Ballpark Roadtrip: Citi Field

CBSNews.com's Gordon Donovan tours New York's Citi Field in the fifth of a five-part "Ballpark Roadtrip" photo series.

Unfortunately, one of the biggest problems with Citi Field is that it honors the Brooklyn Dodgers and Jackie Robinson, not the New York Mets.

The first time I went to Citi Field after the Mets installed the fan walk, I looked at this new beautiful park I saw a couple in their early 50's checking out the new park. The man's father, who was near 80 years, old sat there teary-eyed. The new ballpark awoke memories of a field and team that picked up and left Brooklyn after the 1957 season.

On Opening Day, the ballpark was sterile, with no memories of the Mets' 47-year history and two world championship teams. The Dodgers won only one championship while in Brooklyn. As you enter the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, images of Brooklyn Dodgers and Ebbets Field are on display.

The rotunda is beautiful, but where is the Mets stuff? Aren't the Mets the team that replaced and the Giants and Dodgers and took their colors and logo? The Mets played their first seasons at the Polo Grounds and then Shea Stadium. I don't see any images of those parks, just a big number 42.

The center field area is filled with food vendors and areas to eat, including the Shake Shack. Behind the center field scoreboard is the 2K Sports FanFest area, an expanded family entertainment area that includes a miniature wiffleball field replica of Citi Field.

The Shake Shack Burger for $5.25. You can also get a double burger for $8.25. An hour before game time the line is 45 minutes long. I was there at 5:30 and got a burger hot off the grill in a minute with a shake. I went back for seconds and waited only a moment.

The sneakers of a Mets outfielder sit on the outfield grass at Citi Field during batting practice, Tuesday, July 29, 2009.

The home run big apple from Shea Stadium is now in "The Bullpen Gate" at Citi Field. It's one of the most popular photo spots for fans.

Young fans in the left field seats attempt to get a ball from players during batting practice. The ballpark is great, except wouldn't know you were in New York. It feels like you're at a Met game on the road.

One of the few things the Mets have added since the season started to honor their past. In the bullpen gate you will find the Mets championship and pennant markers near the home run apple.

Retired numbers of the Met managers Casey Stengel, Gil Hodges, Hall of Fame Mets pitcher Tom Seaver, Brooklyn Dodger great Jackie Robinson and Bill Shea, who brought National League baseball back to New York.

The right field foul pole in Citi Field, seen as Colorado Rockies players work out during batting practice. Shea Stadium was the only ballpark in the Major Leagues to feature orange foul poles instead of the standard yellow, a unique characteristic that made its way into Citi Field.

The glove and hat of Rockies pitcher Josh Fogg sits on the ground during batting practice prior to the start of the Mets-Rockies game.

The Citi Field logo is everywhere, here on the side of the seats of the Mets new home at Citi Field.

Mets mascot Mr. Met shoots t-shirts during the crowd with the Pepsi Party Patrol during the seventh inning stretch.

Citi Field is seen from the upper promenade level in section 514. Citi Field is a much better and larger facility than Shea Stadium which you can walk around the entire park at the field level.

The Pepsi Cola sign above the Pepsi Porch. The porch reminds people of the one at Tiger Stadium. Great seats, great view, the porch hangs 8 feet over the field of play. The only problem is when a ball is hit into right field beneath you, you lose the action.

A view of the Mets' new Citi Vision in center field is seen from the promenade level along the right field side of Citi Field.

Citi Field, the new home of the New York Mets, glows at night while fans exit the park following the Mets 4-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies. As a life-long Mets fan, it pains me to say that Paul McCartney was the best performance at Citi Field so far this season.

Concessions and bathrooms are plentiful on each level. Citi Field is a much better and larger facility than Shea Stadium. You can walk around the entire park on the field level. Start walking down from upper levels before game is over. It will take about 20 minutes to get there on a train.