On the auction block: Metrodome contents
With the demolition of the Metrodome set for early 2014, the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority will be auctioning off the contents of the facility this fall. The Metrodome, the former home of the Minnesota Twins and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers baseball team, will be torn down to make way for a new Minnesota […]
RailRiders exceed 2011 attendance
Big milestone for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Class AAA; International League): the team has already drawn more fans to PNC Field than in all of 2011, before ballpark renovations began. A crowd of 7,294 yesterday pushed the team past the 2011 total. The team played on the road last season while the ballpark was being renovated. […]
Pohlads, IRS disagree over Twins valuation
The worth of Carl Pohlad’s share of the Minnesota Twins at the time of his death is the centerpiece of an IRS action demanding $255.8 million in underpayments and penalties. The issue: exactly how much the Twins franchise was worth as well as Pohlad’s share of it. The Pohlad family and their tax attorneys say […]
Lugnuts no-hit for the third time this season
We can’t determine if it’s a record, but it’s darned close: the Lansing Lugnuts (Low Class A; Midwest League) were no-hit for the third time this season on Wednesday night. The no-hitter came against the Clinton Lumberkings, as Victor Sanchez (2-4), an 18-year old out of Venezuela, allowed just three baserunners in the entire game. […]
Saints, city make up $8.8M ballpark funding shortfall
The St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) formally increased their contribution to a new Lowertown ballpark by another $1 million and agreed to take over daily maintenance of the facility, helping to close a $8.8-million funding gap. The gap arose after cleanup costs at the former Gillette/Diamond Products plant — former manufacturing home of Dippity-Do! […]
Triple-A All-Star Game a big hit
With a sold-out ballpark and a solid game experience, the Reno Aces (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) won plaudits for their hosting of the Triple-A All-Star Game earlier this week. We heard from plenty of front-office folks about the great time they had in Reno, and that experience was apparently echoed in the stands. From […]
Ballpark Preview: New El Paso Ballpark
With the final bureaucratic hurdles cleared and a budget of $60.8 million finalized, it’s time to turn to the most interesting part of a new El Paso Triple-A ballpark: the design. You may know the backstory: El Paso businesspeople, in the form of MountainStar Sports Group, bought the Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) […]
Detroit officials: Let’s compromise on Tiger Stadium development
Detroit city officials are seeking a “compromise” on a potential Tiger Stadium development, as they eye a pot of federal funds controlled by Sen. Carl Levin and the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy. George Jackson, CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. (DEGC) and a noted opponent of baseball-related activity on the Tiger Stadium site (his […]
Kane County set to welcome 10-millionth fan
The Kane County Cougars (Low Class A; Midwest League) will be the first Class A team to attract 10 million fans in team history when the milestone is reached, weather willing, on Saturday night. Welcomed at the gate by Cougars General Manager Curtis Haug and Ozzie T. Cougar, the 10 millionth fan will be showered […]
Forbes: Placing a value on MiLB teams
Forbes Magazine has released a estimate of Minor League Baseball franchises values, with the Sacramento River Cats topping the list with a calculated worth of $38 million. The top ten teams and their valuations: Team Valuation Sacramento River Cats (PCL; AAA) $38 million Round Rock Express (PCL; AAA) $35 million Lehigh Valley IronPigs (IL; AAA) […]
Today’s fast world needs a slow game of baseball for welcome relief
You can bet that tomorrow casual fans will be complaining about the slow pace of play in tonight’s All-Star Game. But the relatively slow pace of the game in this ever-changing world is what makes the game so great. A baseball game is a ritual, a sporting exercise largely unchanged for the last century. It’s […]
In memoriam: Kevin Cerasuolo
Kevin Cerasuolo, the popular equipment manager and ball boy for the Wilmington Sharks (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League), passed away yesterday at the age of 39. Cerasuolo suffered what has been recorded as a heart attack before the team’s scheduled batting practice at 4 p.m. After emergency workers were unable to revive him, the Sharks […]
Can Tucson bring back pro baseball?
With the impending departure of the Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), local officials are debating what can be done to bring back minor-league baseball or spring training to the city. Current T-Padres GM Mike Feder is optimistic about a possible return of Minor League Baseball to Tucson: “The only way of getting baseball […]