll be a World Series win.

Ballpark Visited: Busch Stadium Submitted By: Tim Creek Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark: St. Louis has the greatest baseball fans anywhere.  The stadium looks great since they converted to a grass field and renovated it. The stadium is really big but fills up with Cardinal fans. The statues of Cardinal greats around the stadium are really cool.  The atmosphere of baseball is the best of any ballpark I've been to.
Cons of the ballpark: If you sit in the outfield and don't have a first row seat, you can't see all of the outfield.  It's not very attractive from the outside.
Additional Comments: It's old and looks old from the outside, but the inside looks very modern.  There are flags of all the pennants and retired numbers in the outfield upper deck. 

Ballpark Visited: Busch Stadium Submitted By: Jake Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark: Although in the late 60's cookie cutter design, it really is a beautiful stadium with natural grass, green trim, and the red sea of seats.  Also, for only being around 40 years old, there seems to be a lot of history in the building.  Parking can be pretty easy most of the time, if you know where to go.
Cons of the ballpark: The place is aging a bit, and getting replaced.  Parts of the stadium seem like they haven't been touched since the 60's.  Also, the bathrooms are too small and few.
Additional Comments: I will be sad to see the old girl torn down, but happy because the new stadium will be absolutely beautiful, with views of the arch and downtown skyline.

Ballpark Visited: Busch Stadium Submitted By: Andre Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: The fans.  Cardinals fans really are very knowledgeable and appreciative of their team and enjoy talking baseball with visiting fans as well.  I was there recently to see my Dodgers play a 4 game and everyone was very hospitable.  Also, the Cards did a great job turning this last of the standing cookie cutter into a baseball only facility, with the team monuments adding a final touch.
Cons of the ballpark: Some of the seats were overpriced considering some the distance and views from certain seating areas.
Additional Comments: A must see in it's final season.

Ballpark Visited: Busch Stadium Submitted By: A. Lopez Jr. Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark: St Louis has some of the best baseball fans in baseball, this is a baseball town, you can tell by the sea of red shirts in the stands. You cant tell they used to play football here cause it looks nice and is set pretty well for baseball. Leg room is decent and is actually better than some of these newer parks. Plenty of hands on fan stuff to do beyond center field like a batting cage and a speed pitch cage. Looking out and seeing the Gateway Arch is nice. Traffic isn't that bad here. Great sense of history here. Plenty of Cardinals stuff to buy, I thought I was in Cardinals heaven. Go Cards!
Cons of the ballpark: Not to attractive looking from the outside. The concourses were kind of cramped. I didn't like how they charged for the batting cage and speed pitch, this stuff is free to do at Comiskey Park.
Additional Comments: Not bad seeing this was once a multi-purposed facility. I cant comment on the parking since I parked near the arch early in the day but it cost 6 bucks I believe. If you come from outta town like I did, go see the Gateway Arch and go to the top and see the skyline then go see the Cardinals. Its easy to see why Mark McGwire and other ballplayers fall in love with the city and the fans cause their both great, hats why I have been a fan since I was a kid.

Candlestick Park

Ballpark Visited: Candlestick Park Submitted By: Marc Grade: C
Pros of the ballpark: OK I admit it - I skipped school throughout the late 80's and early 90's to come and sit in the left field bleachers - back when HR's meant a flood of kids running into the space between the stands and the chain link fence.  Another good thing about the 'Stick was the visitors had to walk to the RF corner to get to the locker room.  Those were prime seats when the Dodgers came to town.
Cons of the ballpark: I know, the wind.  Also, as much as I love the 49ers, they killed the one thing the Stick had that Pac Bell prides itself on -  the view of the bay.  Once I learned to drive I found out that parking was a pain - there is literally one road in and one road out of the park, so leaving takes hours.
Additional Comments: The author of the excellent ballpark history book "Green Cathedrals" Philip J. Lowry said "The Giants [had} the windiest, coldest and foggiest ballpark in the Major Leagues.  So what?  Somebody has to."  Croix de Candlestick!

Ballpark Visited: Candlestick Park Submitted By: Dan Hawkins Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark: My only time there was a day game between the Giants and the Braves in June of 1992, so the weather was rather nice.  It was seventy degrees and extremely comfortable for watching a ballgame.  I didn't even realize that I was getting a severe sunburn on my face, neck, arms, and lower legs until it was too late.
Cons of the ballpark: The park seemed rather difficult to get to, although I took a bus from the downtown area.
Additional Comments: Being from Texas, this was the first ballpark I visited outside of the old Arlington Stadium.

Cleveland Municipal Stadium

Ballpark Visited: Cleveland Municipal Stadium Submitted By: Christopher J. Senz Grade: C
Pros of the ballpark: In 1987, I went to my first baseball game at Cleveland Stadium.  It was my first ever pro game and it was a DH against the Detroit Tigers.  I remember Cleveland Stadium being huge, monstrous and cavernous.  I loved it.  I know that's weird cause of all of the complaints, but it was the first ballpark I ever went to.  I averaged 4-6 games a year until the Indians moved to Jacobs Field in 1994.  Cleveland Stadium will always have a special place in my heart.  May she rest in peace.
Cons of the ballpark: The cons I think were the fact the Indians at the time played like crap.  They were a joke, and they couldn't win.  I still loved them, however.  I will never forget Cleveland Stadium and how big it was.  To me, the size was the major con.  The dogs were ok, the mustard kicked ass and they use that now at Jacobs Field.
Additional Comments: Cleveland Stadium- May she rest in peace.

