Using Google Earth to get ballpark measurements

[pudgie_child]

I know that Google Earth may not be the most accurate tool out there, but has anyone else found significant discrepancies between listed outfield distances and what was measured on Google Earth?

Specifically, I measured the right field power alley at Angel Stadium to be a few feet shorter than the "370" that's marked.

[Manhattan]

I know that Google Earth may not be the most accurate tool out there, but has anyone else found significant discrepancies between listed outfield distances and what was measured on Google Earth?

Specifically, I measured the right field power alley at Angel Stadium to be a few feet shorter than the "370" that's marked.I will use Google Earth to measure of Yankee Stadium and also all of Dodger Stadium too.

[wildwoodstadium]

I think they measure some stadiums power alleys in different spots?

[pudgie_child]

I think I may have found the reason for the discrepancy in the Angel Stadium dimensions. If you look at photos of the stadium before the Disney renovations (and even before the Rams expansion), the fences in right and left had a slight but definite curve. You can see that, as in this (unfortunately small) photo, the right field fence doesn't exactly parallel the right field stands.

http://terraserver-usa.com/tile.ashx?t=1&s=10&x=2091&y=18701&z=11

At that time, the power alleys were listed as "370"; when Disney added seats to the front of the right field stands to meet the outfield fence, it actually brought in the right fence slightly because the fence lost the curve. You can see that in this overhead shot:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=anaheim,+ca&ie=UTF8&ll=33.800246,-117.88278&spn=0.001101,0.003433&t=k&z=19

By my measurements, the true distance to the power alley is now somewhere between 261 and 263. Maybe if I get motivated enough, I'll ask the Angels to look into remeasuring the "post-renovation" distance in the right field power alley.

[btown12]

The fence distances will not be completely accurate since some of the overhead images are slightly skewed. For example, if you look at Jacobs Field, you can tell it's not a direct overhead shot. It may be close but it's certainly not "pinpoint" accurate.

[ipitch]

I know that Google Earth may not be the most accurate tool out there, but has anyone else found significant discrepancies between listed outfield distances and what was measured on Google Earth?


I've found it to be accurate. Using Google Earth, I measured the distance from home to 1st base on about 10 diamonds, and they've all been 90'. I consider outfield wall markers to be nothing but pretty good estimates.

Here's one reason why...
"The distance from home plate to the Monster has long been disputed. For many years, it was posted as 315 feet (96 m). During the Red Sox pennant race in 1975, an overhead photograph of Fenway Park was shown to a man who had analyzed reconnaissance photos in preparation for bombing missions in World War II. He determined that the foul pole was just 304 feet (93 m) from home plate, but the marker on the wall was not changed. Writers from the Boston Globe once sneaked onto the field and measured it as 304.7 feet (92.9 m). In 1990, Red Sox management relabeled the distance at 310 feet (94 m), though many people still believe it to be closer than that."