We are counting down MLB's best ballparks throughout the 2025 season.
Here is the last edition #1000755.
This week we have #16
Daikin Park- Houston Astros
Opened: 2000
Capacity: 40,963
I will admit that as ridiculous as it was I do miss the hill in CF. I think they did a great job with this park's windows and it is probably the best of the indoor/outdoor parks at letting in natural light but when the roof is closed it still has a bit of that giant warehouse look. Full marks for the train, which is probably the most fun feature in any park, maybe besides the giant slide in Milwaukee. I like how they designed the outfield bleachers to be small compared to other stadiums so the giant windows in LF and the scoreboard in RF can be focal points. Really the only drawback with this park is the roof is usually closed due to the Texas heat.
On to number #15 next time.
Sats for all,
GR
Well, I just learned that the Astros field was not named Minute Maid Park. Happy to learn it only changed this year, so nothing to much to be embarrassed by.
The hill was such a weird thing, and it made for some really entertaining plays, it is a shame the removed such a bizarre and unique feature. I also sort of hate the Crawford boxes for allowing Mickey mouse home runs, but whatever.
28: Chase Field - DBacks (#914815)
27: Rate Field - White Sox (#924066)
26: Loan Depot Park - Marlins (#932244)
25:Great American Ballpark - Reds (#939158)
24: Nationals Park - Nationals (#945179)
23: Globe Life Field - Rangers (#956710)
22: Progressive Field - Guardians (#969975)
21: Rogers Center - Blue Jays (#976027)
20: Angels Stadium - Angels (#983066)
19: Yankees Stadium - Yankees (#988502)
18: Kaufmann Stadium - Royals (#993647)
17: Busch Stadium - Cardinals (#1000755)
16: Daikin Park - Astros (#1008665)
I find the Crawford boxes less annoying than the short porches in RF at Yankees stadium and Fenway park but I understand the criticism. The hill was a major injury waiting to happen but it was a unique feature and I appreciate that in parks.
Thanks for updating the list.
For sure and injury waiting to happen...but this is still burnt in my youthful mind
view on m.youtube.comNever forget Lance Berkmans falling catch going up it 😂
Also the fact that two poles were in play was wild
There is a name I haven't heard in awhile. What a great hitter.
Easily one of the most overlooked hitters of the 2000s. People have no idea how he is a top 5 switch hitter of all time in a number of categories
Man, Berkman was so overlooked. Sometimes I like to go back and get in a baseball-reference hole and remember guys like him.
Edit:grammar and also to add players I think of like Berkman, Matt Holliday, or even Magglio Ordonez.
Matt Holliday is still huge and can crush bombs.
view on www.youtube.comEdmonds was an amazing fielder.
Yeah, growing up it was all about Griffey Jr, Andruw Jones, and Jim Edmonds in CF. Watching those play at any time was a highlight waiting to happen. Just thinking now of all the greats that I've forgotten about like Kenny Lofton and such. I love baseball haha
Watching a great CF is one of the best things about baseball.
Did you see some of the plays Denzel Clarke from the A’s has been making?
Back to back weeks climbing the wall. The latest one was so beautiful. Makes me long for the days where I was glued to the TV watching sport center each morning. Feel like I miss way more highlights these days than I actually see.
It’s hard to keep up with everything.
The thing about the Crawford Boxes is just like with the Green Monster you can't just drive it into left you have to elevate it! Plenty of balls go off the wall which since its a manuel scoreboard does add all sorts of crazy bounces!
I grew up going to the old Astrodome watching Astros games with my Uncle. Still haven’t been to this stadium yet, good hear that it has some charm to it.
Was that when the Astros had the Killer B’s?
Ya Biggio, Bags and gosh who was the last one. I’m stumped but don’t want to look it up.
Bell
Then we had Berkman replace Bell, we had Beltran in ‘04 as well! Plus Brandon Backe till Galveston PD destroyed his career and shoulder…. Its wild that the payout he got was less than $50k when the jury agreed it was excessive use of force
Would you mind adding the park name in the title (if it will fit)? It'll make finding these when looking at a list of them easier.
I could but then it wouldn't be a reveal. Haha
The reveal is nice, I agree.
@Turdinthepunchbowl has been keeping an updated list which is great. When the series is done I will do a post with links to all of them. At some point I will have to look at the schedule and how many weeks are remaining because I have been doing these quite randomly whenever I have time or feel like it but I might be falling behind.
Daikin Park also gets bonus points for simply not being the Astrodome.
True. Although Astrodome is a way better name.
It does have a good nickname….
The Ice Box!
Since with Minute Maid it was known as the Juice Box and Daikin being a HVAC company I think the nickname improved!
That is a great nickname.
25th anniversary!
Wonderful arena!