Ballpark Orientations in the American League

Major League Baseball clearly states in rule 1.04 "THE PLAYING FIELD: It is desirable that the line from home base through the pitchers plate to second base shall run East Northeast." The location of the owner's boxes, prevailing wind directions, and a multitude of other reasons have caused rule 1.04 to be ignored by Major League baseball teams. Baseball Almanac is pleased to present an American League ballpark orientation chart designed to illustrate the actual layouts.

"Several rules of stadium building should be carved on every owner's forehead. Old, if properly refurbished, is always better than new. Smaller is better than bigger. Open is better than closed. Near beats far. Silent visual effects are better than loud ones. Eye pollution hurts attendance. Inside should look as good as outside. Dome stadiums are criminal." - Thomas Boswell in How Life Imitates the World Series (1982)
A.L. Ballpark Orientations

A.L. Ballparks | N.L. Ballparks

Park-by-Park Orientations

 

N

 

W

E

 

S

 

Anaheim Angels

Angel Stadium

 

N

 

W

E

 

S

 

Baltimore Orioles

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

 

N

 

W

E

 

S

 

Boston Red Sox

Fenway Park

 

N

 

W

E

 

S

 

Chicago White Sox

U.S. Cellular Field

 

N

 

W

E

 

S

 

Cleveland Indians

Progressive Field

 

N

 

W

E

 

S

 

Detroit Tigers

Comerica Park

 

N

 

W

E

 

S

 

Kansas City Royals

Kauffman Stadium

 

N

 

W

E

 

S

 

Minnesota Twins

Metrodome

 

N

 

W

E

 

S

 

New York Yankees

Yankee Stadium

 

N

 

W

E

 

S

 

Oakland Athletics

McAfee Coliseum

 

N

 

W

E

 

S

 

Seattle Mariners

Safeco Field

 

N

 

W

E

 

S

 

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Tropicana Field

 

N

 

W

E

 

S

 

Texas Rangers

Rangers Ballpark in Arlington

 

N

 

W

E

 

S

 

Toronto Blue Jays

Rogers Centre

American League Ballpark Orientations



Did you know that there is no rule requirement in regards to home team dugouts? Jonathan Light in The Cultural Encyclopedia of Baseball (1997) wrote, "It (the location) is sometimes based on the whim of the owner, in part depending upon where the owner's executive suite is and whether the dugout can be seen from that vantage point." Some are on the first base side and others are on the third base side and in the American League seven of the fourteen teams have them on the first base side.

The sun itself actually plays a role in rule 1.04 as modern ballparks are "supposed" to be designed & built so that the sun sets behind third base and shines on right field — where fly balls are less frequent due to the larger number of right handed hitters.

The sun, the owner, the dugout, the wind, the physical position of the site where the ballpark is built, and other factors are all taken into account in ballpark construction. Share what you know about your favorite ballpark on Baseball Fever.