Ah, one of the most exciting plays in all of sports, the home run. It is something every kid dreams of doing in the majors and hitting homers on MLB The Show is the closest most of us get. We recently took a look at the best batting stances and now we are taking a look at the best stadiums hit home runs in.
There are 82 ballparks on MLB: The Show 24; 30 major league stadiums, 28 minor league stadiums, 2 spring training stadiums and 22 classic stadiums. Each park will be scored on a scale of 1 to 10 in five categories: scenery, location, elevation, dimensions, and uniqueness for a maximum of 50 points. Or as I like to call it, the SLEDU system. The parks will then be ranked based on the SLEDU system with the park that gets the most points finishing at the top.
Criteria: The SLEDU system uses scenery, location, elevation, dimensions, and uniqueness. Scenery will focus on the view from the plate and its aesthetic value. Location will be judged on the city the stadium is in and how the stadium’s placement in the city impacts the view. Elevation will be scored with the highest stadium being the best, as at higher elevations there is less air density, which allows the ball to travel further with less resistance. Dimensions will be evaluated based on how big the park is and how far you must hit the ball to clear the wall and hit a home run. Lastly, uniqueness examines the history of the park and all the qualities that make it special.
12. Baseball City
Baseball City is one of two Spring Training stadiums on The Show 24. It is a unique stadium in that multiple teams call it home for Spring Training and evokes emotions in gamers reminding them what it was like to be a kid wanting to play on the diamond.
Scenery: The view from the plate (VFP) includes three American flags flying atop the scoreboard, the view from the plate also features palm trees and a lively forest giving this park an 8 for its scenery.
Location: Located in warm and sunny St. Petersburg, Florida, this is scored a 6.
Elevation: Sitting at 40’ above sea level, you won’t see much of an impact on air resistance, scoring this a 2.
Dimensions: With the center field wall sitting 402’ back and the foul poles sitting at 332’, we scored this an 8.
Uniqueness: Baseball City is one of the two main Spring Training facilities used by MLB and is the home of Spring Training for multiple teams giving this multi-team stadium a 6.
Final thought: With modest dimensions and short foul poles, this park is great for players who hug the pole and want to feel young again.
SLEDU Score: 30
11. Griffith Stadium
This classic stadium once sat in the heart of Washington, DC. It is known as the place where Mickey Mantle hit one of the longest home runs in recorded history, and gamers love to re-create history by hitting long home runs in this historic park.
I am lucky enough to have heard the story of that day hundreds of times by someone who was there back in 1953. My grandfather was at that game, and he always told me it was the longest home run ever to be hit and that the ball bounced off a roof on 5th Avenue and continued to bounce down the street. I don’t know if that story is accurate, and I couldn’t care less if it was. The bottom line is Mantle hit a moonshot in Griffith Stadium and many credit that home run as the origin of the phrase “tape measure home run”.
Scenery: The VFP includes an old neighborhood over the right field wall, a green hill over the left field wall, and a high-flying American flag over the center field wall. It is a modest scene earning a score of 6.
Location: Set in Washington, D.C., the stadium is away from government buildings and has none in sight leaving you to feel like you are in an old neighborhood versus the nation’s capital. That feeling of something missing is why we scored this a 5.
Elevation: Build 314’ above sea level, you get some relief on air density, but not much. Leaving us to score this category a 5.
Dimensions: The stadium has a deep left field foul pole sitting at 405’, a center field wall at 421’, and a right short right field foul pole at 320’. The downside of the short right field foul pole is that shallow right field is protected by a 30-foot wall. The size of the stadium isn’t why it’s so great and it ended up tied for the lowest score in this category with Wrigley Field at 6.
Uniqueness: Mickey Mantle hit one of the longest home runs in recorded history at this stadium. The legend of that singular moment is why this stadium earned a 10 in this category.
Final thought: Mantle hit a moonshot in Griffith Stadium and gives gamers a chance to recreate history and make their own.
