Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael Griffin
We’re a society that prioritizes change. Many old buildings have been demolished, and new ones have been erected in their place. Stadiums are no exception, with new ones being built constantly. But there’s always the palpable feeling of loss when watching the old one being razed by the wrecking ball. It feels like ghosts of baseball legends are being displaced from their homes. Here are 12 such examples.
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Tiger Stadium: Where the Smell of Hot Dogs Met the Roar of Detroit
People who visited Tiger Stadium never forgot their first trip there. It had an atmosphere that felt uniquely Detroit. If you go to the Corktown area, rumors are that you can still hear Reggie Jackson’s 1971 All-Star Game homer clanking off the facade.
Old Yankee Stadium: The House That Ruth—and Echoes—Built
Not even the ghosts of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle could convince George Steinbrenner not to build a new stadium. Yankee fans had to watch their historic stadium go down in pieces and witness the pain to corporations go up next to it. The new stadium has all the feel of an office building.
Comiskey Park: Home of Exploding Scoreboards and Secret Handshakes
When the ChiSox played their final game at home, fortunately, the fans didn’t decide to recreate that disastrous Disco Demolition Night. Instead, they focused on South Side pride, sausage races, and fireworks exploding over Bill Veeck’s scoreboard. The new park has gone through more name changes than someone in a failed witness protection program.
The Astrodome: Space-Age Wonder, Complete With Orange Seats
The Astrodome, which seemed to blast fans into the future at the time with its air conditioning and AstroTurf, a scoreboard that made you dizzy, and those iconic orange seats, isn’t actually gone. It still lingers, empty, while community groups still try to decide what to do with it decades after the last Astros game.
Ebbets Field: Brooklyn’s Lost Heartbeat and the Best Egg Creams
Flatbush’s crown jewel, where Jackie broke barriers and the crowd’s cheers spilled into the streets is no more. There’s a housing project there, but people who go there can look at where home plate used to be.
Candlestick Park: Where Giants Played and Fans Froze Together
How windy was Candlestick at times? A pitcher got blown off the mound. There were times when a third baseman would call for a pop up…. and the first baseman would be the one who caught it. While it might be nice to catch balls in McCovey’s Cove in a kayak, being at the ‘Stick was an experience.
Shea Stadium: Planes Overhead, Beatles Below, Mets in the Middle
While The Beatles might have put on an amazing show at Shea, it was the home of the Mets for 46 years. During that time, the re were instances of capacity crowds being so raucous that the seats swayed to an empty stadium so quiet that players could hear individual conversation. I like Citi Field, but Shea had my heart for a long time.
Forbes Field: Where Mazeroski’s Homer Still Reverberates
Fans who went to Forbes Field got to see some amazing games. Their lasting memory is of watching Yogi Berra peel away from the outfield wall as Bill Mazeroski’s homer sails over it to win the ’60 series. Even though PNC Park is the second park to be build after the Pirates left (Three Rivers was the first), this place still resides in a lot of Bucs fans’ hearts.
Municipal Stadium (Cleveland): Massive, Moody, and Forever Windy
Seventy thousand empty seats could feel haunted, but when it filled up, people could seemingly hear the crowd at Cleveland Municipal blocks away. For some, surviving Ten-Cent Beer Night was a core memory.
The Kingdome: Concrete Monstrosity with a Soft Spot for Fans
Sure, it looked like a giant Tupperware container, but Seattle’s Kingdome kept the rain off fans’ heads and the Mariners in business. Unfortunately, fans never got to celebrate a championship, but they will forever remember Griffey’s Slide in 1995.
Crosley Field: Crosley Burgers, Rain Delays, and the Incline
This was the site of the first night game in baseball history. It was 1935, and the Reds hosted the Phillies. Fans got to see legends like Frank Robinson play there before it closed in 1970.
Memorial Stadium (Baltimore): Crab Cakes, Orange Seats, and ‘Thank You, Fans!’
Memorial Stadium closed a lot later than many people might think. The last game was in 1991, which meant that Cal Ripken was still building his streak. Fans got to see him break it at Camden Yards, but they will always have memories of those 1970s Orioles, like Jim Palmer and Brooks Robinson.