Ballpark Visited: Cleveland Municipal Stadium Submitted By: Daniel Miller Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark: The main characteristic was that it was HUGE! I liked that!  Nothing else has even come close; not even the new Browns' Stadium. The "Ballpark Mustard" on the dogs was famous; so famous that it has been sold locally in selected stores for several years. Quite something to enjoy the ole mustard from the Stadium at your kitchen table. Site lines were great if you didn't get behind a post; lower or upper deck. Did I say it was HUGE???
Cons of the ballpark: Most of the seats were a fair piece from the playing field. The newer box seats that were installed in the 60's were a little closer. Funny, the 50 yd. line seats during NFL were some of the farthest from the field. Study a picture of stadium sometime.  Oh and the parking was HORRIBLE! It seemed you had to park a mile away! And the traffic jams were...well...you just tuned in the radio and hopefully still had something to eat or drink 'cause you were going to be stopped up a LONG time!  New Cleveland Browns' Stadium suffers the same fate because it was built on the same exact site for those who don't know.
Additional Comments: My father first took me to Municipal Stadium in 1959 to see the Red Sox vs. Tribe. Got to see my hero Rocky Colavito and also Ted Williams in his next to last year. My foremost memory was of a foul ball that came down our way (we sat in lower deck left field) and Minnie Minoso picked it up, started to throw it back in. However, he heard the fans behind him yell for the ball. So Minnie turns with a big smile on his face and throws it into the crowd. Don't forget it was the home of the Browns in the NFL, too. Dad also took me to my first Browns game against the Minnesota Vikings in '65 (Jim Brown's last year). I saw him score a TD from the 1 yd. line at our end (we were behind home plate; crappy seats but great to be there).  Jimmy leaped up and over the Vikings defensive line.  What a site: clashing linemen then out of nowhere a white jersey number 32 leaps up and over that wall of purple! Pretty thrilling to think about it today.

Comiskey Park

Ballpark Visited: County Stadium Submitted By: Shoeless Jeff Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: Comiskey Park - originally known as the "Baseball Palace of the World" - was a very special place. My memory of Comiskey park covers my childhood in the 70's & 80's.

My fond recollections:

Seating just 'hovered' over the playing field. The worst seat in the park put you closer to the field than the front row in most modern parks. Comiskey offered the best of both worlds with all the charm of a Fenway or Wrigley AND the modern entertainment of a great sound & visual system courtesy of the immense center field scoreboard. Along with old Tiger Stadium, Comiskey was extremely 'closed-in' by an upper deck that almost completely surrounded the playing field at very close range. This gave the park a very intimate feel that really made the sound of great White Sox fan crowds almost unbelievable. Simply put, that place ROCKED. You could just feel the roar of the crowd in your chest!

Comiskey was a very serious baseball environment. Dark tunnels with murals of team's past, no-nonsense wood seats that looked 100 years old, brick and iron beams, trough-style urinals, and a very knowledgeable crowd - ALL of these things worked to let you know this was an environment for SERIOUS baseball.

I loved the old scoreboard. There was a great catwalk walkway that connected the upper-decks of right & left field that went behind the scoreboard, so you could hang out on the walkway on either side of the scoreboard for unique vantage points.

Comiskey Park was made of elaborate brick work that looked like the old Coliseum in Rome (no accident - Charles Comiskey was known as the "Old Roman") Comiskey Park had a great feature called the 'Picnic Area'. You could eat and watch the game from INSIDE the left-field fence for another unique vantage point.

I loved the history of Comiskey Park. It was great to look straight down on left field from the upper deck and know that Shoeless Joe Jackson once stood there. There was a neat bar just across 35th street called McCuddy's - once, between innings, Babe Ruth ran across the street in uniform and had a beer!

Any real baseball fan has to respect Comiskey Park for it's unparalleled list of baseball "firsts": Baseball's first night game was hosted at Comiskey Park as was the  first all-star game! Baseball's first use of fireworks after homeruns happened at Comiskey (most of baseball looked down on this at the time - now, every park has fireworks after homeruns!). Comiskey was the first concrete & steel baseball stadium built  (replacing previous dangerous wooden structures). Comiskey Park is also where the popular 'turn back the clock day' promotion started. This happened in it's final year of 1990. The Sox wore 1917-style uniforms (that was my last time at the park). Comiskey was also home to many kooky innovations like an open shower in the centerfield bleachers for hot days and an exploding scoreboard (in conjunction with fireworks). Also: Joe Louis won the heavyweight crown in old Comiskey. The Beatles and Rolling Stones played Comiskey. The NFL Cardinals once made their home in Comiskey and, sadly, won more titles than the White Sox ever did there.
Cons of the ballpark: from it's inception - was located in pretty close proximity to some scary neighborhoods. Only now is this being remedied.
Comiskey Park was the scene of some of baseball's least proud moments like the Black Sox scandel of 1919 and the 'Disco Demolition' of 1980 that destroyed the playing field and forced the Sox to forfeit game #2 of a double-header to Detroit.
But . . . the thing I liked least about Comiskey Park: in my lifetime Comiskey hosted a grand total of two post-season games - both losses to Baltimore in the 1983 ALCS. In fact, in 80 years of use Comiskey Park was the home of just one World Champion White Sox team. Only three World Series were ever held at Comiskey and one of them was thrown by the White Sox. (The Cubs actually once used Comiskey for a World Series due to it's higher seating capacity)
Additional Comments: All in all, Comiskey Park was the perfect place for me to fall in love with baseball and the White Sox. While not as ballyhooed as Wrigley or Fenway, Comiskey Park was one of the most important baseball stadiums ever built.
I would do almost anything to be able to see one more game at Comiskey Park!

County Stadium

Ballpark Visited: County Stadium Submitted By: M. M. Ditter Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: County Stadium was probably one of the most underrated ballparks in the Major Leagues.  It simply looked, smelled and felt like a ballpark should look. Great baseball atmosphere and experience.
Cons of the ballpark: There were many seats where the sightlines were poor, and lots of seats with views obstructed by pillars or by the upper deck of the grandstand. One of the best kept secrets in sports was that the bleachers were often the best place in the park to watch a ballgame.
Additional Comments: Now that Miller Park is finished and County Stadium is gone, I am sure that quite a few Milwaukee Brewers fans now feel that people were too quick to abandon a very good ballpark for something new but not necessarily as good as what they were led to expect.
 

Crosley Field

Ballpark Visited: Crosley Field Submitted By: Tom Osterbrock Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: The Greatest ball park for a young boy to go to.
Cons of the ballpark: None.
Additional Comments: What I remember. I am not sure of the year. However, the the Reds were playing the Giants. It was Gary Noland's 18th birthday. I watched Gary strike out Willy Mays, I believe it was 5 times swinging in a row. He went hitless. Also Darin Johnson hit the longest double in history. In center field, at the top of the clock at Crosley Field there was an extension tacked on for what ever reason. Darin's ball hit the top of the extension, went straight up and bounced back into the field of play for a ground rule double. If that ball had been hit 2 feet to the left or right it would have landed in the vacant lot across the street behind the stadium for a home run. The Reds won the game 11 to either 5 or 7. We were seated directly behind home plate in the upper deck. Several foul balls landed in the stands around us. It was a GREAT Day.

