We (TX) had the opposite problemā¦ moved our R/L OF walls in 10-15ā for that very reasonā¦ arguably wonāt help with wins, but why not for more fun offensive games, and to have your kidsā stats compete fairly for recruiting?m
I used to get miffed about people bringing that up as the "excuse" for why we hit so many homeruns in the Vitello era, until the stats made it obvious that we were consistently hitting a shitload of home runs on the road too.
The ball started carrying a lot better when they constructed the larger grandstand. In the old park, it was considered pitcher friendly. It is now certainly considered hitter friendly.
Um, akshually, A&Ms field is Olsen Field while the stadium itself is Blue Bell Park. Super confusing because the owners of Blue Bell are assholes but the university didn't want to dump the traditional name
I, uh, still sometimes call it Scott Field. Thatās what it was called when I was in college, so old habits die hard.
There was a brief time right after they added the Polk Dement part that the school was calling it Dudy Noble field at Polk Dement stadium. I guess they were trying to keep the donors happy. Then Ron Polk threw his little fit after we didnāt hire his chosen successor, and that went away.
Iām a casual when it comes to baseball but always been meaning to ask, why are teams allowed to have different field dimensions? Like vandys 307ā vs UGAs 350ā to left
Originally, baseball teams made their stadiums in cities undergoing rapid urbanization in the late 1800-early 1900s, so they had shape their outfield around the crowded land. In Fenway Park, they have the Green Monster, a 37ft high wall spanning across left field. They had to make the stadium that uneven because the owners couldn't buy the property that was along the left field line. These types of constraints led to the development of "ground rules" where each stadium has their own unique outfield dimensions. The infield is always the same, but teams can have asymmetrical outfields for practical, historical, or vibes based reasons.
Are some of the older, more historic stadiums just grandfathered in and do more modern stadiums have more requirements to meet? Or has it not changed much since the inception of the sport
MLB teams are also allowed to request exceptions to the rule primarily for historical reasons. The new Yankee Stadium has a short 312ft right field fence because those were the dimensions in the old Yankee Stadium. There's also some metagame to that because it encourages them to have lefty power hitters on their lineup.
Same also exists for soccer, but frequently teams change the dimension of their field to fit their playstyles. Larger field = more open space, smaller field = less open space. In very very rare cases, a team could even change their field size from year-to-year to accommodate what they're trying to accomplish. Like if the Gators realized they had a ton of great lefties and suddenly erected a green monster-esque wall in left field.
I did not know that about soccer, assumed it was similar to football where all fields are the same size.
So with the wall yall put up, is that cause opposing teams are predominantly righties and will pull to left whereas your lefties will pull to the right?
Yep, you have to prioritize the side of the field with better outcomes and in this made-up case lefties pulling right is the best way to do that. Same reason as why the Red Sox usually find themselves with more lefties than almost anyone else, because a line drive to deep right is a homer and that same line drive to left is only a double.
Vanderbiltās baseball field was wedged up against Memorial Gym, which had a part jutting out to the southwest even before it was expanded in the 1960s. I believe that was swimming pool/aquatics center that was converted to the baseball facility in the aughts with increased height and therefore the need for a taller left field wall.
They built the āgreen monsterā in left field in 2002 as part of the stadium renovation.
Late to the party but look how crazy the MLB stadiums can be. You have Boston with a tiny field and a giant freaking wall in left field. Then you have the Padres with a literal building that marks the foul ball line.
Florida Ballpark was a great name, but it's defunct. I liked naming the stadium after the state (our football stadium is Florida Field... at least that's its short and original name).
Itās the entry plaza down the right field line. While itās only 305 to that corner, the plaza wall is about 15-20ā higher than the playing surface.
