Which are the top 10 best MLB stadiums in the world at the moment?

Which are the top 10 best MLB stadiums in the world at the moment?

Claudia Kogi
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:27 PM

Finally, one for the baseball fans! Just at the thought of it, ranking some of the best MLB stadiums of all time is no mean task. However, the real deal is when you rank those stadiums that are no longer standing but still significant to the sport's history.

Ranking the worst to best MLB stadiums
Which are the top 10 best MLB stadiums in the world at the moment? Photo: Jonathan Daniel, Patrick McDermott (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

And while the oldest park is Boston's Fenway which dates back to 1912, the newest one as of 2023 is SunTrust Park in Atlanta, launched in early 2017. Regardless of the sport they cherish, every diehard fan often wants to be in incredible stadiums watching their favourite athletes in action.

Ranking the best baseball stadiums of all time

While this might seem like ranking the worst to best MLB stadiums in the world, it is not the case. Far from that, these stadiums are amazingly historical, with some having met their last wrecking ball more than 50 years ago.

After in-depth research, SportsBrief has picked some of the best MLB stadiums as of 2023. Have a peek into this article and find more information, including details about each stadium's history.

10. Tiger Stadium

  • Year opened: 1912
  • Year demolished: 2009
  • Capacity: 52,416
  • Pronounced features: An in-play flagpole, right field bleachers overhanging field
Ranking the worst to best MLB stadiums
A general view from behind the pitcher's mound of Tiger Stadium during partial demolition performed by a joint venture on 8 July 2008 in Detroit, Michigan. Photo: Mark Cunningham
Source: Getty Images

The Tigers played in the stadium for almost 90 years bearing three different names and began playing at the corner of Trumbull and Michigan Avenues as far back as 1895. The park, later named Tiger stadium, was opened as Navin Field in 1912.

In 1938, it was renamed Briggs Stadium and maintained the name for two decades before finally being christened Tiger Stadium in 1960. One thing that always got the Tigers winning was its tiny dimensions, resulting in many high-scoring games.

9. Polo Grounds

  • Year launched: 1890 and later Renovated in 1911
  • Year demolished: 1964
  • Capacity:55,000
  • Defining features: A 483-feet distinct bathtub-shaped in-play clubhouse
Best MLB stadiums for home runs
The Polo Grounds as seen from center field is the subject of this color postcard from 1940. Photo: Mark Rucker
Source: Getty Images

Located on the Coogan's Bluff in Upper Manhattan, the Polo Grounds stadium was one of the most uniquely shaped ballparks ever to exist. The centre field was 483 feet away, but the right field was only 258 feet.

The park combined one of the most profound dimensions in the sport's history, having a unique oval shape, almost like a bathtub appearance, especially in an aerial viewing point.

However, the Polo Grounds did not age gracefully, as, by the time the Giants fled town for San Francisco back in 1957, the stadium was already obsolete and dysfunctional.

8. Petco Park

  • Year opened: 2004
  • Capacity: 40,209
  • Pronounced features: The Western Metal Building, Park at the Park, unique sandstone and stucco construction
Best MLB stadiums as of 2023
A general overview of Petco Park as the San Francisco Giants takes on the San Diego Padres on 11 April 2004 in San Diego, California. Photo: Donald Miralle
Source: Getty Images

Just because the park is located in America's Finest City, whatever the Padres came up with for their new stadium design would have been among the top 3 best in the sport's history. Despite the 80 degrees temperature and sea breezes during summer seasons, Petco Park remains an absolute home run of all fronts.

The new design mirrors many of the retro parks around the league such that, instead of the league's typical and standard green seats and brick, Petro Park got constructed out of sandstone bricks and stucco as a way to pay tribute to the scenery surrounding San Diego.

7. PNC Park

  • Year opened: 2001
  • Capacity: 38,362
  • Notable features: Spectacular views of the Roberto Clemente bridge and downtown Pittsburgh, river walk, statues of iconic players
Best MLB stadiums as of 2023
A general view of PNC Park with the city skyline in the background during the Pittsburgh Pirates game against the Milwaukee Brewers on 23 May 2004 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Photo: Tom Szczerbowski
Source: Getty Images

If there was one thing Pittsburgh deserved after dealing with Three Rivers Stadium for way too long, it sure was PNC Park. The Pirates decided on a more significant design that favoured them and one that complimented Pittsburgh's strengths.

Another smart move the Pirates made regarding the stadium was to keep and maintain a low seating capacity. That way, they could create an even more significant setting without worn-out or damaged seats.

6. Ebbets Field

  • Year opened: 1913
  • Year demolished: 1960
  • Capacity: 35,000
  • Defining features: Home plate entrance, baseball's first full-time organist, brick, and arch facade, blue seats
Best MLB stadiums to visit
Overall view of Ebbets Field in 1957 in Brooklyn, New York. Photo: Herb Scharfman
Source: Getty Images

It is difficult not to feel as though baseball fans were robbed of an all-time great gem following the demise of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Constructed around the same time as Fenway Park, Ebbets could have aged into an iconic ballpark.

