Categories: Adventure & Sports; Fitness & Health

The Baseball Lover's Guide to New York

By aliciak
updated 2 months ago

New York is so cool (read: populated and sports-budget-happy) that we have two baseball teams, a brand-spankin' new Sports Museum, and the honor of hosting the All-Star Game. Batting cages, ball fields, amateur leagues, stadiums getting demolished for new ones, you name it, we've got you covered. This guide is for all baseball lovers, no matter who you are cheering for this summer.

Yankees versus Mets

They do occasionally play each other in the “Subway Series,” but this is more of a personal predicament that faces most New Yorkers. The cocky Yankees or the underdog Mets? (I say neither, but I’m a born-and-bred Pittsburgher—we aren’t allowed to root for non-Steel town teams…sorry!).

Below is what you need to know if you’re a fan of either and like to go beyond the confines of your couch and HDTV.

Yankee Stadium

E 161st St & River Ave, Bronx, NY 10451

I used to see a small sliver of the field every morning on my way to work in the Bronx and was still in awe each time that “this is where the Yankees play.” Not impressed, just starstruck in that way you are when you see a celebrity walking down the street—OMG it’s real!

Yankee Stadium will face the wrecking ball at the end of the 2008 season and a nearby stadium of the same name will take over in 2009. It’s a little too poignant that a baseball franchise in one of the poorest areas in the entire country has the biggest budget and can build a new 1.3 billion stadium, just because.

Shea Stadium

123 01 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11368

Following suit, the Mets’ home will also be demolished at the end of the season, to be replaced by Citi Stadium. Nope, that’s not a typo, “Citi” as in the company. Ah corporate sponsorship.

Shea has been criticized almost from the beginning for its odd design features: no permanent bleachers until recently, huge amount of foul territory and lack of intimacy among others. Well, critics, you got your way then!

Following suit, the Mets’ home will also be demolished at the end of the season, to be replaced by Citi Stadium. Nope, that’s not a typo, “Citi” as in the company. Ah corporate sponsorship.

Richmond County Bank Ballpark

75 Richmond Terrace Staten Island, NY 10301

I have never been to a “Yankees game” here, but I did attempt to see a cricket game played with an Aussie and some friends. The scheduled game apparently got canceled, rendering the long trek from Brooklyn to Manhattan to Staten Island worthless. BUT, we all wrote haikus about the experience and the Aussie came up with this one:

Cricket match canceled
Without a single warning
Screw that with a hose.

BEST Haiku ever, no matter what you say!

Keyspan Park

1904 Surf Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11224

Baseball in Coney Island, traditional meets eclectic. Even though I AM a baseball fan, my indie rocker side is stronger, and hence, my experience here is limited to a White Stripes/Shins concert.

I recommend this venue though purely based on the fact that it’s practically on the beach and you can see the Parachute Jump.

Frozen Ropes Baseball Center

555 East 90th Street New York, NY 10128

This strangely-named baseball center charges $75/hour to bat against the pitching machine; there are all sorts of programs available to players, mostly kids, as well as coaches. But seriously, “Frozen Ropes”?

UPDATE: So, according to my dad (who reads Guidespot, yeah!), “frozen rope” in the olden days referred to a strong, straight line-drive. Mystery solved! (Thanks, dad!)

Sports Center At Chelsea Piers the

Chelsea Piers Pier 60, New York, NY 10001

What doesn’t Chelsea Piers have??? Well, no baseball diamond, but it does have batting cages and hitting clinics. Again, the baseball programs are more geared towards kids, even the birthday party rental. How come adults always have go to bars to celebrate everything?

Ball Fields Abound

For some, hitting a few at the batting cage doesn’t suffice…it’s only one small part of the fantabulous sport!

I should mention that I played softball for 12 straight years, 8 slow-pitch and 4 fast-pitch, so when I landed in New York, I quickly sought out league options. Well, I played ONE game and couldn’t commit to the long trek up to Central Park among other things, but maybe you can?

Nowadays, I get my baseball fix by watching little league games in the park…helps with the whole reminiscing thing too.

Central Park

5th Ave & 59th St, Manhattan, NY 10024

Baseball fields are everywhere in Central Park, but more specifically: around 60th Street, 83rd Street and 100th Street, but most of these are reserved during prime time, which in NYC means “always” in the summer. Prepare to be booted out if you don’t have a permit!