TRUIST PARK (Atlanta, visited 4/26/2023)

THE BALLPARK - Truist Park, which was named Sun Trust Park when it opened in 2017, is the current home of the Atlanta Braves. It replaced Turner Field, which was built for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games and hosted the Braves from 1997 to 2016. 

The Battery Atlanta

Truist Park is located about 10 miles north of downtown Atlanta in a mixed use development called the Battery. The ballpark is surrounded by relatively upscale shops, restaurants, apartments and office space - giving it a decidedly corporate feel. You could be forgiven if you mistook the park's façade for a Dick's Sporting Goods store at the mall. 

Truist Park Façade

The ballpark feels much like other newer parks built to honor an earlier era of baseball-only venues. It seats a little over 41,000 fans, has great sight lines, and has open concourses that offer nice views of the field of play. Truist Park could use more local flavor. Sitting inside the ballpark, you might forget that you are in the Atlanta area... until the crowd breaks into the infamous (and annoying) "tomahawk chop."

I was impressed with the way the Braves honored their history with a Monument Garden in the main concourse. Excellent displays tell the stories of the franchise's Hall of Famers, World Series Champions and players with retired numbers - all centered around a statue and display honoring baseball's true home run king: Hammerin' Hank Aaron. Unlike the Yankee's Monument Park, these exhibits are open throughout the game, and unlike the Cardinals' museum, the Braves' Monument Garden is free of charge.

Hank Aaron - 755 Career Homers

Dorry and I definitely had a fun night at the ballpark. In a carry-over from Turner Field, Home Depot sponsors a "tool race" in the middle of the seventh inning. Imagine Milwaukie's famous sausage race, but with tools. Phil the Bucket (great name) won in a photo finish. 

There was a ballcap give-away for all fans. Dorry gamely wore hers, but I couldn't bring myself to put on a Braves cap. We also met Blooper, the Braves' Muppet-like mascot, who seemed mildly annoyed by my choice in headgear.

Blooper Photo Op

Dorry and I enjoyed some local fare for dinner. She had Chick-fil-A. I tried a Georgia BLT - fried bologna, butter lettuce, tomato, pimento cheese and garlic mayo - all on a brioche bun. There was a lot going on with that sandwich!

Me and my Georgia BLT

THE GAME - We watched the Braves overpower the Miami Marlins, 6-4.  The Marlins built a 4-run lead and were shutting out the Braves until the bottom of the 6th inning, when the Braves began storming back. Powered by home runs from Ronald Acuna, Jr. and Matt Olson, the Braves scored 6 unanswered runs to notch the win. The game ended with a pinch-hit appearance by Miami's Jean Segura, a favorite player of mine who was with the Phillies for their magical run to the World Series in 2022. Never one to just watch a pitch go by, he swung at the first offering and popped up to end the game.

The view from our seats

We had an entertaining evening at Truist Park, but as a ballpark I think it's middle of the pack. I give the Braves' latest home a solid double.

OVERALL SCORE - ⚾⚾

BUSCH STADIUM (St. Louis, visited 4/17/2023)

THE BALLPARK - I began to get jazzed about my visit to the third iteration of Busch Stadium when I spied it from high atop the St. Louis Gateway Arch. The ballpark gleamed in the sun as I looked down on it hours before game time.

Busch Stadium from the Gateway Arch

Folks in St. Louis call Busch Stadium and its environs "Baseball Heaven," and I can understand why. The picturesque stadium is nestled in the city's downtown and is surrounded by Ballpark Village - an area of fan-friendly shops, bars and restaurants that includes great public spaces to take in the festive atmosphere on game day. Ballpark Village is home to the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Excellent exhibits introduce you to Cardinal greats and to the rich history of baseball in St. Louis. The museum has an admission fee, but it's worth the money.

Hanging out at Ballpark Village

Once inside Busch Stadium, I was struck by its classic design and appealing setting. The upper deck's roof and its supporting beams mimic the look of Sportsman's Park, which was the long-ago home of the Cardinals and the St Louis Browns of the American League (who later became the Baltimore Orioles). Busch Stadium offers great views of the iconic Gateway Arch beyond center field. The residents of a shiny apartment building that rises from Ballpark Village fly Cardinals flags from their balconies, where they watch the game from the comfort of home. It reminds me of the rooftop bleachers that once sprang up on buildings that overlooked old ballparks like Connie Mack Stadium and Wrigley Field. And there are actual rooftop bleachers near Busch Stadium atop a sports bar that sits just beyond left field.

The Gateway Arch from Bush Stadium

The view from our seats was great, and everything we needed was conveniently located. We could even have food delivered to our seats when ordered by a mobile app. The only thing I didn't care for was the stadium's cave-like concourse. Unlike other ballparks of its age, Busch Stadium does not feature an open concourse that offers you a view of the field. You can't keep tabs on the action while you wander in search of a hotdog or beer. 

