Question: Ballpark Dimensions

[rsuriyop]

Simple question: why are the dimensions of most ballparks constantly changing?

Now in some stadiums where players are consistently hitting homers out of them them like in Coors, I could understand the reason for it (although strangely enough, it still remains a hitter's park like no other). But otherwise, it just boggles the mind. Surely there's an answer to this, right?

[sschirmer]

A lot of teams change dims based on the type of players they currently have. If you have a speedy lineup, without much power, move the fences back, and hope for balls in the gap. If you have a slower, more power laden lineup, bring 'em in, and watch the balls fly out.

If you have Eric Milton, move your team to Yosemite!:laugh

[rsuriyop]

A lot of teams change dims based on the type of players they currently have. If you have a speedy lineup, without much power, move the fences back, and hope for balls in the gap. If you have a slower, more power laden lineup, bring 'em in, and watch the balls fly out.

If you have Eric Milton, move your team to Yosemite!:laugh


Quite interesting. I really wouldn't have guessed anything like that. Thanks.

[Sean O]

Of the new ballparks, this is the first season I recall teams changing the dimensions of their parks. The Padres and Phillies seem to be the only ones who have changed dimensions recently, and the Tigers moved the fences in, but very few other teams have made any changes.

It happened way more in the past than now, because parks were built in stages. Considering the sheer number of parks built over the past few years, it's surprising how few parks have seen modifications.

[Clash City Rocker]

The Royals and Angels have also moved fences in/out....and the (old park teams) Dodgers, BSox, and Cubs have filled space in foul territory for box seats. Yeah, this was more common in older stadiums where there was usually more space to work with. Todays stadiums are designed with the OF design set in place by permanent structure/bleachers, with the zig-zaggy fake urban intrigue fences deal.

[Elvis]

In doing research for my site I came across very few ballparks that have not altered the outfield dimensions at some time or another. Some ballparks more frequently than others.

The list of parks that never altered their dimensions (Min 15 years in service) is quite a small list:

The Metrodome (1982-present)
Veterans Stadium (1971-2003)
Skydome (1989-present)

Some recent fence/distance alterations:

CBP (2006)
PETCO (2006)
Angel Stadium (1998)
Comerica Park (2003)
Kauffman Stadium (2003)
Oakland (1996)
Camden Yards (2003)
US Cellular (2001)
Qualcomm (1996)
Busch Stadium II (1997)

[sschirmer]

That's very interesting, considering how all three of those parks appear to have fences that could be moved very easily. While the Metrodome has never changed the distance to it's fences, they have lowered the fence in left, by removing the plexiglass top.

[Elvis]

That's very interesting, considering how all three of those parks appear to have fences that could be moved very easily. While the Metrodome has never changed the distance to it's fences, they have lowered the fence in left, by removing the plexiglass top.

They also raised the fence in right. Originaly the RF fence was the same 7ft as the CF fence. Around 1983 or '84 they built the "Hefty Bag" fence.

I just found another change for this coming season: The brewers are adding a new group picnic area in RF at ground level that will shorten the distance in the RF gap about 8ft at Miller Park. I'm sure the Brewers RHP's are really happy about that. :eek: :laugh

[sschirmer]

That's what I call good information. Thanks Elvis.

[Sean O]

Very good info Elvis, but I'll go through them all:




Some recent fence/distance alterations:

CBP (2006)
PETCO (2006)


Both legit modifications to help their team.


Angel Stadium (1998)


Part of a major reconstruction, so I don't put it as the same sort of thing.


Comerica Park (2003)
Kauffman Stadium (2003)

Both the same as what's happening now; to help the club.


Oakland (1996)


Similar to Angel Stadium, in that dimensions were required changes because of construction.


Camden Yards (2003)


Don't know the reason the birds tried this, but this is a strange modification because nothing physically changed.


US Cellular (2001)


This seemed like a nod to asymmetry more than anything helping the team.


Qualcomm (1996)
Busch Stadium II (1997)

Each of these I'd consider an end result of construction.

I guess my point is that it's pretty rare for a team to change dimensions just to help the team, which is the point I was trying to make above.

Elvis, since you're as knowledgable about this as anyone, what team was it that wanted to move the fences in and out depending on who they were facing, back in the 40s?

Also, for a real mess of research, how many parks have been modded specifically for the team, rather than as a result of construction?

