10 Iconic Baseball Stadiums Worth a Roadtrip to See

There's nothing quite like a trip to the ballpark: the uniform-clad crowds, the salty peanuts, the 7th-inning stretch—and the all-important game, of course. Yet as much as die-hard fans care about the home team's record, they can be almost as passionate about their stadium. Today, although only two Major League Baseball stadiums remain from the early days of the game, a number of newer ballparks have resurrected the classic pavilion style of their venerable forebears. This pairing of old and new, along with stand-out structures from bygone eras, makes for a robust list of iconic stadium architecture. So, grab a beer and a hot dog, and take a seat to enjoy the best of baseball stadium architecture.

By Sara Carpenter | Updated Aug 18, 2015 01:33 PM

Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs

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Wrigley Field

Opened in 1914, Wrigley Field is the classic example of a simple pavilion style—which makes finding the bathroom and getting back to your seat between innings an easy feat. The stadium fits in seamlessly with the surrounding neighborhood, and even if baseball isn't really your thing, you'll appreciate the views of Lake Michigan, the ivy-covered outfield wall, and the retro manual scoreboard.

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Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox

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Fenway Park

Fenway Park opened in 1912, making it the oldest ballpark still standing today. The need to squeeze the stadium into a small plot of land required a few interesting architectural sacrifices that make the space what it is today. Among the quirks are "The Triangle" and the Green Monster, sections of the outfield walls so unusual they sport their own nicknames.

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Yankee Stadium, home of the New York Yankees

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Yankee Stadium

The new Yankee Stadium is the priciest stadium built to date. Old-style pillars and arches and a limestone-and-granite exterior replicate the appearance of the original park at its opening in 1923, while the ceiling of the roof incorporates a replica of the trademark frieze present in the old stadium until its 1974 renovations.

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Oriole Park at Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles

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Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Camden Yards kicked off the new—and popular—trend of throwback-style stadiums when the park opened in 1992. The retro brick architecture incorporates the adjacent B&O Warehouse building and boasts tiered bullpens as well as a view of the Baltimore skyline.

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AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants

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Giants' AT&T Park

Situated right on the bay, AT&T Park offers a stellar view. Retro-revival architecture and bayside scenery aren't the only attractions of this stadium, which opened in 2000. Fans are also treated to a large Coca-Cola bottle sculpture that lights up and blows bubbles after every Giants' run and, right next to it, a giant baseball glove sculpture. 

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Dodger Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers

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Dodgers Stadium

One of the few stadiums completed during the 1960s on our list, Dodger Stadium's architecture is modern in its simplicity. The style helps keep all eyes on the game, though we don't blame you if you're momentarily distracted by views of palm trees and the San Gabriel Mountains.

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Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals

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Kauffman Stadium

Kauffman Stadium, one of the few 1970s-era parks built solely for baseball, was recently renovated to provide the amenities today's fans expect, making it the best of both worlds. Though it was built during the cookie-cutter era of stadium architecture, special touches like the fountain and waterfall display outside right field, and a pseudo-crown atop the video scoreboard make it stand out from the pack.

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Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals

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Busch Stadium

Opened in 2006, Busch Stadium offers retro-classic style with a panoramic skyline view of St. Louis and the Gateway Arch. The park's handsome brick exterior incorporates an arched entryway at Gate 3 that replicates nearby Eads Bridge—and makes for an awe-inspiring start to a day at the ballpark.

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Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners

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Safeco Field

Rain delay? Not at Safeco Field. The Seattle Mariners stadium features a retractable roof to protect games from the elements—a necessity in this rainy city. Despite its thoroughly modern retractable roof technology, the stadium is constructed in the popular retro-modern style, giving it an old-school sensibility.

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PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates

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PNC Park

With views of the Allegheny River and city skyline, and seats no higher than 88 feet from the field, you'll be both charmed and totally immersed at a Pirates game. The stadium's style nods to classic ballparks like Fenway and Wrigley, and rabid fans will appreciate the scoreboard that provides detailed info on the progress of all other MLB matchups under way during the game.

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