Fans we encountered were friendly and focused on the game. As a group, they seem to have a high baseball IQ. There's a lot of pride in the organization and repeated references to the "Cardinals Way," which has a bit of an arrogant ring to it. For instance, the scorecards for sale in the stadium include a guide for scoring the game "the Cardinals Way" - a presumably improved system for keeping track of the action.

The Cardinals' mascot - Red Bird - is above average, but he's no Phanatic. 

Field view from our seats

THE GAME - Unfortunately for all the Cardinals fans around us, their team fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-3.  The highlight of the game was a grand slam by Diamondbacks DH Pavin Smith in the top of the seventh inning.

This was the first game Dorry and I attended since a pitch clock has been added by Major League Baseball. We both liked the way that it sped up the pace of the game. Our game was played in a crisp 2 hours and 20 minutes, but it did not feel rushed. 

In my opinion, Busch Stadium is one of the better modern "retro-style" ballparks out there. I give it a triple on my scorecard!

OVERALL SCORE - ⚾⚾⚾

LOAN DEPOT PARK (Miami, visited 4/21/2022)

THE BALLPARK - I did not have great expectations for LoanDepot Park. When I watched games played there on TV, the place seemed to lack personality. What I found in person was something else entirely: a ballpark that truly represents its vibrant city. LoanDepot Park's modern, gleaming white exterior with blue tinted glass captures the feel of Miami.

LoanDepot Park

LoanDepot Park opened in 2012. It has a seating capacity of approximately 37,400. The roof is retractable, and the playing field is artificial turf. The ballpark sits on the former site of Roddy Burdine Stadium, which hosted the Orange Bowl and University of Miami football for 60 years. The location has plenty of good sports karma.

View from center field

Like many newer ballparks, the concourse is open, providing nice field views. There's a unique feature in the concourse beyond center field that's a must-see: The Bobblehead Museum. It's a large two-sided glass display case filled with bobbleheads from all 30 MLB franchises. The shelves of the display case are mechanically agitated to keep those bobbleheads gently bobbling, while a mirrored surface behind the bobbleheads lets you see them, front and back. 

The Bobblehead Museum

The food was great. There were many local options to choose from. I had my first-ever Cuban sandwich, which was served with plantain chips. I loved every bite. My only criticism with the concessions is that there were not many gathering spaces where you could sit down and eat. I opted to stand and eat rather than schlep my food to our seats.

Cuban sandwich with plantain chips

The place draws modest crowds, so ticket availability on a weeknight was excellent. We walked up and bought good seats in the lower level behind the visitors' dugout. The Marlins were playing the St. Louis Cardinals, and we quickly noticed that Cardinals fans travel well. It felt like there were almost as many Cards fans in the park as Fish fans.

Field view - LoanDepot Park

THE GAME - All those Cardinals fans were in for a disappointment. The Marlins shut out the Cardinals 5-0. The big story of the night was Marlins pitcher Pablo Lopez. He got married to his wife, Kaylee on an off-day during the homestand (April 18). Three days later, he took the mound and pitched seven dominant innings of three-hit, shutout baseball. Along the way, he struck out future hall-of-famer Albert Pujols three times! Pablo Lopez left the game with an ERA of only 0.52 through his first three starts of the season.

Albert Pujols at the plate

This was the final season for Albert Pujols - an 11-time All-Star, 2-time World Series Champ, and 3-time National League MVP. St. Louis signed Pujols for the 2022 season so he could retire as a Cardinal, and he rewarded them with a productive year. He finished his career with 703 home runs. This night, though, was not his night. After the newly-wed Lopez struck Pujols out for a third time, the Cards lifted Albert for a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning. The pinch-hitter struck out to end the game. They should have let Albert hit.

Greetings from Miami

My LoanDepot Park experience easily beat my admittedly low expectations. When it comes to ballparks, it's a solid double.

OVERALL SCORE - ⚾⚾ 

GLOBE LIFE FIELD (Arlington, visited 8/17/2022)

THE BALLPARK - Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers, was only in its third season of service when we visited in August of 2022. Globe Life Field replaced the Ballpark at Arlington, which hosted the Rangers from 1994-2019. Why would you replace a ballpark that had a classic design and many rave reviews after only 25 years? Well, I think I know the answer...

Center field entrance to Globe Life Field

It's HOT in Texas, y'all. As we walked up to the ballpark, the temperature was a blistering 105 degrees. Inside, with the retractable roof closed, it was a comfortable 72 degrees. In 2021, the Rangers played 70 of their 81 regular season home games with the roof closed, and I get it. In the Texas heat, air conditioning is a necessity, not a convenience. 

