The 25 most unique features in MLB ballparks

Standing just under 38 feet tall, there may not be a more iconic stadium feature across all of sports than the left field wall at Fenway Park. The balls that find themselves going over this imposing barrier are as majestic as they come. Watching a game atop the Green Monster adds a perspective that a fan simply can’t get anywhere else.

The ricochets that result from Chicago’s legendary ivy-dressed brick wall are something no other padded wall could create. There’s no other outfield wall that comes close to being as memorable as the one at Wrigley Field. Fun fact: any ball that gets lost in the ivy results in an automatic ground-rule double, too.

Having a unique way of celebrating a home run is nothing new for stadiums across MLB. Having an 800-foot track that sees a train loaded with giant oranges — hence, the Minute Maid sponsorship — is something, though, that only Houston can speak to. The replica train clocks in at 56,000 pounds.

The fountains that adorn the Royals’ center field wall are the largest privately funded fountain system in the world. This pays respect to Kansas City’s nickname, “The City of Fountains.” The fountains are synced up to music and lights throughout the game.

It’s easy to look at the Angels’ outfield and think, “Wow, that kind of looks like Splash Mountain at Disneyland?” Well, that’s not totally wrong considering it was created in 1998 when Disney owned the team. Makes a lot of sense, right?

The catwalks at Tropicana Field may not be the most visually appealing thing in baseball, but they sure add a level of uncertainty to any game that’s played there. Over the years, the occasional ball finds itself striking the roof, and plenty more get lost in sight up there, resulting in a not-so-fun visual for prospective outfields attempting to locate fly balls.

Anyone who attends a game at Camden Yards can’t help but take a second to soak in the massive sight that is the B&O Railroad Warehouse in right field. Designers didn’t want to destruct the historic building, instead opting to build the stadium around the once-functioning railroad freight operations structure.

While not located inside the stadium, The Battery is unique in that it’s a year-round experience loaded with restaurants, shops, venues, and even apartments. It’s a clever way of generating revenue throughout the calendar year.

A haven for left-handed hitters, the ”short porch” in the Bronx is just 314 feet away from home plate. The wall itself is also small, standing just under nine feet tall. Even when the new stadium opened in 2009, the dimensions were kept the same as the original to pay respect to the legacy. 

The birthplace of America, which houses the Liberty Bell itself, not too far away from the stadium, celebrates all of the Phillies’ dingers by lighting up the 35-feet-wide structure in right-center field. The bell, which sits 50 feet off the ground, also swings.

These aren’t just regular smokestacks. These 64-foot pipes can shoot off fireworks, smoke, and even flames to highlight home runs and wins by the local team. These distinctions were created to pay tribute to the city’s history with steamboats, with its location along the Ohio River.

It made a ton of sense when the current version of Busch Stadium was opened in the mid-2000s that it would utilize the iconic Gateway Arch. The view of the city’s icon is as breathtaking as any.

Where else would it make more sense to have a giant apple rise to commemorate a home run than in the Big Apple itself? The unique icon has stretched across multiple fields, first popping up at Shea Stadium in the 80s and carrying over to Citi Field in 2009. 

Not only is the bridge fittingly painted yellow, along with others along the Allegheny River, but what makes this particular suspension bridge so essential to Pirates baseball is that it’s closed off on game days for fans to walk across. It was built in 1928 and later named to honor the organization’s all-time great in 1998.

Dodger Stadium and Chavez Ravine go hand-in-hand in that the stadium is actually built in the hilly site, which is why the moniker is so often mentioned during broadcasts. Being that it’s built on the hill, fans actually are able to enter the game at two different levels, something that no other ballpark has to offer. 

Not only is the massive Coca-Cola bottle a landmark at Giants games, it also houses slides for children who attend the game. Along with the 26-foot-tall mitt, the two pair together for a truly one-of-a-kind perspective for attendees. 

The Western Metal Supply Co. building is synonymous with Padres baseball. Not only is it tantalizing in sight, it also serves as a foul pole and even houses fans with various suites and bars. 

Arizona is hot. So designers felt that having a pool not only gave some lucky fans a truly unique way to take in a game, but also served as a clever nod to how many locals beat the heat. 

Those pinwheels may look like candy, but those things are combustible. Whenever the White Sox win or homer, they launch fireworks. 

There’s only a few teams that could get away with having a Hall of Fame of its own that honors its organization’s legends. The Yankees, of course, are one of them. The area was born in the 1930s and continues to add more greats when warranted. 

North of the border, the CN Tower is known across the world as being one of the tallest buildings. It now serves as a backdrop for all Blue Jays’ games, and when it’s lit up for the team’s night games, it creates one of the best visuals in all of sports.

Baseball and beer go hand-in-hand. Cleveland knew this, so it decided to add a two-story bar in right field that serves as a place for fans to take in the game while crushing a cold one from the local beer scene.

Former Red Sox Johnny Pesky, who notoriously pelted home runs just inside the right-field pole, is the namesake for this baseball imagery. At just 302 feet from home plate, it’s actually the closest foul pole in all of baseball.

Any team that plays in Seattle has to be prepared for rain, so it’s no wonder the ballpark has some sort of roof. This retractable roof almost resembles an umbrella, which is also a fun nod to the city’s relationship with precipitation. It actually rains about 150 days out of the year, if you weren’t aware.    

There’s just something about watching a mascot go down a large slide every time the home team hits one over the wall that brings a smile to everybody’s face. This vast structure makes for one of the more unique batter’s eyes in all of baseball.