Well, this takes the cake for the most imaginative offseason use for a ballpark we’ve seen: the Toledo Mud Hens (Class AAA; International League) are converting the Fifth Third Field playing field to a putt-putt golf course after the season. An 18-hole miniature golf course, no less. The Links at Fifth Third Field opens to […]
Tag Archives | class aaa
Knights poised to break all-time attendance record tonight
Well, this is certainly an accomplishment: The Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) should break their all-time attendance mark for a single season — in just 45 games at BB&T Ballpark. When the record is reached, the Knights will reward one lucky fan with a special prize pack at tonight’s game. The record of 429,132 fans […]
Syracuse has fans lining up for Chiefs tattoo promo
Every team should do this: the Syracuse Chiefs (Class AAA; International League) had folks lining up six hours before gametime for a free team tattoo giving them general-admission privileges for life. Other teams have done this — in fact, we were at a Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League) contest when the […]
Zephyrs, Marlins extend PDC
The New Orleans Zephyrs (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and the Miami Marlins extended their player-development contract (PDC) for two years, through the end of the 2016 season. “The Marlins are excited to extend our partnership with the New Orleans Zephyrs through the 2016 season,” said Brian Chattin, Marlins Director of Player Development. “With its […]
Chihuahuas-Rainiers game postponed because of missing baggage
Last night’s Pacific Coast League game in El Paso’s Southwest University Park was postponed after the equipment for the visiting Tacoma Rainiers was lost by an airline. The players arrived with no issues, but the visiting team’s luggage, equipment and uniforms did not. The El Paso Chihuahuas rescheduled the game for a noon Saturday start; […]
Red Wings, Monroe County pitch Frontier Field renovations
The Rochester Red Wings (Class AAA; International League) and Monroe County are pitching a $7.5-million renovation of Frontier Field — the first major upgrade since the ballpark opened in 1996. The improvements would potentially add more group areas, a museum, new field, renovated concourse and suites, and new entrance to the ballpark. The state is […]
Yes, new Sounds ballpark will have iconic guitar scoreboard
This has actually been in the works for months: First Tennessee Park, opening in 2015 as home of the Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) will feature a guitar-shaped scoreboard similar to the one made famous in Greer Stadium. “We listen to our fans. Keeping the beloved guitar-shaped scoreboard is just part of our […]
Storm Chasers, CWS both thriving in Omaha
The Omaha Storm Chasers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and the College World Series are both doing fine, bucking the conventional wisdom that competition would hurt the pro team. When the then-Omaha Royals and College World Series shared Rosenblatt Stadium, the pro team went on an extended 16-game road trip to allow the collegians use […]
Chihuahuas owners: We want El Paso MLS team
The owners of the El Paso Chihuahuas (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), MountainStar Sports Group, wants to expand their operations with the addition of a new MLS team. We have all the details at Soccer Stadium Digest, but the basic news is this: Alan Ledford and crew have already met with MLS officials, including commissioner […]
RailRiders, Yankees extend PDC
This is more a formality than anything else, as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Class AAA; International League) and the New York Yankees extended their PDC through 2018. The signing extended their relationship for four more years, through the 2018 season. That is the longest extension allowed per baseball rules. This is no surprise: the Yankees are […]
Freedom Baseball League pitches Pima County on Kino Stadium lease
Pima County and the independent Freedom Baseball League are at loggerheads over a potential lease for Kino Stadium, which now sits empty after the move of the Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). Joe Sperle, president and partner in the Freedom Baseball League, has pitched county officials on a lease at $1,300 per game. […]
New faces, same results for Syracuse Chiefs
New management at the Syracuse Chiefs (Class AAA; International League) is finding out the hard way that turnarounds take more than a few months — but optimism reigns at NBT Bank Stadium. You’ll recall all of the offseason turmoil at NBT Bank Stadium, where longtime front-office execs Tex and John Simone were removed as part […]
Isotopes’ Olivo goes Mike Tyson on teammate
This should be one of the most unusual MiLB stories of the year: Alex Guerrero had part of his ear bitten off by Miguel Olivo when the two Albuquerque Isotopes (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) scuffled in a dugout dispute. Shortstop Alex Guerrero, a 27-year-old Cuban defector who signed a big contract with the Dodgers […]