A six part series looking at where the stadiums of Major League Baseball.
During the period between 1909 and 1915 more than half teams in the majors at that time either built new stadiums or made massive renovations to the park. There were several reasons for the construction boom, not the least of which was the ever-present threat of fire in the old wood parks.
The first ball park on record was built in 1862 in Brooklyn. Most of the parks built at the time did not last long. The longest such ballpark was Sulphur Dell, home of the Southern Association Nashville Volunteers was built in 1866 and lasted until 1963, setting an all-time record of 97 years. Prior to 1991, the oldest park in the big leagues was Comiskey Park, home of the White Sox since 1910
Stadiums of the American League East
During the period between 1909 and 1915 more than half teams in the majors at that time either built new stadiums or made massive renovations to the park. There were several reasons for the construction boom, not the least of which was the ever-present threat of fire in the old wood parks.
The first ball park on record was built in 1862 in Brooklyn. Most of the parks built at the time did not last long. The longest such ballpark was Sulphur Dell, home of the Southern Association Nashville Volunteers was built in 1866 and lasted until 1963, setting an all-time record of 97 years. Prior to 1991, the oldest park in the big leagues was Comiskey Park, home of the White Sox since 1910
Stadiums of the American League East
Baltimore Orioles
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
First game - April 6, 1992; Baltimore 2, Cleveland 0
Seating Capacity - 48,262. Natural Surface.
The Yard is a stadium deliberately built to look like an old one. In their first full season at the new park the Orioles drew 3,567,819 fans. The Yard was the third new AL park to be constructed since 1989. Two years later, Cleveland and Texas made it 5 in six seasons.
Boston Redsox
Fenway Park
First Game - April 20, 1912; Boston 7, New York 6 (11 innings)
Seating Capacity - 33,871. Natural Surface.
Fenway Park was considered among the best when it was built, but after only one season the Red Sox got the suspicion that it was too small and the left field wall would always be a boon and a burden.
New York Yankees
Yankee Stadium
First Game - April 18, 1923; New York 4, Boston 1.
Seating Capacity - 57,545. Natural Surface.
Closed for two season during the mid seventies while renovations were being done, they shared Shea Stadium with the Mets. Before it was built the Yankees played at the Polo Grounds, sharing the park with the Giants from 1912 to 1922. Before the Polo Grounds there was Hilltop Park. It took 284 days to build. The renovation took twice as long and eliminated 13,000 seats.
Tampa Bay Rays
Tropicana Field
First Game - March 31, 1998; Detroit 11, Tampa Bay 6
Seating Capacity - 45,200. Artificial Surface and Sky.
A horrible stadium. Good thing there's no fans in Florida to witness it.
Toronto Blue Jays
Rogers Center
First Game - June 5, 1989; Milwaukee 5, Toronto 3
Seating Capacity - 50,516. Artificial Surface.
Considered a huge triumph in modern architecture and technology. The Blue Jays and the stadiums space age technology help them set a new American League Attendance record in its first year of operation.
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
First game - April 6, 1992; Baltimore 2, Cleveland 0
Seating Capacity - 48,262. Natural Surface.
The Yard is a stadium deliberately built to look like an old one. In their first full season at the new park the Orioles drew 3,567,819 fans. The Yard was the third new AL park to be constructed since 1989. Two years later, Cleveland and Texas made it 5 in six seasons.
Boston Redsox
Fenway Park
First Game - April 20, 1912; Boston 7, New York 6 (11 innings)
Seating Capacity - 33,871. Natural Surface.
Fenway Park was considered among the best when it was built, but after only one season the Red Sox got the suspicion that it was too small and the left field wall would always be a boon and a burden.
New York Yankees
Yankee Stadium
First Game - April 18, 1923; New York 4, Boston 1.
Seating Capacity - 57,545. Natural Surface.
Closed for two season during the mid seventies while renovations were being done, they shared Shea Stadium with the Mets. Before it was built the Yankees played at the Polo Grounds, sharing the park with the Giants from 1912 to 1922. Before the Polo Grounds there was Hilltop Park. It took 284 days to build. The renovation took twice as long and eliminated 13,000 seats.
Tampa Bay Rays
Tropicana Field
First Game - March 31, 1998; Detroit 11, Tampa Bay 6
Seating Capacity - 45,200. Artificial Surface and Sky.
A horrible stadium. Good thing there's no fans in Florida to witness it.
Toronto Blue Jays
Rogers Center
First Game - June 5, 1989; Milwaukee 5, Toronto 3
Seating Capacity - 50,516. Artificial Surface.
Considered a huge triumph in modern architecture and technology. The Blue Jays and the stadiums space age technology help them set a new American League Attendance record in its first year of operation.
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