Unique Ballpark Features

[Gooseamania]

i thought it would be cool to start a thread about some of the unique features of major league ballparks. it would be cool if we could find some features that may not be blantantly visible on tv or in person but any feature would be cool.

[Gooseamania]

here is the right field roof at fenway park which in 2004 was transformed into a dining area and standing room spot. it is 14,000 square feet.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/57/155970756_e6b2b30f69.jpg?v=0

[Chevy114]

The rays have a the batter's eye resturant in center field that looks like a giant green box with black windows, but is a pretty nice resturant with a good view through the transparent glass.

They also have a touch tank, with live sting rays in right center field for the kids.

They also have a huge player diving through the wall to catch a fily as you first come in the rotundra.

Finally the foul poles installed on the catwalks that are probably 6 inches to a foot long. They are painted yellow, since hitting the catwalks is considered a homerun, they decide whats a fair and whats a foul homerun.

[Gooseamania]

tropicana also supposedly has a system in the catwalks to dtermine whether a ball that hits the catwalks would be a fair or foul homerun

(courtesy of wikipedia)

The upper catwalks are Ring A and Ring B; these catwalks are entirely in play and balls bouncing off them can be caught for outs, or drop for base hits. Ring C and Ring D are out of play; if they are struck between the foul poles (each one has a yellow post marking the relative foul line position), then the ball is ruled a home run.

here's a pic:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Tropicana_Field_Catwalks.JPG

[locke40]

tropicana also supposedly has a system in the catwalks to dtermine whether a ball that hits the catwalks would be a fair or foul homerun

Let me see if I understand this. There were no catwalks originally. Then, they decide they want to add catwalks for the sole reason of determining if balls hitting said catwalks would be fair, foul, or a homerun. That is very odd. :crazy

[PeteU]

Let me see if I understand this. There were no catwalks originally. Then, they decide they want to add catwalks for the sole reason of determining if balls hitting said catwalks would be fair, foul, or a homerun. That is very odd. :crazy

No, the catwalks were always a part of the Trop/Suncoast Dome from the getgo.

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsapp/BT/DOMES/TIMELN/suncoast/sun-06.jpg

[whoisonit]

Let me see if I understand this. There were no catwalks originally. Then, they decide they want to add catwalks for the sole reason of determining if balls hitting said catwalks would be fair, foul, or a homerun. That is very odd. :crazy

I read about the catwalks on here once, in a different thread. Can't find it however. Maybe someone else remembers it and can link it.

The catwalks were always there. They installed a system of markers on them after the Rays arrived.

[Gooseamania]

yes exactly. tropicana field has a unique slanted roof that slants down towards the outfiled, the catwalks are lower in the outfield because of this so when balls are hit into the catwalks they have a system to determine whether or not the ball is a homerun or if it would've been a foul ball, any other ball hit into the catwalks is in play.

[whoisonit]

any other ball hit into the catwalks is in play.

What are the ground rules on that ? If it hits the catwalk and a fielder catches it, is the batter out ?

[Gooseamania]

yup, if a ball hits the catwalk it is in play

[whoisonit]

yup, if a ball hits the catwalk it is in play

That's neat. Like kids playing in the yard, catching a bounce off the tree limb. Has it happened often or memorably, where it's caught on the fly ?

[Chevy114]

It was weird at first to see the catwalks become obstructions. They finally had to have the mlb rule on it and half of them are in play and half of them are out of play or homeruns. The catwalks are a must have for the lighting and speakers they use at the trop, so its no like they could just get rid of them either.

[Lafferty Daniel]

The fan shaped roofs over the bleachers at Dodger Stadium.

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=39882&stc=1&d=1208120889

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=39883&stc=1&d=1208121029

The upper concourse is outside.