The Ballpark at Arlington

Still, part of me wished I had made a trip to Dallas before 2020 to take in a game at the beautiful ballpark that still sits across the street from Globe Life Field. It's now known as Choctaw Stadium, and it's been retrofitted to be the home of an MLS soccer team and an XFL football team.

Field View

But I quickly forgot about the ballpark across the street when I stepped inside Globe Life Field. Sure, baseball is best played outdoors on real grass, but being in a new ballpark is like sitting in a brand new car... It smells good and gets your heart racing! 

From the concourse, you can see the
PA announcer's view of the field.

Globe Life Field seats around 40,500 fans. Plentiful windows and transparent roof panels let in lots of light, which helps you forget that you're sitting under a 5.5 acre roof. The stands are close to the field, giving fans nice views of the action. The main concourse is largely open, so you can see the field as you make your way to your seat or zip out to get a hotdog.

My Globe Life Field companions

If there's a shortcoming at Globe Life Field, it's a lack of local flavor, and I'm not talking about food at the concessions. The atmosphere is kinda generic, when it should scream, "I'm in Texas!" You could plop this ballpark down in almost any city, and it wouldn't feel too out of place. The Rangers could do more to make this house a home ... or a ranch.

Retired numbers are honored in the concourse

THE GAME - We saw the Oakland A's handily beat the Rangers, 7-2. The A's were powered by 2 home runs from catcher Sean Murphy and a 2-run dinger from rookie Shea Langeliers - his first major league home run. On the Rangers' side of the ledger, shortstop Corey Seager singled in the first inning and was driven home by an Adolis Garcia double. The Rangers didn't score again until the ninth inning, when former Phillie Brad Miller (aka "Bamboo Brad") drove in a run with a double.

Oh, and heavy rain swept through the area during the game, which wasn't interrupted thanks to the closed roof. Maybe indoor baseball isn't such a bad thing after all.

OVERALL SCORE - ⚾⚾  

TARGET FIELD (Minneapolis, visited 8/29/2022)

THE BALLPARK - The Minnesota Twins did it right when they built Target Field, which opened in 2010. The ballpark, nestled in downtown Minneapolis, has a sleek, modern feel. It's on the smaller side, with a seating capacity of approximately 38,500. Much of the exterior façade (and some of its interior) features native Minnesota limestone. Most of the field's lights are recessed along the edge of the upper deck's  metal-clad canopy, giving the roof the appearance of an airplane coming in for a landing.

Target Field, Minneapolis, MN

I wasn't expecting it, but this ballpark turned out to be a favorite of mine. Sight lines are great. There's not much foul ground, so it feels like you're right on top of the action. Most of the main concourse is open - offering good views of the field as you walk about. There's a lively vibe in and around the ballpark, and the fans and employees we encountered truly were "Minnesota Nice."

Budweiser Roof Deck Bar - Center Field

Concessions were good. I enjoyed a tasty local brew as we strolled around the ballpark before game time. We even found a tribute to Charles Schultz, the creator of the Peanuts, who hailed from neighboring St. Paul (the other half of the Twin Cities).

Dorry and Charlie Brown

THE GAME - We saw the home town Twins defeat the Boston Red Sox 4-2. The Sox jumped out to a 2-0 lead by the middle of the 3rd inning, but the Twins came roaring back. The Twins got on the board in the bottom of the 4th. They loading the bases with no outs, but only managed one run on a sacrifice fly by outfielder Jake Cave. (Fun Fact: After the 2022 season, the Orioles claimed Cave off waivers from the Twins. Then the Orioles tried to sneak him through waivers themselves, but my Phillies claimed him and added him to their 40-man roster for the 2023 season.  Welcome to Philadelphia, Jake Cave!) 

In the bottom of the 5th inning, the floodgates opened for the Twins. Three batters walked to load the bases. Then third baseman Gio Urshela cleared the bases with a clutch two-out double. The Twins held onto the resulting 2-run lead, winning 4-2.

Target Field as we flew out of town

Flying out of Minneapolis the following night, I looked out the plane's window and saw a beautiful sight - Target Field, lit up like the sparkling gem that it is. 

OVERALL SCORE - ⚾⚾⚾

MINUTE MAID PARK (Houston, visited 4/20/2017)

THE BALLPARK -  In 2000, Minute Maid Park replaced the famous but cavernous Houston Astrodome - the first-ever air-conditioned domed stadium, which was dubbed the 8th Wonder of the World. (Side Note: While the Astrodome was long gone when we got to Houston in 2017, we did celebrate it with a stop for some brews at the 8th Wonder Brewery.)

