Take Me Out to the Ballpark: An Illustrated Tour of Baseball Parks Past and Present

This book has to be among the best (if not the best) book about ballparks currently on the market. Not only are there a wealth of pictures and facts about all the current (and some past) major league ballparks, there are also the "stories" behind each of these facilities. There are also a number of minor league and Negro league parks mentioned as well. It's clear this book is a true labor of love by the author. My "West Coast bias" is showing, because I was hoping to see Sacramento's Raley Field (a gorgeous minor league park) mentioned here, but alas it isn't. Oh well, it's a very minor disappointment. And seeing as how a large number of gorgeous minor league parks are now opening across the country, perhaps Mr Leventhal's next project could be a book about minor league parks? As I leafed through its pages, I found myself realizing that next season I need to go on a "road trip" to experience some of these stadiums in person.The book is remarkable in its scope. It starts off by describing the "history" of ballparks, from the rickety old parks of the 19th century to the 'retro" parks of the early 21st century. And with these retro ballparks of today being built, it's piqued people's interest in learning more about the various major league ballparks across the US and into Canada. And in addition to descriptions of every current major league ballpark, there are also features on stadium PA announcers, mascots, ballpark food, groundskeepers, even a page or two on which parks are "home runs havens' and which are "pitcher's dreams."Any baseball fan will adore this book.

This book about baseball stadiums, past and present is wonderful, not just because it lists facts and figures about all major league stadiums, past and present, and not just because it lists famous events at each stadium, but also because it describes the histories of each ballpark. There are also breif descriptions of Negro league ballparks, some minor league parks of note, as well as the "behind the scenes" people and places that make baseball stadiums the stuff of legends. Pages about PA Announcers, team mascots, scoreboards and billboard ads in stadiums are also included here. The book starts off with a history of stadiums, from the wooden edifices of the late 19th century to the "retro ballparks" of today.Reading through this book, you get a real feel for what each stadium is like, and what it feels like to experience watching a ballgame there. Well worth buying even if you're just a casual fan, this book captures a part of baseball history just now becoming popular, ballpark histories.

This is great to cuddle up with on those cold and lonely nights when it seems spring training will never arrive. I was first drawn to the book's interesting shape, but then was hooked by the glorious pictures, fascinating trivia, and interesting statistics. I took this book to bed for a few minutes of skimming before lights out, but stayed up most of the night skipping from ballpark to ballpark. I became so infected by baseball fever that I even had to get up for a bag of peanuts. By the way, those shells were heck between the sheets. My only complaint is that this book made me late for work the next morning. O yes, this is great for the junkie who needs a fix before Opening Day.

Josh Leventhal has reseached all the ballparks from the start of the majors to present times. All the stadiums your fathers and yourselfs have grown up with are all in this book like Fenway Park in Boston and the Polo Grounds in New York. With well written information and pictures that make you feel like you have grown up with this ballpark in your own hometown. This masterpiece of a book communicates with you what it takes to own a major league ballpark in todays world. From groundskeeeping to conscession sales you will truly get the idea of how a ballpark works! This is a 5 star dream come book to baseball lovers!

Take Me Out To The Ballpark is an excellent coffee table book. It contains pictures and brief overviews of all the baseball stadiums currently in use and those that have met the wrecking ball. The book does not contain an in depth account of the parks, but gives a brief history and dates of significant highlights. A perfect book for any baseball fan and a perfect book to pick up and skim through.