MLB, MiLB/Indy Baseball

SPRING TRAINING. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. THE INDEPENDENT LEAGUES.

WHERE ARE THE BEST BALLPARKS IN MLB, SPRING TRAINING, AND MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL?

Few fans have been to as many ballparks as Mr. Sports Travel. He's written about his exploits for NBCSports.com and MLB.com, among others, and his annually updated fan guides have been helping fans cost-effectively plan trips to Spring Training and MLB ballpark tours since 2001. Visit the Buy Baseball Guides page to plan your trip to 2011 Spring Training or a 2010 MLB ballpark tour, and more.

"Planning a vacation to spring training or to major league ballparks? The guides…can help a fan personalize their vacations with information from hotels to ticket prices." – USA TODAY Sport Weekly

"I am VERY IMPRESSED with the wonderful work you have done! I know your documents will increase our enjoyment with ML Baseball this year, beginning with Spring Training. Thanks again!" – Jim, Wichita, Kansas

"We especially enjoyed the information about each ballpark relative to seating and parking, little tidbits about what made each park unique and what to expect added to our experience. All this information made the experience just that more wonderful." – Lou, Charlotte, North Carolina, on "A Fan's Guide To The Ultimate Ballpark Tour: Fully Loaded!"

"The (Cactus League Spring Training) guide was very helpful in our visit to Arizona. I certainly would recommend the guide to others." – Rick, Napa, California

Full house in Mesa, home of the Cubs, Cactus League

"We had a BLAST and that was mostly due to all your recommendations and GREAT information. All your info and tips were 100% correct." – Tina, Chico, California, on "A Fan's Guide To The Cactus League"

100 years and counting, as only lonely Cubs fans can

"Thank you for your great tour guide to all of the baseball parks. We have been using your guide every step of the way. It is extremely helpful." – Traci, Lake Forest, Calif.

Mr. Sports Travel in Pittsburgh for the '06 All-Star Game

Highly Underrated: Kansas City's Kaufmann Stadium

"Planning one of these trips, it gets a little overwhelming. (He's) taken care of that and made the process a whole lot easier. This electronic guide – it works. It’s a worthwhile investment." – John Weisbarth, Reporter, Channel 4, San Diego

"Everything you need to know before going anywhere to watch spring training." – Jerry Greene, Orlando Sentinel, on "A Fan's Guide To The Grapefruit League"

Mr. Sports Travel in Grapefruit Country, near Orlando

“I’m about to go to Florida for spring training and just wanted to thank you. It answered all my questions. YOU ROCK!” – Mike, on a "A Fan's Guide To The Grapefruit League"

A splendid sight: The Giants home in San Francisco

Oldest and best atmosphere: Boston's Fenway Park

"When...(Mr. Sports Travel) says Fenway is the world's best baseball stadium, he's not being a homer. The freelance baseball writer has something to go on. This baseball denizen…has seen all the professional baseball parks in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Japan. (He)...gives examples of how the working person can do it on a middle-class budget." – Boston Metro on "A Fan's Guide To The Ultimate Ballpark Tour: Fully Loaded!"’

Holy Toledo! The Minor Leagues sure are a lot of fun

MR. SPORTS TRAVEL'S BEST SPRING TRAINING BALLPARKS IN THE CACTUS LEAGUE AND GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE, PLUS BEST MAJOR LEAGUE BALLPARKS AND TOP MINOR LEAGUE AND INDEPENDENT LEAGUE PARKS, TOO!

*Parentheses notes when the MLB regular season ballpark opened

AMONG THE ARIZONA CACTUS LEAGUE'S BEST BALLPARKS (BUY "A FAN'S GUIDE TO THE CACTUS LEAGUE")
HoHoKam Park, Cubs, Mesa, Arizona
Scottsdale Stadium, Giants, Scottsdale, Arizona
Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Athletics, Phoenix, Arizona
Maryvale Ballpark, Brewers, Phoenix, Arizona
Surprise Stadium, Rangers and Royals, Surprise, Arizona

AMONG THE FLORIDA GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE'S BEST BALLPARKS (BUY "A FAN'S GUIDE TO THE GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE")
Bright House Networks Field, Phillies, Clearwater, Florida
City of Palms Park, Red Sox, Fort Myers, Florida
Joker Marchant Stadium, Tigers, Lakeland, Florida
Steinbrenner Field, Yankees, Tampa, Florida
McKechnie Field, Pirates, Bradenton, Florida

BEST OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE BALLPARKS (BUY "A FAN'S GUIDE TO THE ULTIMATE BALLPARK TOUR: FULLY LOADED!")
Fenway “No” Park (as in limited parking close by!), Boston Red Sox (1912)
Wrigley Field, aka "The Friendly Confines of Futility," Chicago Cubs (1914)

NEW BALLPARKS ON THE BLOCK
Target Field, Minnesota Twins (2010)
(New) Yankee Stadium, New York Yankees (2009)
Citi Field, New York Mets (2009)

STILL LA CHIC
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles Dodgers (1962)

WHO SAYS MLB BALLPARK RENOVATIONS DON’T WORK?
Turner Field, Atlanta Braves (1996 Summer Olympics “Stadium” to 1997 new ballpark)
U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago White Sox (1991 opening to major renovations starting in 2001)
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City Royals (1973 opening to new look in 2009)
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, "Los Angeles" Angels of Anaheim (1966 opening to major renovations starting in 1997)