Exhibition Stadium

Ballpark Visited: Exhibition Stadium Submitted By: Luby Grade: C
Pros of the ballpark: Well, it was a long time ago now but there was definitely an atmosphere there.  The best part was being able to go a little early on the day of the game and get general admission tickets.  You could sit behind the home run fence in left field for $4.
Cons of the ballpark: The steel seats which were located along the baselines and behind home plate were hot in the summer when the sun was shining and very cold in the fall and early spring.
Additional Comments: Miss this park a lot.Compared to Skydome it had atmosphere and I guess part of that was because it was the place I saw my first game with my father back in 1982.  I was there on May 28th, the day they played the last game there against Chicago.  So long to the old Ex.

Ballpark Visited: Exhibition Stadium Submitted By: Ryan McNeil Grade: C
Pros of the ballpark: In a way, I miss the bleachers. The grandstand in left/centre and the upper level of the infield were usually cheap seats, with most fans gathered in those spots out for a good time. That bleacher-creature vibe is nowhere to be found at The Rogers Centre. It also used to be a lot of fun spending time at the carnival ("The Ex" as it's known in Toronto) before or after the late August games.
Cons of the ballpark: The wind could whip through in a nasty way off the lake...and in the summer you could easily sizzle in what was mostly an uncovered park. The corridors were always damp, dirty, and dark, and there was no way to get from the grandstand to the infield (if you had tickets for one, you weren't able to sneak over to the other).
Additional Comments: The Mistake by The Lake had a slight bit of charm, but I've never shed a tear for it since the last game on that May afternoon. Toronto tried to convert a football stadium into a baseball stadium, and it was primarily a failed attempt.

Forbes Field

Ballpark Visited: Forbes Field Submitted By: Gordon Kotars Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: The Pro's ? Exactly, it was the Pro's. Ahhh, I remember it well, my first game at this old relic was a night game, we walked through the tunnel from the concourse and Good Lord, there was all this Real Grass, Real Green Grass, as Green as could be, the most beautiful Ballfield a kid has ever seen, and right smack below our seats, there stood my idol and Lifetime Hero, the Great One, Roberto Clemente, he was shagging fly balls and flipping them underhand, on the fly, to Maz at 2nd base ! I watched in Awe as he turned his back on one fly ball and caught the ball behind his back! If my eyes weren't wide enough at that, I was treated to Willie Stargell trotting over from left field with Billy Virdon where the three of them stood chatting and laughing. The thrill of the night, and something I have never seen since, was watching Roberto release this throw from the warning track to home plate, chest high all the way, like it was fired from a Howlitzer to nail a runner at home
Cons of the ballpark: Having to leave.
Additional Comments: I'm sure many old fields had their different features, but old Forbes Field was rich with tradition and gave out many memories to cherish for a lifetime, such as with this Author.  Imagine, being able to talk with the whole visiting bullpen if you were lucky enough to sit in the Left Field Bleachers. Ahhhh, memories.

Griffith Stadium

Ballpark Visited: Griffith Stadium Submitted By: Ray Dodson Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark: It started with the Wonder Bread plant across the street and the warm smell as you entered the park.  The feeling for a kid coming thru the tunnel seeing that green grass on the field, truly like a field of dreams.  Then the close feeling in the stands.  The green wall in right field like Fenway's green monster.  Needless too say the great players that we were blessed to see...Williams, Dimaggio, Mantle, Berra, Kaline and our home wonders like Mickey Vernon and of course Pasquel.  After the game players had to walk to the team bus and folks would line up trying to get autographs.  At worst you were looking into the eyes of a player like Bob Feller or Whitey Ford asking for an autograph.  A different day in sports for sure, and in the eyes of a kid, the greatest times of all.
Cons of the ballpark: We never had a very good team. Seemed parking was horrible, you parked in the neighborhoods. Like most older ballparks, the steel beam supports would block a view here and there.  Park was also small but it did accommodate the crowds for the day.
Additional Comments: Sitting in the left field bleachers was much like Wrigley today.  A day at the ballpark that every kid in America should be able to experience.

LA Wrigley Field

Ballpark Visited: Exhibition Stadium Submitted By: Dan Bates Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: Friendly confines, L.A. style.  This Wrigley Field, of course, was a replica of the classic Chicago ballpark.  Wrigley/L.A. was the home of the newly franchised L.A. Angels of the American League in 1961.  It was the only year the Angels played there, moving into Chavez Ravine 1962, sharing with the Dodgers.  I had the fortune of attending TWO games back-to-back against the N.Y. Yankees in Wrigley/L.A. -- my first ever major league games.  I got to see Mantle, Maris, Berra, Richardson et al. I was just 10 years old, but it cemented my interest in baseball that's lasted for 42 years now.  It was quite a thrill -- but I believe it's become a bigger thrill in my old age as I look back.  Wrigley/L.A. has been torn down for years now -- I believe there is a recreation center on the site.  Before the Angels, Wrigley/L.A. was the home field for the Hollywood Stars and Angels of the PCL.  It also was where "Homerun Derby" was filmed.
Cons of the ballpark: It wasn't in the best of L.A. neighborhoods.  I can remember an older cousin taking me to one of the games against the Yankees and having to park blocks from the ballpark.  We cut through an alley for a shortcut, and I remember an imposing gentleman not so gently asking my cousin what we were doing in his neighborhood.  It was a little tense, but we got through without harm.
Additional Comments: I wish Wrigley/L.A. was still there -- even if abandoned, it would be a great thrill to see it again and revisit those memorable two nights in August 1961.