Ordered by largest to smallest (sq footage):
Florida Ballpark (Florida): 95,754
Disch-Falk (Texas): 95,427
L. Dale Mitchell Park (Oklahoma): 95,393
Blue Bell Park (Texas A&M): 93,813
Kentucky Proud (Kentucky): 93,768
Taylor Stadium (Missouri): 92,305
Alex Box (LSU): 92,253
Dudy Noble (Mississippi State): 91,510
Hawkins Field (Vanderbilt): 91,504
Sewell-Thomas (Alabama): 90,791
Foley Field (Georgia): 90,767
Baum-Walker (Arkansas): 90,459
Founders Park (South Carolina): 90,038
Swayze Field (Ole Miss): 89,491
Plainsman Park (Auburn): 88,902
Lindsey Nelson (Tennessee): 86,502
Yay we win!
despite being theoretically a pitcher's park, we've had some very successful home-run hitters over the last few years
Makes sense why we have had so many home runsš
We (TX) had the opposite problemā¦ moved our R/L OF walls in 10-15ā for that very reasonā¦ arguably wonāt help with wins, but why not for more fun offensive games, and to have your kidsā stats compete fairly for recruiting?m
I used to get miffed about people bringing that up as the "excuse" for why we hit so many homeruns in the Vitello era, until the stats made it obvious that we were consistently hitting a shitload of home runs on the road too.
I'm not saying it was the only reason obviously, but it worked to our benefit.
It seems like the old Dudy Noble was bigger than the new one. That may just be my imagination.
The ball started carrying a lot better when they constructed the larger grandstand. In the old park, it was considered pitcher friendly. It is now certainly considered hitter friendly.
Yeah we're definitely a hitters park. Good thing our biggest tradition has to do with home runs!
I didn't realize Baum-Walker was that much of a bandbox. Probably just the angle on TV but it looks huge
Um, akshually, A&Ms field is Olsen Field while the stadium itself is Blue Bell Park. Super confusing because the owners of Blue Bell are assholes but the university didn't want to dump the traditional name
We're technically Dudy Noble Field/Polk-Dement Stadium
No State fan on the planet refers to our park as Polk-Dement Stadium. Just like nobody says Scott Field anymore.
I, uh, still sometimes call it Scott Field. Thatās what it was called when I was in college, so old habits die hard.
There was a brief time right after they added the Polk Dement part that the school was calling it Dudy Noble field at Polk Dement stadium. I guess they were trying to keep the donors happy. Then Ron Polk threw his little fit after we didnāt hire his chosen successor, and that went away.
Gamecocksā should have been the shape of South Carolina!
What a missed opportunity that was. Iām mad now.
Edit. The CF just randomly having a 20ā wall going straight back would have been hilarious.
We would have the best recruiting for lefty hitters and the worst for righties (probably still better than Missouri though tbh).
Iām a casual when it comes to baseball but always been meaning to ask, why are teams allowed to have different field dimensions? Like vandys 307ā vs UGAs 350ā to left
Iām pretty sure thatsās just how itās been (at least in the MLB and college) since the 1800ās.
Thereās even āfield rulesā that differ from different ballparks.
So Iām assuming as long as minimum thresholds are met for the foul lines and CF itās essentially your jurisdiction?
I think so yeah.
Cool, appreciate the insight!
History of early urban development where baseball was played in the areas it could basically fit in.
Even modern fields and stadiums often incorporate some feature like that for uniqueness.
Other sports either couldnāt accommodate this variation and/or development later when it was easier to build a stadium/court to a specific size.
Hmm, interesting. Fenway always comes to mind but what you said makes sense considering its location and when it was built
Baseball fields are like golf courses, they're all unique and they all play different based upon a multitude of factors.
Makes sense. Iām just so used to Mark Light and Iām pretty sure itās even dimensions so it always had me thinking
Originally, baseball teams made their stadiums in cities undergoing rapid urbanization in the late 1800-early 1900s, so they had shape their outfield around the crowded land. In Fenway Park, they have the Green Monster, a 37ft high wall spanning across left field. They had to make the stadium that uneven because the owners couldn't buy the property that was along the left field line. These types of constraints led to the development of "ground rules" where each stadium has their own unique outfield dimensions. The infield is always the same, but teams can have asymmetrical outfields for practical, historical, or vibes based reasons.
Are some of the older, more historic stadiums just grandfathered in and do more modern stadiums have more requirements to meet? Or has it not changed much since the inception of the sport
MLB stadiums built after 1958 must be at least 325' to the poles and 400' to center. Older stadiums are grandfathered in.
NCAA recommends 330' at the poles / 400' center but I don't believe it's actually enforced.
Ya learn something new everyday. Much appreciated!
We are basically spot on those dimensions.
MLB teams are also allowed to request exceptions to the rule primarily for historical reasons. The new Yankee Stadium has a short 312ft right field fence because those were the dimensions in the old Yankee Stadium. There's also some metagame to that because it encourages them to have lefty power hitters on their lineup.
