River Bandits add another amusement to ballpark: Space Camp
The ballpark amusement area at Modern Woodmen Park — which already includes an awesome Ferris wheel — expanded last night with the addition of a “Space Camp” ride by the Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League). “Space Camp” is an electrically-powered four-seat gyroscope manufactured by Amusements International. “Space Camp” will spin its […]
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 […]
Pacifics to don women’s uniforms next weekend
Well, this is something you don’t see at the ballpark every day: The San Rafael Pacifics (independent; Pacific Association) are donning uniforms based on those worn in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League to honor breast-cancer survivors. The Pacifics will wear the uniforms for the June 27 game against the Sonoma Stompers at Albert […]
Columbia approves new-ballpark project
As expected, the Columbia (S.C.) City Council approved a development deal for a new Bull Street ballpark, with the team to be supplied by Hardball Capital’s Jason Freier. Freier, who owns the Savannah Sand Gnats (Low Class A; Sally League) and the Fort Wayne TinCaps (Low Class A; Midwest League), is obliged to supply a […]
Grand dame Engel Stadium shines at Southern League gathering
One of the great old ballparks in Minor League Baseball saw action last night, as the Class AA Southern League Home-Run Derby was held at Chattanooga’s Engel Stadium. Engel Stadium, built by Joe Engel for his Chattanooga Lookouts, opened in 1929 and was one of the great ballparks in Minor League Baseball. Engel was a […]
Pete Rose returns to dugout in Bridgeport
The midsection was larger than we saw during his playing days, but there was plenty of nostalgia at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard when Pete Rose returned to manage the Bridgeport Bluefish (independent; Atlantic League) for a game. It wasn’t a sellout — a crowd of 4,573 didn’t fill the 5,300-capacity ballpark — but the […]
Malden ballpark plan adds conference space, with $80M price tag
The price of a proposed new Malden (Mass.) ballpark for an independent Atlantic League team has risen to $80 million after the addition of a conference center, but part of that cost could be covered by the state. Funding for conference space at the ballpark is part of the state’s capital bonding bill, according to […]
New for 2015: Ottawa Champions
We have a name for the new independent Can-Am League team playing out of Ottawa Stadium next season: the Ottawa Champions. Cheeky name, really, considering the team has yet to play a game. But that’s OK: most insiders didn’t give the Can-Am League much of a shot in landing the Ottawa Stadium lease, but the […]
Greenberg, Sonju close on purchase of Frisco RoughRiders
The first part of the Mandalay Baseball Properties selloff has been announced, with veteran baseball operator Chuck Greenberg and Scott Sonju buying the Frisco RoughRiders (Class AA; Texas League). Terms of the deal were not announced. A new corporation, Frisco RoughRiders LP, will include Greenberg, Sonju and local investors. Greenberg will be Chairman, CEO and […]
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 […]
Target Field: transforming downtown Minneapolis
With the Minnesota Twins prepping to host the 2014 MLB All-Star Game, the impact of Target Field on downtown Minneapolis will be shown to a larger audience. To say that Target Field hasn’t helped transform the North Loop area of downtown would be to ignore reality. What was once dreary surface parking lots is now […]
Biloxi’s name-the-team contest extended
With over 30,000 votes already on hand and more on the way, the name-the-team contest for Biloxi’s Class AA Southern League team, set to begin play in 2015, has been extended. The team is slated to begin play at MGM Park net season. The six finalists — as chosen by the fans during the name […]
In memoriam: Tony Gwynn
Tony Gwynn, who won eight National League batting titles with the San Diego Padres and whose outgoing personality made him a great ambassador for the game, has passed away at the age of 54. He finally succumbed to a years-long battle with cancer. Gwynn’s entire baseball career was associated with San Diego: He attended San […]