Riverfront Stadium- we would make our way down from Dayton up to a dozen or so times a year.  From the parking garage we could go up one flight to the concourse and straight in through Gate 11 and straight down to our seats in the first row of the green, section 211.  Back at the top of 211/Gate 11, we had the men’s room on the south side of the gate and concessions on the right.  From our seats we could look up at the press box for a glimpse of Joe Nuxhall and Marty Brennamen.  Being on the first base side we hoped for left handed pitchers so that a right hander might be able to foul one up our way.  Anything over our head we could play the bounce of the glass of the press box/club level.  Memorable experiences: my first memory occurred when Pete Rose was playing with the Phillies.  They were in town and we were at the game.  I don’t remember the specifics but Pete was thrown out of the game and as we were getting on the highway for the trek up I-75 back to Dayton, a Porsche with Ohio vanity plates, something to the effect of ROSE14, flew by and the chase was on.  Pete was still living in Cincinnati at the time and we caught up with him at the Reading exit and my dad and uncle jump out of the car and leave me behind with their other friend.  I was only 5 or 6 but remember this and the disappointment that in their excitement to meet Pete they left me in the car.  Wish I would have had bigger stones back then to put my foot down and get out on that ramp and get an autograph.  They got a few, handed me one, but it wasn’t the same.  Other big games at Riverfront, 1990 NLCS Game 6 and 1999 sudden death playoff against the Mets for which I still curse Al Leiter to this day.

Cinergy Field – To me Riverfront became Cinergy when they began tearing down the outfield part of the stands to make room for GABP.  The also put in natural grass for the first time since Crosley.  Not much I can say about the Cinergy days other than they ended what I consider my youth at Riverfront.

Milwaukee County Stadium – We were in Milwaukee to visit a relative and decided to head down to see the Brewers take on the Rangers.  Nolan Ryan was scheduled to pitch for Texas and I remember my enthusiasm to see him pitch float away into one of the breweries we passed on the way when the pregame radio show said he was scratched from the lineup.  I remember that we walked up and were able to get seats right behind home plate maybe 20 rows up.  What sticks out in my mind was the number of vendors constantly up and down the aisles.  It didn’t seem that we ever had this many in Cincinnati. 

Wrigley Field – Went to Wrigley a few years ago for a night game followed by a day game against the Reds. The night game was awesome.  I arrived early and took it all in.  The place smelled like baseball.  Hot dogs, grass, beer, leather – I remember all of my senses being heightened.  It was phenomenal.  We had seats behind home and received the usual heckles as we were wearing Reds attire.  I enjoyed the lack of electronics and the “old school” feel.  Once again I took notice of the seemingly endless flow of vendors.  I really need to do some kind of research to see if Cincinnati lacks in the vendor department or if they have just become part of the background for me.  Anyway, the next day we head to the day game and I am as enthused as the day before.  Only once the game starts I am completely put off.  The couple next to me are on a blind date.  Now, maybe I am just jealous because if a girl agreed to meet me at a ball game for a blind date I would propose on the spot.  But they were uncomforting.  Then I notice the d bag in front of me pulls his laptop out and watches maybe 3 pitches the entire game.  I scan the crowd and see that hardly anyone is into the game.  I guess when you have something like Wrigley after a while you take it for granted.  Maybe it was because they were playing the Reds.  It probably has more to do with the fact that the Reds won the night game and lost the day game.  I do applaud the people we encountered in the Wrigleyville bars.  They would give us crap for about 5 minutes and then buy us a beer.  I love the town of Chicago, I can’t say the same for Cub fans.

Great American Ballpark – I saved this for last because I am indifferent in my feelings.  While I should hate Riverfront, I saw winners there and it was the first MLB stadium I went to. GABP just doesn’t have that “home” feeling.  I despise leatherpants (Jim Bowden) for being instrumental in having this place built to these specifications.  Short fences, hitter friendly.  I have sat many places in the stadium and there really isn’t a bad seat, just no ambiance.  The concourses are wider, the restroom lines go quicker, but I am wanting more.  I don’t really know how to put my finger on it.  The place is just lacking, of what I am not sure.  A winner would definitely help.  I will let you know if I get any vendor info….

The list is a joke until youve been to Fenway and Yankee Stadium.  Should have been the first two on the list.

You obviously just woke up or dont understand the two sentences i wrote.  You should never have visited Fenway and Yankee Stadium before publishing your list.  Its like writing about the greatest NBA players of all time and not writing about Bird and Jordan.  And maybe you should get an editor because he/she wouldnt have let you write Dodger Stadium is clean, the place is an old, dirty and the stairways down to the seats are right out of a Nightmare on Elm St movie

Chris - Let’s talk about obvious!  This is a quote from your last entry:“You should never have visited Fenway and Yankee Stadium before publishing your list.”.  YOU should proofread what you write before you submit it!  I think that what you meant is that Craig should not have published the list until AFTER having visited Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park, which is exactly the opposite of what you wrote.  Either way, if you read the words under the title and understood them, this wasn’t meant to be a consumer’s guide to MLB venues.  It’s a remeniscence of what has happened in the past for one person, the writer, with an invitation to add your own and discuss….
It’s obvious to me that either you didn’t/can’t read anything that isn’t in bold lettering, or you have a major chip on your shoulder and are looking for any reason to write something negative to/about someone that does a GREAT job of helping to keep the game alive in our hearts even during the down times…...