Author: Dan Mansfield
Publisher: Pavilion Books Company Ltd
Copyright 2022
Over the years, quite a number of books have been written about baseball stadiums and parks. Some discuss their history, others explain the business of stadium construction including public funds and taxes to pay for them. I was surprised that I have more than ten such books on my bookshelves.
A good friend gifted me Remarkable Ballparks; it is part of the Remarkable series which includes Remarkable Cricket Grounds, Remarkable Golf Courses, Remarkable Racecourses, Remarkable Road Trips, Remarkable Football Grounds, and Remarkable Bicycle Rides.
The vivid photos are well chosen, offering unique perspectives of the stadiums. Many are credited to Alamy, Unsplash, and Getty Images.
While the photos are excellent, the most interesting content is author Dan Mansfield’s selection of stadiums around the world and the story he writes about each one. They are presented alphabetically from American Family Field to Yankee Stadium. MLB parks, of course, but he has selected great historical parks such as Rickwood Field in Birmingham, AL; Warren Ballpark in Bisbee, AZ; Wahconah Park in Pittsfield, MA; Simmons Field in Kenosha, WI; North Meadow Ballfields in New York City, NY; and McCormick Field in Asheville, NC and their evolution.
The author chose to include a number of parks with incredible scenic backdrops such as Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola, FL on Pensacola Bay; Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY; Field of Dreams in Dyersville, IA, etc.
His discussions of stadium architecture are highly informative. Opened in 2019, the unique design of Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu in Mexico City, home of the Los Diablos Rojos, is spectacular.
Mansfield chose 67 ballparks around the world for this book, including locations in Mexico, China, Taiwan, Japan, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Korea, and England.
Some people might think of this as a “coffee table” book with its beautiful photographs but Mansfield’s writing makes it so much more.
After reading Remarkable Ballparks, it just might be time for a few more road trips!