Same also exists for soccer, but frequently teams change the dimension of their field to fit their playstyles. Larger field = more open space, smaller field = less open space. In very very rare cases, a team could even change their field size from year-to-year to accommodate what they're trying to accomplish. Like if the Gators realized they had a ton of great lefties and suddenly erected a green monster-esque wall in left field.
I did not know that about soccer, assumed it was similar to football where all fields are the same size.
So with the wall yall put up, is that cause opposing teams are predominantly righties and will pull to left whereas your lefties will pull to the right?
Yep, you have to prioritize the side of the field with better outcomes and in this made-up case lefties pulling right is the best way to do that. Same reason as why the Red Sox usually find themselves with more lefties than almost anyone else, because a line drive to deep right is a homer and that same line drive to left is only a double.
Irregularity for both practical and aesthetic reasons. It's a beautiful game.
Vanderbiltās baseball field was wedged up against Memorial Gym, which had a part jutting out to the southwest even before it was expanded in the 1960s. I believe that was swimming pool/aquatics center that was converted to the baseball facility in the aughts with increased height and therefore the need for a taller left field wall.
They built the āgreen monsterā in left field in 2002 as part of the stadium renovation.
Late to the party but look how crazy the MLB stadiums can be. You have Boston with a tiny field and a giant freaking wall in left field. Then you have the Padres with a literal building that marks the foul ball line.
Idc if it's more boring. Symmetrical is superior.
It was the first thing that caught my eye in this slideshow, i was like damn, lsu got it perfectly symmetrical
As a symmetry obsessor, agreed! Both of our ballparks are great in that regard.
At first I misread this as "symmetry professor" and I was like, oh shit we got an expert over here š
Auburn and Georgia wanna be different so bad
Kudzu hill > Green Whimper
Georgiaās is by necessity really (specifically RF). There is a huge hill with a house on top of it right past the RF fence.
Dudy Noble is the best college ballpark. Period.
Should include Hoover Met and
TD AmeritradeSchwab for comparisons sake.Would also be interesting to see foul areas included since everyone tends to have funky playable foul lines.
LSU and Ole Miss have the most ballparky-looking ballparks. I don't know wtf Auburn and Vandy are doing.
Auburn and Vandyboys have their parks where beyond the LF wall there is an electrical substation and a basketball arena, respectively.
Damn, some of those are small.
Tennessee is teeny
Florida's ballpark is named Florida ballpark?
Really?
I know our conference doesn't school so gud but they couldn't name it anything better?
Originally yes, but I think last year it was re-named after a donor. Condron Park maybe???
Itās technically Condron Family Ballpark. But yes, when the stadium open, it was Florida Ballpark.
Florida Ballpark was a great name, but it's defunct. I liked naming the stadium after the state (our football stadium is Florida Field... at least that's its short and original name).
Did they not rename it recently to Spurrier Field?
It's Spurrier-Florida Field, so calling it Florida Field for short is still acceptable
Part of the beauty of baseball is that not all the parks are exactly the same. Cool visual, thanks.
No wonder Georgia had so many hrs
The ball really carries well there.
Any team that uses turf should be kicked out of the SEC immediately
Havenāt heard anything but Texas was supposed to go back to grass in DKR so I wonder if they would at Disch Falk too, Hookem š¤š¼
I love the Foley short porch in right
Whatās with the little pocket in the right field corner of Mississippi State?
Itās the entry plaza down the right field line. While itās only 305 to that corner, the plaza wall is about 15-20ā higher than the playing surface.
https://preview.redd.it/t1qzcyab7qbg1.jpeg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7ce36a54f8f135808cc561931d5b1479f209e844
Field view:
https://preview.redd.it/71ifkpxg7qbg1.jpeg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=df0af20ad802bdfc18bdc95ed6dac32f7552a054
I know this is a college baseball sub, but there are some high school fields that are way out there.
Interesting how Oklahoma and Oke Miss are almost symmetrical respectively.Ā
I wanna see a ranking of ballparks to see which ballpark is actually the most "diamond" shape
LSU might have the biggest advantage here
You forgot Goss Stadium! š
LOL
And you canāt read!
It was a joke man.
Hence the āLOLā š š¤¦āāļø