Minor League Ballparks and the Fan Experience
How minor league parks are built and sized, why a night at one feels different from a big-league game, and how the system of affiliated clubs works, with tips for a first visit.
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Naming Rights and the Business of Ballpark Names
How ballpark naming-rights deals work, why corporate names changed so often after the 1990s, and what happens to a stadium's name when a sponsor merges, rebrands or goes bankrupt.
Nationals Park: The History, the Dimensions and How the Park Plays
A guide to Nationals Park in Washington: the dimensions, the orientation and the open-air conditions that shape play, the four ballparks the franchise used before it, and the October games the park has hosted.
Oracle Park: The History, the Dimensions and How the Park Plays
A guide to Oracle Park in San Francisco: the parks the Giants used before it, its odd dimensions, the bay and the wind, what the scoring data shows and how to plan a visit.
Camden Yards and the Retro Ballpark Era
When Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened in 1992 it reversed 30 years of ballpark design. This article explains what the park copied from the old stadiums, why it worked, which parks followed and what the retro style could not fix.
Oriole Park at Camden Yards: The History, the Dimensions and How the Park Plays
A guide to Oriole Park at Camden Yards: where it sits in the Orioles' five-park history, its listed dimensions, what park factors say about how it plays, and how to plan a visit.
Petco Park: The History, the Dimensions and How the Park Plays
A guide to Petco Park in San Diego: the two stadiums the Padres used before it, the dimensions and sea-level setting that shape play, and the club's record in each building.
PNC Park: The History, the Dimensions and How the Park Plays
A guide to the Pittsburgh Pirates' home on the Allegheny River: the parks that came before, the dimensions, what park factors say about how it plays, and general advice for planning a visit.
Progressive Field: The History, the Dimensions and How the Park Plays
A guide to Progressive Field in Cleveland: the six homes the club has used since 1901, the dimensions that shape play, what the numbers say about the park, and how to plan a visit.
Rate Field: The History, the Dimensions and How the Park Plays
A guide to Rate Field, the White Sox ballpark on Chicago's South Side: its four names, the parks that came before it, its dimensions, how it has played for hitters and what to know before a visit.
Retractable Roofs and Domes in the Major Leagues
Which major-league parks have roofs, why clubs built them, how fixed domes differ from retractable roofs, and what the historical park factors show about how roofed parks play for hitters and pitchers.
Rogers Centre: The History, the Dimensions and How the Park Plays
A guide to Rogers Centre in Toronto, home of the Blue Jays: the dimensions, the retractable roof and artificial turf, the parks the club used before it, and what to know before a visit.
Shea Stadium: The Mets' Home from 1964 to 2008
The story of Shea Stadium in Queens, home of the New York Mets for 45 seasons: the 1964 opening, the jets overhead, the Beatles, the 1969 and 1986 champions and the final game in 2008.
Shibe Park and Connie Mack Stadium: Philadelphia's Shared Ballpark
Shibe Park opened in 1909 as the first concrete-and-steel major-league park, then housed the Athletics and the Phillies together until 1954 and the Phillies alone until 1970 as Connie Mack Stadium.
Spring Training Ballparks: The Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues
A guide to spring training in Arizona and Florida: how the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues work, what the small ballparks are like, how spring games differ from the regular season and how to plan a trip.
Sutter Health Park: The History, the Dimensions and How the Park Plays
A guide to Sutter Health Park, the Triple-A ballpark the Athletics have used as a temporary home: its dimensions, how it compares with other parks, the franchise's earlier homes and what to know before a visit.
T-Mobile Park: The History, the Dimensions and How the Park Plays
A guide to T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners: its dimensions and retractable roof, the Kingdome years before it, how the geometry affects play and what to know before a first visit.
Target Field: The History, the Dimensions and How the Park Plays
A guide to Target Field in Minneapolis: where it fits among the Twins' seven parks, its posted dimensions, what park factors and home run totals say about how it plays, and how to plan a visit.
The Astrodome: The Eighth Wonder of the World
The Astrodome was the first domed major-league ballpark. This article covers why Houston built it, the grass that died under the roof, the turf that replaced it, and how the park played, with the historical figures.
The Cookie-Cutter Stadiums of the 1970s
Why Riverfront, Three Rivers, Veterans and Busch Memorial Stadium looked so alike, how artificial turf and symmetrical fences shaped the baseball played there, and what replaced them in the 2000s.
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