Zimagal Monthly Magazine - Volume One, Issue Five

While some ballparks fit into a particular style category, some others do not. One thing that many of these parks have in common, however, is their sheer ugliness. Perhaps "ugly" is too strong a word. Maybe "homely" would suffice. Either way, none of these ballparks will win any beauty contests.

Athough many might argue my choices here, keep in mind I am referring to the exterior of the stadium only. No matter how the outside of the place appears, the heart of a ballpark is its playing field and the fans gathered around it.

Skydome
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Home of
Toronto Blue Jays
6/5/89 - Present

Skydome, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Aerial view, Skydome.
This hideous grey monolith more resembles a Federal penitentary than a ballpark. With the dome closed, the building looms over thirty-one stories high.

The Skydome cost $500 million to build. It is the only major league ballpark to boast a Hard Rock Cafe (thus far).

Tropicana Field
St. Petersburg, FL

Home of
Tampa Bay
Devil Rays
April, 1998 - Present

Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL

Aerial View, Tropicana Field.
Lopsided and looking like a salad spinner, Tropicana Field is a domed stadium faced with white and coral stucco and green non-mirrored glass. The small salad spinner-like structures around the sides are ramps accessing the different levels within. Anything goes in Florida, I guess.

The translucent, teflon-coated fiber glass roof is illuminated orange in the evenings whe Devil Rays are not playing.

Wrigley Field
Chicago, IL

Home of:
Chicago Federals/Whales
(Federal League)
4/23/14 - 10/3/1915 Chicago Cubs
4/20/1916 - Present

Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison St.
Although a grand old dame full of history, Wrigley Field was never a beauty. However bland and unattractive her facade may be, her field is full of history and memories for generations of baseball fans. Although a mutt, Wrigley, like any other dog, serves faithfully. It is perhaps as beloved by the City of Chicago as the Cubs themselves.

Possibly the most famous event at Wrigley Field is Babe Ruth’s supposed "called shot" home run off Charlie Root in the 1932 World Series. Ruth did indeed gesture toward the outfield just before depositing Root’s pitch into the bleachers, but it may never be known just what he meant.

Tiger Stadium
Detroit, MI

Home of
Detroit Tigers
4/20/12 - Present

Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI

Tiger Stadium.
Large, white, and characterless, Tiger Stadium is as old as Fenway, but has little of the architectural detail.

The Tigers will be playing in a new stadium, designed by HOK, in the year 2000.