MLB’s best playoff ballparks: Ranking the top environments for postseason madness

By Chad Jennings, Stephen J. Nesbitt and C. Trent Rosecrans

No major-league ballpark holds extra followers than Dodger Stadium. Its 56,000 seats mix high-wattage celebrities with nameless diehards to create one in all baseball’s loudest, most intense atmospheres. It’s intimidating. Particularly in October.

Simply not for Jurickson Profar.

House crowds at all times have their say within the playoffs, and after a wild-card spherical during which house groups usually struggled, the postseason depth lastly bubbled over in good methods and unhealthy on Sunday.

In Los Angeles, Profar robbed a house run and taunted the Dodgers devoted, hopping up and down in left discipline earlier than revealing the ball safe in his glove. The San Diego Padres have been on their approach to a rout. Dugouts chirped. Followers delayed the sport’s conclusion by throwing gadgets on the sector.

“It’s undoubtedly wild out right here,” Padres proper fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. mentioned. “However on the identical time, it’s a very good surroundings for baseball.”

Throughout the nation at Residents Financial institution Park, the Philadelphia Phillies rallied, and rallied, and rallied once more, turning the house crowd’s audible frustration to feel-it-in-your-bones euphoria. “Momentum on this place is every thing,” reliever Matt Strahm mentioned. “You possibly can’t clarify it in phrases. You simply must really feel it. Once we get them going, it will get us going.”

However which playoff ballpark will get going the most? Because the division sequence shift to the second stops, we ranked the home-field environments of the eight remaining playoff groups.

The Phillies and Dodgers are the one returners from final yr’s rating. They have been first and second, respectively. How do the playoff environments at Residents Financial institution Park and Dodger Stadium stack up in opposition to the opposite six? Right here’s our rating.

Memorable postseason second: In Sport 4 of the 2006 ALCS, with the Tigers attempting to brush the Oakland A’s, Magglio Ordoñez homered within the sixth inning to tie the sport. Within the ninth, Ordóñez got here to the plate once more with two on and two outs. A’s nearer Huston Avenue delivered, and Ordóñez clobbered a three-run, walk-off house run to left. Comerica Park quaked. Three years after shedding 119 video games — and greater than a decade since their final successful season — the Tigers had gained the pennant.

Our take: In truth, it’s arduous to know what to anticipate when Comerica Park hosts its first postseason recreation since Oct. 5, 2014. The Tigers didn’t draw properly for many of this season — their common house attendance ranked twenty third within the majors — however then they noticed house crowds repeatedly swell previous 40,000 in September. If Tigers followers ship the Guardians fleeing in concern in Sport 3, we’ll replace these rankings to mirror that.

The town and fan base have embraced the Gritty Tigs. Comerica Park has roared in postseasons previous, and Tigers followers have been champing on the bit to go wild as soon as once more behind this younger, thrilling and underrated roster.

We might discover a video for every of those ballparks extolling its glorious playoff surroundings. However somebody needed to be ranked final. That’s how these items go. Take coronary heart, although, Tigers followers: The groups we ranked seventh and eighth in final yr’s rating wound up collectively within the World Sequence.

7. Cleveland Guardians

Memorable postseason second: Earlier than you dismiss Cleveland as simply one other sleepy metropolis in the midst of the nation, strive remembering Nov. 2, 2016, when Rajai Davis — choking up on the bat — homered in Sport 7 of the World Sequence and Progressive Discipline shook to such a level it will need to have rattled John D. Rockefeller’s bones. Even LeBron James misplaced his thoughts. It was a monumental second (however two innings later it was the Chicago Cubs — not the Cleveland Indians — ending a championship drought).

Our take: These individuals have been by way of quite a bit. The Resolution. The Shot. The Browns. They deserve higher, and in the event that they sense a chance to get it, they’re going to indicate up. The Guardians haven’t gained a World Sequence since 1948. They’ve come shut 3 times prior to now twenty years — Albert Belle and Jim Thome, Klubot and Mr. Smile — and now they’ve José Ramírez and Emmanuel Clase main the cost. The Guardians had the sixth-best document this season, however the third-best document at house. They’ve loved a significant home-field benefit, particularly in entrance of a hungry crowd that’s been ready to have a good time. Outfielder Lane Thomas, who joined the Guardians through commerce in July, referred to as Sport 1 “electrical.” “The whole lot I had thought and extra,” he mentioned.

If the Guardians win a hoop, Progressive Discipline will make the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame really feel like a people pageant. (Let’s take into account, although, that Cleveland had home-field benefit within the 2016 World Sequence and 2017 ALDS and misplaced each.)

Memorable postseason second: There’s at all times nerves when a staff comes house down 2-0 in a sequence, and it’s even worse when the guests take a lead within the first inning of Sport 3. Mets followers didn’t have to fret lengthy in Sport 3 of the 2015 World Sequence as David Wright hit a two-run homer within the backside of the primary inning to present the Mets a lead. New York would go on to win, 8-3, with Wright driving in 4. It was the one recreation the Mets would win in that World Sequence, but it surely gave them hope — and a second to recollect. (In addition they bear in mind Matt Harvey going again out for the ninth inning of Sport 5, however let’s not speak about that.)