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=39886&stc=1&d=1208121095

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=39896&stc=1&d=1208121485

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=39901&stc=1&d=1208121690

Think Blue sign

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=39891&stc=1&d=1208121298

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=39892&stc=1&d=1208121313

[Gooseamania]

That's neat. Like kids playing in the yard, catching a bounce off the tree limb. Has it happened often or memorably, where it's caught on the fly ?

yes it has happended recently: in may of 2006 johnny gomes of the rays was called out when a bill he hit landed in ring B of the catwalks and rolled off and was caught by the blue jays shortstop john macdonald (who's from my hometown!) gomes had almost reached home plate by the time the ball was caught by macdonald and although rays manager joe maddon argued that it should have been a ground rule double since it stayed in ring B for a few moments, the call stood.

[Gooseamania]

although it is clearly visible both on tv and in person, "tal's hill" in centerfield at minute maid park is pretty unique, as is the flagpole in the back of the hill, both of which are in play:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9c/TalsHill.jpg

[PeteU]

http://www.thesportsroadtrip.com/florida05.jpg

Here's the area in left field at Dolphin Stadium which many Marlins fans refer to as "Gonzo's Gap".

It is the little wedge to the right of the foul pole, but to the left of the Teal Tower. It cannot be any more than 25 feet in length, which is not a whole lot as fence lengths go.

So why is this called "Gonzo's Gap"?

In 2003 in the bottom of the eleventh inning of Game 4 of the World Series against the Yankees, Alex Gonzalez (not your typical power hitter), hit a rocket line drive that hugged the line and made it over the left field fence in that gap by just a matter of inches.

12 feet to the right, and it would have been a double off the wall. 12 feet to the left and it would be foul. But it made it barely as a homerun, and changed the momentum in the series.

[Lafferty Daniel]

Are there any other ballparks (past or present) that are built over train tracks?

http://www.twinsballpark2010.com/_resources/PA300028_train_small.jpg

http://www.twinsballpark2010.com/_resources/PA300004_tracks_small.jpg

[Lafferty Daniel]

And have any other ballparks had seats that hang over the field?

http://www.twinsballpark2010.com/_resources/PA300024_right_small.jpg

[Astros]

Are there any other ballparks (past or present) that are built over train tracks?

http://www.twinsballpark2010.com/_resources/PA300028_train_small.jpg

http://www.twinsballpark2010.com/_resources/PA300004_tracks_small.jpg

Safeco Field has passenger trains pass under the roof.

[b1011r]

In recent construction, citifield will have an overhang and safeco is partially built over the train tracks at least the roof is.

[Astros]

And have any other ballparks had seats that hang over the field?

http://www.twinsballpark2010.com/_resources/PA300024_right_small.jpg

Minute Maid Park has a Home Run porch that sits out over the field to the left of straight away centerfield. It is 25 feet above the playign field and it is 404' feet to clear the wall underneath it, but most homers go to this porch if one is hit that out that direction. People hang out here all the time.

[Lions/Tigers@Cubs.OhMy!]

And have any other ballparks had seats that hang over the field?

http://www.twinsballpark2010.com/_resources/PA300024_right_small.jpg

Tiger Stadium had that in right field.

Also, kind of relating to what your asking... the fictional park that I have been designing for years has an overhang in left as well as a train station just out past left center with plenty of subway routes under the stadium. The park is called Amtrak Park and I started building an N Scale model of it about a year and a half ago.

[willisraverchk77]

doesn't chase field also have a centerfield balcony that overhangs the field?

here i found one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilgar/2082228080/ - http://www.flickr.com/photos/crackerbunny/29337200/sizes/l/

[Gooseamania]

on September 27, 2006, on Johnny pesky's 87th birthday, the red sox placed a commemarative plaque at the base of the right field foul/fair pole (named "pesky's pole" for those who don't know), i couldn't find a picture of it but i'm pretty sure no other team has done this before.