Memorial Stadium

Ballpark Visited = Memorial Stadium Submitted By: Michael Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark = The fresh cut smell of the grass, Earl Weaver's tomato garden out in left field, the fact it was surrounded by houses making it a neighborhood ballpark.
Cons of the ballpark =Escalators didn't always work, some obstructed views, neighborhood was rundown, no parking around.
Additional Comments: When I was growing up in the 1970s the Orioles were a great team, and the atmosphere was fun and exciting. I spent 55 games from 78-79 watching the O's. And although the stadium was run down and fails in comparison to Camden Yards, it just had an intimacy you cannot replace. It still to this day was the best time of my life. R.I.P. M.S.  Thanks for the memories.

Mile High Stadium

Ballpark Visited = Mile High Stadium Submitted By: Tony Schmitz Grade: C
Pros of the ballpark = I visited Mile High in 1993 to see my first ever Rockies game.  I never saw so much purple.  You never realized that the seats were orange.  The place was noisy but that was mostly because it was packed which happened alot those two years there.  and the floors were made of steel.  My family and I were sitting in the third deck behind left field so we were in the major nose bleed seats yet they were a pretty good deal.  The fans were so passionate about the team.  I think they were just tickled to finally have a pro team regardless of how bad they were.  I never ate there but they had quite a few grills and gift shops around.  I thought it was funny that every where you looked you saw Rockies stuff then all of a sudden there was a lady there wearing and selling a bunch of Cardinals stuff.  I swear she was the only one there wearing Cardinals gear.  The Mile High Staff was very nice and helpful and also looked very classy with their purple vests and wide  brimmed hats. parking was decent.  We parked down by "The Mac" and walked down a large walkway toward the stadium.  Then up those dang ramps.
Cons of the ballpark = The ramps were not the best.  We constantly kept going up ramps to get to our seats.  Although we were pretty close to the top.  Seeing all the Bronco names on the Upper deck rail and Billy the Bronco on top of the score board gave you the feeling the Broncos will be running out on the field instead.
Additional Comments: The whole experience had a very magical feeling.  You could just feel the excitement.  At the time I never realized that Mile High was only temporary.  It was a good place to see a game.  Its a shame a place with that much history had to be torn down.

Ballpark Visited = Mile High Stadium Submitted By: Jeff Nix Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark = Always a big crowd, I have retrieved the box scores from retrosheet.org, and never a crowd less than 55,000 on hand at the 23 games I attended at Mile High. Had a one of a kind grandstand. East wing (served as left and center field seating) was movable for football to baseball by the use of hydroplanning the grand stand (flushed water underneath it, then was pulled back).  Was the largest and heaviest permanent structure to ever be built that could be moved, will never be anything else like it.
Cons of the ballpark = In the left center field stands (this was the movable structure), the concourse walkways were made of sheetmetal so the floor would pop up and down.  Kind of scary now that I think about it.
Additional Comments: I was 13 in 1993 when Denver finally got MLB.  So I do have good memories.  David Nied throwing the first complete game shutout against the killer B's and the Houston Astros.  And I seem to recall seeing a check swing HR hit by Sid Bream (and people thought Coors Field was a HR park).  Overall Mile High will never be remembered for baseball, instead football and John Elway which is deserved, but also sad because it was a baseball stadium first for the Denver Bears, and also home to the Zehpers. Of course we already had Coors Field planned before they started to play at Mile High so no tears were really ever witnessed over this move.

Ballpark Visited = Mile High Stadium Submitted By: Dan Hawkins Grade: F
Pros of the ballpark = It was in Denver, and my favorite team, the Rockies played there.  So during most games, the weather was spectacular.  And since the place seated so many fans, you could usually get a ticket somewhere.
Cons of the ballpark = As a football stadium, Mile High was all right.  Since the Rockies were only going to be there two years, they didn't put a lot of work into making it a baseball park.  Left field was way too short, making for some cheap home runs.  The upper deck, which is usually where I sat, was way too high and far away from the playing field.  It was definitely not an intimate baseball park.
Additional Comments: In spite of its shortcomings, I did see some fun baseball there.  And the crowds were huge.

Olympic Stadium

Ballpark Visited = Olympic Stadium Submitted By: Leo Lehman Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark = The fans were loud. 5,000 Montreal fans in Olympic stadium can be louder than 20,000 fans at Skydome. Behind home plate the sightlines are good. The Metro takes you right into the stadium.
Cons of the ballpark =Concreat, the place looks cold and sterile.
Additional Comments: Underrated as a ballpark and a baseball city. People who go to Expos games are real fans and are great.

Ballpark Visited = Olympic Stadium Submitted By: Sam Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark = The plain feeling makes it easy to watch the game. The low attendance also hopes for that.
Cons of the ballpark =The plain feeling and the roof don't make it so beautiful.
Additional Comments: A great place.

Ballpark Visited = Olympic Stadium Submitted By: Anthony Lorenzo Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark = Loved the Olympic Stadium.  It was quaint and had a hometown feel.  My friend and I were given tickets to the game by a couple that had extra, we did not have to pay a penny.  The fans are knowledgeable and loyal, many go back to the Jarry Park days.  It is the most fan friendly ballpark I have been to, a great place to get autographs and the exchange rate is great.
Cons of the ballpark = The less-expensive seats are uncomfortable.
Additional Comments: I arrived early to the stadium because I wanted to get a feel of what the Expos meant to there fans.  After numerous conversations and one memorable encounter I came to the conclusion that baseball belongs in Montreal.  While I was waiting for the game to start I was talking to a father who brought his three sons.  During our conversation Tony Armas Jr. began signing autographs by the dugout, so I took one of the boys to get his autograph.  After he got his glove signed I noticed numerous signatures on his glove, Ken Griffey Jr. and Vladamir Guerrero to name a few, well what I found surprising was how the names where worn out.  I asked him why and his father said, "He uses it for Little League" I was shocked when I asked him directly why he used it for Little League, he told me it was his lucky glove.  That is what baseball is all about, I could not see many children in America doing a thing like that, playing with a glove that has two hall of fame caliber players on it. 

