America's Greatest Ballparks
January 27, 2016
Intro
Welcome to America's Greatest Ballparks. This blog is created to profile many of the best baseball venues across the country. Follow this blog for a look at the experience of attending a baseball game and all the details that make it so great. Some of the most unique ballparks in the country will show up, both famous and unknown. Keep an eye out for facts, pictures, videos and more.
I am creating this blog because of how near and dear to my heart baseball is, and I look to share that passion with all of you. This video below is one of my altime favorites and gives an intro to just how much baseball is a key aspect of the culture in America, and the world.
February 9, 2016
Not all great stadium experiences come at baseball games, check out the Super Bowl halftime show card stunt below.
February 11, 2016
Minor League Baseball Basics
To fully understand this blog it is important to understand the structure of Minor League Baseball. Broken into 5 classificiations, the minors are designed to prepare young baseball talent, and sort through all the young players who may or may not make it to the majors. The 5 classifications are Rookie League, A, High A, AA and AAA. The lowest level is rookie and the highest is AAA. For the most part, each Major League Baseball teamis affiliated with one Minor League Baseball team at each level. Minor League teams play a shorter season, which is broken down into smaller geographical reigons, to ease travel expenses.
February 11, 2016
Fluor Field at the West End
Greenville, S.C.
Home of the Greenville Drive, A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.
Seating Capacity: 5700
Opened: April 6, 2006
Designed By: DLR Group
Contractor: EMJ Corp.
Nestled in the west end of downtown Greenville, South Carolina is one of the premier minor league baseball venues in the southeastern United States. The stadium is home to the Greenville Drive, the single A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Known as "Little Fenway" the stadium has its own Green Monster, modeled after the original Green Monster at Fenway Park in Boston, MA.
The ballpark is extremely fan friendly, and offers a variety entertainment options beyond the baseball game itself. From the Bi-Lo playground on the left field line to multiple eating a drinking venues. The ballpark takes a southern charming twist on one of baseball's most classic venues in Fenway Park.
Can't Miss Meal- Que's BBQ Plate
Can't Miss Game- $1 Beer Thirsty Thursday's
Best Moment- June 15, 2007 Dan Marino 1st Pitch
Don't Leave Your Seat- 7th inning stretch Sweet Caroline
Post Game Bar- Mac's Speed Shop
Pre-Game Meal- Liberty Tavern
Best Parking- Free Parking at County Square, includes shuttle
You cant have a great ballpark without a mid-summer brawl to know it by.
February 21, 2016
Durham Bulls Athletic Park
Durham, North Carolina
Home of the Durham Bulls, AAA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays
Seat Capacity: 10,000
Opened: 1995
Designed by: The Freelon Group, Populous
Contractor: George W. Kane Construction Co.
Not far from the campus of Duke University, in downtown Durham, North Carolina is the Durham Bulls Athletic Park or (D-BAP). When it opened its doors in 1995, D-BAP set the industry standard for the modern day minor league baseball venue.D-BAP is part of a larger development which features condos, restraunt space and offices.
The ballpark is home to one of the most well-known icons in baseball, a wooden bull which is now in left field. At one time it was beyond the right field wall but moved to left during renovations. The bull famously offers a free steak to the batter who hits a homerun off of the sign.
The Durham Bulls organization brought in much of its fame from the 1988 film, Bull Durham. The film stars Kevin Costner as an aging minor league catcher who mentors young pitcher Nuke LaLook, played by Tim Robbins. The movie was mad prior to the opening of the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
The ballbark design places an emphasis on the overall fan experience with many dining options and attractions for fans of all ages. The Chick-fil-A Woll E. World is a play area for kids, and many hospitality areas exist for craft beers, food and viewing the game. The stadium hosted the 2012 AAA all star game.
Can't Miss Meal- Flying Burrito
Can't Miss Game- Bark In the Park
Best Moment- 2012 AAA All star game
Don't Leave Your Seat- Homerun off of the Bull
Post Game Bar- Tylers Restaurant and Tapproom
Pre-Game Meal- Tobacco Road Sports Cafe
Best Parking- American Tobacco Parking Deck for $3
Photos courtesy Tripadvisor.com
February 25, 2016
Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Winston Salem, North Carolina
Shifting gears from baseball, but sticking with sports venues brings us to LJVM in Winston Salem, NC. The home of Wake Forest University Men's & Women's Basketball. My group attended a Wednesday night ACC showdown between Wake Forest and Notre Dame. The Irish came out on top but nonetheless it was a great experience.
The 14,665 seat complex was opened in 1989 and has played host so some of Wake Forest's greatest basketball teams. The venue is designed to feel intimate while still being able to host the large crowds of ACC basketball.
Our game day began at Mi Pueblo Mexican Grill in Winston Salem for a pregame meal, before trecking over to LJVM. It was a rainy evening and a 9 p.m. weeknight start which may have hurt the attendance, but those who were there were loud and proud. The student section left only a distant memory of the TieDie Nation days at LJVM when the Demon Deacons consistently gave UNC, Duke and other ACC teams a run for their money.
