The River City Rascals (independent; Frontier League) are going solo on their concessions this season, offering a ballpark menu with no item costing more than $5. It’s a fairly dramatic move for the Rascals, who bought out their contract from Aramark and went in-house with food offerings. “It gives us more flexibility to run specials […]
Tag Archives | independent
New for 2012: Sonoma County Grapes
The promised Sonoma County team in the independent North American League will be known as the Sonoma County Grapes, with tryouts scheduled for coming weeks. The Grapes won’t be solely a traveling team: they’ll play plenty of games at Albert Park, the home of the San Rafael Pacifics (independent; North American League), which will own […]
Northern League lives on — in court
The independent Northern League may be no more, but it lives on in a Cook County courtroom in the form of a lawsuit against the circuit’s former law firm. The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges that the league’s original law firm, Chicago-based Gozdecki, Del Giudice, Americus & Farkas, failed to adequately draft a […]
Pheasants unveil 20th-anniversary logo
The Sioux Falls Pheasants (independent; American Association) unveiled a 20th anniversary logo to mark the team’s history in independent baseball. “It’s exciting and surreal to think that this modern era of professional baseball in the Sioux Empire celebrates twenty years this season,” said Pheasants CEO Gary Weckwerth. “For those that have followed the team during […]
Yuma, OC out of NAL; two replacements in the works
Despite losing the Yuma Panthers and Orange County Flyers, the independent North American League will add teams in Hawaii and Sonoma County to stay with four Northern Division teams. According to San Rafael Pacifics President/GM Mike Shapiro, work is underway to find new homes for new teams, with discussions occurring with a variety of venues; Na Koa […]
State aid for Saints ballpark coming down to the wire
State funding for a new St. Paul Saints ballpark (independent; American Association) is very much in the air, as Minnesota legislators hunker down for the end of the 2012 session. There are two big issues before lawmakers that could in theory involve St. Paul’s request for $27 million in state funding for a Lowertown ballpark: […]
Edmonton Prospects sign Telus Field lease
With the Edmonton Capitals down and out, the Edmonton Prospects (summer collegiate; Western Major Baseball League) will be subleasing the team’s former home, Telus Field. It’s quite a move up for the Prospects, who previously called the considerably more modest John Fry Park home. Telus Field was built to Triple-A specs to house the Edmonton […]
Pacifics, North American League season to proceed as planned after court victory
Opponents of an Albert Park lease for the San Rafael Pacifics (independent; North American League) lost their motion to boot the team, allowing the team and the circuit to proceed with the 2012 season. The Albert Park Neighborhood Alliance had argued the leasing of Albert Park by the Pacifics would violate the park’s original grant, which […]
Somerset Patriots unveil ballpark improvements
More ballpark news from the independent Atlantic League, where the Somerset Patriots have unveiled ballpark improvements to TD Bank Ballpark. New this year, from CentralJersey.com: TD Bank Ballpark’s renovations include the installation of a protective railing in front of both dugouts, a fully refurbished home clubhouse and the addition of the Diamond Club hospitality suite flush […]
Tal Smith joins ODP as special advisor
A personnel move to note: Tal Smith, longtime member of the Houston Astros front office, has been named special advisor to Opening Day Partners (ODP), owners of several independent Atlantic League teams. ODP’s newest team is the Sugar Land Skeeters, and Smith will be advising Opening Day Partners on that team as well as new locations […]
Singing Ed Nottle: Out of baseball this summer
“Singing Ed” Nottle, a baseball lifer and one of the more colorful figures in the game, is out of the sport this year as he battles health issues. Originally slated to manage the Edinburg Roadrunners in the independent North American League this year, Nottle stepped down after it was discovered he was battling a blood […]
Parcels eyed for new Malden ballpark
The owner of a potential new downtown Malden ballpark says he is working to buy the final three land parcels needed to create a 7-acre site. Alex Bok, president of the Boston Baseball Field of Dreams LLC, already is in negotiations with National Grid to build on the downtown Malden site. The next step is […]
Pacifics: Fate of NAL’s Northern Division rests on winning lawsuit
If an appellate court grants a request to boot the San Rafael Pacifics (independent; North American League) from Albert Park, the league’s Northern Division will shut down, according to Pacifics President Mike Shapiro in papers filed in court. The California First District Court of Appeal is hearing an appeal of a lower-court decision allowing the […]