Archives: March 26-April 1, 2007
Tribe unveils plaque honoring Ray Chapman
Posted March 30, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Tucked away and forgotten for years, a plaque commemorating one of baseball’s darkest moments has been brought back to life. A 175-pound bronzed memorial for Ray Chapman, the Cleveland Indians shortstop killed when he was hit in the head with a pitch in a 1920 game, was recently rediscovered after decades in storage. Now refurbished, it will be displayed as one of the signature pieces in the new Heritage Park, a walkthrough exhibit beyond the center-field wall at Jacobs Field honoring Cleveland’s Hall of Famers and the Indians’ history. More on Heritage Park.
10 great places to relish fine ballpark fare
Posted March 30, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
USA Today asks us to list our 10 favorite ballpark food items, and we comply. Regular readers of the site probably won’t be too surprised by our selections: we call AT&T Park a foodie’s delight, and rightfully so: consumption of food items at the home of the San Francisco Giants is one of the highlights of our baseball tours. We probably went a little contrarian with our choices — we eschewed the higher-profile celebrity BBQ pits to highlight the offerings from Gates BBQ at Kauffman Stadium — but you really can’t go wrong with a Schmitter or a Primanti Brothers sandwich.
Chiefs to plant palm trees Monday
Posted March 30, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A sure sign the season is beginning: the Peoria Chiefs (Low Class A; Midwest League) are planting palm trees at O’Brien Field on Monday. The nine Queen Palms are currently en route from Florida and will be planted in the left field berm on April 2. For the fifth straight year, Kelch Turf Farms and Landscaping out of Kickapoo will plant the trees in the left field and left-centerfield berms. The Chiefs and O’Brien Field started the tradition of Palm Trees in Peoria when the stadium opened on May 24, 2002 with 20 trees both inside and outside the ballpark. The Chiefs switched to Queen Palms before the 2003 season as the Queens are better equipped to handle the changes in the Central Illinois climate. This season, as in 2004, the Queen Palms will be planted inside the ballpark only as trees more indigenous to Central Illinois have been planted outside the ballpark.
Chase’s vision mixes wreath, race, diamond
Posted March 30, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Worth checking out this weekend is the first-ever Civil Rights Game at AutoZone Park, the home of the Memphis Redbirds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). Playing tomorrow before the cameras of ESPN will be the Cleveland Indians play the St. Louis Cardinals, and MLB has done a pretty good job in promoting the game as a way to remember civil-rights struggles of the past as we head into the future. Dave Chase, president of the Redbirds, is the man who came up with the plan; this article tells how it came to be.
Officials: Grapefruit League sets attendance record
Posted March 30, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The attendance record for the Grapefruit League was shattered this spring. The first 258 games of spring training in Florida drew 1,605,263 fans, the Florida Sports Foundation announced. That total, reached Wednesday, passed last year’s record of 1,604,333 fans in 274 games. Seven teams had passed the 100,000-fan plateau through Wednesday: the New York Yankees (who train in Tampa), Minnesota (Fort Myers), Atlanta (Orlando), Philadelphia (Clearwater), Boston (Fort Myers), Detroit (Lakeland) and St. Louis (Jupiter).
Attendance record set at Tempe Diablo Stadium
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Tempe Diablo Stadium set an attendance record for the 2007 Cactus League season, with 123,184 fans attending Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim games. "The Angels are very happy," stadium manager Jerry Hall said. "We had a great season. We had great attendance. The crowd was real good the whole time." Arnold Davis, executive secretary of the Tempe Diablos, who sponsor spring training in Tempe, said the Diablos will look at possible improvements for next year, including off-site parking to reduce traffic jams.
Turn on the lights; party’s over as McKechnie Field gets lights
Posted March 30, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Twenty seasons after Wrigley Field went electric, the last ballpark without lights that is used by a major league team is pulling down the shades on all-daylight baseball. Bradenton’s McKechnie Field, which has existed on its current site since 1923 and has been the Pittsburgh Pirates’ spring training home since 1969, is about to get lights. And not everyone is happy about it. "We prefer playing day games in the spring, I don’t think there’s any question about it," said Pirates spring instructor Bill Virdon, who first played at McKechnie in the 1950s and has returned nearly every spring since as a player, manager or coach. Between two and six games will be played under the lights next spring.
