Missed Out

As I have grown older, I realized that I was missing out on something special. From 1991 to now there have been alot of new stadiums built in baseball, which means lots of opportunity to go see new ones, but also means some that will be considered classics one day have been missed. Some of the ones replaced were in need of it, and were very basic, cookie cutter stadiums. Others, while old and outdated, were classics already. I will not let the new wave of stadiums pass me by this time. I am dedicated to seeing them all.

While some of these classics are before my time, I sit and wonder what it would have been like to see a game at some of these classic domains. I love the look of some of the classics and am learning more about them daily.


Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Cookie Cutters

I have used this term in conversation, and some have looked at me like I was crazy. Fact is, it's been used for a long time, and it means: Stadiums that are basically shaped round and are usually multi sport stadiums. They look alot alike and thats why they are called cookie cutters. These are being lumped together because for the most part, they replaced some of the most classic stadiums of all time, and these "cookie cutters" while nice parks, IMO were not "classic" ballparks.
While these were all multi use stadiums, my perspective is from baseball. Here are some examples.

Veterans Stadium
Also known as "The Vet", this was shared with the Eagles. The Phillies played there from 1971 through 2003. It was built to replace Connie Mack Stadium. The Phillies played in 2 World Series while in the stadium, while winning 1 of them. There were 2 no-hitters thrown in the stadium.


Three Rivers Stadium
This stadium was shared with the Steelers. The Pirates played here from 1970 through 2000. It was built to replace Forbes Field. The first night game in World Series history was played here in 1971. In a non baseball bit of history, the next year, one of the all time great NFL plays happened there, The Immaculate Reception. The Pirates went to 2 World Series while playing there: 1971 and 1979, winning both.


Riverfront Stadium
Later called Cinergy Field, this stadium was shared with the Bengals. The Reds played here from 1970 through 2002. It was built to replace Crosley Field. The Reds won 3 World Series while there. It was the home of the Big Red Machine in the 70's.


Busch Stadium II
This stadium was shared with the Cardinals(NFL) until 87 and with the Rams for 1 year in 1995. The Cardinals(MLB) played here from 1966 through 2005. It was built to replace Busch Stadium I(Sportsman Park). It hosted World Series games in six different seasons: 1967, 1968, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 2004. Winning 1 in 1982.


Atlanta Fulton County Stadium
This stadium was shared with the Falcons until 1991. The Braves played here from 1966 through 1996. It was built to accomodate the move of the Braves from Milwaukee. On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron became baseball's all-time career home run leader by hitting his 715th home run. The Braves went to 4 World Series while there: 1991, 1992,1995 and 1996. Winning 1 in 1995.


Shea Stadium
This stadium, which isn't exactly a cookie cutter, but is round and was multi use, was shared with the Jets until 1984. The Mets played there from 1964 through 2008. I had visited Shea when I lived in NY. In 1975, Shea was the center of the New York's sports universe. The Mets, Yankees, Jets and Giants all called Shea home that season, marking the first and only time in professional sports history that two baseball teams and two football teams shared the same facility in the same year. As Yankee Stadium was being renovated and Giants Stadium was nearing completion. The Mets went to 4 World Series while there: 1969, 1973, 1986, and 2000. Winning 2 in 1969 and 1986.


There are more out there, but these are the main ones used by MLB teams for those years, that are now gone. Others still being used are RFK (nationals used for a few years while their stadium was being built, and was used by the Senators in 60's), Qualcomm (the Murph, Padres used for years) and the Oakland Coliseum (A's) that could fall into this category as well.

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