However, Walter O'Malley wanted a more prominent and better stadium, and within no time, he moved the squad to Los Angeles. Even though it was demolished in 1960, its most outstanding feature was the 80-foot dome surrounding the home plate.

5. Oriole Park at Camden Yards

  • Year opened: 1992
  • Capacity: 45,971
  • Defining features: The B&O Warehouse, Eutaw Street, skyline views
Best baseball stadiums of all time
Interior view of Oriole Park after the baseball game is postponed due to rain between the Baltimore Orioles and the Kansas City Royals on 7 May 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. Photo: Mitchell Layton
Source: Getty Images

From where the park has come from, it is utterly not easy to believe that Oriole Park will be celebrating its 31st anniversary this 2023. Its construction ushered in a new era of ballpark design, dropping the cookie-cutter multi-purpose bowls that dominated, especially in the 1970s and 1980s.

If there was one thing that immensely helped revitalize the Inner Harbour in Baltimore to become one of the city's most significant drivers of the economy, it was the downtown location of Camdem Yards.

4. AT&T Park

  • Year opened: 2000
  • Capacity: 41,915
  • Defining features: McCovey Cove and the kayakers, spectacular sightlines, giant Coke bottle, and glove in left
Best MLB stadiums for home runs
A general view of Oracle Park prior to the game between the Miami Marlins and the San Francisco Giants on 8 April 2022 in San Francisco, California. Photo: Lachlan Cunningham
Source: Getty Images

Fun fact! Drop everything spectacular about Camden Yards right next to San Francisco Bay. Well, AT&T Park has a pretty similar appearance to the Baltimore Orioles, but it is in a more beautiful setting.

To date, the park works as a nice reward to Giants fans who have ultimately endured over 40 years of adverse weather conditions often experienced at Candlestick Park. However, even though their new design aimed at reducing the wind currents that swirl around the park, there is less they could and can do to avoid April's adverse weather conditions in San Francisco.

3. Fenway Park

  • Year opened: 1912
  • Capacity: 37,731
  • Pronounced features: The Green Monster, the Pesky Pole, The Triangle, and the Citgo sign
Best baseball stadiums of all time
A general view of build-out ahead of the 2023 Winter Classic game between Pittsburgh and the Boston Bruins at Fenway Park on 31 December 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. Photo: Patrick McDermott
Source: Getty Images

If this were a list ranking the oldest baseball stadiums in the world, then Fenway Park would definitely come first. Apparently, it is the oldest yet active ballpark left in the major leagues. The stadium holds so much significance that it is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Furthermore, it is in the process of being named the Boston Landmark. With this historical status, various types of changes will ultimately have to be implemented in the near future. Although, at one point, there was a plan to replace Fenway with a modernized replica, it failed.

2. Old Yankee Stadium

  • Year opened: 1923
  • Year demolished: 2010
  • Capacity: 56,953
  • Pronounced features: Monument Park, striking white facade, three-tiered bowl
Best MLB stadiums for home runs
New York Yankees pitches against the Cleveland Indians during opening day at the new Yankee Stadium on 16 April 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. Photo: Michael Heiman
Source: Getty Images

The Original Yankee Stadium was the first ballpark ever to be referred to as a stadium. Having been launched in 1923, it was the first three-tiered seating bowl ever to be constructed. Aside from its initial purpose, baseball, the park is also known for hosting track and field events, boxing matches, and football games.

The Yankees were the pioneers of most things different stadiums have adopted along the way. For instance, they were the first team to install an electronic scoreboard in the outfield. It is among the best baseball stadiums in America.

1. Wrigley Field

  • Year opened: 1914
  • Capacity: 41,268
  • Defining features: The Ivy, rooftop bleachers, day games in the summer, flying the W
Best MLB stadiums to visit
Wrigley Field is shown during game one of a double header between the Chicago Cubs and Florida Marlins on 10 September 2004 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Photo: Jonathan Daniel
Source: Getty Images

And now one of the best MLB stadiums for home runs in history has to be Wrigley Field. Allegedly, it is one stadium that has it all: the rich history, homely neighbourhood feel, and of course, the uniquely designed ballpark features.

Extensive efforts have been made to modernize the 100-year-old stadium, which looks better than never. Among its most defined features is the Ivy, added in 1937 to beautify the park. To date, it is still regarded among the best MLB stadiums to visit.

If you have been wondering what the best baseball stadiums of all time were as of 2023, you can now rest assured that Boston's Fenway is not the only outstanding park for baseball. Rather, there are numerous of them.

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Authors
Claudia Kogi photo
Claudia Kogi
Claudia Kogi is a Kenyan content creator with over 3 years of experience. Claudia joined Sportsbrief.com as a writer in January 2022, covering sports and relatable content.
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