Opinion | My MLB stadium tier list

Joe Perrino, Sports Editor

I am what you’d call a “ballpark aficionado.” And if you don’t believe such a thing exists, I’d like to introduce you to the pictures and ticket stubs I’ve saved from games I’ve attended at 19 current MLB stadiums across the United States and Canada, as well as three former ballparks — the original Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium and Qualcomm Stadium.

So, let’s reminisce on the good times when thousands of fans were allowed to take a seat in the sun, munch on a hot dog and cheer on home runs. I’ll be examining the best and worst of these stadium experiences, ranking every team’s stomping grounds on a personally created scale. Remember, there are 19 ballparks on this list and there’ll be a lot to take in, so take notes. 

Disclaimer: I will be keeping off all stadiums that aren’t currently representing one of the 30 teams in the MLB, as well as stadiums I haven’t been to.

Pits of hell: None

You seriously thought there’d be a ballpark here? As long as there is baseball played, no stadium could ever ascribe to this ranking. Moving on. 

Old and trash: Dodger Stadium, Angel Stadium, Tropicana Field

These, however, are located ever-so-slightly above the “pits of hell” tier. All these places suck.

The developers of Dodger Stadium missed a huge opportunity; they built the stadium facing the wrong direction. If they had just flipped it around, 50,000 fans would have a gorgeous view of the Los Angeles skyline and coast. Instead, fans are treated to a romantic look at a massive parking lot. Terrific!

Angels Stadium and Tropicana Field are equally underwhelming. They’re both about as old as the ham in the back of my fridge. Angel Stadium has poles obstructing views in multiple areas of the ballpark. I prefer the replica park I used to play at in Manteca, California. Tropicana, meanwhile, has a domed enclosure that adds a claustrophobic effect. I don’t recommend it.

Break out the binoculars: Yankee Stadium, Rogers Centre, Target Field, Citi Field, Citizens Bank Park

There are a lot of stadiums in this tier, so I won’t break down each one, but luckily they’re all mediocre for the same reason. Some ballparks simply fail to keep fans close to the action. They sprawl seats every which way, yet every arrangement takes the fan further away from the ball. A characteristic of upper-tier stadiums is I’m able to have an equally fulfilling experience watching from the upper deck as I would behind the dugout; that’s unlikely to happen at these stadiums.

Cleanly cut and overall solid: T-Mobile Park, American Family Field, Nationals Park, Progressive Field

It’s quite disheartening to hear the Milwaukee Brewers’ home field, formerly known as Miller Park, has been now renamed American Family Field. I almost dropped it a ranking just for that, but much like the rest of these fields, its unique design boosted it here. T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, is similar; both stadiums sport retractable roofs and they have great food. 

Nationals Park, meanwhile, has a sleek and open design that keeps everything looking clean and open while still keeping the fan close to the action. Progressive Field is similar — it’s located in the middle of downtown Cleveland (not as bad as you’d think) and it’s made the most of the lot it was built on. 

Flying colors for integrating their environment: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Coors Field, Wrigley Field and Petco Park

These are all gorgeous stadiums, all having in common that architects found a way to immerse the viewers in the ballparks’ surroundings. 

Wrigley Field is located right next to screaming fans perched atop balconies on the apartment complexes across the street. Camden Yards boasts a view of the 100-year-old brick B&O Warehouse building that sits strong and sturdy beyond the right field wall. Off in the distance of Coors Field, you can see the great Rocky Mountains, and inside the park in center field is a small nature habitat representing what’s in those mountains. Finally, a sand pit and grassy field sit beyond the walls of Petco Park, emphasizing the laid-back vibes of San Diego. 

Best of the best: Oracle Park, Fenway Park and PNC Park

These are the top dogs. The big boys, so to speak. If you disagree, you’re wrong.

I’m probably a little biased, given that I’ve gone to hundreds of games at Oracle Park, but it’s just so beautiful. From one end of the stadium, you look out at a sweeping view of the San Francisco Bay. On the other, you can see almost the entire city’s skyline. The massive Coca-Cola bottle and glove in left field are unique and iconic; it’s a must-see destination.

I’ve been to only one game at Fenway Park, and it’s cramped and even older than said ham in the back of my fridge. But dang, is it cool. There’s nothing as timeless in baseball as the Green Monster in left field, Pesky’s Pole down the right field line or the strange field dimensions. 

And despite my Giants fandom, PNC Park is quite possibly my favorite of the three. It’s the opposite of Dodger Stadium: developers probably said, “Hey, that’d be a nice background. Let’s showcase it.” The end result is a full 180-degree view of the Pittsburgh skyline, with great views of the iconic Allegheny River and the Roberto Clemente Bridge. It’s a masterpiece.

Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with any baseball stadium you find yourself in on a sunny July afternoon. After a year of not being able to catch a game in one, I’m yearning for even Tropicana Field to open up. When ballparks do open up — perhaps April 1 in California if parks meet health requirements — be sure to check out each and every one of these options and confirm everything you just read.