Many of my most cherished memories as a youth involved traveling to see MLB ballparks during family vacations. Now as a baseball writer one of the biggest perks of my job is getting to do so for work from time to time.
This year I had the opportunity to check two new ballparks off my list — Globe Life Field in Texas and Rogers Centre in Toronto — bringing me to 22 ballparks total, including three that are now defunct.
One day I hope to visit them all, but as we look ahead to the World Series allow me to take you all down memory lane by ranking the ballparks I’ve seen so far. This list obviously does not include the parks I haven’t been to yet, which are Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles), Target Field (Minnesota), New Busch Stadium (St. Louis), Progressive Field (Cleveland), Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City), Comerica Park (Detroit), American Family Field (Milwaukee), Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati), Angel Stadium (Anaheim) and Chase Field (Arizona).
22. Oakland Coliseum
This place was a dump. I had the chance to visit over April vacation when I was in high school, and let’s just say it was a notable step down from seeing the Giants’ beautiful park earlier in the week. Even in 2006 the big concrete monstrosity was long past its expiration date, and the biggest shame is that when the Coliseum was first built it had one of the most beautiful views in baseball looking out across the nearby Oakland Hills. But with “Mount Davis” blocking the view in center field, the only thing there was to see when I was there was tarp-covered seats in the upper deck.
21. Tropicana Field
My first and so far only experience at Tropicana Field was close to a best-case scenario. It was during the 2021 playoffs, so the typically sparse stands were packed with fans and the environment under the dome was genuinely electric. That obviously isn’t how it typically goes there, so it was nice to see what the place could be like at its full potential.
But even still, the Trop is weird. It looks like a giant spaceship landed in the middle of downtown St. Petersburg and the inside is a mishmash of concrete and loud aquatic colors. It’s good that the Rays will get their old ballpark back next season after spending 2025 stuck in the Yankees’ spring training complex, but the sooner the club’s new ownership group can get a new stadium built, the better.
20. Rate Field
My family visited Chicago in April 2005, and in retrospect we couldn’t have picked a better year to see the White Sox, who’d go on to end the franchise’s 88-year title drought. But the ballpark? Completely unremarkable.
Rate Field is perfectly serviceable but completely lacks any distinguishing character that sets the game’s best ballparks apart. There’s no memorable view, the architecture is soulless, and 20 years later the thing I remember most about my visit was the bland music and in-game presentation. It felt like being at an open- air NBA game.
19. Shea Stadium
I visited Shea Stadium in its final season in 2008, and while it was objectively a worse facility than Rate Field, it at least had some character. The home run apple in center field, the blue and orange seats, little touches like that can really make a park stand out. There were also a couple of places in the park you could walk and see a great view of the New York City skyline, and even though it was a concrete cookie-cutter I remember leaving with a good impression.
Herald Red Sox writer Mac Cerullo attended a game at the old Busch Stadium in St. Louis as a kid back in the summer of 1998. Mark McGwire hit the 28th of his then-record 70 home runs during the first inning against San Francisco Giants starter Orel Hershiser. (Mac Cerullo/Boston Herald)
18. Old Busch Stadium
This was the first road ballpark I ever visited and remains a core childhood memory. I was eight years old and in the summer of 1998 my father, whose company was doing business with a St. Louis-based firm at the time, took my family out to see the Cardinals during the height of Mark McGwire’s historic home run chase. For a kid named Mac who played Little League ball for the Cardinals, getting to see “Big Mac” was a huge deal.
Obviously McGwire’s record and that whole summer didn’t age particularly well, but seeing McGwire take Orel Hershiser deep in the bottom of the first — sailing over Barry Bonds’ head in left field — was something I’ll never forget.
I don’t remember much about the ballpark specifically other than thinking it was cool they had a “Big Mac Land” section in left. The canopy rounding the upper deck also stood out and in retrospect helped differentiate Old Busch from other cookie-cutters of its day, and the display of championships and retired numbers represented as pennants effectively conveyed the Cardinals’ long and storied history.