The photo below captures "The Joel" in its
prime. Danny Manning is getting the team
back in the right direction however and LJVM
will be rocking again soon.
Above photo taken by myself, lower photo
courtesy wakeforestsports.com
March 17, 2016
AAA All-Star Game 2016 Headed to Charlotte
BB&T Ballpark
Charlotte, NC
July 11-13
The baseball stars of tomorrow will converge on the Charlotte area in July 2016 for the annual mid summer All-Star week. The festivities will begin on Monday July 11, as the three leading homerun hitters from the International League will compete against their counterparts from the Pacific League in a home run derby. The derby takes place in the ballpark which allowed the most homeruns nine innings played (2.65) in AAA in 2015. The derby should no doubt be a good one.
The festivities will continue Wednesday, July 13 when the All-Star game luncheon at BB&T Ballpark, followed by the All-Star FanFest in the afternoon.
The first pitch for the All-Star game will be sometime Wednesday night, as the International League will showdown with the Pacific League under the Charlotte skyline.
Expect postgame fireworks high above the Charlotte skyline postgame. The knights have fireworks every friday night during the season and I would speculate that the AAA All-Star Game will bring booms to the Charlotte uptown as well.
Tickets are on sale for the game by visiting charlotteknights.com
Photos cortousy of Melisa Love, Milb.com and The Charlotte Knights.
March 21, 2016
Savannah Bananas Are Your New Favorite CPL Team
Savannah, GA
Grayson Stadium
Enterting the world of college summer league baseball is arguably the best new logo/name combonation in all of sports. The Savannah Bananas was released in early 2016 and will be coming to the Savannah, Georgia area this summer. They will host their games in historic Grayson Stadium and will bring some of the finest young talent in the sport of baseball to showcase every night in the summer.
The logo in and of itself is worth buying a shirt, hat or other item. I bought one the day I saw the logo and I am not alone.
When ESPN SportsCenter takes note, you know you're doing something right.
Bananas merchandise and tickets are available at https://thesavannahbananas.com/ and make sure to follow them on twitter @thesavbananas
Historic Grayson Stadium
Savannah, GA
Photo's courtesy of the Savannah Bananas & Savannah Sports Council
March 30, 2016
Fantasy Baseball Season Getting Underway
A major aspect of sports has become fantasy leagues. Fantasy leagues have the ability to connect friends around the world and act as a gathering ground for memories, smack talking and competition. Fantasy has become highly popular in the NFL but has also gained popularity in the NBA, MLB and Golf.
Fantasy baseball will begin its season Sunday April 3, when the MLB season gets started with four exciting games. Cardinals at Pirates, Cubs at Angels, Blue Jays at Rays and the nightcap will be a World Series rematch as the Mets will face the Royals in Kansas City.
This year's drafts will be loaded with young talent, as fantasy owners decide who they want to put their faith in for the 2016 season. Here is the top ten rankings as produced by YahooSports.
Mike Trout (CF, LAA)
Paul Goldschmidt (1B, ARI)
Bryce Harper (CF,RF, WSH)
Clayton Kershaw (SP, LAD)
Josh Donaldson (3B, TOR)
Miguel Cabrera (1B, DET)
Manny Machado (3B,SS, BAL)
Nolan Arenado (3B, COL)
Andrew McCutchen (CF, PIT)
Carlos Correa (SS, HOU)
Good luck to everyone participating in the fun this season!
April 11, 2016
One Last Summer at Turner Field
Atlanta, Georgia
Home of the Atlanta Braves
Spring training has ended. The roster has been cut to 25, pitchers and catchers are itching to get started. It is a cool morning which gives way to a warm sun. Traffic around the ballpark begins to build, tailgaters fill the blue lot. The grass is bright green, perfectly manicured as it sparkles in the Georgia sun. It's opening day at Turner Field, is there anything better?
All poems aside, it is time to pay tribute to a baseball stadium that holds a special place in the hearts of many. A place where sons one day brought their sons, and special memories echo off of the outfield walls.
A place where everyone can recall Jason Heyward's opening day homer, Chipper's All Star Game home run, and John Smoltz 3,000 Strike out; just to name a few.
I remember Turner Field first with my grandparents who took me every year for my birthday as a kid, an annual summer trip with my dad and most recently trips with my college friends. All fun in their own respects, and memories I am sure to never forget.
The culture of Braves Country stretches far beyond the walls of Turner Field, as radio and television broadcast are a staple for summer nights in the southeastern United States. Pete Van Wieren and Skip Caray gave way to Don Sutton, Joe Simpson and Chip Caray. Their calls of games ring all accross the Braves Country.
So as Turner Field takes one last summer, we can all say thank you for the memories and the good times, thank you for the walk off wins, the summer nights and even a good rain delay. Soon we will say so long to you to you old friend, but the memories will last forever.
Photo Courtesy Ben Winterrowd