Captian23

I thought of the idea tonight that it might be helpful to give A-F grades to Minor Lg parks. A couple of rules. Please don't rate the only park you go to. It is hard to compare if it is all you know. I would say you need to have gone to at least 3 parks to compare. I will do like the grading svcs do and have 3 parts. Inside, outside and cumulative.

International League

Buffalo

Inside - B

Outside -D

Total - C

The park is ok inside, but the loading dock exit in the back makes it tough.

Rochester

Inside - A

Outside - A

Total - A

My favorite overall because there is plenty of room inside plus they encourage autograph collecting. They have a player signing each night and both teams exit from the same door.

Syracuse

Inside - B

Outside - A-

Total B+

The only downfalls are seperate / oppisite sides for Player exits and not that much room on the inside.

Scranton - Wilkes Barrie

Inside B+

Outside A-

Total A-

Pretty easy do this place

Pawtuckett

Inside - F

Outside - D

Total - F+

Worst of the IL and worst total. Between the lack of field access (Bring your rope and milk carton!), Barriers both kid and Adult and the Iron Sheik to top it off. If you get anything you need to be quick and lucky.

Charlotte

Inside A

Outside B+

Total A-

Great park, only seperate exits take away from this

Durham

Inside - A

Outside - INC

Total - INC

Rain washed out the end of my only game



Eastern League

Binghamton

Inside - B

Outside - A

Total A-

Great access inside. Locker Room empties into the concorse

Reading

Inside - A

Outside - B+

Total A

Might be the best in th EL

Trenton

Inside - B+

Outside - A

Great Access to both teams outside if you are quick

Portland

Inside - B

Outside - D-

Total - D

There is no access to any of the Sea Dogs after except for a fenced walkway, what saves this place from being an F is that most of the visiting team walks to the hotel. You need to have eagle eyes and good light.

New Hampshire

Inside - B+

Outside - F

Fenced off parking lot, little or no access. Worst in the EL.

Norwich

Inside - A+

Outside - A

Total - A

Players walk through the stands to get to the Dugout and great Access after the game.

Harrisburg

Inside - A

Outside - INC

Total INC

Good Access inside and outside looked ok but rain was comming!

New Britan

Inside - C

Outside A

Total B

Tough to get the home team. Too much going on near the dugout and not much room.


Carolina League

Myrtle Beach

Inside - A

Outside - F

Total - B

You need to wait by the foul poles for before and after. No access outside.


SAL League

Lakewood

Inside A

Outside A

Both teams have complete access to the locker room doors.

I will skip NYP and the Indpendant because they are pretty easy. Worcester in the Can Am has no outside access that I could see.

What about your experiences?

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zechautograph

I have to disagree with Buffalo. OUtside is great. You are able to get both teams going in and going out and there is NO security there to bother you.

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sugarcult2

frederick:

inside- A+
outside-A
total -A

hagerstown:

inside- A
outside- B
total- B

bowie:

inside- B
outside- B
total- B

richmond:

inside- C
outside- C
total- C

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L35Guy

Jacksonville-
Inside -A, plenty of room and they let you in an hour and a half before gametime.
Outside- A-, no security blockage or anything, real easy.
Overall- A, my home park is easy.

Daytona-
Inside-D, not much room and the usher wont let you stand in the picnic area.
Outside- D, home team is easy but the visitors bus is gated in.
Overall- D

Brevard County-
Inside- B, fairly easy since there is a lot of space.
Outside- C-, home team exit/entrance is fenced off like Nats ST.
Overall- B-

Pawtucket-
Inside- F, the distance to the field and need for a 2 liter and rope is a pain in the arse. Also, very crowded.
Outside- D
Overall- D-, not a great graphing park

spokanehound

California League

Modesto
Outside: B : Good stuff on the visitors side; however, sometimes the patio area near where the home team enters is reserved for parties and they won't let you in there.
Inside: A- : Pretty easy access to both teams.
Overall: A-

San Jose
Outside: A : the visiting team bus parks on the curb right near where the SJ guys exit
Inside: A- : Pretty easy access to both teams.
Overall: A

Rancho Cucamonga
Inside: B- : Players come through a tunnel surrounded by nets. Not impossible, but kind of a nuisance.
Outside: B+ : pick one side or the other; pretty easy access
Overall: B: Not the easiest place in the Cal League, but thats no problem.

Northwest League

Everett
Inside: B+ : Not too shabby down the lines but there isn't a lot of space.
Outside: A+ : Both teams have to walk the same way through the concourse and to a locker room in the adjacent HS football stadium. I haven't seen anything easier than that. And if you manage to miss someone that way, they also come out the same way into the parking lot where the home team and bus are.
Overall: A : Awesome clubhouse-to-stadium access makes getting autographs inside the park here obsolete.

Salem-Keizer
Inside: A : Clubhouses are under the second level of seating, so the players have to walk through the stands to get to the field!
Outside: A- : Pretty straightforward
Overall: A-

Spokane
Inside: A- : Easy access on field level - the home team has an "autograph signing" before every game where they rope off a small section of field right by the dugout. You can get a good portion of the team here.
Outside: A- : Pick one side or the other, wait by the clubhouse door.
Overall: A- : Not bad at all!

Tri-City
Inside: B+ : Easy on the visitors side; on the home side, they've added a field level section that is netted, making home team autographs before the game a little difficult by the dugout. Batting cages are still accessible and both teams take BP there before the game.
Outside: A- : See Spokane.
Overall: A- : Easy!

