Best and worst MLB stadiums

The original of the new stadiums (almost literally), Camden Yards is one of the most amazing examples of architecture in the sports world. Consider this. The stadium was actually built around that warehouse in right field. It's not a creation of said stadium. This is stunning to think about. More than that, Eutaw Street in between the warehouse and the stadium gives game day a real community feel. Full of bars, restaurants and shops, this street is closed to vehicular traffic and gives a view of the game itself. 

Opened in 1966, Oakland Coliseum is the only dual-sport stadium remaining in North America. Located off I-880, the location also leaves a lot to be desired. More than this, the elimination of Mount Davis above the bleachers years back gave the stadium the feeling that you were in an airport hanger. That's apropos considering the stadium is located near Oakland International Airport. When the home team's clubhouse has sewage leaks consistently, you know something is wrong. Such a bad venue for a sporting event. 

Going from legitimately one of the worst stadiums in modern creation (Candlestick Park) to this gem was an absolute coup for the San Francisco Giants. The bay view you get from anywhere in the stadium outside of the bleachers is absolutely remarkable. The Coca-Cola bottle along the left field as well as McCovey Cove behind the right field wall are already two iconic figures in this stadium. More than any of this, the location of AT&T Park gives visitors a tremendous understanding of just how great the bay-view area of San Francisco itself can be. 

Legitimately one of the worst environments to attend a professional sporting event in North America, Tropicana was actually built nearly a decade before the Tampa Bay Rays came into existence. The only permanent dome used in Major League Baseball, echoes can be heard during games, primarily due to the lack of a crowd. Oh, and the catwalk above the diamond leads to multiple ground rules limited to this stadium only. Just ugly! 

That feeling you get entering the hallowed grounds of a venue that represents history is a stunning realization that things, big things, once happened there. Wrigley Field can't be compared to modern stadiums, so we won't even try. It's a mixture of the Polo Grounds and Seal Stadium. It brings us back to our youth and, yes, the cornfields of Iowa. If this sounds a bit corny, that's fine. Until you witness the awesomeness that comes with Wrigley, you won't understand. It's that simple.

Better known as Arlington Stadium, there are many issues with a venue that was once the crown jewel in the American League West. First off, summer days in Texas are just too hot. Secondly, the stadium itself is simply too big. The dimensions from the first-base line to the upper deck makes it feel like you're watching an opera from the upper deck of a European soccer stadium. 

The view of downtown Pittsburgh is absolutely stunning from the stands. Roberto Clemente Bridge, used to carry fans back and forth from the stadium, was also a great addition to the venue. Inside the ballpark, the two-section only seating structure gives this stadium an authentic feel — a reminder of the good old days of baseball. It really is the perfect venue for a baseball game. 

Think about this for a second. Turner Field, the home of the Atlanta Braves since 1997, will be replaced in time for the 2017 season. How in the world can a modern stadium stand as a home of a Major League Baseball team for just two decades? That's absurd. Even more absurd, the stadium was originally built for the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, which makes it feel like you're not necessarily attending a baseball game. 

This is a personal favorite that most wouldn't have among the top five stadiums in baseball. I just love the feeling you get going to Dodger Stadium and seeing the magnificent San Gabriel Mountains beyond the outfield. My first experience here was a game back in June 2013. As a former resident of Los Angeles, I still kick myself for not attending a game when I lived there. Don't make the mistake of taking it for granted because it's showing its age, having been built in 1962. In reality, it's like the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The less change the better. 

Much like everything else the Miami Marlins do, this was a complete and utter disaster. It feels more like a fake stadium in the middle of Disney World. There's also that ugly figure standing beyond center field that makes you wonder whether you are taking part in a failed art exhibit. Considering this travesty opened in 2012, we're likely going to have to see a baseball team actually playing in it for many more years. Thanks, Marlins Man. 

As much as the Kingdome sometimes felt like you were alone in a huge empty parking lot, it was a decent place to watch baseball. But what the Mariners and Seattle did to get this beauty built ... well, it's a modern marvel. A retractable roof that doesn't completely close keeps you in tune with nature and the vibrant feeling of downtown Seattle, one of the best cities in the world. Overhanging bleachers, the clouds in the backdrop, the intimate feeling. These are all genuine to Safeco Field. 

Sorry, I had to do it. The idea of building a replica stadium of the House that Ruth Built right across from the old stadium is bad enough. Making it bigger, more lavish and giving it the feel of attending a meeting of high-level executives … well, that's complete crap. You don't feel anything entering the stadium. And once inside, the pageantry of baseball gives way to expensive seats, lavish snacks and an aura of elitism. For once, the Yankees failed big time here. Unfortunately, it's impacted real baseball fans the world over.