Unique Ballpark Features

[Gooseamania]

i thought it would be cool to start a thread about some of the unique features of major league ballparks. it would be cool if we could find some features that may not be blantantly visible on tv or in person but any feature would be cool.

[Gooseamania]

here is the right field roof at fenway park which in 2004 was transformed into a dining area and standing room spot. it is 14,000 square feet.

[Chevy114]

The rays have a the batter's eye resturant in center field that looks like a giant green box with black windows, but is a pretty nice resturant with a good view through the transparent glass.

They also have a touch tank, with live sting rays in right center field for the kids.

They also have a huge player diving through the wall to catch a fily as you first come in the rotundra.

Finally the foul poles installed on the catwalks that are probably 6 inches to a foot long. They are painted yellow, since hitting the catwalks is considered a homerun, they decide whats a fair and whats a foul homerun.

[Gooseamania]

tropicana also supposedly has a system in the catwalks to dtermine whether a ball that hits the catwalks would be a fair or foul homerun

(courtesy of wikipedia)

The upper catwalks are Ring A and Ring B; these catwalks are entirely in play and balls bouncing off them can be caught for outs, or drop for base hits. Ring C and Ring D are out of play; if they are struck between the foul poles (each one has a yellow post marking the relative foul line position), then the ball is ruled a home run.

here's a pic:

[locke40]

tropicana also supposedly has a system in the catwalks to dtermine whether a ball that hits the catwalks would be a fair or foul homerun

Let me see if I understand this. There were no catwalks originally. Then, they decide they want to add catwalks for the sole reason of determining if balls hitting said catwalks would be fair, foul, or a homerun. That is very odd.

[PeteU]

Let me see if I understand this. There were no catwalks originally. Then, they decide they want to add catwalks for the sole reason of determining if balls hitting said catwalks would be fair, foul, or a homerun. That is very odd.

No, the catwalks were always a part of the Trop/Suncoast Dome from the getgo.

[whoisonit]

Let me see if I understand this. There were no catwalks originally. Then, they decide they want to add catwalks for the sole reason of determining if balls hitting said catwalks would be fair, foul, or a homerun. That is very odd.

I read about the catwalks on here once, in a different thread. Can't find it however. Maybe someone else remembers it and can link it.

The catwalks were always there. They installed a system of markers on them after the Rays arrived.

[Gooseamania]

yes exactly. tropicana field has a unique slanted roof that slants down towards the outfiled, the catwalks are lower in the outfield because of this so when balls are hit into the catwalks they have a system to determine whether or not the ball is a homerun or if it would've been a foul ball, any other ball hit into the catwalks is in play.

[whoisonit]

any other ball hit into the catwalks is in play.

What are the ground rules on that ? If it hits the catwalk and a fielder catches it, is the batter out ?

[Gooseamania]

yup, if a ball hits the catwalk it is in play

[whoisonit]

yup, if a ball hits the catwalk it is in play

That's neat. Like kids playing in the yard, catching a bounce off the tree limb. Has it happened often or memorably, where it's caught on the fly ?

[Chevy114]

It was weird at first to see the catwalks become obstructions. They finally had to have the mlb rule on it and half of them are in play and half of them are out of play or homeruns. The catwalks are a must have for the lighting and speakers they use at the trop, so its no like they could just get rid of them either.

[Lafferty Daniel]

The fan shaped roofs over the bleachers at Dodger Stadium.





The upper concourse is outside.







Think Blue sign

[Gooseamania]

That's neat. Like kids playing in the yard, catching a bounce off the tree limb. Has it happened often or memorably, where it's caught on the fly ?

yes it has happended recently: in may of 2006 johnny gomes of the rays was called out when a bill he hit landed in ring B of the catwalks and rolled off and was caught by the blue jays shortstop john macdonald (who's from my hometown!) gomes had almost reached home plate by the time the ball was caught by macdonald and although rays manager joe maddon argued that it should have been a ground rule double since it stayed in ring B for a few moments, the call stood.

[Gooseamania]

although it is clearly visible both on tv and in person, "tal's hill" in centerfield at minute maid park is pretty unique, as is the flagpole in the back of the hill, both of which are in play: