Ranking the Minor League Ballparks of the Houston Astros

The Houston Astros began as a member of the National League in 1962 under the moniker, the Houston Colt .45s. In 1965, they moved into the Astrodome and became the team we know today, the Houston Astros. Their current ballpark, Minute Maid Park, is an often overlooked, but quirky venue.

True fans of the Houston Astros may decide to visit each of the team's minor league ballparks. It would be a great way to see the country with teams stretching from California to Oklahoma to Kentucky to New York. Here we present our rankings of the minor league affiliated ballparks of the Houston Astros.

1. Whitaker Bank Ballpark - Home of the Lexington Legends

   

   For over a decade, the Lexington Legends have been providing minor-league baseball entertainment to the Central Kentucky region. Over the years, the Legends and Whitaker Bank Ballpark have seen famous manager tirades, famous pitchers like Roger Clemens, and one South Atlantic League Championship, which came after the Legends inaugural season in 2001. Whitaker Bank Ballpark has a lot of distinctive and unique features that keep fans coming through the turnstiles.

2. Clear Channel Stadium - Home of the Lancaster JetHawks

   

   The year that the JetHawks arrived, the city opened the $14.5 million Lancaster Municipal Stadium. In 2005, the stadium would be renamed to Clear Channel Stadium after the team agreed to a ten year naming rights deal with Clear Channel Communications. Since the name doesn't slip off of the tongue too nicely, many have nicknamed the stadium as "The Hangar" in yet another reference to the aerospace industry.

3. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark - Home of the Oklahoma City RedHawks

   

   If you are a baseball fan you have to love a ballpark located on Mickey Mantle Way. They have done a nice job of honoring Oklahoma's baseball heritage with beautiful statues of Oklahoma's very own Johnny Bench, Warren Spahn and Mickey Mantle located right outside the ballpark. Those statues should get any fan in the mood for baseball, in this case, Pacific Coast League AAA baseball.

4. Joseph L. Bruno Stadium - Home of the Tri-City ValleyCats

   

   Joseph L. Bruno Stadium is home to the Tri-City ValleyCats who are defending Champions in the Class A short season New York/Penn League. Fans in the Albany, Schenectady and Troy areas are fervent supporters of their team which celebrated their 10th Anniversary season in 2011. The team has much to offer fans who attend the game as it is one of the most entertaining experiences in baseball.

5. Whataburger Field - Home of the Corpus Christi Hooks

   

   In 2004, Ryan-Sanders Baseball, decided to relocate their Texas League team to beautiful Corpus Christi. Built on an old cotton farm, Whataburger Field has a new ballpark feel, while still keeping some old Corpus tradition with a few cotton farm buildings in left field.

6. Pioneer Park - Home of the Greeneville Astros

   

   There are several minor league ballparks located in the gorgeous region in East Tennessee, but if you blink then you might overlook Pioneer Park. Pioneer Park has been home to the Greeneville Astros, the Houston Astros' affiliate in the Rookie Appalachian League, since 2004. The team also enjoyed their one and only league championship in 2004.