17. Nationals Park
Nationals Park is boring. There isn’t really anything about it that stands out, other than the party section in center field. The view is also nothing but condos and office buildings, though in fairness to the Nationals a lot of those were built after the ballpark and blocked what I understand used to be an awesome view of the U.S. Capitol. The park is easy to get to and has great restaurants in the surrounding neighborhood, so if you’re in town it’s still worth a visit.
16. loanDepot Park
Like Tropicana Field, I saw the Marlins’ ballpark under the best possible circumstances — a World Baseball Classic game between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. It was an all-time atmosphere, easily among the craziest I’ve ever seen for any sporting event and far beyond anything this facility typically experiences.
That said, this ballpark isn’t perfect.
The retractable roof box-style ballpark is inherently limited, and all three that I’ve visited are more or less the same. loanDepot Park is probably the blandest of the three, though it does fit in architecturally with the surrounding neighborhood and at least attempted to try something different from the retro parks of the 90s and 2000s. By the time I visited it had already been sanitized, with the original garish colors and artwork replaced by toned-down blues. If they change things up again the Marlins might want to try to find a middle ground to help give this place some more life.
15. Daikin Park
Formerly known as Minute Maid Park, the Astros home is functionally similar to loanDepot only with loads more character. Houston’s old Union Station was built into the design and incorporates a working train in left field, there is a manual scoreboard under the Crawford Boxes in left, and all over the park are little nods to Houston’s history and Texas culture.
The one problem I have with this place is they should open the roof more. I was here for the 2021 ALCS and they kept the roof closed even when the weather was perfect outside, no doubt to help make for a louder, rowdier playoff atmosphere. But after Game 2 they opened up the roof, and even with nobody left in the building it was striking how much nicer it was.
The Red Sox and Rangers take the field on Opening Day at Globe Life Field this past March. (Mac Cerullo/Boston Herald)
14. Globe Life Field
The new home of the Texas Rangers is similar to Daikin Park and loanDepot, only bigger. Much, much bigger. The concourses are wide and spacious, there are concessions and clubs everywhere inside and outside the ballpark, and the place even features a speakeasy behind home plate. It’s definitely not as aesthetic as the old Ballpark in Arlington across the street, but I imagine it’s a lot more comfortable having the roof closed during the blazing summers.
One thing I noticed with Globe Life and Daikin is both Texas parks spend a lot of time prompting fans to get up and cheer. Globe Life even has cheerleaders. Definitely a bit of a culture shock compared to Fenway, where the fans are trusted to do their own thing.
13. Yankee Stadium
I never got to visit the old Yankee Stadium, but I’ve been to the new version several times and they certainly went the extra mile filling this place with tributes and callbacks to Yankee history. But the new stadium is also kind of a Potemkin Village, with a huge and imposing facade obscuring what is ultimately a monument to corporate power and the almighty dollar. Also, the ballpark’s music and sound effects are really loud. Like, distractingly loud.
12. Citi Field
Citi Field is a huge upgrade over Shea Stadium and gets a lot of things right. The exterior facade is a nice tribute to Ebbets Field and there’s a huge variety of concessions and other amenities, especially for kids. The main two drawbacks aren’t really the Mets’ fault either. One, this place is eye-wateringly expensive, even by MLB standards, but then again so is everything else in New York City. And two, the main view if you’re sitting behind home plate is LaGuardia Airport, so the constant wave of planes landing and taking off can be a bit distracting.
11. Rogers Centre
I finally got to check this one off my list last month and it didn’t disappoint. While the exterior isn’t anything to write home about, they’ve put a ton of money into the interior and it really shows. Fans will appreciate the new video board and amenities like the WestJet club in center field, but what really stood out to me was the Blue Jays’ home clubhouse, which was by far the nicest I’ve seen in MLB so far.
Also, while the ballpark is great even with the roof closed, it’s spectacular with the roof open. The adjacent CN Tower looming over the first base line is an amazing visual unlike anything else I’ve seen at a big league ballpark.
10. T-Mobile Park
Known as Safeco Field when I visited with my family in 2003, the Seattle Mariners’ home was among the nicest I’d ever seen up to that point and from what I hear still holds up well. The ballpark threads the needle between having a retractable roof while still feeling like an authentic open-air facility, and as we’ve seen this postseason, T-Mobile can produce some unbelievable crowd noise when it’s packed.