Ballpark Visited = Olympic Stadium Submitted By: Ben Stephenson Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark = A lot of bad things have been said about this ballpark, but if you are a real basball fan you'll think othwise. This unique stadium looks like a flying saucer with a high arched tower on the outside. The seats are a very cool yellow and blue colors. It's actually a very compact round litte thing from the inside. Although there has been talks about contraction, the real fans always come out to support the Expos. They're very loud when a player hits a home run or when somone makes a good play. I think it's good to have 1 stadium in the MLB to be so different. Every other stadium in the MLB is pretty much the same when it comes to fans and atmosphere. But I think it's very good to have just 1 ballpark surrounded in a French atmosphere.. If every park in the majors where the same, it would be boring.
Cons of the ballpark = Although I'm for Olympic Stadium and the Expos existance, there are bad things like how there is turf. Turf isn't goog to play basball on. Behind the scorebord in centerfield, there is a big ugly gap where they store stuff and no one gose there. The usual attendance for a game is about 13,000. Which makes it gloomy and sad. And because of the top on the stadium, the lighting isn't good.
Additional Comments: Even though the majority of basball fans think of the Big "O" is an eye sore, you have to remember that any basball park is a part of baseball and nothing is more buitiful than that.

Ballpark Visited = Olympic Stadium Submitted By: Shant Karayan Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark = Well, to start it off, the exterior of the stadium is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!. I mean, it's eye-candy. The silver color, the tower (which i found out is the tallest freestanding, inclined tower in the world..not that that's very important) Anyway, other pro's have to be the fact that it is the cheapest stadium to go to, and the fact that the subway system has a stop directly in the stadium. You have an excellent view from anywhere you sit. I have noticed that in Montreal sporting areas. (i.e. Molson Center, Molson Stadium, Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Claude Robillard Stadium)etc...
Cons of the ballpark = Well, for one, the fact that it's a 20 minute drive from Downtown Montreal is a real bug. But the reason they built it there was because they thought that Downtown was going to develop- eastwards. Anyway, the fact that it's not open air really annoys people in Montreal, who are the outdoorsy type. Furthermore, it's in a residential district, so no bars or clubs or anything around it, except for the occasional "deppaneur" hehe (that's french for convenience stores)
Additional Comments: I try my best to go to a dozen games a year, and it looks like they're turning around for the better attendance wise, one of only 7 major league teams to record improvement in that department.

Ballpark Visited = Olympic Stadium Submitted By: Ryan McNeil Grade: D
Pros of the ballpark = This place can get incrediblly noisy when it wants to. Getting a great ticket is incredibly easy, and there's a Metro stop right outside the stadium (I'm one of the few people who will also give a stadium points if you can get there by public transit).
Cons of the ballpark = Oh man...where to begin. This place is a cave, and its place in baseball history is long gone. I would have loved to have seen a game here when they uncovered the roof. The place is rather dark and dreary and is way out in the sticks. If The Expos were playing somewhere downtown, they might be in better standing as a franchise. Of course, the fact that the 'Spos have been teetering on the edge of extinction for about six years now doesn't help either.
Additional Comments: The saddest thing in baseball right now. I firmly believe that a new stadium coupled with a new television contract (Expos games are not on local TV) would truly save this franchise. The stadium isn't as bad as some make it out to be, but it pales in comparison to most other parks. Quick bit of trivia, when baseball went on strike in 1994 The Expos were the top team in the league...what would have happened if that season got finished and they played in The World Series?

Ballpark Visited = Olympic Stadium Submitted By: Marc Viquez Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark = You can always get a seat, a good seat in fact. There is always a divine sense of fascination of attending an Expos game. The bilingual announcer adds to the Montreal flare and the outfield deck is a nice touch.
Cons of the ballpark =A very surreal baseball experience that is hard to actually begin at one point. Is it the pool cover in the middle of the roof up above, the irregularly shaped yellow seats that tend to echo when banged during rallies, the warehouse like space behind centerfield, of the entire shape of the stadium. The whole place smells like you are in a natatorium and it shines of shiny 1970s. Entering the stadium is also uncanny as you walk through concrete park that is both baron and menacing.
Additional Comments: What a very strange, odd, and bizarre experience Olympic Parc is.

Ballpark Visited = Olympic Stadium Submitted By: Rob K. Grade: C
Pros of the ballpark = ....the fireworks?
Cons of the ballpark =Well, for starters, you feel like your in a warehouse. The stadium was empty, the crowd was dead, I think the roof was made from a paper bag, cold...need I say more
Additional Comments: It is probably the worst ballpark in baseball, although I've heard Veterans Stadium isn't great.

Ballpark Visited = Olympic Stadium Submitted By: Noah Rothfeder Grade: D
Pros of the ballpark = The seats can make lots of noise when they are slammed down. It looks really funky with the sense that aliens will soon come and reclaim their land.
Cons of the ballpark =I do not understand the concept of a dome. I felt stuffy and disliked the fact that the teams would never dive to get a ball due to the artificial turf. An infestation of bugs outside of the stadium made the approach a little uncomfortable.
Additional Comments: Although I love visiting new ballparks, this one was difficult to come by. It is not off of a main highway and Montreal streets seem to confuse me with the random directions they have. The Expos have a real die hard backing by a few people who do not mind making noise when things get going. Thee chairs provide a great opportunity to make noise as well. I have never seen so many different baseball hats in one stadium because I am a Yankee fan. Turn back the clock had seats for 1 dollar Canadian. Pure insanity!

Ballpark Visited = Olympic Stadium Submitted By: Christobel Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark = The stadium is huge and basically empty! Seats are cheap and getting in and out of the park is great. I can go from my hotel to the game and never have to go outside into the frigid Montreal air. i love going there to see some of the best national league players that I would otherwise never get to see.
Cons of the ballpark = French Canadian fans are the worst! They don't get into the game or even make the slightest noise. I could hear a pin drop there. The team sucks!
Additional Comments: The dome isn't nearly as bad as most people say it is. It's always clean and there are never any crowds to get in your way. The subway is safe and a great way to get to the park.

