Class A Photo Album

High A

Sometimes called "Advanced A," this level has the more advanced prospects in Class A.  There are three leagues at this level:  California League; Carolina League and Florida State League.  All three have some beautiful ballparks.  Here are the best:

Legends Field in Tampa is the Spring home of the Major League Yankees (Roger Clemens is on the hill against the Astros in the shot on the left) and the summer home of the Tampa Yankees of the Florida State League.  A stunningly beautiful ballpark -- one that easily meets AAA standards.

No expense was spared.  The landscaping outside is incredible, and there is even a miniature "monument park" at the main entrance (see the photo on the right).  Here the retired uniform numbers of the all-time greats of the Yankees are remembered.  Inside, all of the seats have backs, and there is an extensive gift shop filled with souvenirs of the wildy popular -- and also wildly hated -- parent club.

Many observers feel that the Lake Elsinore Diamond in California is the prettiest of all Class A parks.  The stadium itself is very nice and has an outstanding entryway (see above).  The setting is also beyond compare, with a gorgeous lake (at the base of a huge mountain) behind the park and a view of the rugged Southern California mountains beyond center field.  The park is the home of the Lake Elsinore Storm of the California League.

An incredibly beautiful exterior and an unbelievably beautiful -- and unique! -- interior from two different parks in the Florida State League.  The shot on the left is Hammond Stadium, home of the Ft. Myers Miracle.  Its fountains, palm trees and gorgeous exterior make it one of the most attractive ballparks in the Sunshine State.  Its interior is not as noteworthy -- but the one in Vero Beach sure is!  The photo on the right was indeed taken at Holman Stadium during a Vero Beach Dodgers game, and it shows the unusual features of flowers and trees (that's a trunk along the left edge of the shot) within the seating bowl!  Other unique aspects include dugouts without roofs, a press box without walls and a lake within the confines of the stadium.  Truly, there is nothing else like it in all of baseball!

It's hard to imagine a Minor League park with more attention to detail than Coastal Federal Field in Myrtle Beach SC, which is the home of the Carolina League's Pelicans.  Examples of this attention to detail include the intricate brick work, the landscaping, the concourses and the beautiful souvenir shop.  There's even a reflecting pond on the far end of the park.

One other "detail" about this ballpark:  in its first season (1999), it produced an infielder named Rafael Furcal . . . and the next year, he was a starter in the big leagues for the defending National League pennant winners, the Braves.

Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater used to appear here, but it is now gone, replaced by Bright House Network Field (above), the new home of the Phillies in the spring and the FSL's Threshers during the regular season. It is one impressive ballpark. It even showed up in the top ten of all minor-league facilities (of any sport) in a reader poll in Minor League News!

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