9. Citizens Bank Park
This park is awesome. Citizens Bank perfectly nails the modern retro aesthetic and includes some distinctly Philadelphia flavor, like the home run bell and the authentic cheesesteaks. There is also a great view of the Philly skyline out past the center field stands and several statues honoring former Phillies legends like Steve Carlton and Mike Schmidt. I have nothing bad to say about it, and if you have a chance to go there for the 2026 All-Star Game, I’d highly recommend it.
8. Truist Park
Truist Park far exceeded my expectations when I visited with a friend back in 2024. The place is loaded with amenities and The Chophouse in right field is an incredible spot for fans. Plus, all of the seats are close to the field and the Monument Garden display behind home plate is a cool walk through the Braves history dating back to their days in Boston. The Battery development adjacent to the ballpark was also as good as advertised, and it’s no surprise every MLB club wants its own.
7. Coors Field
It says a lot about how great Coors Field is that the Rockies were able to draw nearly 2.5 million fans this past season despite fielding one of the worst teams in recent MLB history. Coors Field is an absolute gem, and even if Colorado’s altitude makes playing here kind of funky, the stadium remains one of the sport’s best even 30 years after its opening. Want great views? Coors has it. Want beautiful modern retro architecture? Coors has it. Want amenities and vibes? Coors has it. No trip to Denver would be complete without a stop here, just make sure you plan on visiting when an interesting opponent is in town. Lord knows the Rockies themselves aren’t worth watching.
6. Petco Park
I haven’t actually gotten to see a game here yet, but I took a ballpark tour during the Winter Meetings a few years back and loved what I saw. The Western Metal Supply Co. building being incorporated into the ballpark is one of many brilliant design touches, and the contemporary architecture is a refreshing contrast to all of the other modern retro designs of its era. It’s also right downtown in the vibrant Gaslamp Quarter and has nice views of the surrounding San Diego skyline. I’d love to get back and see it with a full crowd, from everything I hear it’s truly a top-notch ballpark experience.
5. Camden Yards
Camden Yards has a compelling case for being one of the most iconic and essential ballparks in MLB history. It started the modern retro craze when it opened in 1992, and even after more than three decades the Orioles’ home still stands out as an absolute gem. It’s pretty much flawless, and while other parks like Citizens Bank and Coors have nailed it too, features like the B&O Warehouse and Eutaw Street help elevate the ballpark to another tier.
4. Oracle Park
Similar to Camden Yards, Oracle Park is a phenomenal ballpark that has that little something extra that sets it apart. In this case it’s McCovey Cove. Being able to watch a game and enjoy that view of the San Francisco bay just beyond the right field wall is an experience you can’t get anywhere else. One other thing you won’t get from watching on TV, the smell of freshly cooked garlic fries wafting throughout the park.
The view of the Pittsburgh skyline as seen from the PNC Park press box prior to a Red Sox vs. Pirates game in 2022. (Mac Cerullo/Boston Herald)
3. PNC Park
This place rules. The view of the Pittsburgh skyline, the Allegheny River and the Roberto Clemente Bridge out beyond center field is, in my opinion, the best in baseball by a huge margin, and the ballpark itself is perfect. The architecture is distinctive and aesthetic, it’s easy to get to and the place is loaded with great food, drinks and nods to Pittsburgh. It’s a shame the Pirates haven’t been willing to invest enough in its roster to field a team worthy of its gorgeous home ballpark.
2. Wrigley Field
While Camden Yards, Oracle and PNC all perfected the modern retro design, there’s no beating the real thing. Wrigley Field boasts an unparalleled baseball experience, and the Cubs have done a great job investing in the century-old ballpark to ensure it remains fresh and vibrant for years to come. Covering a Red Sox and Cubs series here a couple of years ago was a bucket list item and I hope to make it back again as soon as possible.
1. Fenway Park
There’s no place like home. While it’s always a treat to visit a new park, Fenway is truly one of a kind.