10 Iconic Baseball Stadiums Worth a Roadtrip to See. Part 1
There’s nothing quite like a trip to the ballpark: the uniform-clad crowds, the salty peanuts, the 7th-inning stretch—and the all-important game, of course. Yet as much as die-hard fans care about the home team’s record, they can be almost as passionate about…
Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs
Opened in 1914, Wrigley Field is the classic example of a simple pavilion style—which makes finding the bathroom and getting back to your seat between innings an easy feat. The stadium fits in seamlessly with the surrounding neighborhood, and even if baseball isn’t really your thing, you’ll appreciate the views of Lake Michigan, the ivy-covered outfield wall, and the retro manual scoreboard.
Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox
Fenway Park opened in 1912, making it the oldest ballpark still standing today. The need to squeeze the stadium into a small plot of land required a few interesting architectural sacrifices that make the space what it is today. Among the quirks are “The Triangle” and the Green Monster, sections of the outfield walls so unusual they sport their own nicknames.
Yankee Stadium, home of the New York Yankees
The new Yankee Stadium is the priciest stadium built to date. Old-style pillars and arches and a limestone-and-granite exterior replicate the appearance of the original park at its opening in 1923, while the ceiling of the roof incorporates a replica of the trademark frieze present in the old stadium until its 1974 renovations.
Oriole Park at Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles
Camden Yards kicked off the new—and popular—trend of throwback-style stadiums when the park opened in 1992. The retro brick architecture incorporates the adjacent B&O Warehouse building and boasts tiered bullpens as well as a view of the Baltimore skyline.
AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants
Situated right on the bay, AT&T Park offers a stellar view. Retro-revival architecture and bayside scenery aren’t the only attractions of this stadium, which opened in 2000. Fans are also treated to a large Coca-Cola bottle sculpture that lights up and blows bubbles after every Giants’ run and, right next to it, a giant baseball glove sculpture.
