Ballparks

Last night, my wife and I enjoyed PNC Park in Pittsburgh for the First Time:. It was nice, but not nearly as nice as I had been led to believe. Throughout the game, I had the feeling I was in an oversized minor league park. Maybe that’s what people like about it. For me, that was a negative. But I did like the place. As long as I live in the East, I could see myself making an annual or biannual trip there.

It was the 11^th Major League ballpark she and I have visited together. I hope we can add Progressive Field in Cleveland next year. Or even Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati—then we could go to the aquarium in Newport, Kentucky, my favorite aquarium in America.

Anyway, I figured I should rank the ballparks I’ve been to so far in my life. I’ve been to 15 overall. * denotes parks I’ve been to with my wife…for the 2 of you who care. For the record, I also saw two games at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, but they were in the Olympics.

1. *AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
   First Time: April 6, 2005
   Favorite Memory: Seeing Willie Mays when the Giants celebrated their great outfielders during their 50 years in San Francisco celebration
   Best Game: August 9, 2008—Giants 3, Dodgers 2 (10 innings)
   
   
2. Yankee Stadium II, The Bronx, New York (retired)
   First Time: May 17, 2008
   Favorite Memory: The last time we were there, my father, sister, and I stood by our seats for an hour after the game ended and trying to savor the moment.
   Best Game: July 5, 2008—Yankees 2, Red Sox 1
   
   
3. *Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
   First Time: May 29, 2004
   Favorite Memory: Walking through Ashburn Alley with my sister on Opening Day 2011 and discovering that the Phillies were going to parade into the stadium and having a front row view.
   Best Game: April 1, 2011—Phillies 5, Astros 4
   
   
4. *Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
   First Time: August 6, 2011 (only time)
   Favorite Memory: Walking through the tunnel from the concourse and into the seating area, finding our seats in right field foul territory, looking out over the right field stands, and knowing that Lou Gehrig had hit one over that wall as a high schooler.
   Best Game: August 6, 2011—Cubs 11, Reds 4
   
   
5. *Yankee Stadium III, The Bronx, New York
   First Time: May 23, 2009 (only time)
   Favorite Memory: John Mayberry, Jr.’s first Major League homerun off Andy Pettitte.
   Best Game: May 23, 2009—Yankees 5, Phillies 4
   
   
6. Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
   First Time: April 15, 1994 (only time)
   Favorite Memory: Seeing Frank Thomas hit a homerun off Roger Clemens
   Best Game: April 15, 1994—Red Sox 5, White Sox 3
   
   
7. *Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
   First Time: May 25, 2008
   Favorite Memory: Realizing I was going to see the Major League debut of a top pitching prospect (Clayton Kershaw)
   Best Game: May 25, 2008—Dodgers 4, Cardinals 3
   
   
8. *PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
   First Time: August 20, 2011 (only time)
   Favorite Memory: Seeing Aroldis Chapman hit 101mph on a fastball
   Best Game: August 20, 2011—Pirates 5, Reds 3
   
   
9. *Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland
   First Time: July 31, 1993
   Favorite Memory: Going to my first doubleheader
   Best Game: August 10, 2011—Orioles 6, White Sox 4 (10 innings)
   
   
10. *Citi Field, Flushing, New York
    First Time: August 14, 2010 (only time)
    Favorite Memory: Seeing Roy Halladay pitch for the First Time:.
    Best Game: August 14, 2010—Phillies 4, Mets 0
    
    
11. *Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
    First Time: April 8, 2010
    Favorite Memory: Being in the park for Roy Halladay’s complete game 2-hitter to clinch the 2010 National League East for the Phillies.
    Best Game: July 31, 2010—Nationals 7, Phillies 5
    
    
12. Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California (retired)
    First Time: April 23, 1994 (only time)
    Favorite Memory: The First Time: my father and I saw a game together outside of Philly
    Best Game: April 23, 1994—Giants 10, Mets 1
    
    
13. *US Cellular Field, Chicago, Illinois
    First Time: June 26, 2009 (only time)
    Favorite Memory: Seeing the wedding congratulations the my in-laws paid to put on the big board for my wife and me
    Best Game: June 26, 2009—Cubs 5, White Sox 4
    
    
14. *McAfee Coliseum, Oakland, California
    First Time: May 16, 2005
    Favorite Memory: My First Time: seeing a Philadelphia team play outside of Philly
    Best Game: July 7, 2008—Athletics 4, Mariners 3
    
    
15. Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (retired)
    First Time: Who knows? I was young.
    Favorite Memory: Seeing Dwight Gooden and Steve Carlton face each other. I will never see a better pitching matchup.
    Best Game: April 19, 1985—Mets 1, Phillies 0