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Anonymous
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minute_Maid_Park#Features
"In contrast to the ease of hitting a home run to the Crawford Boxes, it is quite difficult to hit a ball out in center field. Fielding is a challenge there as well, due to the 90-foot (27 m) wide, 30-degree incline grade, known as Tal's Hill, for team president Tal Smith, an element taken from Crosley Field and other historic ballparks (in a bit of gallows humor, the hill is also known as the "Grassy Knoll"), and the flagpole in play, an element taken from Yankee Stadium (before its remodeling in the mid-'70s) and Tiger Stadium among others. Milwaukee Brewers player Richie Sexson once hit a ball off the flagpole and there is still a mark there. The difference is that the Crosley Field "terrace", which was half as steep at 15-degrees, was necessitated by the difference in elevation between field level and street level, while Tal's Hill is purely decorative. Both structures have been held in equal disdain by the respective outfielders who have had to patrol those areas. This hill has caused some of the most replayed catches in recent baseball history, and plenty of controversy as well. Lance Berkman said, "If the ball rolls onto the hill, it's not steep enough to roll back, so you have to go get it. Then there's the chance of running into the flagpole that's on it and getting hurt. Fans started an online petition to remove the hill and flagpole, though the petition has since been discontinued."
It seems to be a purely aesthetic choice, which makes it even more stupid.
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