Dodger Dogs to Fenway Franks: And All the Wieners in Between

Wood, a high-school history teacher in Kalamazoo, Mich., undertook an odyssey in 1985 to visit in one summer all of the 26 parks where big-league baseball is played. He determined that he would grade the sites on eight criteria: layout and upkeep, the ball field, seating, the scoreboard, food, courtesy of employees, facilities and atmosphere. Giving grades from A+ to D, he concluded that the two best parks in the majors are Dodger Stadium in L.A. and Royals Stadium in Kansas City, although he didn't care much for the food at the former or the ballfield at the latter. The worst, he decided, are Houston's Astrodome and Toronto's Exhibition Stadium. Fans across the nation and Canada will want to know how their stadiums rank and why, so the book should be popular. (August)