Oneonta Tigers sold
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Miles
Prentice, owner of the Huntsville Stars (Class AA;
Southern League) and the Midland RockHounds (Class
AA; Texas League), is buying the Oneonta Tigers
(short season; NY-Penn League) from longtime owner
Sam Nader and the rest of the investors in Oneonta
Athletic Corp. The deal was announced yesterday by
the 88-year-old Nader and is subject to approval
from the NY-Penn League, MiLB and MLB. No terms
were released. As part of the deal Prentice will
keep the team in Oneonta through the 2010 season,
but we can't imagine he'll be in a hurry to move
it: he's kept the Stars in Huntsville despite
offers of new ballparks from other cities. The
more immediate issue is whether Prentice will
serve beer at Damaschke Field: under Nader and
crew the Tigers
have never sold beer at the
ballpark, the only minor-league franchise to pass
on that particular revenue stream. We're guessing
Prentice will have the taps ready to go next
season.
More from the Oneonta Daily Star.
Ballpark Visit:
Damaschke Field, Oneonta Tigers
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Last season saw the long-needed renovation of
Damaschke Field,
the home of the Oneonta Tigers
(short season; NY-Penn
League). The basic character of the ballpark,
which opened in 1940, was left intact; added were
sorely needed concessions and clubhouses, as well
as a general cleaning of the place. But box seats
for season-ticket holders still ring the field,
and you still can't buy a beer there.
Read more here.
Sarpy County hires
consultant to work on new O-Royals ballpark
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Convention
Sports and Leisure International snared a $70,000
contract to consult with Sarpy County on a
potential new ballpark for the Omaha Royals (Class
AAA; Pacific Coast League). The contract has CSI
looking at the suitability of Sarpy County for
baseball and how the county could finance a new
facility, which would seat at least 9,000. The
suburban Omaha county is growing and includes
retail like Cabela's, so we're not talking about a
location potentially in the sticks. One scenario
to keep in mind: the consultants may come back
with a recommendation that Sarpy County is better
suited for a Class A team than a Class AAA team.
More than one Midwest League owner at the recent
All-Star Game asked us what we thought of Omaha as
a Midwest League market. Meanwhile, MECA -- the
board running the new downtown ballpark for the
College World Series -- is expected to make a
financial proposal to the owners of the O-Royals
this week.
RELATED STORIES:
O-Royals accelerate talks with Sarpy County;
NCAA commits to 25-year Omaha ballpark lease;
Omaha, NCAA reach agreement on new-ballpark lease;
MECA approves ballpark deal; O-Royals lease not a
sure thing;
MECA approves ballpark deal; O-Royals lease not a
sure thing;
Omaha, MECA reach agreement on new ballpark; NCAA
on board;
MECA, city break off
talks on new Omaha ballpark;
Letter: NCAA neutral
on new Omaha ballpark;
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play at proposed Omaha ballpark;
Rosenblatt
defenders give Omaha mayor an earful;
Omaha
formally commits to 24,000-seat downtown ballpark;
Should Omaha
tell to NCAA to live with Johnny Rosenblatt?;
Committee
recommends new downtown Omaha ballpark;
MECA formally
opposes new ballpark on its land;
Is Omaha ballpark plan
falling apart?;
O-Royals ready to bail on
new downtown ballpark?;
Downtown
ballpark remains choice of Omaha officials, despite higher price tag;
Nebraska
Legislature enters Omaha ballpark fray;
Lot C emerges as frontrunner
for new Omaha ballpark site;
Two sites emerge as
frontrunners for new Omaha ballpark;
Omaha ballpark
panel picks architects to evaluate sites;
Save Rosenblatt
Committee wants representative on mayor's ballpark committee;
NCAA's feelers out
for CWS sites;
Omaha mayor's public
pitch for ballpark begins;
More options
introduced for new home of College World Series;
Skeptics of Omaha
ballpark proposal look for return on funding;
Public to have say on
Omaha ballpark proposal;
Omaha restaurant
owners vow opposition to ballpark tax;
Omaha mayor unveils
$117-million ballpark plan;
Rosenblatt group
sends petitions to NCAA;
Omaha and the CWS: City
bids for 20-year deal;
Omaha Royals support
plan for new ballpark;
NCAA ties College World
Series to new ballpark;
Today's video:
Kevin Costner: Save Rosenblatt Stadium;
Costner: Save
Rosenblatt Stadium;
New downtown Omaha ballpark would be near Qwest;
Rosenblatt fans try to draft Costner;
Rosenblatt demolition among Omaha ballpark
suggestions;
Royals president says two baseball facilities can
work;
Petition drive aims to save Rosenblatt;
Could Indy someday be host for CWS?;
New Omaha ballpark could feature other pastimes;
Coaches reminisce as talk turns to proposed
downtown ballpark;
Plan B: Fix up Rosenblatt;
Omaha wants at least 10-year CWS extension before
ballpark work;
Mayor: NCAA shows interest in new Omaha ballpark;
Omaha floats new ballpark for CWS, O-Royals
Now shipping
(lots!): Homer: The Small-Town Baseball Odyssey
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Homer:
The Small-Town Baseball Odyssey is flying out
of the August Publications offices -- literally.
