As the vacation season nears, thoughts of what to do and where to go come with it.
For a baseball fan, a variety of nearby ballparks might help scratch the itch.
There are seven cities with Major League Baseball teams within comfortable or reasonable driving distance of, say, Huntington Park, the highly regarded home of the Columbus Clippers. It opened in 2009 and mirrors the pleasant amenities that have been built into baseball parks in recent years, beginning in 1992 with the opening of “retro classic” Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.
The Baltimore stadium caters to fans with a garden park in center field, close-to-the field seating, places to stand behind left and right fields, and a view of the city’s skyline from a facility that has architectural features to blend with the surrounding neighborhood.
U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, opened in 1991 with several retro classic features designed for fan appeal (especially since the team has continuing on-field struggles). It seats 40,615 with an outfield party porch, a two-tier upscale restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, and an area for kids 13 and under featuring clinics, batting cages, base running and practice pitching facilities. “The Cell,” as some fans call it, was updated in 2001 and 2005 to be more fan-friendly.
Chicago’s more widely known for the long-embattled Cubs, whose aging Wrigley Field home is affectionately called a jewel box where an organist provides the only musical fare. With ivy-covered brick outfield walls, the 1914 vintage park has roof pillars that can block sight lines. Its manually-operated scoreboard remains – for now. There’s seating for 41,160 and capacity crowds are not rare in a park where night games were never played until recent years. Now 40 games a year are. Within five years, the park is to undergo a $500 million overhaul that will change everything about it except the ball field.
From there, drive about 90 miles north to “retro modern” Miller Park in Milwaukee, home of the Brewers. It opened in 2001 and seats 41,900. Other entertainment – besides traditional organ music – includes a sausage race between a costumed hot dog, bratwurst, Italian, Polish and chorizo.
Another trip from Chicago could be Busch Stadium, a 2006 “retro classic” that seats 43,975 in St. Louis. The Cardinals fan base is recognized as the most knowledgeable – and, thus, least raucous – in the sport. At 418 miles, it’s a bit closer to home than Milwaukee, and it represents a strong history of the game, with a Stan Musial plaza and sidewalk bricks memorializing the best Cardinals moments.
If starting a northern swing from Columbus, perhaps visit “retro classic” Comerica Park in Detroit, home of the Tigers. The park that opened in 2000 seats 41,782 and has a panoramic downtown skyline view; a carousel for kids to ride tigers, not horses; a Ferris wheel; a center field water feature; and wide concourses with historical baseball displays.
An obvious alternate would be Progressive Field, since 1994 the home of the Cleveland Indians, perennial also-rans with a dwindling fan base. Located on the Lake Erie waterfront – as was its predecessor, Municipal Stadium – the 43,545-seat “retro modern” park features a huge scoreboard installed in 2004, varying height outfield walls, and elevated bullpens so fans can watch pitcher warm-ups. The concourse is lined with concession stands that serve Stadium Mustard for hot dogs and brats. Local favorite Pierre’s Ice Cream is a hit. An oddity is super-fan John Adams, who usually is seated high in the left field stands and who frequently pounds a bass drum to encourage fan support.
The Cincinnati Reds, a perennial favorite of many in the Columbus area, are on the Ohio River bank in the 11-year-old Great American Ball Park, a 42,141-seat facility with center field view toward the river between two replicated steamship smokestacks. Fireworks are launched from the area for occasions such as home runs. Opened in 2003, the “retro modern” facility designed for baseball only – the Reds used to share Riverfront Stadium with the Bengals – combines organ and recorded music throughout games, with each batter being greeted with a favorite song of his choice. Three mascots – Rosie Red, Mr. Red and Gapper – wander different areas of the park, but meet nightly at home plate for a race. Rosie Red is the fan favorite and usually wins.
When Fox Sports ranked the top 10 MLB ballparks, it placed “retro classic” PNC Park – home of Reds arch-rivals the Pittsburgh Pirates – at the top. Opened in 2001, it has 38,362 seats with a panoramic view of the Golden Triangle skyline across the Allegheny River that’s only 443 feet from home plate. Fox Sports called it “the best skyline view in sports” and lauded seats angled toward the field that provide “the best sight lines of any ballpark.” It mentioned “beautiful architecture, an uncommonly intimate feel. … Even the light towers look cool.” Friday nights feature block parties with games, food and live music outside the park. In each game is a between-innings pierogi race.
Duane St. Clair is a contributing editor. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Retro classic: Offering all the luxuries of a modern-day ballpark, but otherwise designed to evoke the style of an old-fashioned one.
Retro modern: Still maintaining some old-fashioned elements, but with more contemporary features than retro classic.
Festivals Far and Near
Consider some of these local and statewide festivals this summer
Across Ohio
International Migratory Bird Day and Family Bird Festival: May 10, Oak Harbor (www.biggestweekinamericanbirding.com)
Rock ‘n’ Green Tomato Festival: June 14, Miamisburg (www.rockngreentomato.com)
Nelsonville Music Festival: May 29-June 1, Nelsonville (www.nelsonvillemusicfest.org)
Ohio Scottish Games: June 26-28, Wellington (www.ohioscottishgames.com)
Harry Stevens Hot Dog Day Festival: June 29, Niles (www.hshdd.com)
The Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon & Skydiving Festival: July 11-13, Middletown (www.ohiochallenge.com)
Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival: July 18-20, Canton (www.profootballhoffestival.com)
Lexington Blueberry Festival: Aug. 14-17, Lexington (www.lexblueberryfest.com)
Cyclops Fest: Sept. 13, Yellow Springs (www.cyclopsfest.com)
Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Festival: Oct. 11-12, Jefferson (www.coveredbridgefestival.org)
Columbus Area
Worthington Plant Fest: May 10, Worthington (www.worthington.org)
Grandview Digfest: June 14 (www.grandviewdigfest.com)
Lancaster Festival: July 16-26, Lancaster (www.lancasterfestival.org)
Mid-Ohio Fiber Fair: Aug. 2-3, Newark (www.midohiofiberfair.com)
Lithopolis Honeyfest: Sept. 5-6, Lithopolis (www.lithopolishoneyfest.com)
