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A Mass. ballpark was just named the second best in the nation by USA Today readers
Hint: It's not in Boston.
Baseball season is upon us and a minor league ballpark in Massachusetts just ranked among the two best in the nation.
USA Today released a list of the 10 best minor league ballparks in the U.S., part of its 2025 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, and Polar Park in Worcester ranked No. 2. It was beat out only by Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa, which ranked No. 1.
“Baseball is known as America’s favorite pastime, and minor league ballparks make the game accessible to everyone,” wrote USA Today, adding that the country’s best minor league parks have great atmosphere, amenities, and architecture.
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Here is what USA Today wrote about Polar Park:
Designed by the late Larry Lucchino and Janet Marie Smith — who collaborated to build Orioles Park at Camden Yards 30 years ago — Polar Park is home of the Worcester Red Sox. This cozy park opened in 2021 in the heart of Worcester and has helped revitalize New England’s second largest city. Fans love their new home, and the WooSox are the only club in all of Minor League Baseball to sell more than 500,000 tickets each of the last three years.
The publication also named Smiley Ball, the mascot for the Worcester Red Sox, No. 5 among the 10 best minor league mascots in the U.S. The No. 1 mascot is Orbit, the mascot for the Albuquerque Isotopes.
“This bright yellow ball not only represents the WooSox, but also the town’s history as the birthplace of the smiley face,” wrote USA Today.
The Worcester Red Sox begin their fifth season at Polar Park on Friday. Fans interested in attending a game this season can check out the 2025 Worcester Red Sox schedule.
For the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards lists, USA Today travel experts select 20 nominees in topics from food to lodging, destinations to things to do. Then the publication asks readers to cast votes to determine the top 10.
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Check out the list of the 10 best minor league ballparks in the U.S.
The publication also released a list of the 10 best MLB stadiums in the U.S. and Boston’s Fenway Park, the oldest active ballpark in Major League Baseball, didn’t make the cut. Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia ranked No. 1 on that list.
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