Talking about Camden Yards:

“2. The Sun scoreboard’s hit/error lights. The art of a stadium is to delight or surprise you, like a banjo hitter’s well-timed single or a Gold Glover’s ill-timed error. Camden Yards’ scoreboard shows that even a naming rights deal can have a purpose: The “H” and “E” in “THE SUN” signal the official scorer’s decisions.

ADAM JONES, Orioles center fielder and leading batter (with a .308 average): “It’s pretty cool. I normally don’t look at it, but other people tell me about it.”“

Fantastic quote.

I’ve got it!  I’ve got it!  It’s in inverse order to parking proximity!

I’d be curious to see somebody that knows absolutely nothing about baseball or its history rate the 30 ballparks in depth. Even though all of the nostalgia and charm probably should count for something….it would be interesting to see a set of rankings that doesn’t include them.

I’ve watched games in all three post-war St. Louis ball parks and they just keep getting worse. Old Sportsman’s Park may have had poles that obstruct some views, but it was a great place to watch a game. Old Busch was as artificial as its original turf and the new Busch shouldn’t be ranked any higher than that mess in Cincinnati - they are built by the same people with the same tacky materials. Maybe it’s because it is such an improvement over Candlestick, but I really like AT&T and I also like Progressive (Jacob’s); both are modern enough to have good fan facilities and AT&T has a great setting (but no nearby parking, that’s why the trolley stops right at the park) and they both are built with real materials. Kaufman is a good place to watch a ballgame (the new additions are an annoyance, though), but you have to like doing it pretty much alone these days and it still has that feel of being an artificial turf place but in its favor, it does have great parking.

I agree that Fenway should not be the top spot (nor should Wrigley; there are golf courses that are flatter than its playing surface).  I don’t know which should be, though typically I hear AT&T and PNC mentioned.  The one thing about Fenway, though, is the proximity of the stands to the action.  Very little foul territory makes for a great experience.

@Jeff Berardi - When you say “everyone is really clued into the game,” does that include those that chant “Yankees suck” when, say, the Blue Jays or Orioles are in town?

“Fenway fans, on the other hand…are special.”  Yes, they sure are, though our definitions of special may differ slightly.

@ma - I was there in 2004.  When did the Wrigley renovation occur?

Actually, Dodger Stadium is ranked too high. I’m not sure how recently you have been there, but between the ubiquitous ads and the thugs who populate the bleachers and the horrible parking, it’s not what it once was.

Does that mean AT&T bumps up to top 3? I gotta say, when the weather is pleasant in SF there is no better place to be in the city than China Basin. Sat pretty much everwhere from front row to nosebleed and have enjoyed them all. Hell, they even have a knothole area for the true cheapskates.