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 11, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Overall view of Chase Field as Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Vidal Nuno throws in the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Overall view of Chase Field as Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Vidal Nuno throws in the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Chase Field

As far as I know, Chase Field is the first major league stadium to ever feature a pool—for humans—to swim in during the game. And while it is not the first stadium to ever feature a retractable roof, it is seemingly the one which has made the feature the coolest.

It is also one of just two stadiums in modern times (Comerica Park being the other) which has a dirt path landing strip making its way straight from the end of the pitcher’s mound to the cut of the batting circle surrounding home plate.

Chase Field brings uniqueness with the pool, and the exterior—from above, when the roof is closed, it looks more like a hangar used for housing fighter jet planes than a baseball stadium. The roof is used mostly to keep the hot, dry heat of the summer out, since it rarely rains in Arizona during the season.

The pool sits in the right center field stands seemingly to remind us baseball is above all a game meant for the summer. And it is a game, meant for children and families to enjoy, much the same way a pool is meant for swimming in the heat of summer while enjoying family time and barbecues.

Formerly known as Bank One Ballpark (or “The Bob” for short), Chase Field gives us so much of what is right about the ballpark—the indelible symbol of the game’s greatness—while keeping us on our toes with unique innovations, which also is an important element of what a baseball stadium should do.

Again, unique and cool, yet classical in much of its design. It could easily fall out of top-10, and would likely be replaced by Comerica Park or Petco Park. If you were to do such a thing, you’d have no arguments from me, but someone has to be 10th, just as someone has to be on the outside looking in . So there you go.

Next: This park has seen plenty of championship baseball recently

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