Our take: It’s powerful to not examine the 2 New York stadiums when each opened in the identical yr, and there are execs and cons in favor of each. The Citi Discipline crowd is nearer than at Yankee Stadium, and though there was a sure historical past and attraction to the previous Shea Stadium, the brand new place is simply a lot nicer. If the gang on the Mets’ watch social gathering at Citi Discipline for Pete Alonso’s homer in opposition to the Brewers is any indication of what it’s going to be like for an actual recreation, Citi Discipline goes to be a madhouse for Sport 3 in opposition to the Phillies.

CITI FIELD IS ELECTRIC! pic.twitter.com/Wzbb224CUW

— Metsmerized On-line (@Metsmerized) October 4, 2024

This ballpark can get wild, and if the Mets hold going — they’ll be house for 2 of the ultimate three video games of this sequence in opposition to the Phillies — the home-field benefit of Citi Discipline goes to get stronger and stronger, shifting them greater and better up this checklist. And, at this level, there’s no telling what Mets magic can accomplish.

Memorable postseason second: There’s hardly a baseball fan within the state of Missouri who doesn’t know the title Don Denkinger. Cardinals followers curse his title, and Royals followers, properly, they’re grateful. With the Royals going through elimination in Sport 6 of the 1985 World Sequence, Denkinger referred to as Jorge Orta secure when replays — earlier than they have been used to right calls — confirmed he was clearly out. In fact, Cardinals followers who blame Denkinger conveniently neglect it was simply the primary out, Jack Clark dropped a simple fly ball, Darrell Porter had a handed ball and Orta was really pressured at third within the inning. The Royals gained Sport 6 after which beat the Cardinals in Sport 7 (with Denkinger behind the plate).

Our take: We’re about to see the primary playoff recreation at Kauffman Stadium in 9 years, because the Royals took the primary two video games of the 2015 World Sequence at house after which completed the job in Queens. It’s an virtually totally completely different roster for the Royals, however the power is identical. Bobby Witt Jr. is a famous person. Vinnie Pasquantino is beloved. Salvador Perez is a franchise icon. And the rotation is about pretty much as good as anybody’s.

The Royals had the fifth-lowest house attendance in MLB this season, forward of solely the White Sox, Rays, Marlins and A’s. They may be a shocking decide at No. 5. However the proof of idea was laid in 2014 and 2015. The playoffs are a distinct beast.

“What are you watching?”

Oh, simply 9 minutes and 41 seconds of Kauffman Stadium playoff crowd pops. #Royals pic.twitter.com/4X2BlTo4gP

— Jack Johnson (@JohnyJ_15) August 27, 2024

Kauffman Stadium provides one thing few different locations do, and that’s ample room within the parking zone for tailgating. Simply because the Chiefs have the most effective home-field benefits in soccer, the Royals will profit from a rowdy crowd assembling within the parking heaps earlier than a playoff recreation. With the current historical past of the Chiefs’ success, it’s simple to neglect that Kansas Metropolis has been a baseball city.

4. Los Angeles Dodgers

Memorable postseason second: We included Kirk Gibson’s iconic house run with final yr’s checklist. Nobody would tire of that video. However as a substitute let’s return to the one World Sequence the Dodgers have gained at Dodger Stadium: 1963. In Sport 1, going through a Yankees lineup led by Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, Sandy Koufax struck out 15 in a complete-game win. He went the gap once more in Sport 4 to finish the sweep. The 2 full video games — 18 innings, three runs — earned Koufax a World Sequence MVP.

Our take: It began out playfully Sunday when Profar sonned 50,000 Dodgers followers. It ended with a tense delay as beer rained onto the warning observe. It was not Dodger Stadium’s most interesting second. (It was, nevertheless, a testomony to the Padres’ potential to get beneath the pores and skin of their opponents and the opposing crowd.) Setting Sunday apart …

There’s no different setting like Dodger Stadium. The ballpark is very large, sprawling and picturesque. When stuffed to the brim in October, it’s deafening. Tommy Edman knew that earlier than being traded to the Dodgers this summer time. He misplaced a wild-card recreation at Dodger Stadium a couple of years in the past. “Each time I’ve come right here once I was with St. Louis, I at all times seen how loud it was,” Edman mentioned. “It’s good to be on this aspect of issues.” So, Profar could have single-handedly knocked Dodger Stadium down a spot on this rating Sunday, but it surely’s nonetheless a particular surroundings for postseason baseball.