8th Wonder Brewery

I was pleasantly surprised to find Minute Maid Park (originally known as Enron Field) to be a favorite venue of mine. This park has personality. Its most prominent feature is a retractable roof, which thankfully was closed because of heat and humidity on the day of our visit. The ballpark fits snuggly into downtown Houston, and its main entrance incorporates the restored lobby of Houston's historic Union Station. In a nod to the city's history as a railroad hub, a working locomotive and coal tender run on 800 feet of track above left field as a home run feature. Because of the building site's shape, there's virtually no space for seating beyond left field. Instead, a wall of windows beyond left field gives the park a bright, open feeling - even with the roof closed. 

Retractable roof closed over Minute Maid Park

The place is a bit of a bandbox. The left field wall is only 315 feet from home plate. The Phillips 66 Home Run Pump beyond the center field wall keeps track of the resulting dingers. At the start of our game, the total stood at 1,590. Fun Fact: Scott Rolen of the Philadelphia Phillies hit the very first home run at Minute Maid Park on April 7, 2000. And in the same game, the Phillies' Randy Wolf notched the first win for a pitcher at Minute Maid Park.

Phillips 66 Home Run Pump

If anything at Minute Maid Park is worthy of criticism, it's the mascot. Orbit is a lame Phillie Phanatic knock-off ... right down to his green fuzzy fur, bulbous body-shape, and missing pants. What Orbit can't steal, however, is the Phanatic's outsized persona and knack for making mischief. Orbit is no threat to the Phanatic's well-recognized status as Best Mascot in Baseball.

Orbit underwhelms as the Astros mascot

The Game - We saw the Houston Astros top the L.A. Angles in a 2-1 squeaker. The home team jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a solo home run by Carlos Beltran. Mike Trout smacked a ninth inning homer that pulled the the Angels within one run, and two more singles followed to put the tying and winning runs on base. But Houston's Chris Devenski struck out the next two batters to kill the rally and save the game for the Astros.

Some Astros History

The Astros would go on to make some baseball history in 2017, not all of it good. They had a fantastic 2017 season (101 wins, 61 losses) and ultimately won the World Series that year - beating the other team from Los Angeles, 4 games to 3. Little did most people know at the time, the Astros had more than the usual home field advantage in 2017. An investigation by Major League Baseball in 2019 found that the Astros illegally used video equipment at Minute Maid Park to steal the opposing team's signs and relay them to Astros hitters. Houston, we have a problem. But we can't hold that against this awesome ballpark.

Overall Score - ⚾⚾⚾ 

PROGRESSIVE FIELD (Cleveland, visited 7/30/2016)

The Ballpark - Progressive Field (originally named Jacobs Field) opened in 1994. It replaced Cleveland Municipal Stadium, which had been home to both the Cleveland Indians and the NFL's Cleveland Browns. "The Jake" - as it became known - was an early example of a trend away from huge multi-purpose stadiums and toward more intimate baseball-only ballparks. It was designed by the folks at HOK Sport (now known as Populous), the same architects who designed Camden Yards in Baltimore.

Progressive Field

The Jake seats a little over 35,000 fans. One of its most distinctive features is its tall, vertical light standards, which are meant to call to mind the smokestacks of Cleveland's industry. The ballpark is situated to give you a view of the city's skyline. Like other ballparks by HOK, the Jake features outfield walls of varying heights, irregular outfield dimensions, and bullpens that allow fans a close look at relievers as they warm up. 

Left Field Wall - "The Little Green Monster" 

If Progressive Field had been the first of the newer retro-style ballparks I visited, I would have been wowed for sure. It's a vast improvement over the multi-purpose concrete-donut stadiums of my youth. But the things that made it special in 1994 are commonplace now. By 2016 when I got there, Progressive Field had less going for it than newer parks that came along in the 2000's. 

Bullpen View

The Game - We watched the Cleveland Indians, managed by former Phillies skipper Terry Francona, make easy work of the Oakland A's, 6-3. The Goodyear Blimp made an appearance, hovering above for a couple early innings.

Goodyear Blimp above Progressive Field

But the best part of the evening was what happened before the game. We arrived to find out that former Phillies first baseman Jim Thome was being honored as a new member of the Cleveland Indians' Hall of Fame. He walked onto the field to a standing ovation and gave a great acceptance speech. Then his 13 year-old daughter, Lila stepped up to the mic and belted out the national anthem like a boss! The place went wild.

Jim Thome Statue

It's an understatement to say that Jim Thome was a special player. His 612 career home runs are the 8th most in history. He was a five-time All Star, and he would go on to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility (2018). On top of all that, he's been a class act on and off the field. It was an electric experience to witness the connection he had with the fans of the Tribe.
  

Overall Score - ⚾⚾