With numerous books and even more numerous websites offering information on ballparks, how do I decide which ballparks to use? Well, it is pretty well determined which parks teams used on a regular basis. Things get foggy when you talk about "short term" or "single game" parks. Things get even crazier with Negro League ballparks. Here is how I do it:

For non-regular ballparks, I only list sites where an OFFICIAL game took place. No barnstorming or exhibition games need apply. I use Retrosheet as my main source. I have taken their list and modified it slightly when someone presents me with evidence that I can't refute.

Negro League parks are the most difficult. The leagues were loosely organized and all teams barnstormed a lot. Some games were official, others were not, and they often changed. After combing through a lot of books, websites, newspapers, and personal interviews, I have decided two things. First of all, even though I know the Negro Leagues lasted to 1961, they were clearly not a "major" league at that point. I have decided to use 1954 as the cut off year for the Negro Leagues because that is when I feel the talent shifted enough to make them a "minor" league. The other thing I have decided on is that the best list for Negro League parks is the one published in the 2006 ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia.

Since baseball has been around since the 1800s, there have been hundreds and hundreds of professional (people who are payed to play) baseball teams all playing in hundreds of parks. So, in making the historical list of parks, I have adhered to the following guidelines.

*NOTE* As time goes on and I am able to conduct more research, this list will be updated.

• The only teams that I have listed are the "classical" major leagues: National Association, National League, American Association, Union Association, Players League, American League, Federal League, and the Negro Leagues recognized by the Negro League Baseball Players Association.
• Even though teams have existed before the birth of their respective league, I am only listing as far back as the birth of the league.
• If a team has been assimilated from another league (such as Pittsburgh was taken from the American Association) the first date listed is the first year they were in that league.
• I hope to add parks from various other leagues in the future.
• If a park has changed names, such as Joe Robbie Stadium to Pro Player Stadium, the newer name is listed. All known previous names will be listed on sub pages.
• If a park has been renovated or razed and the new park is on the same site as the old park, both parks are treated as the same. For example, Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh was built on the same site as Exposition Park. The parks will be divided in sub pages.
• If a park has changed names (Weeghman Park to Wrigley Field) and a team played in the park during a period of the older name (Federal League Chicago Whales), the new name is still used. Other names are listed in sub pages.
• If a new park is built with the same name as an old park, such as Comiskey Park, the first is listed with a "I" the second with a "II".
• In order for a park to be listed, a team must play the majority of at least one season in the park.
• I have added the All American Girls Professional Baseball League.
• All information is as correct as far as I know. I have used multiple sources, but if I am incorrect in anything, please contact me at paul@projectballpark.org.

Here is my list of resources used:

• Benson, Michael. Ballparks of North America. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., Inc., 1989.
• Filichia, Peter. Professional Baseball Franchises. New York: Facts On File, 1993.
• James, Bill. The New Historical Baseball Abstract. New York: The Free Press, 2001.
• Lowry, Philip J. Green Cathedrals. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Inc., 1992.
• Mock, Joe. Joe Mock's Ballpark Guide. Round Rock, TX: Grand Slam Enterprises, 2001.
• Munsey and Suppes. Ballparks.com (web site). 12 January 2003.
• Negro League Baseball Players Association. (web site). 12 January 2003.
• Negro League Researchers and Authors Group. Out of the Shadows.net (web site). 12 January 2003.
• Nichols, Dan. Major League Franchise Information (web site). 2 May 2003.
• Reisler, Jim. Babe Ruth Slept Here: The Baseball Landmarks of New York City. South Bend, IA: Diamond Communications, 1998.
• Spalding, Albert G. Base Ball: America's National Game 1839 - 1915 San Francisco: Halo Books, 1991.
• Leventhal, Josh. Take Me Out to the Ballpark New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 2003.
• All-Baseball. Retired Numbers (web site). 3 January 2004.
• All American Girls Professional Baseball League. (web site). 16 January 2005.