Tal’s Hill (former feature)

E441300

Tal’s Hill was a distinctive, sloped outfield incline with a flagpole in play that once formed a quirky and challenging part of the center field at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Tal’s Hill 0

Statements (42)

Predicate Object
instanceOf baseball field feature
sports venue architectural feature
alsoKnownAs The Grassy Knoll NERFINISHED
associatedWith center field wall at Minute Maid Park
associatedWithTeam Houston Astros NERFINISHED
ballparkNameAtOpening Enron Field NERFINISHED
ballparkSubsequentName Minute Maid Park NERFINISHED
country United States of America
surface form: United States
designIntent to evoke classic, idiosyncratic ballpark features
era early years of Minute Maid Park
fanPerception polarizing but iconic feature of Minute Maid Park
flagpoleLocation on the hill in live field of play
hasFeature grass surface
in-play flagpole
steep incline
warning track at base of hill
heightApproximate about 30 feet from base to top
inPlayStatus fair territory
inspiredBy Crosley Field terrace NERFINISHED
other historical ballpark inclines
knownFor being one of Major League Baseball’s quirkiest outfield features
creating difficult plays for center fielders
unusual bounces of batted balls
locatedIn Houston NERFINISHED
Minute Maid Park NERFINISHED
Texas
United States of America
surface form: United States
namedAfter Tal Smith NERFINISHED
noLongerExistsAsFeature true
openedForUse 2000
partOf center field at Minute Maid Park
positionRelativeToField center field
reasonForRemoval desire to create more conventional outfield configuration
fan safety and playability concerns
outfield renovation at Minute Maid Park
removedIn 2016
replacedBy expanded, level outfield area
safetyConcern risk of outfielders tripping or losing footing
slopeDescription sharp incline rising from warning track to center-field wall
sport baseball
usedDuringLeague Major League Baseball postseason games
Major League Baseball regular season games

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Minute Maid Park hasFeature Tal’s Hill (former feature)