Baseball's Most Historic Ballparks
For much of the past century, baseball was played in some of the most beautiful and historic structures seen in the United States. Unfortunately, many of those stadiums no longer exist, making the ones still standing even more precious.
Whether it's because of quirky features, famous moments or a combination of both, these stadiums have been among the most historic to ever grace the game. Take a look here!
The Corner: Tiger Stadium
From 1912 to 1999, the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenue hosted baseball in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood. The Tigers weren't always great, but the stadium saw several historic moments, including the end of Lou Gehrig's consecutive game streak and Babe Ruth's 575 foot home run, the longest in MLB history. The Tigers moved to downtown Detroit in 2000, and the site now hosts youth sports in Detroit.
Day Baseball: Wrigley Field
Wrigley still stands to this day, and the Cubs have played there since 1914. The Cubs' general inconsistency meant Wrigley hasn't seen as many historic moments as other parks of its era, but it hosted Babe Ruth's called shot in 1932 and the infamous Steve Bartman ball in 2003.
But Wrigley's atmosphere really makes it shine. It didn't add lights until 1988 and still hosts more day baseball games than any other park. It also hosts Chicago's loyal Cub fan base, making its bleachers a unique place to watch a game.
The House That Ruth Built: Yankee Stadium
There's a reason the Yankees essentially cloned Yankee Stadium when they replaced it in 2009: the memories at the original ballpark could fill a library. From Mickey Mantle to Derek Jeter, some of the game's greatest names played their home games here. Monument Park paid tribute to the Yankees' greatest players, and fans can see it at the current stadium. One of its most iconic features was its white facade, and like many other features, it exists at the Yankees' current ballpark.
The Oldest Standing Park: Fenway Park
Fenway has hosted Red Sox baseball since 1912 without interruption, and fans across the world know of its Green Monster in left field and Pesky's Pole in right. From Ted Williams' hitting prowess to Pedro Martinez developing into an elite pitcher, Fenway Park played host to some incredible talent in an intimate setting. In 2013, the Red Sox even clinched a World Series there.
Neighborhood Baseball: Ebbets Field
Like Fenway, Ebbets Field sat in a compact neighborhood. Unlike Fenway, it no longer stands because the Brooklyn Dodgers wanted larger crowds in the 1950s. While it existed, Ebbets Field hosted World Series games as well as Jackie Robinson breaking the color line, all while giving the neighborhood of Brooklyn a real identity. Today, the Mets, who never played there, honor Ebbets Field by replicating its rotunda as the exterior of Citi Field.