Some people make grandiose plans to visit every ballpark during a Major League season. While that sounds like fun in theory, it's a bit irrational and frankly, not all ballparks are great parks. Allocate your resources wisely and choose these iconic parks when venturing outside your traditional proximity to catch a ballgame.
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is the second oldest stadium operating in the game of baseball (second to Fenway Park), and is the home of the Chicago Cubs. The stadium is a throwback to the old days of the game, built in a residential area of the city and having refused light installation until 1988.
Today, the stadium hosts the most day games out of any team in baseball, which is the best time to catch a game. Wrigley is famous for its ivy-covered brick outfield walls, which often cause lost balls and headaches for the outfielders. The area of bars and restaurants right outside the stadium is called Wrigleyville, and if you plan in advance, you can purchase full service seating on their rooftops that provide a clear, one-of-a-kind view of the game.
Yankee Stadium
Referred to as "New" Yankee Stadium by diehards, this state-of-the-art facility was built next door to the famed original stadium with the same name in 2008, in the Bronx borough of New York City. It houses baseball's winningest team, the Yankees, who have had players such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Derek Jeter don their uniform.
Yankee Stadium — Photo courtesy of Espino Family
While tickets, parking and food may be a little pricier here than other venues, you are paying to see the most storied team in the history of the sport compete at the best venue money can afford to build. The seating and dining options inside the stadium are endless and include a Hard Rock Cafe and Mohegan Sun Sports Bar in center field. You can easily access the stadium by subway (B, D or 4 lines), by bus or by driving in yourself.
Dodger Stadium (Chavez Ravine)
Dodger Stadium, located right next to downtown Los Angeles is the third oldest stadium in the game of baseball and is home to one of the most hallowed teams, the Dodgers. The stadium has the largest capacity of any in-use baseball venue and usually offers fans great weather (rarely a rain-out) and viewing angles for enjoying the game.
Dodger Stadium — Photo courtesy of Ben+Sam
The field is one of the best maintained due to the computer-controlled irrigation of the grass playing field. Now that Magic Johnson and friends own the team, they've shown a willingness to spend money to improve quality of play which is great news for fans. Team owners past and present have always catered to fans driving in to games, so finding parking (though you have to pay) is never a problem.
