Chase Field
What originally fueled the B4B idea was to visit each major league baseball stadium across the country. Now that our dreams will become reality beginning in 2012, we will want to share our greatest experiences with followers of our journey. We’ll report on fan devotion, best concessions, most memorable park moment in history and video blogging each 7th inning stretch the B4B crew will sing along to all season. We really want our readers to experience each stadium along with us.
Over the next few months, the B4B blog will be providing previews of each major league stadium. We will give some historical background, along with plenty of pictures. We would love to get fans perspective on each park as well, so please provide feedback on your favorite stadium on facebook and twitter. Our posts will take us from the oldest stadium all the way to the brand new Marlins Stadium. We hope you enjoy.
Chase Field
My namesake, Chase Field has been home to the Arizona Diamondbacks since their expansion season in 1998. Chase Field was built with the first retractable roof in the Unites States, AND it was the first retractable roof stadium with a natural grass playing surface. Chase Field was originally named Bank One Ballpark, which is a much lamer name than Chase Field. Anything with the name of Chase is awesome.
Success came right away for the Dbacks; they won 100 games in their second season and won the World Series in their fourth season. That’s gotta piss off lifelong fans of teams with a long World Series drought, right? I might be bitter towards the Dbacks in 30 years if the Royals don’t win a World Series in that time. But I’m indifferent now, and I was pulling for them in the playoffs last year. In 2011, the Dbacks went from “worst to first,” winning 29 more games than the previous season. They have an exciting young roster led by Justin Upton, and they’re easy to like.
The most notable feature at Chase Field is the swimming pool located in right-center field. For $3,500, you and 34 friends can hang out in the pool during a game. Personally, I think that would be really cool when the roof is open to catch some rays, but I don’t know how it would be when the roof is closed.
Chase Field is one of only two major league stadiums with a dirt strip running between home plate and the pitcher’s mound*. This strip is known as the “keyhole,” which was very common in old-time ballparks. I have no clue why Chase Field has one.
*Hint: Verlander spends a lot of time in the other ballpark.
Chase Field has also played host to the Insight Bowl NCAA football bowl game. In 2001, Chase Field was fortunate enough to host the great K-State Wildcats vs. the Syracuse Orangemen in what turned out to be a snoozer. I was there.
I’m looking forward to making the return trip to “the stadium that’s named after me” with Biking for Baseball to check out a Dbacks game on May 11. Be sure to follow our trip on facebook and twitter and check out http://bikingforbaseball.org/Journey.html for our schedule.