10. Avista Stadium - Spokane, WA
I really appreciate ballparks that exude a level of ambience that belies bigger and better things. Avista Stadium did that. I felt the way it was designed and the organization of it all made it feel like a Double or Triple-A park rather than Single-A.
9. The Epicenter - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
First off, the view here is absolutely extraordinary. The dark brown hills of the San Gabriel Range provide a backdrop to a ballpark that isn't too shabby. Tickets were cheap and there wasn't a bad seat in the house.
8. Raley Field - Sacramento, CA
Not a lot of good can be said about Sacramento, but their ballpark is fantastic. What I like about Raley Field is that it is so convenient to walk there across the Tower Bridge from Old Town. It has a great view to boot and the fans are some of the best in Minor League Baseball.
7. Cheney Stadium - Tacoma, WA
Even after the renovations the Rainiers did, this is still one of my favorite ballparks. It's just small enough to feel intimate, but it hosts pretty good baseball. Finally, compared to the prices just up I-5 at Safeco, this is an affordable place to see a game.
6. Durham Bulls Athletic Park - Durham, NC
The "Most Famous Minor League Team" can boast a fine ballpark. Located in downtown, I love the neighborhood surrounding it with all the old tobacco warehouses. If you want a dedicated fan base, this is definitely the place to visit.
5. Chuckchansi Park - Fresno, CA
Fresno is a rough city, but in the midst of the blight is this gem of a ballpark. It is dirt cheap to go to games here, the food is halfway good, and the brand of baseball is top-notch. Like in Rancho, there isn't a bad seat in the house.
4. Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, BC
Putting aside just how awesome of a city Vancouver is, there ballpark is fabulous. I love how it is located on a bike boulevard, with the green hills of Queen Victoria Park behind it, and how they don't waste their time with frivolous promotions or gimmicks.
3. PGE Park - Portland, OR
It may no longer be in existence, but PGE Park was one of the best. The sunken park with the MAX trains going back and forth, the neighborhood around the park and the old-style seats screamed perfection. Too bad it's now a soccer venue.
2. Richmond County Bank Ballpark - Staten Island, NY
This ballpark is all about intangibles. Taking the ferry ride over and the view of lower Manhattan from every seat cannot be matched anywhere. Every baseball can has to experience that view before they die.
1. Civic Stadium - Eugene, OR
Definitely some bias here, but the old wooden ballpark made you feel like you were watching the game from a by-gone era. Even as it sits idle, rotting away with the passing of time, you can just imagine the games and players that passed through those gates. Maybe baseball will be played there again some day, but the memories will always be there.
Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)
No comments:
Post a Comment