BEST OF THE STILL RECENT NEW MLB BALLPARKS ON THE BLOCK
Nationals Park Washington Nationals (2008)
(New) Busch Stadium, St. Louis Cardinals (2006)
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia Phillies (2004)
PETCO Park, San Diego Padres (2004)
Great American (Small) Ballpark, Cincinnati Reds (2003)
PNC Park, Pittsburgh Pirates (2001)
Miller Park, Milwaukee Brewers (2001)
Comerica Park, Detroit Tigers (2000)
Minute Maid Park (formerly Enron Field), Houston Astros (2000)
AT&T Park (formerly Pac Bell Park), San Francisco Giants (2000)

BEST OF THE NEW MLB BALLPARKS OF THE LIVING LARGE 1990s
Safeco Field, Seattle Mariners (1999)
Chase Field (formerly known as Bank One Ballpark), Arizona Diamondbacks (1998)
Coors Field, Colorado Rockies (1995)
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas Rangers (1994)
Progressive Field (formerly known as Jacobs Field), Cleveland Indians (1994)
Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore Orioles (1992)

TIME TO STOP MAKING THE DONUTS
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland Athletics (1966)
Dolphin Stadium, Florida Marlins (Opened in 1987, but Fish didn’t start ‘til 1993)
*Marlins hope to open new ballpark on site of former Orange Bowl in 2012

IT STILL FEELS LIKE COSTCO
Rogers "Centre" (formerly known as SkyDome), Toronto Blue Jays (1989)
Tropicana "Field," Tampa Bay Rays (1998)

2010 NEW MINOR LEAGUE PARKS ON THE BLOCK

Winston-Salem New Ballpark, Winston-Salem Dash, North Carolina (High-A, Carolina League)

2009 NEW MINOR LEAGUE BALLPARKS ON THE BLOCK
Huntington Park, Columbus Clippers, Columbus, Ohio (AAA, International League)
Gwinnett Stadium, Gwinnett Braves, Lawrenceville, Georgia (AAA, International League)
Aces Ballpark, Reno Aces, Reno, Nevada (AAA, Pacific Coast League)
Charlotte Sports Park, Charlotte Stone Crabs, Port Charlotte, Florida (High-A, Florida State League)
Parkview Field, Fort Wayne TinCaps, Fort Wayne, Indiana (A, Midwest League)
Bowling Green Ballpark, Bowling Green Hot Rods, Bowling Green, Kentucky (A, South Atlantic League)
PK Park, Eugene Emeralds, Eugene, Oregon (Short Season-Class A, Northwest League)
All Pro Freight Stadium, Lake Erie Crushers, Avon Ohio (Independent, Non-Affiliated, Frontier League)

NOW SOME OLD FAVORITES…FIRST, AFFILIATED MINORS, THEN INDEPENDENTS...BEST MINOR LEAGUE BALLPARKS

TRIPLE-AAA
International League: Louisville Slugger Field, Louisville Bats (Reds affiliate);
Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Durham Bulls (Rays affiliate)

Pacific Coast League: Raley Field, Sacramento Rivercats (A’s affiliate); Autozone Park, Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals affiliate)

Mexican League: Monterrey Baseball Stadium, Monterrey Sultans

DOUBLE-AA
Eastern League: FirstEnergy Stadium, Reading Phillies (Phillies affiliate); Hadlock Field, Portland Seadogs (Red Sox affiliate); Blair County Ballpark, Altoona Curve (Pirates affiliate)
Southern League: Riverwalk Stadium, Montgomery Biscuits (Rays affiliate); Baseball Grounds, Jacksonville Suns (Marlins affiliate)
Texas League: Hammons Field, Springfield Cardinals (Cardinals affiliate); Whataburger Field, Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros affiliate)

HIGH-A
California League: Municipal Stadium, San Jose Giants (Giants affiliate)
Carolina League: Frawley Stadium, Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals affiliate)
Florida State League: Jackie Robinson Ballpark, Daytona Cubs (Cubs affiliate)

SINGLE-A
Midwest League: Fifth Third Field, Dayton Dragons (Reds affiliate)
South Atlantic League: McCormick Stadium, Asheville Tourists (Rockies affiliate)

SHORT-SEASON (CLASS A)
New York-Penn League: KeySpan Park, Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets affiliate); LeLacheur Park, Lowell Spinners (Red Sox affiliate); Dutchess Stadium, Hudson Valley Renegades (Rays affiliate)
Northwest League: Avista Stadium, Spokane Indians (Rangers affiliate)

ROOKIE:
Appalachian League: Bowen Field, Bluefield Orioles (Orioles affiliate)
Pioneer League: Lindquist Field, Ogden Raptors (Dodgers affiliate)
Arizona League: Play at Spring Training complexes of representative team (see Arizona Spring Training)
Gulf Coast League: Play at Spring Training complexes of representative team (see Florida Spring Training)
Dominican Summer League: Boca Chica (Cubs complex)
Venezuelan Summer League: Trocanero (Mets and Phillies complexes)

BEST BASEBALL PARKS OF THE INDEPENDENT LEAGUES
American Association: Midway Stadium, St. Paul Saints; LaGrave Field, Fort Worth Cats
Atlantic League: Clipper Magazine Stadium, Lancaster Barnstormers
Can-Am (Canadian-American) League: Municipal Stadium, Quebec City Capitals
Frontier League: Bosse Field, Evansville Otters; Wuerfel Park, Traverse City Beach Bums
Golden Baseball League: Telus Field, Edmonton Capitals
Northern League: CanWest Global Park, Winnipeg Gold Eyes

United Baseball League: Potter County Memorial Stadium, Amarillo Dillas