Fansided

Ranking the 10 best ballparks in Major League Baseball

By Will Osgood

May 23, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; General view from the press box as the Pittsburgh Pirates take batting practice before hosting the New York Mets at PNC Park. The Pirates won 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; General view from the press box as the Pittsburgh Pirates take batting practice before hosting the New York Mets at PNC Park. The Pirates won 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 20, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Dusk during the fourth inning of a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Dusk during the fourth inning of a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Fenway Park

Fenway Park has made noticeable upgrades to its hundred-plus-year-old facility over the years. But none of them have taken away from the chic look of the ballpark. If anything, adding seats to the top of the Green Monster has only made the tourist attraction within a tourist attraction that much more fascinating.

The Green Monster is No. 1 on the features which make Fenway such a landmark. But one cannot forget about Pesky Pole on the right field side—the nearly impossible pole to hook a fair ball by, because of and in spite of the fact it is only 297 feet from home plate.

Then there’s the original triangle in center field, where hitting a ball to will assuredly gain a triple for the batter. And there’s the waist-high outfield wall all the way from Pesky Pole to centerfield.

Or how about the curving foul territory, which gives plenty of room between the bases, but almost none once expanded beyond the first 90 feet.

And don’t forget about the almost inhumanly small dugouts for both teams. Fenway is quaint and old and historic. And thus lovely. It is home to a franchise which was cursed until 2004, and the New England baseball fans were often crabby because of it.

It made for an interesting atmosphere, one which no longer exists in Fenway, though the fans there are now intense in a different way. The expectations are daunting for the Red Sox.

Next: Truly a nice little place on the North Side

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