We're through almost half of our initial press a
week after delivery, which is an amazing stat for
any publisher. Jeff Karzen details the
inspirational story of the tiny Michigan high
school that fashioned a national-record winning
streak and captured multiple state titles. But the
tale is about more than just prep baseball. It’s
an amazing story of how high-school athletes
established a winning tradition and performed with
grace and class – despite the small-town politics
that almost led to the removal of a dedicated and
admired coach. Football has Friday Night Lights;
basketball has Hoosiers; baseball
has Homer. This is a great story of
persevering under some pretty difficult
circumstances, and author Karzen -- who watched
the winning streak unfold as a sports writer with
the Battle Creek daily newspaper -- weaves a
narrative you're not likely to forget. We have
copies in the office and will begin shipping it
today. It's a perfect Father's Day gift, as well
as a great graduation gift
for the student needing some inspiration as they
head out into the world.
Order this book today and we'll throw in free
shipping! UPDATE: The first reviews are
in! Tony Paul of the Detroit News
calls Homer "fascinating stuff by a
top-notch journalist." We couldn't agree more.
UPDATE 2: If you're in the area, you can
find the book at Fireside Books in nearby
Marshall, Mich., or Books and More in Albion,
Mich., where author Karzen is doing a reading on
June 19. UPDATE 3: The Lansing State
Journal likes it too. UPDATE 4:
As does the Detroit Free Press. UPDATE 5:
It's now carried by Amazon
and eligible there for free shipping as well.
UPDATE 6: Our books are now distributed
nationally and will be available in large retail
chains like Barnes & Noble. Drop by your local
bookstore and ask for
Homer by name!
Demolition of Tiger
Stadium begins
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Demolition
of historic
Tiger Stadium began this week, as
wrecking crews erected barricades and began taking
down the longtime home of the Detroit Tigers. The
current plan is for demolition to proceed in
stages, keeping intact (for now) the grandstand. A
conservancy group led by former Tigers broadcaster
Ernie Harwell has until Aug. 1 to raise enough
money to preserve the original grandstand, but
it's not looking good; it doesn't look like
Congress will come up with any funds (despite the
efforts of Sen. Carl Levin), and passion for the
project really hasn't swept through Motown.
More from the Detroit Free Press.
Tiger Stadium is a prominent member of our Endangered
Ballparks listings.
RELATED STORIES:
Will
conservancy group meet June 1 deadline to save Tiger Stadium?;
Tiger Stadium demolition OK'd; could baseball
return?;
Fans shell out $2
million for Tiger Stadium seats;
Nonprofit
submits plans for saving part of Tiger Stadium;
Tiger Stadium
auction a $192,729 home run;
Online auction of
Tiger Stadium memorabilia runs through October;
A new vision for Tiger Stadium;
Harwell heats up Tiger Stadium pitch;
Harwell: I can save Tiger Stadium;
Tiger Stadium to be torn down;
Tiger Stadium demolition plan close to vote;
Wreck the old park; praise the new one;
Detroit City Council delays action on Tiger
Stadium demolition;
City: Revisit Tiger Stadium plans;
Today's video: The final days of Tiger Stadium;
Tiger Stadium plan hits a snag;
Tiger Stadium's fate divisive;
Tiger Stadium: Up for auction?;
Tiger Stadium outta here by '08;
Time running out for Tiger Stadium;
Dave Wright: Time to let Tiger Stadium go;
Razing memories of 95-year-old Tiger
Stadium before demolition work begins;
Final farewell planned for Tiger Stadium;
Old house is hard to forget;