[Elvis]

I guess my point is that it's pretty rare for a team to change dimensions just to help the team, which is the point I was trying to make above.

Elvis, since you're as knowledgable about this as anyone, what team was it that wanted to move the fences in and out depending on who they were facing, back in the 40s?

Also, for a real mess of research, how many parks have been modded specifically for the team, rather than as a result of construction?

I'm not sure if Braves Field is the ballpark in question, but I believe they hold the record (or at least close) for moving the fences from year to year:

Braves Field Dimensions:

LF foul line: 402 (1915), 375 (1921), 404 (1922), 403 (1926), 320 (1928), 340 (1930), 354 (1931), 359 (1933), 353.67 (1934), 368 (1936), 350 (1940), 337 (1941), 334 (1942), 340 (1943), 337 (1944)
LF alley: 402 (1915), 396 (1916), 402 (1921), 404 (1922), 402 (1926), 330 (1928), 365 (1942), 355 (1943)
Center field: 440 (1915), 417 (1928), 387 (1929), 394 (1930), 387 (1931), 417 (1933), 426 (1936), 407 (1937), 408 (1939), 385 (1940), 401 (1941), 375 (1942), 370 (1943), 390 (1944), 380 (1945), 370 (1946)
Deepest center field corner: 550 (1915), 401 (1942), 390 (1943)
RF alley: 402 (1915), 362 (1942), 355 (1943)
RF foul line: 402 (1915), 375 (1916), 365 (1921), 364 (1928), 298 (1929), 364 (1933), 297 (1936), 376 (1937), 378 (1938), 350 (1940), 320 (1943), 340 (1946), 318 (1947), 320 (1948), 319 (1948)


"Although the seating capacity was baseball’s greatest for eight years, the cavernous stadium was flawed and largely unattractive, particularly in contrast to Fenway Park. The fences were too far from the plate (originally 550 feet in dead center and 402 down each line), although a succession of owners altered the boundaries often to suit the team’s power hitter of the moment -- tailoring that backfired when enemy hitters swatted more cheap homers. But the concrete stands couldn’t be moved and were too far from the action, unlike chummy Fenway."

---------------

When the dead ball era ended in the 1920's as Babe Ruth was practically re-inventing the home run, many ballparks reconfigured their dimensions to take advantage of the new homer craze. Braves Field was no exception. In 1928 the Braves moved in the fences substantially, added bleacher sections in left and center field, and shifted the diamond a few degrees clockwise. From the late 1920s until the early 1940s the Braves tinkered with the location of the outfield fence and bleachers several times. In 1936 they moved home plate backward by about 15 feet, and in 1937 they cut out a triangular section of the right field pavilion to stretch the distance down the right field line to a respectable 318 feet (From 296 ft.). The bleachers in left and center were eventually removed, and the outfield fence from left to right-center was raised to 20, and eventually 25 ft. high. In 1941, Sky-boxes were installed on the roof, and in 1946 as part of a $500,000 facelift, light towers were erected and a new electric scoreboard was installed in left field.

-

I think it was more common back in the old days to tailor a park to a specific player (Forbes Field's Greenberg Gardens comes to mind), but not so much these days.

[sschirmer]

The Polo GRounds got tinkered with a fair amount as well.

Dimensions: Left Field: 277 (1911), 286.67 (1921), 279.67 (1923), 279 (1930), 280 (1943), 279 (1955); Left Field, second deck: 250; Left center, left of bullpen: 447; Left center, right of bullpen: 455; Front of clubhouse steps: 460; Center field: 433 (1911), 483 (1923), 484.75 (1927), 505 (1930), 430 (1931), 480 (1934), 430 (1938), 505 (1940), 490 (1943), 505 (1944), 448 (1945), 490 (1946), 484 (1947), 505 (1949), 483 (1952), 480 (1953), 483 (1954), 480 (1955), 475 (1962), 483 (1963); Bleacher corners: 425 when center field was 475; Right center, left of bullpen: 449; Right center, right of bullpen: 440; Right field: 256.25 (1921), 257.67 (1923), 257.5 (1931), 257.67 (1942), 259 (1943), 257.67 (1944); Right field, second deck photographers' perch: 249; Backstop: 65 (1942), 70 (1943), 65 (1944), 70 (1946), 74 (1949), 65 (1954), 74 (1955), 65 (1962); Foul territory: very large.