International Ballparks

[heavesrock]

Basically I'll post in here once every couple days with some pictures and info on various ballparks around the world. Any contributions are welcome:

Please note I did not take any of these pictures.


Seibu (Formerly Goodwill) Dome
Location: Saitama, Japan
Team: Seibu Lions
Capacity: 35,879
Surface: Turf



Stadium information:

Dimensions
Left: 328
Center: 400
Right: 328

In 1979, the Seibu Department stores corporation purchased the Crown Fighter Lions from the island of Kyushu in southern Japan, and moved them to Saitama, near Tokyo. The stadium wasn't always a dome. In 1998, the owners decided to put a roof on, citing heavy mist and frequent rain as the reason. Instead of fully enclosing the stadium, all sides are open to the elements. The outfield section is a berm as in many minor league stadiums in the US, only made of artificial turf.



Team Information:

Full name: Saitama Seibu Lions
Japan Series titles: 9 (1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2004)
Players you might have heard of (currently on roster): Craig Brazell, Hiram Bocachica
Manager: Hisanobu Watanabe
Notable Former Players: Kaz Matsui, Daisuke Matsuzaka

[Kentucky Bomber]

A small band of hardy souls play baseball in Australia, usually to the derision of their countrymen, although a couple of them (Dave Nilsson, Graham Lloyd, etc) have made it to the Majors. Their annual tournament, played around Christmas time (Aussie summer) is called the Claxton Shield and its home is in Perth, Western Australia. The park is called Baseball Park (what else?) and here it is, in a concept of its expansion. Seats 500, with 3500 standees. As I said, a small band of hardy souls...

[Yoda]

Yokohama Stadium:

http://www.arrakeen.ch/asia2006/CIMG1994.JPG

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/asia/japan/kanto/yokohama_stadium1.jpg

Home of the Baystars



Jingu Stadium: Home of the Swallows

http://home.n00.itscom.net/kbt-t/jpg_npb_cl/jingu01.jpg

http://www.mopupduty.com/meijijingu.jpg

http://friarforum.com/uploaded_images/winner-715930.jpg :applaud:

[Manhattan]

Foreign Ballparks

A small band of hardy souls play baseball in Australia, usually to the derision of their countrymen, although a couple of them (Dave Nilsson, Graham Lloyd, etc) have made it to the Majors. Their annual tournament, played around Christmas time (Aussie summer) is called the Claxton Shield and its home is in Perth, Western Australia. The park is called Baseball Park (what else?) and here it is, in a concept of its expansion. Seats 500, with 3500 standees. As I said, a small band of hardy souls...

I have not seen any foreign ballparks. I will let everyone know when I will see a foreign ballpark.

[LetsGoMets687]

Does this one count?

[heavesrock]

Hasn't the Claxton Shield been changed to being played all across Australia?

[Chevy114]

Which japanesse stadium is the one where the field moves outside the stadium like the nfl cardinals stadium?

[Urbanshocker13]

Koshien Stadium, Japan Home of the Hanshin Tigers, built in 1924 oldest park in Japan.
http://www2.gol.com/users/michaelo/Koshien.html

http://www.baseball-fever.com/images/attach/jpg.gif

http://www.baseball-fever.com/images/attach/jpg.gif

http://www.baseball-fever.com/images/attach/jpg.gif

[Urbanshocker13]

Koshien Stadium field:

http://www.baseball-fever.com/images/attach/jpg.gif

[HoldenV8]

Some pictures of Australian baseball 'stadiums'.

The first 2 are of the secondary venue used for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. This is the Blacktown Baseball Stadium. It holds 5,000 people (seats 1,200) & was built in 1999 (I think).



These 6 show the main venue of the 2000 Olympic Baseball, the Sydney Showground. Today it is no longer used as a baseball stadium, though it could easily do so. It is a sporting/concert/showground multi purpose arena that seats 21,000 and has a 30,000 capacity for concerts. It was built in 1998. For you Americans, this is where the USA won its so far only Baseball Gold Medal in Olympic history. This could easily pass for a minor league venue if you didn't know you were in Sydney.







These last 2 I have show the Melbourne Ballpark. Another venue that holds 5,000 (seats 3,900), it was built in 1990. As you can see from the overhead (Google Earth) capture, it has an Astroturf infield and a natural grass outfield.

[Transplanted Fan]

The Sydney Baseball Stadium/Showground was obviously built with Aussie rules football and cricket in mind.

[Philtration]

Koshien looks cool but strange that the infield is all dirt. I really don't like the other Japanese stadiums.
To much Houston Astrodome like for me and I hate artificial turf.

[HoldenV8]

The Sydney Baseball Stadium/Showground was obviously built with Aussie rules football and cricket in mind.

Actually no. It was never built for Aussie Rules or cricket. It was always intended as a replacement for the old Sydney Showground (located in Moore Park adjacent to the Sydney Cricket Ground. The old showground was also Australia's most famous dirt oval speedway and is now the home of Fox Studios Australia). The Royal Agricultural Society in Sydney moved its HQ from Moore Park to Homebush Bay (the Olympic park site). The main arena shown here was designed as a baseball stadium for the Olympics in 2000 and as a state of the art showground arena.

Actually, local level Aussie rules football is played there during Australia's football season but that is a minor thing. Cricket isn't played there. The outer track is also used occasionally as a speedway for bikes & speedcars.

[Pelt]

Estadio Monterrey, Mexico.

[PeteU]

I was watching a documentary on ESPN about Bobby Valentine managing in Japan and I must say, the Japanese ballgame looks like a true experience. Lots of rythmic chanting and clapping. There's almost an art to it all.