The Sports Archives

Baseball is America’s favorite pastime for good reason. There’s nothing more iconic than catching a game during the summer and watching your favorite players take the field while eating hot dogs and drinking lemonade. However, some stadiums are more iconic than others, here are the top five that you need to visit.

Yankee Stadium in New York City

Yankee Stadium is iconic, even given its evolutions. The Yankees are simultaneously one of the most loved and hated teams in the league, and they’ve earned both of those reputations. Even the new stadium has elements of history, and fans have seen both their dreams come true and their worst nightmares realized.

Fenway Park in Boston, MA

Fenway’s Red Sox play a dramatic part in the love of and loathing toward the Yankees. The rivalry between the two, dating back to the Babe, keeps fans going. In addition to being the oldest park in the country, Fenway is home to all sorts of traditions. Boston is one of the best places to live if you love all things baseball, and the team attracts the kind of support that brings fans together.

From the Green Monster (an icon in its own right) to Pesky’s Pole (responsible for both miraculous and tragic home runs) to the red paint denoting the spot where Ted Williams hit the longest home run ever smashed at the park, the stadium is full of baseball history. You won’t forget what it’s like to sing “Sweet Caroline,” with an entire stadium, either.

Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH

Cleveland’s fans are loyal, if nothing else, and when they go to a game, they intend to have fun. The team doesn’t always matter, because natives love every team in every sport. Progressive Field, where the Indians play, ranks among the best ballparks in the US because it appeals to guests rooting for teams playing both home and away.

Affectionately known as “The Jake,” Cleveland’s field has served the team through ups and downs — many, many downs. However, it also has an enormous video board. It sprawls 149 feet and towers 36 feet high. The Jake served the fans through more than 450 sell-outs in a row and they keep coming back to it.

PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

Home to the Pirates, PNC Park is both well-known and well-loved for its setup. Even if you have the highest nosebleed seat, you’re still only 88 feet away from the ballfield. It has views of the sidelines and the skyline. Fans love their Pirates, but they’re also fans of unique forms of entertainment, such as races involving mascots and pierogi. The fare is even making the ballpark a foodie destination, thanks to wings from Quaker Steak & Lube and other delicious options.

Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

Wrigley Field is legendary, partly because of its history and partly because it stands as a shrine to baseball. Built on the site where a seminary once stood, Wrigley Field might be best known for its scoreboard, which is original, and still operated by hand. It’s also known for the ivy on the outfield wall and the fans’ willingness to keep the old traditions, while welcoming new ones. Fans of the Cubs are incredibly loyal too, flocking to games at Wrigley even when their beloved team doesn’t have a shot.

Every baseball fan has his or her own favorite ballpark. Would you move to your top team’s hometown to live near the stadium?

Photo Credits: Wikipedia Commons