Contrast

Here lets focus on how the outfield wall (representing a split line between the playing surface and the crowd) presents a direct design opportunity for contrast and how it is addressed in contemporary ballparks.

Green Monster, Fenway Park

Fenway Park home of the Boston Red Sox is famous (or infamous) for how they contrast the playing surface by contrasting a short right field with a 37 foot high green wall. Separated from the outfield grass by the tan of the warning track dirt the wall shoots up in the sky and adds unique features to the game no other ballpark in the majors can offer. One example of this is a mysterious door home team players go in and out of. Another example of how this contrast creates new elements is line drives that normally are catchable must now be played off of the wall. the main way i see this as a successful exhibition in contrast is that it is so different, unconventional, and truly extreme yet feels as if it belongs there comfortably nested in the boston sky. On top of that the seats that are on top of the wall brings the fans a new experience and are some of the hardest tickets to get.

Tal's Hill, Minute Maid Park

Here we have a feeble attempt at contrast. Above is Tal's Hill a 90 foot wide hill on a 30 degree slope. Not to mention the pole. All of which is in play. Even though these features happened in historic baseball parks, when they did it was because they were natural features of the sight, Tal's Hill is purely decorative and in that it fails. While it has produced some highly replayed highlights the down side of the danger of playing on a hill outweighs the associated glamor, especially for the players. Wikipedia states a petition by fans to remove the hill and pole was started but not followed through. Without any function or rational it is empty contrast which is why it feels out of place.