Located just east of downtown Minneapolis, the Metrodome features a distinctive air-supported fiberglass roof, a 23′ canvas fence in right field, and the liveliest artificial turf in the major leagues. The stadium, also used by the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, was dubbed the Homer Dome in its inaugural season when 191 home runs were hit there, but with the addition of air conditioning in 1984 and the gradual raising of the fences (left field is now 13′ high), it has become a largely neutral home run park. The white roof, which makes it difficult to see fly balls, collapsed during the fall of 1982, but was quickly reinflated.
On May 4, 1984, Dave Kingman was awarded a double when his towering infield pop-up hit the roof and never came down. It was later discovered that the ball had stuck in a drainage hole. Rob Deer of the Tigers hit the roof with popups in two straight at-bats on May 30, 1992, both caught for outs by Greg Gagne. That same year, the Twins Chili Davis saw a sure home run caught by Mark McLemore of the Orioles after hitting a speaker.
The Twins thrive on the support of an often deafening crowd in the Metrodome. In 1987, the team went 56-25 but only 29-52 on the road en route to their first World Series appearance since 1965. Luckily, they drew home-field advantage; despite losing three games in Busch Stadium, they swept four home games to become World Champions. They were the first World Series games ever played indoors.
