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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 11
Next
Apr 14, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; General view of the Cincinnati Reds taking batting practice before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; General view of the Cincinnati Reds taking batting practice before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Wrigley Field

Again, I fully admit in advance a bit of bias towards Wrigley Field. It is the home of the Lovable Losers. Starting there is as good a place as any to begin.

Fans of the Cubs haven’t been terribly enthusiastic about the four-year renovation plan put in place by the Cubs. But redoing the bleachers, adding scoreboards and improving space in the outer hallways should not be seen as infringing upon what made Wrigley so great for so many years. The first and third were at least necessary changes.

However, the centerfield scoreboard, operated by hand, is not being removed or changed. The ivy will continue to grow on the outfield walls in the same natural order it has for decades. The organ will still play. And so many of the things that have made Wrigley Field great for so long remain just as steady as they’ve always been.

If there’s something to be said in the negative column, it could be the insertion of lights into the stadium. But that was done in 1988. We’re almost 30 years past that development. There’s no sense in dredging that up now. The lights exist at Wrigley, for better or worse. It’s done.

And while night games are now common at Wrigley, day baseball is still what makes Wrigley Field special.

It is as George Will says, “a nice little place on the North Side.”

Home/Baltimore Orioles