Ballpark Visited = Olympic Stadium Submitted By: Brian Markham Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark = The pros for start are an atmosphere that you cannot feel in any other stadium. Even though you are in a dome stadium, you know right away you are in Montreal. The bilingual PA announcer, the french-canadian concession stands, etc.... being from the United States, the prices have to be the best bargain in baseball. The Canadian exchange rate makes a hot dog cost about $1.50 and a beer for less than $3. The spacious atmosphere make for any seat to be a good seat as you can everything, plus the scarce crowd allow for much moving around, so you can see the game from an angle if desired.
Cons of the ballpark = The cons are plentiful but would be the case in any dome stadium in my opinion. The pool cover for the dome takes away a lot. Just letting the top to remain open would be beneficial. The crowd is not a factor which takes away from the game. Walking on the field, the concrete-like astroturf is detrimental, and the entrance and set-up in the front of the stadium take away from the baseball atmosphere.
Additional Comments: This stadium is probably one of baseball less desirable but it happens to be one of my favorite's in terms of great times I have had there. Going to college an hour away from Montreal, I found myself going to many games b/c of the price and the fascination with a different culture's interpretation of baseball. I would encourage anyone enjoys baseball to check it out, if not it would be understandable as well.

Polo Grounds

Ballpark Visited: Polo Grounds Submitted By: Gregory Christiano Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: It was an old, treasured park for me. My father took me to the Polo Grounds in the early 1950's to see his beloved Giants play. I fell in love with that park, girders and all. I remember the center field club house and the Rhiengold sign above the windows. It was the most unique baseball park in the League with its horse-shoe shape and its cavernous center field. Some 500 feet from home plate. There are many great memories attached to that park. Later I went to see the Mets play there in 1962-63. I remember sitting in the right field grandstands and nearly catching a Duke Snyder home run!
Cons of the ballpark: The girders block your view, the restrooms needed modernization but other than that it was a perfect park to watch baseball. I can't say anything bad about it.
Additional Comments: It is typical of American culture to destroy the most cherished things to make way for "modernization" or what the developers call revitalization.  We destroy treasured landmarks in the name of "progress."  That's what happened to the elevated lines in NY.  They were torn down long before their service to the people was used up.
I saw many a great baseball game at the Polo grounds. I even road the shuttle  from Jerome Ave. I lived in the Bronx in those years.  Grandstand admission was $1.50, a hot dog 50 cents. what a great deal. and sometimes you even got a doubleheader.  Great memories.

Qualcomm Stadium

Ballpark Visited = Qualcomm Stadium Submitted By: Joe Sorrentino Grade: D
Pros of the ballpark = The exterior of the stadium looks very new-age which is not the case for the inside.  However, the fish tacos are unique and pretty good.
Cons of the ballpark = The concrete is dark and cracked all over the place.  Concourses are tiny and crowded.  The place is dimly lit and not even a few misplaced palm trees behind a plexi-glass outfield fence can cheer the place up.
Additional Comments: You would think the place would reflect sunny SoCal with a more open and beachy look to it.  Fortunately, the proposed new ballpark on the way.

Ballpark Visited = Qualcomm Stadium Submitted By: Aaron Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark = It had many great seats, most of the people were friendly, prices for the seats were real cheap.
Cons of the ballpark = There were no food plazas where you could order food from a menu, (only vendors with carts). Some people drank way too much beer.
Additional Comments: From the out side it looks really neat. (It is all grey from concrete, and a little train on a monorail will get you there).

Ballpark Visited = Qualcomm Stadium Submitted By: Michael Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark = Enthusiastic fans, even if the team is in last place.  Great food and beer, and weather.  Palm trees in the outfield and the trolley, which means you don't have to deal with parking.
Cons of the ballpark = Way to large for a baseball park. Nothing to do after the game. Concrete multipurpose stadium architecture.
Additional Comments: Qualcomm has been a great place to watch a game, but nothing will compare to Petco Park Downtown in 2004.

Ballpark Visited = Qualcomm Stadium Submitted By: Joe Grade: D
Pros of the ballpark = I thought that it was amazing they turned up more than 20,000 fans to a game.  Knowing that the Padres are terrible the fans were great because they were true baseball fans, they loved baseball, despite their awful team.
Cons of the ballpark = I thought that the food was mediocre and the interior of the stadium was lousy.  The stadium itself is in the middle of nowhere below a hill which holds a Best Buy and Ikea furniture.
Additional Comments: The "Q" is like any other cookie-cutter stadium made in the late 60s it is another concrete oval which has no exterior appeal or intrigue.  The field itself is a sorry excuse for a baseball field.  There is an unbelievably small amount of foul territory down the baselines and huge foul territory behind home plate.  The bull pens are completely hidden from sight because of the zig zag in the outfield seats.  Out of my two visits the first was terrible because I was in the will call lane for 1 hour.  The second one was better because the Padres one and it was mascot day.

Ballpark Visited = Qualcomm Stadium Submitted By: D. Twombly Grade: C
Pros of the ballpark = The food is great at Qualcomm. Hot dogs were some of the best I've ever tasted. The mascot, the swinging Friar is very amusing and is probably second only to the Philly Phanatic. The palm trees in the outfield are and interesting touch, and the way the attendants let you come right up to the dugout is a great thing too.
Cons of the ballpark = Qualcomm was a middle of the road multi-purpose park. I was there on a hot day and the metal under the infield seats increased the temperature to nearly unbearable. The whole stadium kind of looms over you because of the light strips around the park being angled toward the field. The seats are also very ugly with no pattern at all. The grass was pretty chopped up and the out of town scoreboard is annoying because it flashes from one score to another instead of having them all up at once.
Additional Comments: Overall a good park, but I can understand the Padres desire for a new one.

Riverfront Stadium

Ballpark Visited = Cinergy Field Submitted By: A.Lopez Jr Grade: C
Pros of the ballpark = Actual leg room for a tall person as myself made me happy..ballpark looks better with grass and now that it is opened up..
Cons of the ballpark =The black monster in center takes away possible home run balls..Until 2001 Cinergy Field was a totally enclosed circular bowl which had turf and was a very ordinary and blan park..Due to the opening up of the park Cinergy has lost the noice factor that it had when it was enclosed..Just 1 (mini)jumbotron doesnt cut it..Traffic going to the park is horrible.
Additional Comments: Definitely better with the reconfiguration they made in 2001..Now there is grass,a view of the Riverfront,and a view of the progress of the new stadium.

