Miami Marlins Stadium Tour Series: Comerica Park

Baseball loves its cathedrals.

Sure, the other sports can offer up the odd gem.  Lambeau Field.  Madison Square Garden.  But most of the discussion about the feared football or beloved basketball palaces, past or present, revolve around factors like crowd noise, or “being on top of the action.”  However, unless you’re one of those executives who pick where the Super Bowl is going to be, stadium aesthetics tend to be of secondary importance.

Baseball is different though.  Our ballparks are as much a part of the team as any player is, and that goes for all thirty teams in the majors.  The handful of us that did still show up in July and August for day games at Pro Player? The dull concrete torment was just part of being a Marlins fan, to the point that all the snide remarks from national commentators seemed a bit over the top.

And then I went to Wrigley, and suspected they might be on to something.  And then Yankee Stadium.  And U.S. Cellular.  And Miller Park. And Busch Stadium.  The list went on, and any doubt that the Marlins could do with a baseball facelift went out the window.

More from Marlins History

• Miami Marlins One-Year Wonder 1B
• Miami Marlins players & the 2023 Hall of Fame
• Former Miami Marlins star is retiring
• Gary Sheffield or Mark Buehrle, will either Marlin make the Hall of Fame?
• Why don’t we see more dynasties? Part 3

Ballpark chasing is a passion of mine, to me one of the best parts of being a baseball fan.  Different cities bring vastly different styles, as well as vastly different levels of enthusiasm and commitment to the game itself.  From a Marlins first perspective, consider that it’s only a recent occurrence that even season ticket holders get to watch Giancarlo Stanton take batting practice at Marlins Park; if you want to see one of the best power shows in sports, you need to hit the road to do it.  Want those Marlins autographs?  Odds go up immensely when you travel.  The up close access most parks allow up until forty minutes from first pitch, regardless of what seats you hold tickets for, affords you the chance for amazing photographs and some lasting memories.  It’s well worth doing.  And not just for the baseball, you’d be amazed what else you can fit in to a vacation planned around a 3-4 hour sporting event, and what this country’s cities and states have to offer.

So starting here, every road stadium that I’ve visited- up to 17/30 at this point- will get a special write up detailing the Marlins record at the park in question, as well as some notable moments in overall franchise history between the clubs.

So for the first stop on our stadium tour series, we give you the site of tonight’s action: Comerica Park, the home of the Detroit Tigers.

Next: Marlins-Tigers History