Goodyear approves ballpark design contract
Posted March 30, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Goodyear, Az. is hiring HOK Sport to design and engineer a spring-training complex for the Cleveland Indians, slated to open in 2009. Entering into the $3-million contract with HOK is a key step that kicks off the work on a $75-million, 10,000-seat spring-training complex. The City Council-approved agreement puts the sports venue development firm in charge of crafting the look and feel of the new spring home of the Indians. Construction could begin as early as August. There are tight deadlines to complete construction. The Indians are expected to begin training in Goodyear in 2008, with the first game scheduled for February 2009.
Bennington ballpark stalls
Posted March 30, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A planned 2,000-seat ballpark for the Bennington Bombers (summer collegiate; NYCBL) has been postponed indefinitely, but baseball is still expected to come to Bennington this summer. The Bombers are expected to play at Southern Vermont College when the season begins in about nine weeks, according to William Colvin, president of Applejack Art Partners. Developer Jack Appelman, who has several other projects in Bennington County, had planned to build the ballpark on town-owned land in what is known as lower Willow Park. The stadium was to include a baseball museum, press box and artificial turf. But the cost of building at lower Willow Park has grown substantially. Appelman had budgeted between $1.5 million and $1.8 million for the first phase, which would have included bleachers, basic parking, artificial turf, lights and a fence. Because the site had once been the village landfill, however, environmental issues drove the cost estimate for site work alone to $3.9 million — and that’s without any ballpark construction.
New game in town: Solar power at Jacobs Field
Posted March 30, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
AT&T Park isn’t the only ballpark going green this season: Solar panels will go up soon at Jacobs Field, the home of the Cleveland Indians, allowing fans to view and learn about renewable energy. Green Energy and the Cleveland Indians will erect 50 photovoltaic panels on the upper concourse at Jacobs Field, along Carnegie Avenue. The array will be 86 feet long and 15 feet high, generating a modest amount of power for The Jake, said Jim Folk, the team’s vice president for ballpark operations. The Indians want to reduce energy consumption, Folk said, and could expand solar capacity by adding panels to the sun screen over the upper deck. He declined to say what the project costs.
Big ballpark, itty bitty attendance
Posted March 30, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Chase Field, the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, hosted a neutral-site match between the University of Arizona and Arizona State University before a smallish crowd of 4,296 — and most of those were ASU fans. We spent some time in Tucson last week and attending a few ASU games at Sancet Stadium; yes, the school was on spring break, but it was a little sad to see crowds of fewer than 100 at the ballpark. Add to that a smaller crowd at Chase Field than most would like to see, and it’s a little sadder that a very good college program doesn’t get more respect.
More than dogs at Pigs’ park
Posted March 30, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Here’s an interesting deal. Capital Blue Cross signed a deal with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Class AAA; International League) as presenting sponsor for both the team and Coca-Cola Park. As part of the deal, the medical firm will ensure that several concession stands are set aside to make healthy foods such as salads and smoothies available to the fans.
Dice-K’s arrival nearly brings in $1 million
Posted March 30, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The economic impact of Daisuke Matsuzaka joining the Boston Red Sox was fairly minimal, driven mostly by the 200 or so Japanese journalists cover Dice-K’s Florida adventure. The final tally was $722,000, according to the Lee County Sports Authority. The resulting economic impact "ranks up there with our largest … youth baseball tournaments, but pales in comparison to the North American Roller Hockey Championships, which had a $12.5 million impact in 2005," said Jeff Mielke, sports authority director. The estimate also (tacitly, anyway) assumes that 87 hotel rooms in Lee County would have been unsold if the Japanese journalists had not descended en masse; we think that assumption may be a little shaky.
Selig defends DirecTV deal
Posted March 30, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig defended his sport’s hardline stance with cable companies over access to out-of-market games. Members of Congress and others have criticized Major League Baseball for its $700 million deal with satellite provider DirecTV to air the league’s "Extra Innings" package, which allows fans to watch up to 60 out-of-market games a week for an annual subscription of $160 to $200. The deal requires cable companies to match the terms offered by DirecTV, including a commitment to carry The Baseball Channel when it launches in 2009. So far the cable companies have refused to do so, though negotiations continue.
UCF study: Major League Baseball gets highest grade ever for race, gender
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A new study released by the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Diversity and Ethics and Sport shows that Major League Baseball achieved its highest grade ever in both race and gender, as well as its highest combined grade. In fact, notes UCF’s Richard Lapchik, with the score of 89.1 for race, baseball is on the brink of achieving its first A, coming in with a solid B-plus for the latest study, as well as a C-plus for gender. This was a marked improvement from the 2005 Major League Baseball Racial and Gender Report Card when MLB earned a low-range B-plus for race, a D-plus for gender and a combined C-plus, he says.