Ballpark Visited = Cinergy Field Submitted By: Neil Anderson Grade: D
Pros of the ballpark = They have now added a natural grass playing surface! Construction of the new Great American Ballpark is directly adjacent to the left field fence. You can gauge progress if you attend a few games over the season. The open end of the stadium (beyond the outfield fences) allows a nice view of the river and gives a warmer appearance than the older, closed in Cinergy Field.
Cons of the ballpark =This ballpark is so antiseptic. It is not nostalgic at all. Considering the Reds are the charter member of Major League Baseball, there is no history around the park at all. Concessions are crowded and out of view from the game.
Additional Comments: Being this is my home park, I know more about this than any other ballpark. Definitely not a park you would want to make a special trip just to see. The Reds do not promote the players or the game well to fans. There are no murals or other historical items around the ballpark to let you know of the storied teams or players. Bad job by management. If you go to a game, you can't really get close to the action for batting practice. Not a great park at all. I am excited about the new Great American Ballpark next year.

Ballpark Visited = Cinergy Field Submitted By: Terry Walters Grade: C
Pros of the ballpark = The change from plastic to grass and the opening up of the outfield raised this park's rating with me from a D- to a C. The view of the river was a definite plus and while you cannot see the playing field from the concourse, you do have a wonderful view of the city skyline or the river and Roebling Bridge. How could they have built a stadium called "Riverfront" in such a way that fans inside the stadium had no view of the river?
Cons of the ballpark =Like all the dreaded multi-purpose stadia, the upper deck is so remote it should have a separate area code from the playing field and it is so high it should be under the direction of air traffic controllers instead of ushers.
Additional Comments: Fans inside a ballpark should feel connected to the park's surroundings, as they do at Wrigley. Thankfully, the new park in Cincy will have a clear view of the Ohio River. The interior of cookie cutter stadia like the original Riverfront provide a view that is too suggestive of a large porcelain toilet bowl.

Shibe Park

Ballpark Visited: Shibe Park Submitted By: Tom Gravely Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: Connie Mack was an intimate little ballyard with good sight lines. Had the neat Ballantine Beer sign in right-field, which was patrolled by #6, Johnny Callison. Also, the Connie Mack cupola behind home plate was a beauty!
Cons of the ballpark: In the latter years of the stadium's existence, you had to pay kids to watch your car during the games or else you could expect trouble.
Additional Comments: I once saw Richie Allen slam a line-drive homer over the roof in left field. It was a majestic sight I will never, ever forget. The baby was LAUNCHED!

Tiger Stadium

Ballpark Visited: Tiger Stadium Submitted By: Jim Connor Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: The upkeep of the field was impeccable.
Cons of the ballpark: Pillars could get in your line of sight.
Additional Comments: In September 1945, in the bottom of the ninth, Hank Greenberg hit a grand slam home run in the oncoming darkness of evening (the games used to start at 3:00 p.m.) to beat the St. Louis Browns and sent the Tigers into the 1945 World Series.  The ironic part of that pennant race was that Clark Griffith, owner of the Washington Nationals (Senators), never expecting to be in a pennant race, had loaded up his schedule with double headers so that his baseball season would end a week early and he could rent out his stadium to the Washington pro football team.   The Tigers went on to defeat the Chicago Cubs in seven games in what was to be the Cubs' last world series.  That day convinced me that I was destined to play shortstop for the Tigers in that stadium.  I must have been out when they called.

Ballpark Visited: Tiger Stadium Submitted By: Matt Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: You were right on top of the field, literally if you sat in the Right Field upper deck (overhang). The vendors seemed to be around all the time. Tickets were cheap and there were no "amusement park" amenities, just a good old fashioned day at the ball field.
Cons of the ballpark: Obstructed view in some seats, concession stands were SLOW. Parking could be a nightmare.
Additional Comments: Tiger Stadium is surely missed. In hindsight, renovating it would have been better.

Ballpark Visited: Tiger Stadium Submitted By: Shoeless Jeff Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: I lucked out while attending an out-of-town business meeting in Detroit about 10 years ago. The meeting ended early and the Tigers just happened to be playing a week day game. It was the only time I was to ever attend old Tiger Stadium - and I loved it!! There was a lot to love about Tiger Stadium but I loved that it reminded me so much of Old Comiskey Park, that I happened to miss very much even 10 years ago. Like Comiskey, and UNLIKE most modern parks, it was a SERIOUS baseball environment where you could just feel the history of the game. I loved the architecture of the park and how sitting in the upper deck really put you right ON TOP of the field. Tiger Stadium had a great asymmetrical design with unique vantage points from the view from behind the left field fence to the death-valley deep center field fence and flagpole that sat IN the field of play. The neat double decked and canopied right field bleachers gave a unique look to Tiger Stadium. I believe the right field upper deck actually hovered above the field - as in, out further than the home run fence. We actually entered the stadium from behind center field, a strange place to enter a stadium, but very neat.
Cons of the ballpark: While I loved that Tiger Stadium reminded me of Comiskey park on the INSIDE, the OUTSIDE of Tiger Stadium was nothing special. It looked to be plain-old symmetrical metal siding. This was disappointing when we first arrived as the outside of Comiskey had elaborate brick relief work, but the inside of Tiger Stadium definitely delivered. Another con: for such an old beautiful stadium I was disappointed in the color scheme - there was a lot of blue. Blue is not as natural or pleasing a color as green - especially in a historic baseball stadium. Another minor con: the day I went there wasn't much of a crowd and the crowd that was there was not into it, but . . . the visiting Yankees were pummeling the Tigers. Bernie Williams hit a ball off the face of the TOP of the right field upper deck and the ball was still traveling upward when it hit! Point is, I don't remember the Tigers having a good team that year and that kind of beating will take any crowd out of
  a game, so no big deal.
Additional Comments: All in all, Tiger Stadium was one of my favorite baseball stadiums I've ever visited! Living in relatively close Chicago I really wish I would have got my a** up to Detroit and enjoyed this old beauty many more times.