SLEDU score: 31
10. Bayfront Park
This minor league stadium is active and a sight to behold. True to the name, Bayfront Park sits right in front of a bay with blue water to the right and an amusement park pier featuring a Ferris wheel and rollercoaster. This is a fun park to play in and gamers love hitting home runs either onto the beach or into the water.
Scenery: Sitting right on the bayfront, the VFP has blue water to the right and an amusement park pier featuring a Ferris wheel and rollercoaster, this park has the aesthetics of a summer day at the beach and gets an 8.
Location: The city for this stadium is unknown so we considered what you would expect to see from a stadium on a “bayfront” and from that we scored it an 8.
Elevation: The bayfront has views from the coast, so we know the elevation factor does not exist. A mere six feet from sea level, Bayfront Park scored the lowest in elevation with a 1.
Dimensions: With short foul poles on both sides of the field sitting at 330’ and a center field at 403’, this park earned an 8.
Uniqueness: The park sits on the bayfront and features an amusement park pier complete with a Ferris wheel and roller coasters. That’s enough right there to be scored a 7.
Final thought: This is a beautiful park that allows gamers to knock home runs out of the park, and into the bay.
SLEDU score: 32
8. Green Valley Stadium (tied)
Green Valley Stadium sits right in the middle of a green valley, how surprising… This is one of those parks that are simplistic and take you back to a simpler time when baseball and hitting homers was all that mattered.
Scenery: Sitting right in the middle of a green valley, the VFP offers grassy hills as far as the eye can see making this park perfect for a weekend getaway of baseball earning a 7 score.
Location: With no city listed as its home, we considered what you would expect to see from a stadium in a green valley and scored it consistent with its scenery score at 7.
Elevation: Green Valley Stadium sits 450’ above sea level and can have a minor impact on the distance of the ball receiving a score of 6 for elevation.
Dimensions: The left field foul pole measures 337’, the center field wall is 398’ and the right field pole sits at 347’. That leaves the right field pole as the only measurement that we would consider ‘long’ giving this friendly park an 8.
Uniqueness: Baseball diamonds are built wherever there is space for them, and this park is an example of that. Built in a valley in the middle of nowhere, this stadium gets a 6 for uniqueness.
Final thought: If you want a park that’s great for hitting homers with a calming atmosphere, this is the park for you.
SLEDU score: 34
8. Oracle Park (tied)
On the San Francisco Bay sits a park with a history of home runs. Behind the right field wall sits McCovey cove and is a place all batters try to put the ball; and since the fans know players want to hit it there, fans paddle the Cove in canoes and hope they are lucky enough to retrieve a home run ball.
Scenery: Featuring a giant Coke bottle laying in palm trees behind left field, yachts in the bay behind right field and a large scoreboard behind center, the VFP is dynamic offering the batter an interesting perspective and earning the score of 7.
Location: In San Francisco right on the bay, this park was built in great place and gets a score of 8.
Elevation: Despite sitting right on the bay, the park sits at an elevation of 65’ and earns a score of 3 for elevation.
Dimensions: The left field foul pole sits at 339’, center field is 391’ and the right field foul pole is a short 309’ making the park batter friendly and receiving an 8.
Uniqueness: With the park sitting on the bay, it is possible to hit home runs out of the park and into the body of water known as McCovey Cove. Named after former Giants 1st baseman and Hall of Famer Willie McCovey, it has become a legend of its own and contributes to this park getting a score of 8.
Final thought: With fans waiting in the water of McCovey Cove for a home run ball to come their way, every home run hit in that direction gets even more exciting.
SLEDU score: 34
7. Fenway Park
Fenway is the oldest MLB stadium still in use and has a long history of baseball as the home of the Red Sox. Every baseball fan knows about the Green Monster, a 37’ tall green wall in left field, that every player wants to hit over. Hitting home runs over the monster provides satisfaction like no other.
Scenery: The VFP can be intimidating with the Green Monster in left field and a long distance to right-center field. While it can be intimidating, the Green Monster can be friendly to batters so we scored this an 8.
