One of the more interesting experiments in baseball will be played out this season at Nashua’s Holman Stadium, where the American Defenders of New Hampshire will set up shop, complete with camouflage unis and explicit ties to area servicemen.One of the more interesting experiments in baseball will be played out this season at Nashua’s Holman Stadium, where the American Defenders of New Hampshire (independent; Can-Am Association) will set up shop, complete with camouflage unis and explicit ties to area servicemen.
What makes it interesting? Though we’ve seen teams ranging from the San Diego Padres to the Fayetteville SwampDogs market to nearby mililary bases, this is the first time we’ve seen such a tie on a nightly basis. We’re also seeing the creation of a military brand in the baseball business: the group that owns the defenders, which includes Nokona sales rep Jerry O’Connor and retired veteran Terry Allvord, is planning to use the brand in a variety of situations, including Dan Duquette’s former Pittsfield Dukes summer-collegiate team and a traveling set of Military All-Stars that drew some recent crowds while barnstorming against summer-collegiate teams in recent years.