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Sports

The history of Major League ballparks

Updated 1:26 PM EDT, Fri April 14, 2017
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Boston's Fenway Park, which opened in 1912, is one of the "jewel box" ballparks, a style that was popular from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.
Boston's Fenway Park, which opened in 1912, is one of the "jewel box" ballparks, a style that was popular from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.
Library of Congress
Wrigley Field in Chicago, which opened in 1914, is the only other stadium from the jewel-box era that is still in use. This is a view from the grandstands in 1927.
Wrigley Field in Chicago, which opened in 1914, is the only other stadium from the jewel-box era that is still in use. This is a view from the grandstands in 1927.
Chicago History Museum/Getty Images
The 1960s ushered in multipurpose stadiums, which MLB teams commonly shared with NFL teams. The only one still in use is in northern California, where the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum is used by MLB's Oakland Athletics and the NFL's Oakland -- <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2017%2F03%2F27%2Fnews%2Fnfl-raiders-las-vegas-move%2F" target="_blank">though soon to be Las Vegas</a> -- Raiders.
The 1960s ushered in multipurpose stadiums, which MLB teams commonly shared with NFL teams. The only one still in use is in northern California, where the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum is used by MLB's Oakland Athletics and the NFL's Oakland -- though soon to be Las Vegas -- Raiders.
Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports
The Astrodome, former home of MLB's Houston Astros and the NFL's Houston Oilers, opened in 1965 and was the first fully enclosed sports stadium. It was also the first MLB park to use artificial turf.
The Astrodome, former home of MLB's Houston Astros and the NFL's Houston Oilers, opened in 1965 and was the first fully enclosed sports stadium. It was also the first MLB park to use artificial turf.
The LIFE Images Collection/Getty
Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles signaled the "modern" era in building ballparks specifically for baseball. Built in 1962, it's the third-oldest MLB stadium still in use.
Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles signaled the "modern" era in building ballparks specifically for baseball. Built in 1962, it's the third-oldest MLB stadium still in use.
Vince Compagnone/LA Times/Getty Images
Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals, is another modern ballpark. It opened as Royals Stadium in 1973.
Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals, is another modern ballpark. It opened as Royals Stadium in 1973.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
The first retractable-roof venue was the SkyDome (now called the Rogers Centre), which opened in 1989 for MLB's Toronto Blue Jays.
The first retractable-roof venue was the SkyDome (now called the Rogers Centre), which opened in 1989 for MLB's Toronto Blue Jays.
Rick Stewart/Getty Images
Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened in 1992 to rave reviews, and it brought in a new era of baseball stadiums. These stadiums blended the old-fashioned, intimate feel of parks that were built in the early 1900s, but they also added modern and luxury amenities.
Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened in 1992 to rave reviews, and it brought in a new era of baseball stadiums. These stadiums blended the old-fashioned, intimate feel of parks that were built in the early 1900s, but they also added modern and luxury amenities.
Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images
Oriole Park spawned several imitators, such as Turner Field in Atlanta, which was the home of the Atlanta Braves from 1997-2016.
Oriole Park spawned several imitators, such as Turner Field in Atlanta, which was the home of the Atlanta Braves from 1997-2016.
STEVE SCHAEFER/AFP/Getty Images
SunTrust Park is Atlanta's new ballpark. Its first event was an exhibition game between the Braves and the New York Yankees on March 31.
SunTrust Park is Atlanta's new ballpark. Its first event was an exhibition game between the Braves and the New York Yankees on March 31.
Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

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