Yakima
Inside: C+ : Probably the crappiest park in the league. There are nets everywhere in the stadium structure and the seats are way up above the dugout. Autographs can still be had down the lines.
Outside: A- : Visiting team bus parks on the visitor clubhouse side, while the Yakima players exit through the front gate of the stadium.
Overall: B : There are much easier places in this league to get autos.

Pacific Coast League

Portland
Inside: D+ : Seating section is high and field-level picnic areas with high nets block autograph access down the lines. Only place to get sigs is a small stairwell on the other side of each dugout. Be there early to get a good spot here, otherwise you're pretty much screwed.
Outside: B+ : Visiting team exits through a gate behind center field (usually), while the Beavers leave out the home plate concourse entrance. Every so often the bus will park on the home team side.
Overall: C : Outside is alright, but inside the park is brutal.

Tacoma
Inside: A+ : In terms of access, this might as well be a Low-A ballpark. Easy access to both teams by the dugout and down the lines.
Outside: B+ : Similar to Portland's setup (visitors exit behind center field where their clubhouse is). Tacoma exits right behind their clubhouse on the right field side.
Overall: A- : For AAA standards this is a really easy place to get autographs!

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jetpig00

Well i have done Trenton and Lakewood and Captain23 hit the nails ont he head...

Heres another one that I have done
Jupiter Hammerheads/ Palm Beach Cardinals
Inside...A - If the Hammerheads are the home team the visitor and the Hammerheads come out teh same way to get to the dugouts...so you can get both teasm...if Palm Beach is home they come out ont he 1st base Side

Outside C- You cant really get to the visitors by the bus.....but I have gotten a few through the fence.
The hammerheads isnt that bad..but the cardinals are impossible.. after...unless they stop their car on the way out.

Overall B+

WELLSFAN10

Mississippi
Outside: Haven't Done, Looks Good
Inside: A+++ You Can Get Both Teams On The Same Side!!
Overall: A+

Mobile
Outside F+
Inside Visitors C, Home D
Overall D-

New Orleans
Outside A
Inside A
Overall A

cubs17

How is Daytona inside for the home team. Is it possible to get some autographs

How are Brian Dopirak and Kevin Collins

Chris

Great thread. I'm going to sticky it if you don't mind.

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mikejohnson101

Internation League:

Pawtuckett:

Inside - F-

Outside - D+

Total - F

Outside a little easier than inside. Both are terrible.

Eastern League:
Portland

Inside - C-
Outside - F
Total D

Inside is kinda bad. You can only get players from below the stands; not bad; but not great. Outside is tough.

New Hampshire

Inside - B+
Outside - C+
Total - B

NH is great; IMO. Outside can get tough but usually there is no security. After the game just walk behind home plate; down the ramped exit there and your out. If you get out relatively quickly; you should have no problems with security. Inside is awesome. Especially the way the benches are set-up as there is only one entrance to the locker rooms and you see when players come out and who they are.

Captian23

In NH, they would not let any one down the stairs. I walked along the river to find a dead end and the other side was blocked by the hotel construction. What a difference from Gill!

Chris - Thanks for the Sticky.

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GoSportsCard

Carolina League
Wilmington Blue Rocks
Inside (B) You can get autographs down by the dugouts but you have to move when the season ticket holders come for their box seats.

Outside (B-) You can stand by the doors leading to the visitors bus or where the home team parks. Theres no security outside but it is dark! There are only parking lot lights and they dont light up much. You have to have a good eye for the players because there is never anyone else out there to help you spot a guy.

Overall (B)


Independent League
Lancaster Barnstormers
Inside (A) Players sign from the dugout all the way down the line. They even have a table set up near the top of the steps where the concessions are where a select few sit at a table and sign autographs before the game.

Outside (A+) There's no security and you can stand in the home teams player parking lot. The visitors bus is about 20 feet away from the home teams parking lot so you can easily run back and forth to get the guys you need. Great lighting for both places. While you are waiting for the home team players, there is a chain link fence that allows you to look inside where the players are walking out. You can see who the players are way before they come to the door.

Overall (A)

Eastern League
Reading Phillies
Inside (A+) It doesn't get any easier then this. The players have to walk through the crowd and down the side of the stands. If you dont know who a guy is, just check his number then check your roster sheet and then run around him along the wooden sawhorses that are set up and wait for him. You really can't mess up here.

Outside (A) They let you stand right outside the locker room door inside the stadium. Theres tons of light and always plenty of people getting autographs to help you figure out who a player is. After awhile the security has to leave so they move everyone outside the doors. Its darker outside but the players have to walk through you to get to their cars or the visitors bus.

Overall (A)

rangersfan7

Yes. Mississippi is great inside and outside. There is a pretty good amount of light. The doors are about 15 or 20 yards from the visitors bus. Overall it is a great park for getting autographs.

My rate is A+

YANKS4LIFE

Rochester

Outside:A+

Inside:A

Overal: a sure A

No wonder its the best minor league franchise.

Ft. Myers Maricle

Outside:F-

Inside:B-

Overall:C

Most beautiful outside stadium.Probaly best in FSL.

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Ny Crush

I'll help yu put with Harrisburg

Harrisburg

Inside - A

Outside - A

Total - A

Great place to get graphs after the game you can stand behind home plate inside th egates and both see both teams leaving. Visiting comes out from behind homw comes a coupelof steps up the first base side! A lot of room.

Akron

Inside - B+

Outside - B

Total - B

Good place all around you could do both teams inside if the crowd is small. Outside is fairly easy, some player walk back to the hotel which is abut two blocks away.

Bowie

Inside - B

Outside - B

Total - B

In both cases you have to pick a side you can't do both team.


This Post

A+++++

Very helpful. I am going to print it and keep it for trips to new stadiums.