Veterans Stadium

Ballpark Visited = Veterans Stadium Submitted By: Stephen Baron Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark = Easy to get to by public transportation, great sight lines, great use of stadium seating, good sound. Vocal crowd, especially booing, with a great announcer (Harry Kalas).
Cons of the ballpark =Seats are very high up, extremely high prices, bad food.
Additional Comments: Even though the team are rookies, it's still Major League ball, and they're the future stars. Go see a game at the Vet despite the NexTurf. Just bring a wallet.

Ballpark Visited = Veterans Stadium Submitted By: Rusty Shakklford Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark = When you enter the Vet for the first time you go wow. The massiveness of this multi-purpose stadium is actually a great site to see. The prices are cheap and you can always find a good seat. A couple of years ago they put in the new state- of- the- art turf. So balls bounce better. There are lots of activities to do iside the park. Just to be there in that massive structure and the amussments inside make a trip to the Vet lots of fun.
Cons of the ballpark = Phillies fans might be the WORST fans in all of baseball. When you go there, there is so much negitivity and depression out of the fans. In past decades Phillies fans were one of the best, but since 94' they have turned bitter. Now there are fans at Phillies games chantting "Go Eagals". The stadium it's self isn't ment for basball. The foul poles are just nets painted yellow. It really doesn't feel like real basball when your there.
Additional Comments: Veterans Stadium is definitly not the baset ballpark in the MLB by any means, but the Pillies have had a rich history there so it is pretty good.

Ballpark Visited = Veterans Stadium Submitted By: Joe Sorrentino Grade: C
Pros of the ballpark = The Vet is easily accessible from either the highway or subway.  Parking is ample. The lower deck contour nicely to the field, while the upper deck overhangs closer to the field than in most ballparks.  In fact, at least half of all foul balls land up there.
Cons of the ballpark = That massive wall of empty seats in the outfield is indeed an eyesore.  Hotdogs are tiny and over-cooked.
Additional Comments: The Vet gets a bad rap.  True, it's too big for baseball, but, the upper deck is not any higher than the new retro parks. Philly's fans are tough, I've never seen another city take average players and elevate them to icon status; just ask Tony Taylor, Jay Johnstone or Larry Anderson.

Ballpark Visited = Veterans Stadium Submitted By: Scott M. Grade: C
Pros of the ballpark = Infield seats not bad, fans get into the game (some take it too seriously), decent cheese steaks, fair prices for a baseball game.
Cons of the ballpark = Multi-purpose cookie cutter stadium: what more can be said about that?  Although the parking is plentiful, only VIP and handicap parking is close, the rest of the peons park pretty far away (its even worse with the new stadium being built).  Traffic is horrible, I-95 is your best bet to get in, traffic the whole way down I-76 is the worst in the country, the stadium is in the same area as all other sports in the city (NFL, NBA, NHL, AHL pro soccer and pro lacrosse and concert all within half a mile) and if there are 2 or more events in one night, expect to site in traffic near the stadium for and hour or more.  the Turf, I don't know which has been more damaging to the team, the injuries from the turf, or the players the turf has scared away from the team.
Additional Comments: If you go to the vet expecting the worst experience because its a multi-purpose cookie cutter, you are probably in for a surprise cause it won't be as bad as you think.  That being said, if you go expecting Camden yards or the Jake, you will be sorely disappointed (but I have faith the new stadium will be the best in baseball).  Despite what you've heard about the fans, the Phillies fans aren't nearly as bad as the eagles.  Probably throughout MLB the phillies fans are a little more rude/intimidating then most, but compared to the eagles fan turnout, they are angels.  (although one time i was at a phillies game and they were losing badly, the fans booed the guy who sang "Take me out to the ball game")  A lot more could be said, but its easily summed up in this: The Phillies are leaving this place and no one is going to miss it over the new park.

Ballpark Visited = Veterans Stadium Submitted By: Marc Grade: D
Pros of the ballpark = The unruly fans who curse and scream at the visitors and even their Phillies. The Phillies Phanatic is probably still the best mascot in sports. The food is good here, hoagies, cheese steaks, and other goodies. There is a newsstand that has yearbooks and programs from other MLB teams, always a good find.
Cons of the ballpark =The last of the old multi-purpose stadiums (with apologies, or not, to Bush Stadium) and can hardly wait for the new park to open. A horrible playing surface, seats so high it seems you are hundred miles away, absolutely no closeness from the majority of the upper deck seating. They sure did not know how to build stadiums in the 1960s and 1970s.
Additional Comments: It is hard for new fans to appreciate this type of ballpark, after 30-years of service it is amazing how people even considered these facilities as suitable places of play? However, the Phillies will have a new ballpark soon and it will mean a good-bye to green painted asphalt fields at The Vet.

Ballpark Visited = Veterans Stadium Submitted By: Warren Reichle Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark = Provides an outstanding atmosphere to watch baseball and football when the house is packed.
Cons of the ballpark = Multi-Purpose stadiums although are no longer an acceptable venue in society's eyes to watch sports in. Years of letting things go and disrepair on behalf of it's owners (The City of Philadelphia) have tarnished the publics view of this great house of Philadelphia Legends.
Additional Comments: The Ballpark is a magical place. A place where kids can dream. A place where memories are made. The VET may not have been anything but a wasted pile of concrete to many, but for me and many Philadelphians the Vet is a place that will forever be one of the greatest memories of our lives. You see I grew up going to games to see Michael Jack Schmidt and "Lefty" play. I remember the Magical season of 1993 where Darren Daulton, Mitch Williams, the "dude", and the rest of those Phillies gave me one of my fondest memories ever. I realize that the vet isn't the greatest place to watch baseball. But The game itself is something much greater.

Ballpark Visited = Veterans Stadium Submitted By: Robby Bobs Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark = I don't know what people complain about. This is the coolest and most beautiful stadium in the majors. it looks like the coliseum of Rome. screw these new retro look stadiums, they all look like they have had their balls chopped off (and that goes for this new one their making too). there is nothing wrong with this place.
Cons of the ballpark = OK being from Philly, i know what real cheese steaks taste like. My recommendation, wait till after the game because the food stinks. There are so many amazing eateries like pats and genos in the neighborhoods. Also until this year, the fans have never been coming to the games. we have this changed this year though because for at least half the games, 60,000 seat will be sold.
Additional Comments = This is the last year for the vet so you have to give it some props because it beats the best.