Location: Located in Boston, Massachusetts, Fenway is in the western part of the town and has a great view of the Boston skyline due to the stadium facing east giving Fenway a
Elevation: Fenway Park sits at an elevation of 21 feet and gets a 2.
Dimensions: The left field foul pole measures 310’, the center field wall is 420’ and the right field foul pole is at 480’ causing us to give Fenway a score of 7.
Uniqueness: As the oldest stadium still in use, the history just pops out. Combine that with the legend of the Green Monster and Fenway earns a 10 in this category.
Final thought: Like legends of the past have hit it over the Green Monster, playing at Fenway Park allows gamers the chance to join the ranks with those all-time greats.
SLEDU score: 35
6. Polo Grounds
This classic stadium used to sit in Upper Manhattan, New York and was home to multiple sports. As the name suggests, the stadium was originally built for the sport of polo but evolved over the years to host many different sporting events, most importantly, baseball.
Scenery: The VFP offers a crowded stadium with American flags lining the upper deck and a big sign above center field reading, “It’s A Hit!”. The seats in the stadium curve around the field so the batter is sure to know that all eyes are on him making every moment of the game that much more intense. With all of that considered, we scored it a 7.
Location: The Polo Grounds once stood in Upper Manhattan, New York, and the closed stadium does not give much of a view. This one got a little boost because of the history of the stadium and was scored an 8.
Elevation: In Upper Manhattan, only 21’ above sea level, doesn’t have an impact on how far the ball travels and earns a 2.
Dimensions: This unique park has a short left field foul pole at 279’, a deep center field wall at 483’ and a short right field foul pole at 258’ . We scored the dimensions an 8.
Uniqueness: With short foul poles and the longest distance to clear center field on The Show, this stadium provides an increased opportunity to put the ball between outfielders as it rolls past them, while you roll around the bases for an inside-the-park home run. The significant increase in the likelihood of hitting an inside-the-park home run gives this a 10 score in the category of uniqueness.
Final thought: This is the best park to hit inside-the-park home runs.
SLEDU score: 36
5. Chase Field
Home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chase Field has many restaurants, a retractable roof and even has a swimming pool in the outfield. This park is great for hitting home runs and there is an added boost of satisfaction if you can hit it into the water while kids cool off in the pool.
Scenery: The VFP at Chase shows off a restaurant behind left field, a large scoreboard behind center and a catwalk above the scoreboard that players will try, and fail, to hit and comes in with a score of 7.
Location: Chase Field is in Phoenix, Arizona and while the retractable roof limits the view, the view inside the stadium is gorgeous so we scored this a 7.
Elevation: This stadium has an elevation of 1090’ and receives an 8 in this category.
Dimensions: The left field foul pole sits at 330’, the center field wall is 407’ and the right field foul pole stands at 335’ giving the park a score of 8.
Uniqueness: This is the only stadium on the globe with a swimming pool and hot tub. With that said, it is the only stadium where you can hit a home run into a pool earning a uniqueness score of 7.
Final thought: It doesn’t get much better than hitting home runs while kids are having fun, swimming in the pool, and watching you do.
SLEDU score: 37
4. Wrigley Field
The second-oldest stadium still in use by an MLB, Wrigley Field. Famous for its green ivy that covers the wall in the outfield, every baseball fan, and many non-fans, know Wrigley. Due to the possibility of baseballs getting stuck in the ivy, anything that goes into it is a ground-rule double. That’s a letdown nobody wants and why it is even more satisfying when you hit over the ivy-covered walls for a home run.
Scenery: The VFP is green ivy covering the outfield wall from left to right field and a glimpse of Chicago’s skyline behind that. The ivy contributes to the uniqueness and since it takes away the view of a standard wall, it contributed to Wrigley being scored an 8 for scenery.
Location: Located in Chicago, Illinois, Wrigley Field offers views of the city's skyline and gets a score of 8 for location.
Elevation: Standing at 595’ in elevation, it is far from the highest but still high on the list earning it a score of 7.
