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In with the new

Recent history favors teams with new ballparks

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The Brewers hope a small change in address will mean a large leap in the standings. AP

By Jacob Luft, CNNSI.com

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers are hoping their 1999 records went down in the same rubble as their old stadiums.

Recent history, at least, is on the side of the Pirates (69-93) and Brewers (73-89) improving when they move into PNC Park and Miller Park, respectively.

Since 1950, 18 of 26 teams improved their records in their first year in a new stadium. Five of those clubs -- the 2000 Giants, '97 Braves, '95 Rockies, '89 Blue Jays, and '70 Reds -- earned a trip to the playoffs in their first year.

However, only three teams in baseball history have won the World Series when debuting a new stadium -- the 1909 Pirates (Forbes Field), 1912 Red Sox (Fenway Park) and 1923 Yankees (Yankee Stadium).

The 1901 White Sox won the American League pennant in their first season at Southside Park but the first World Series was not played until 1903.

The St. Louis Cardinals split the 1966 season in the new and old Busch Stadiums, finishing in sixth place. They won the 1967 World Series in their first full season at new Busch Stadium. Ditto for the Pirates of 1970-71, who moved into Three Rivers Stadium during the '70 campaign before winning the Series in '71.

Movin' on up
The teams with the biggest increases in winning percentage in their first season in a new stadium (since 1950).
Team	Years	Ballparks	W-L, Pct.	Diff.
Orioles	1992	Camden Yards	89-73, .549	.135
	1991	Memorial Stadium	67-95, .414
Expos	1977	Olympic Stadium	75-87, .453	.123
	1976	Jarry Park	55-107, .340
Indians	1994	Jacobs Field	66-47, .584	.115
	1993	Cleveland Stadium	76-86, .469
Angels	1962	Dodger Stadium	86-76, .531	.096
	1961	Wrigley Field (LA)	70-91, .435
Rockies	1995*	Coors Field	77-67, .535	.082
	1994	Mile High Stadium	53-64, .453
*Made playoffs

Inauspicious Debuts
The teams with the biggest decreases in winning percentage in their first season in a new stadium (since 1950).
Team	Years	Ballparks	W-L, Pct.	Diff.
Astros	2000	Enron Field	72-90, .444	-.155
	1999*	Astrodome	97-65, .599
Rangers	1994	The Ballpark	52-62, .456	-.075
	1993	Arlington Stadium	86-76, .531
Chicago-AL	1991	New Comiskey Park	87-75, .537	-.043
	1990	Comiskey Park	94-68, .580
Phillies	1971	Veterans Stadium	67-95, .414	-.039
	1970	Connie Mack Stadium	73-88, .453
Giants	1960	Candlestick Park	79-75, .513	-.026
	1959	Seals Stadium	83-71, .539
*Made playoffs

 

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