Photo by: Darrell James
Shelby Shelton - Top 5 Favorite Major League Ballparks
5/12/2020 10:12:00 AM | Softball
Top 5 – Favorite Major League Baseball Stadiums
May 12, 2020
Note: During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have the chance to learn a little more about our Louisiana Tech Athletics Family. We'll call it Tech Top 5. Go to LATech.edu for more Top 5s. #TogetherApart
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Shelby Shelton
Louisiana Tech Assistant Softball Coach Shelby Shelton joined the Lady Techster staff last August. As she nears the end of her first year in Ruston, this former four-time all-conference selection and NFCA Scholar Athlete gives us a look inside at her five favorite major league baseball stadiums. Her list is comprised of four stadiums she has visited along with one she hopes to visit in the future.Â
1. Wrigley Field | Chicago, IL - Home of the Cubs.
North siders have been taking the train to Wrigley to cheer for the Cubs since 1914. My family decided we would get the true Wrigley experience by choosing to sit with the "Bleacher Bums" in 1998, which was one of the craziest experiences of my young life. This was the year of the home run chase with Cub, Sammy Sosa, and Cardinal, Mark McGuire, chasing Roger Maris' record. Cubs have many traditions, such as throwing opposing home run balls back on the field, singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame", and flying a white flag after a win with a giant blue "W" on it. The outfield fence is covered entirely with real ivy, and fans sit on the rooftops of historic buildings located behind the stadium walls. For the ultimate baseball fan experience, Wrigley is hard to beat and that is why it tops my list as my favorite MLB Stadium.
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2. Oracle Park | San Francisco, CA - Home of the Giants
Where else can you go and watch a home run land in the Pacific Ocean? The famous McCovey Cove at Oracle Park provides that opportunity. Located out beyond the right field wall, there are fans sitting in kayaks waiting for the next home run ball. When I attended this park, I watched the game from the stands in right field amazed by the scenic beauty of the field in front of me and the ocean behind me. This stadium is located in an amazing city with lots of landmarks to see such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf. To get around this city, you can hop on the cable car system, and I suggest hoping off at Ghirardelli's Chocolate Factory while you're at it.
3. Fenway Park | Boston, MA - Home of the Red Sox
One of the most famous landmarks of all of baseball is the left field wall, known as the Green Monster, at Fenway Park. It is 37 feet 2 inches high and is only 310 feet from home plate. Where many ballparks have multi-million dollar electronic scoreboards run by computers, Fenway's is located on the Green Monster and is manually kept by people taking down and putting up numbers behind the wall. Built in 1912, Fenway is steeped in history and has been home to great players such as Babe Ruth early in his career and Ted Williams. Fans there love their Red Sox and hate the Yankees.
4. Yankee Stadium | New York City, NY - Home of the Yankees
When you talk about Yankee Stadium, you have to make the distinction between the "new" and "old" Yankee Stadium. I have been lucky enough to watch games in both of the stadiums. In 2003, I watched Roger Clemens pitch in "old" Yankee Stadium which was filled with the tradition of former Yankee greats who had once played there, such as Mantle and DiMaggio. The new stadium was built in 2009. I had the opportunity to watch Derek Jeter, who many consider the greatest Yankee, play there in his final season in 2014. The unique experience begins with riding the subway train to get to the stadium in the Bronx with many Yankee fans. Once arriving, the atmosphere is electric and you feel amazed by being at one of the premier sports venues in the world. A well-known tradition is they sing "New York, New York" at the end of every game. A less-known fact is if they win, they play the Frank Sinatra version. If they lose, they play the Liza Minnelli version.
5. PNC Park | Pittsburgh, PA - Home of the Pirates
This is the one ballpark on my list I have not had the opportunity to see in person. However, the beautiful scenes displayed on television and in photos make it a must-see MLB stadium. The stadium was built in 2001 with the breathtaking view of the Pittsburgh skyline providing the backdrop beyond the outfield. Also, the Roberto Clemente Bridge is located within view and honors one of the greatest Pirates of all time. Pittsburgh is a vibrant city with lots to do after an afternoon at the ballpark and seems like it would be worth the trip.
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