Dimensions: The left field foul pole stands 355’, the center field wall is 400’ and the right field foul pole measures 353’ giving Wrigley a score of 6 in this category.
Uniqueness: Green ivy covers the outfield wall like nowhere else earning a score of 9.
Final thought: When you hit home runs over the green ivy there is a satisfaction like no other.
SLEDU score: 38
3. Yankee Stadium
“The house that George built”. Built next to the Old Yankee Stadium in 2009 by famous Yankee owner George Steinbrenner, with goals to mimic the Old, Yankee Stadium has quickly become a stadium frequented by home runs. Like the old, Yankee Stadium has a “short porch” in right field. While other stadiums have short distances to the foul pole, most of the short ones have a tall wall protecting it, not Yankee Stadium.
Scenery: The VFP makes the batter feel larger than life. With a packed stadium, skyscrapers in the background, and the famous Monument Park over the center field wall, the history of the franchise lives on giving this a score of 9.
Location: Built next door to Old Yankee Stadium, what once was parking is now the home of modern-day Yankee Stadium. History contributed to this one and helped Yankee Stadium score an 8 in this category.
Elevation: Built 55’ above sea level, Yankee Stadium receives a 3 for elevation.
Dimensions: Built to match the dimensions of Old Yankees Stadium, the left field foul pole measures 318’, the center field wall is 408’ and the right field foul pole stands at a short 314’ earning a score of 9.
Uniqueness: The short porch in right field is a hitter’s dream. Modeled after the Old Yankee Stadium, the new Yankee Stadium is known for the same as the old and scores a 10.
Final thought: Yankee Stadium has a short history at this location and allows gamers to start fresh and go long.
SLEDU score: 39
2. Old Yankee Stadium
“The house that Ruth built”. Metaphorically built by Babe Ruth, who turned the fortunes of the franchise around after he was traded from the Yankees’ rival, the Boston Red Sox, this stadium has hosted the best players of the game over nine decades. Known for its short porch – since the wall in right field is short in distance from the plate and height off the ground – you can join the legendary players who have cleared the wall and put your name in the history books.
Scenery: The VFP offers a packed stadium with a glimpse of buildings in the background and the famous Monument Park over the left-center field wall and a score of 9.
Location: Built in the Bronx in 1923, Old Yankee Stadium was built in the borough of baseball with a legacy that is continued today in Yankee Stadium.
Elevation: Sitting at 55’, Old Yankee Stadium receives a 3 for elevation.
Dimensions: The left field foul pole measures 318’, the center field wall is 408’ and the right field foul pole stands at a short 314’ earning a score of 9.
Uniqueness: The short porch in right field is a hitter’s dream and leaves us to score Old Yankee Stadium a 10.
Final thought: The house that Ruth built will forever be a special place to hit the long ball.
SLEDU score: 40
1. Laughing Mountain Park
High in the mountains and the highest on our list sits Laughing Mountain Park. A bear sits atop the left field scoreboard and with a high elevation and scenic view, this park makes you feel like you are king of the mountain when you hit a homer out of it and stare at the bear as you trot around the bases.
Scenery: The VFP offers a stone bridge to the right, a high scoreboard with a bear atop to the left, mountain peaks over the center and snow-dusted trees all in between making this the most scenic park in the game with the high score of 10.
Location: High in the mountains with no city listed, we considered what you would expect to see from a stadium in the “Laughing Mountains”. The bear atop the scoreboard helped it earn a 9 for location.
Elevation: At almost a mile high, 5005’ to be exact, this park has the highest elevation on our list and comes in with a 10.
Dimensions: The left field foul pole sits at 345’, the center field wall is 420’ and the right field pole measures 330’ and was scored a 7.
Uniqueness: This park sits high in the mountains with a bear atop the scoreboard and wintery mountain tops unlike any other giving this a score of 9.
Final thought: High elevation and snowy views that make it feel like you can play baseball year-round make the park stand out at the top.
SLEDU score: 45