[marlins739]

In 2003 in the bottom of the eleventh inning of Game 4 of the World Series against the Yankees, Alex Gonzalez (not your typical power hitter), hit a rocket line drive that hugged the line and made it over the left field fence in that gap by just a matter of inches.
Come on PeteU, you're mixing up your extra-inning Marlins World Series victories, that was the bottom of the 12th, not the 11th when A-Gon hit it out off Jeff Weaver. :cap:

I think the most unique part of the Dolph is the Bermuda Triangle in left center. Out where the turtle is stored during games, the fence takes a right angle jog in for a peak distance of 434 feet. Dead center is 404, and balls go to die out there. The only inside the park home run I have ever seen in person went right into the Triangle when former catcher Mike Redmond hit one past a diving Lance Berkman and ended up collapsing at home plate. The Miccosukee casino ad that covers the entire left-field wall was extended all the way into the Triangle over the famous 434 sign for 2008, so they didn't have any distance marked for a couple games, but I noticed the other night that the 434 sign is back where it belongs now

http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2007/09/12/PH2007091202876.jpg

[jimmyjimjimz]

I think it's really interesting that the Sky Dome has a hotel in it.

[F_man8326]

The outfield wall with ivy at Wrigley Field...

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/2007/02/14/F3JalQzV.jpg




The outfield wall sans ivy at Wrigley Field....

http://crawdaddycove.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/wrigley-field-in-chicago-outfield-fence.jpg


Plus, the buckets.

[Aviator_Frank]

How long has the basket been there? I remember Wayne Garrett hitting one in there as early as 1973 or 74.

[reh303]

I think it's really interesting that the Sky Dome has a hotel in it.

I've always wanted to stay in a field-facing room during a Yankees game. It would be cool.

[Urbanshocker13]

I think it's really interesting that the Sky Dome has a hotel in it.

They have caught people doing, (well what people do in hotels) during a game with the blinds open so you could see. A guy and and a girl and another time a guy that was alone :eek: They now make sure that blinds are shut or atleast you can't see in.

[whoisonit]

They have caught people doing, (well what people do in hotels) during a game with the blinds open so you could see. A guy and and a girl and another time a guy that was alone :eek: They now make sure that blinds are shut or atleast you can't see in.

Oh man, that's so embarrassing. I'd be mortified if a stadium full of people saw me stealing towels.

[Gooseamania]

i got this picture from another thread (the one about stadiums from specific years, just to give credit to whoever found the pic)anyways, in the picture the "manufacturers hanover" sign under the scoreboard at shea stadium was used as the official scorers way of letting everyone know whether a batted ball was a hit or error the "H" in hanover lit up on a hit, the "E" lit up on a error. this pic is from 1984 i believe.

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=40297&stc=1&d=1208494813

[PeteU]

Come on PeteU, you're mixing up your extra-inning Marlins World Series victories, that was the bottom of the 12th, not the 11th when A-Gon hit it out off Jeff Weaver. :cap:



Sorry, my bad. I think I got it confused with Game 3 of the NLDS against the Giants where Pudge hit the walk-off single in the 11th. (having been at that game in person)

All I know about A-Gon's shot is that I was jumping up and down in my living room after it happened. That and how damn fast that ball got out of the park. I really thought it was just going to be a double down the line.

[Chevy114]

I always thought the hotel was cool and I do remember in the world series they jays played in there was controversy in the news about people doing it with the blinds open!

The ivy is cool at wrigly, espically since balls get lost in it sometims. Its just a shame they cut part of it out for under armour signs.

The seats on the green monster at fenway are cool. Anyone ever sat up there?

[ZeoBandit]

The ivy is cool at wrigly, espically since balls get lost in it sometims. Its just a shame they cut part of it out for under armour signs.


The Under Amour signs are painted on the preexisting doors, not the wall, so no ivy was removed to put the ads on.

[willisraverchk77]

i don't know how to post these, but here are some from comerica...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianlau/51994788/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/awebb/322999897/sizes/l/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonpaige/2203006718/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/awebb/322999898/sizes/l/

[Gooseamania]

lets not forget the homerun apple at shea:)