Carneal to skip Twins home opener
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Herb Carneal, broadcaster for the Minnesota Twins since 1962, says he’ll skip Monday’s home opener because of health issues. Herb’s had a rough offseason; he was hospitalized for five weeks and already works on a reduced schedule (only home games, and then only three innings on Sundays, weekday day games and a few Tuesday and Saturday games).
Ballpark Notes
Posted March 30, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Richmond Braves (Class AAA; International League) will again partner with UTEXT Sports to deliver interactive SMS programs during the 2007 season. The Braves employ UTEXT Sports’ JumpTXT™ Media Platform to manage their mobile CRM database delivering SMS alerts to their fans that have opted in to receive mobile updates, promotional alerts and special offers. "We have always looked for unique and innovative ways to engage our fans," says Braves General Manager Bruce Baldwin. "UTEXT Sports’ mobile products and services allow us to reach our fans anytime, anywhere with timely information to make sure we provide them with the best fan experience possible."
Does Las Vegas need a new ballpark?
Posted March 29, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Here’s the annual call for a new ballpark to replace Cashman Field, the home of the Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), with a newer facility. Cashman Field is a very basic facility, to say the least, but in recent years plans for a new facility have been stymied by the potential of landing an MLB team. Today team officials would love to see some sort of mixed-use development that would include housing, retail and a ballpark. What’s kinda weird is the general business plan of Mandalay Baseball Properties, owners of the 51s, specifically calls for its teams to be part of such mixed-used plans, but the firm hasn’t been able to locate a developer to partner with in one of the fastest-growing regions of the United States. Given that the franchise has also been on the market for much of the past few years, we’re also wondering how serious Mandalay really is about such a development. More from PCL President Branch Rickey on the need for a new ballpark.
Statue of McGwire sits in St. Louis warehouse
Posted March 29, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A bronze statue forged to honor slugger Mark McGwire is built to last forever. The only question is whether it ever will see the light of day. The Cardinals commissioned the statue after McGwire hit 70 homers in 1998, obliterating Roger Maris’ 37-year-old record. There’s a place set aside for it alongside other mini-monuments to Cardinals legends outside Busch Stadium. But the bronze is draped in cloth, hidden in a downtown warehouse. Its place in the limelight has been thrown into question, like so much of McGwire’s legacy, by suspicion that steroid use enhanced his career. Cardinals officials say that only Cardinals elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame merit a statue (not totally true; Ken Boyer has a statue displayed), and when the statue was commissioned McGwire seemed a lock for induction. Today, it’s a much dicier proposition. CORRECTION: We erred. Boyer is the only Cardinal with a retired number who is not in the Hall of Fame; he does not have a statue at Busch Stadium.
Twins ballpark meeting is delayed
Posted March 29, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A scheduled meeting to discuss the new Minnesota Twins ballpark has been delayed until April 10 until Hennepin County officials have worked out a deal with the Burlington Northern railroad to move its line at the ballpark site. (It’s not a smooth process changing the route of a train line; because of the various state and federal agencies involved, there are multiple parties as part of the transaction.) The closed-door meeting is now scheduled for April 10, but we’ve been told the April 5 unveiling of ballpark plans and a May launch of ballpark construction are still on. UPDATE: Apparently the April 5 unveiling has now been scrapped as well.
Renovated Durham Athletic Park may be for only games
Posted March 29, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
It appears a renovated Durham Athletic Park can accommodate all the teams that might want to play games in it, but they might have to practice elsewhere if city officials want to make sure the field holds up, consultants say. That realization is shaping the renovation planning being done for the 1930s-era stadium by Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, the Baltimore developer that the city hired to spearhead what will be at least a $4 million project. If the ballpark houses N.C. Central University’s baseball team, city Parks and Recreation Department leagues, a possible training operation for Minor League Baseball, a minor-league-baseball museum and other events, it appears likely that the field will be used more than 150 days a years.
Half of Swing ownership team shows enthusiasm over purchase
Posted March 29, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
We’re guessing the other half does as well. Dave Heller was in Davenport to meet with the media about his purchase of the Swing of the Quad Cities (Low Class A; Midwest League) along with Bob Herrfeldt. Heller, who also owns the Columbus Catfish (Low Class A; Midwest League), says approval of the sale from Kevin Krause should come shortly. He also said he’s in it for the long-term; Davenport has the potential of being an excellent baseball market, and the rebuilt facility doesn’t hurt. More from the Quad Cities Times.