Regardless of who you’re cheering on this Opening Day, here are nine MLB ballparks and Triple-A fields across the U.S. that are sure to get you excited for baseball season.
LessHome of the Boston Red Sox and the “Green Monster,” Fenway Park is one of the most notable and historic fields in the U.S. It was even added to the National Register of Historic Places during its centennial year in 2012 and is the oldest professional baseball stadium still in use today.
Located in the heart of Chicago, Wrigley Field has been home to the Chicago Cubs since 1914. Originally named Weeghman Park, Wrigley is known for its ivy-covered outfield walls and old school manual scoreboard, both of which date back to 1937. Wrigley has history with Babe Ruth, whose famous “called shot” took place at Wrigley during the 1932 World Series. The Cubs were also plagued by a decades-long curse that supposedly prevented them from winning the World Series from 1945 until 2016.
Blocks from the San Diego Bay, Petco Park fans can enjoy a game and picturesque views of the city. Home to the San Diego Padres, this stadium is characterized by its unique architecture that blends the city’s past and present into its design. With views, history, and proximity to all things downtown San Diego, it’s no surprise that Petco Park hosts more than Padres baseball. Rugby, golf, tennis, basketball, and supercross events have been held in the retro-styled park.
With views of the San Francisco Bay, marina, and the iconic Bay Bridge, there truly isn’t a bad seat in the house when it comes to Oracle Park. Home of the San Francisco Giants, this ballpark is filled with entertaining attractions and baseball history, including an 80-foot Coca-Cola bottle that functions as a slide, a giant baseball glove outside of left field, and a statue of the legendary Willie Mays at the park’s entrance.
Busch Stadium (also known as New Busch Stadium or Busch Stadium III) opened in 2006, replacing Busch Memorial Stadium in downtown St. Louis. The retro-styled red brick stadium takes fans back in time with a classic ballpark look and feel. Once inside, you can catch sweeping views of the St. Louis skyline and the beautiful Gateway Arch.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Oriole Park at Camden Yards (OPACY) has been an instant fan-favorite from the moment it opened. Oriole Park was one of the first stadiums to incorporate the retro-styled design that many parks built in the 1990s and 2000s adopted.
California’s third stadium on this list is also the third-oldest ballpark in the U.S., after Fenway and Wrigley. Dodger Stadium is the largest baseball stadium in the world with a seating capacity of more than 56,000. Though it has undergone several renovations over the years, it still holds a classic baseball charm, and the backdrop of palm trees and mountains gives it that relaxing California vibe.
On the banks of the Allegheny River sits PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates. With a backdrop of the Pittsburgh skyline and the Roberto Clemente Bridge, this urban park embraces the city’s key features that the previous park (Three Rivers Stadium) failed to showcase.
Although it’s not the same stadium that Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Whitey Ford, and Babe Ruth called home, Yankee Stadium is still a mecca for baseball fans. Located in the Bronx borough of New York City, the new stadium was finished in 2009 and included several design features that incorporated the aesthetic of the original park, which held a lot of history for the Yankee franchise.