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T-Mobile Park f/k/a Safeco Field: Home of the Seattle Mariners
Location: Seattle, WA
Opened: 1999
Unique features: retractable roof
Mascot: Mariner Moose
Visiting the Mariners was truly the first "away" game of my stadium tour. While it was easy to visit places like Philly, Boston, Baltimore and DC, the actual goal to visit all 30 stadiums became real on this trip in 2007. Fresh off of college, I was job hunting but took the vacation to Seattle to jumpstart this tour.
Angel Stadium of Anaheim: Home of the L.A. Angels
Location: Anaheim, CA
Opened: 1966
Mascot: Rally Monkey
When I visited Angel Stadium, it was a two city trip, to LA and San Diego. Angel Stadium is literally several hundred steps away from the Amtrak stop so staying at a hotel nearby, I was actually also very close to Disneyland, which I did not step foot in. I remember the Angels winning the WS in 2002 and thinking it was cool to have a "rally monkey."
Dodgers Stadium: Home of the Los Angeles Dodgers
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Opened: 1962
Unique features: Think Blue
Mascot: n/a
When I went in 2010, I bought a ticket for which you were not allowed to leave that section to walk around the ballpark. This is the worst feature of the ballpark in all of MLB. This is one of several stadiums for which I'd like to return back to, in order to walk around to feel the vibes of the stadium.
Oakland-Almeda County Coliseum: Home of the Oakland Athletics
Location: Oakland, CA
Opened: 1966
Unique features: Former home of the Oakland Raiders (shared)
Mascot: Stomper
This stadium is also home of the Oakland Raiders. This was perhaps the cheapest MLB tickets one can buy for field level seats, 5 rows behind the 3rd base line! The view here is the outfield.
Yes, these were field level seats for dirt cheap! Bought myself some popcorn in that big helmet...
Stomper
They're so close...
Oracle Park f/k/a AT&T Park: Home of the San Francisco Giants
Location: San Francisco, CA
Opened: 2000
Unique features: home run balls may fall into the bay to be caught by boaters!
Mascot: Lou Seal
The ballpark was very nice and it's pretty cool that they have boaters waiting at the bay to fetch some home run balls!
San Francisco is cold in the summer when I went, hence, I wore long sleeves! Plus, the stadium is nearby the water. It was Tim Lincecum bobblehead giveaway day!
Chase Field: Home of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Opened: 1998
Unique features: There is a swimming pool in the outfield.
Mascot: Baxter the Bobcat
It's very HOT in Arizona during the summer. DRY HEAT over 100 degree weather and no one goes outside. Luckily you're under a retractable roof and get all the AC you can in here.
The Pool
PETCO Park: Home of the San Diego Padres
Location: San Diego, CA
Opened: 2004
Unique features: I was told that it rarely rains here.
Mascot: Swinging Friar
So I was told that it barely RAINS in San Diego and it's rare to have a rain delay game, however, when I went... there was a slight rain delay as seen here. Also, of note, if you take each first letter of this brick, it spells out BOYCOTT PETCO
When I visited San Diego, I bought a Go Card and one of the offers is a stadium tour before a game (given that you buy a separate game ticket) and as I walked up to the tour window, the lady said that I was the only one signed up for the tour! So I had a personal tour guide, Tim, who showed me around the stadium and answered all my questions! It was a unique experience.
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