James Buckley

America's Classic Ballparks by James Buckley is a fun read for any fan of the sport, even the most casual of one.

Part of the fun of going to a professional baseball game is the atmosphere, and a large part of that is the ballpark itself. One of the best feelings is coming through to the seating area and getting that first glimpse of the field. This book brings back all of those memories.

Baseball nostalgia is almost a beast unto itself. We fondly remember the places and games we saw, but we also tend to be nostalgic for things we never saw but only heard about. I have been to a number of the ballparks included here, and certainly enjoyed my walk down memory lane. But the ballparks I never visited I still felt nostalgic over, because they are such a big part of the history of the game. Many baseball fans become fans when they are young, so even the history-based nostalgia can take us back to our childhood. At least it does me.

While the truly iconic parks are included, readers will remember the places that stand out for them, usually because of where they lived. For me, Memorial Stadium in Baltimore is the place of my childhood (both baseball and football). DC/RFK Stadium was the other one for me because my dad, poor guy, was a Senators fan. While neither stadium is included the book still brought back memories of those ballparks.

Highly recommended for anyone who likes baseball. Whether the feel of going to the ballpark or the memories of baseball's milestones, this volume will take you back.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (mere)