Eight Picturesque Major League Baseball Ballparks to Get You Ready for the New Season

Baseball, America’s National Pastime, is back. Part of the sport’s longstanding charm is buying a ticket and going to the ballpark. The sights. The sounds. The smells. Spending an afternoon in the sun, soaking it all up is one of life’s great pleasures.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at eight wonderfully unique stadiums across America before the 2015 season starts. Sorry Cubs fans, but under construction Wrigley Field doesn’t make the cut — send your complaints to Sam Ricketts. New Yankee Stadium, with its cavernous, shopping mall aesthetic is nowhere to be found, either.

Bear in mind since Camden Yards kicked off the retro ballpark craze in 1992, 20 different teams have opened up new facilities, meaning the majority of teams play in unique, fan-friendly parks in 2015.

AT&T Park, San Francisco Giants

“When the lights, go down, on the city … and the sun shines on the bay” … Sure it’s a super-cheesy power ballad by Journey, but it fits in with the aesthetic of AT&T Park with McCovey Cove sitting behind the right field wall.

Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodger Dogs. Dodger Blue. What more could you want? Although it’s the third-oldest park in operation, opened in 1962, Chavez Ravine remains one of the best places to watch a game in the country.

Coors Field, Colorado Rockies

Located in downtown Denver, Coors is a great place to watch a game … unfortunately the Rockies haven’t given the home fans much reason to turn out in recent seasons.

Petco Park, San Diego Padres

The West Coast pitcher’s paradise certainly took unique outfield configurations and backdrops to its logical conclusion, with the Western Metal Supply Co. turned into premium seating.

PNC Park, Pittsburgh Pirates

Absolute perfection. Pittsburgh upgrading from Three Rivers Stadium to PNC Park is akin to schlepping around in Jimmy McGill’s Suzuki Esteem and trading it in for chauffeured Rolls Royce.

Kaufman Stadium, Kansas City Royals

One word: Fountains. Two words: Nacho Helmet.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore gem on the Inner Harbor remains near the gold standard of parks and receives bonus points for obliterating the old ashtray, cookie-cutter design of parks in favor of what people thought baseball in the 1920s might look like, i.e. lots of exposed brick and steel

Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox

Whether or not you like “Sweet Caroline” and “Dirty Water,” this is still the same field that Babe Ruth played on over a century ago. Boston ownership’s done a good deed keeping the old charms while adding modern amenities (and revenue streams).

Just missed the cut: Busch Stadium, Citi Field, Citizen’s Bank Park.

(Sorry for using a picture of ketchup-covered hot dogs on the top.)