3. New York Yankees

Memorable postseason second: The Yankees have gained 27 championships, however just one within the present ballpark. On Nov. 4, 2009, they clinched No. 27 at house in a recreation began by Andy Pettitte and closed by Mariano Rivera. Derek Jeter had three hits and Hideki Matsui went deep. They have been almost a decade faraway from the late Nineties, but it surely was a championship nonetheless rooted in that iconic dynasty. Nice playoff moments come and go, however for the Yankees, the one moments that matter include rings.

Our take: This model of Yankee Stadium doesn’t have the historical past of its predecessor, but it surely was constructed with a Yankees-esque sense of grandiosity. What it lacks in quirks and character it makes an attempt to make up for with dimension and quantity. In October, that’s what issues. The place is raucous when the followers have one thing to cheer and a purpose to imagine. Aaron Choose can do this. Juan Soto can do this. Gerrit Cole can do this. (The Bleacher Creatures already are doing their greatest to woo Soto to remain within the Bronx).

If these Yankees get scorching, their ballpark will reply in a approach that expects — and even calls for — greatness. And the place might be brutal on opposing gamers.

“There’s virtually like a white-out really feel to it as a result of there was a lot white within the stands,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned. “I undoubtedly suppose our guys fed off it slightly bit (in Sport 1), and I wish to suppose (it) had a consider us successful the ballgame.”

2. Philadelphia Phillies

Memorable postseason second: As a result of we wrote about Roy Halladay’s no-hitter within the 2010 NLDS in final yr’s article, we flip this time to Brad Lidge. There are two outs in Sport 5 of the 2008 World Sequence. Eric Hinske at bat. Tying run at second. Right here’s Harry Kalas’ name: The 0-2 pitch. Swing and a miss! Struck him out! The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 world champions of baseball! Brad Lidge does it once more and stays good for the 2008 season — 48-for-48 in save alternatives. And let town have a good time!

Our take: We ranked the Phillies first final yr, however as a result of the blurb included a couple of previous Philly fan tropes it drew immense reader suggestions. So immense, actually, that we wrote an entire story about it. That kinder, gentler fan base ran the gamut of feelings in Sport 2: from booing Nick Castellanos to going bananas when he walked it off.

If you name him dad, it means slightly extra. ❤️ #NLDS pic.twitter.com/Pbr03XAJmY

— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2024

That’s the factor in Philly, man. It’s a jam-packed ballpark with all eyes locked in on the pitch, whether or not that’s a waste slider Castellanos waves at or a sweeper he hits to the moon. The eagerness in Philly is unmatched. As first base coach Paco Figueroa put it: “F— it.’ It’s Philly? You already know what I imply?” Dropping Residents Financial institution Park to No. 2 could also be an unpopular transfer, but it surely’s much less about Philly’s surroundings struggling than in regards to the different guys’ exhibiting out.

1. San Diego Padres

Memorable postseason second: Petco Park opened in 2004, but it surely didn’t host a successful playoff recreation till Oct. 1, 2020 — when there have been no followers allowed within the ballpark. The sport itself was epic, that includes a season-saving comeback that noticed each Tatis (21 on the time) and Wil Myers homer twice. “I really feel like we’re again to ‘Slam Diego,’” Tatis mentioned afterward. The Padres went on to win the sequence the following night time. It was an incredible second that didn’t shine fairly as brightly with out the total home-field expertise.

Our take: Depart it to Tatis to offer a glimpse of what a full Petco Park can do. In Sport 1 of the Wild Card Sequence, the still-just-25-year-old homered on the primary pitch he noticed to present the Padres a 2-0 lead earlier than they’d even made an out. The ballpark went nuts, prefer it had been ready a number of years to have a good time a house run like that.

FERNANDO TATIS JR. HITS THE FIRST HOME RUN OF THE 2024 #POSTSEASON 🚀 pic.twitter.com/XFqQ06zWTT

— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2024

So, we’ve got a brand new No. 1, simply in time for the fiery Dodgers-Padres sequence to move to San Diego. Are we being prisoners of the second? Maybe.

However San Diego is having one heck of a second.

Padres overcame a 5-0 deficit in entrance of 47,559 followers, the most important crowd in Petco Park historical past pic.twitter.com/hPmyZvPf9S

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 31, 2024

The Padres have been the one house staff to win within the Wild Card Sequence. They swept the Atlanta Braves, and Padres followers left little doubt that they imagine this roster — which the group has been constructing for years — has the products to make a deep run. Petco Park was even popping for an away recreation, as hundreds of followers confirmed up Sunday to observe on the large display screen because the Padres tied the NLDS in Los Angeles.

The Padres haven’t been to the World Sequence since 1998, and so they’ve by no means gained a championship. The followers cramming Petco Park are primed to do their half to deliver house a hoop. And that title chase hits a excessive level in Sport 3 on Tuesday. “I can’t wait,” Profar mentioned on MLB Community, then couldn’t resist trolling the Dodgers yet one more time. “However we don’t throw any stuff on the sector. San Diego followers, we don’t do this. We simply cheer.”

(Prime photograph: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Photos)