Former major leaguer and Arizona Diamondback Albie Lopez is a part-owner of a new Mesa team to be playing under the independent American West Baseball League banner next season. His partner: local businessman and sports agent Eddie Marin. Albert Anthony “Albie” Lopez was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 20th round of the 1991 […]
Tag Archives | arizona diamondbacks
Osprey, Diamondbacks extend PDC
The Missoula Osprey (rookie; Pioneer League) and the Arizona Diamondbacks extended their player-development contract (PDC) through the 2016 season. “We have been with the Arizona Diamondbacks since they were granted an expansion franchise and we see no reason to end that relationship now,” said Matt Ellis, Osprey Executive Vice President, via press release. “We feel […]
Rawhide, Diamondbacks extend affiliation: four more years
The Visalia Rawhide (High Class A; California League) and Arizona Diamondbacks anounced a four-year PDC extension yesterday, ensuring that the D-Backs will remain in the South Valley through 2016. “We were eager to continue our relationship with Visalia, and this long-term extension gives us stability and ensures that our prospects have a great place to […]
Best beer values in baseball: Angels, Indians, D-Backs
The best places to catch a relatively cheap beer buzz in Major League Baseball? Anaheim, Cleveland and Phoenix, where ballpark beers can be found for less than $5. That’s the result of a study from the SaveOnBrew.com website, which looked at beer prices in MLB ballparks across America. At Angel Stadium, Progressive Field and Chase Field […]
BayBears, D-Backs extend PDC
The Mobile BayBears (Class AA; Southern League) and the Arizona Diamondbacks extended their player-development contract (PDC) for two more years, through the 2014 season. “The D-backs are elated to be affiliated with the Mobile BayBears organization and the Mobile community for an additional two years,” said Diamondbacks Director of Player Development Mike Bell. “Bill Shanahan […]
Freedom Baseball League names GM
Kirk Jewell, formerly with Phoenix International Raceway and the Arizona Diamondbacks, is the new GM of the independent Freedom Baseball League, which also announced additional venues for its inaugural season. Jewell will be GM of all four teams in the start-up circuit, which is centered in the Phoenix area. The league will consist of four […]
Pima County: Three spring games add $500K to Tucson bottom line
Three spring-training games at Kino Stadium, a former spring-training base in Tucson, will add a half-million dollars to the local economy, according to Pima County officials. Of course, that’s predicated on the three games doing well at the box office. One of the three games will divert part of the proceeds to charity, but the […]
New for 2013: Estadio Sonora
A noteworthy ballpark south of the border designed to host the Caribbean Series, the Hermosillo Naranjeros and potentially some MLB exhibitions or World Baseball Classic games: Estadio Sonora. The new 15,000-seat ballpark will replace Hector Espino Stadium as home of pro baseball in the Mexican city. It’s a city that’s supported baseball: the Arizona Diamondbacks have […]
2011 Ballpark of the Year: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
In the final round of the yearly Ballpark Digest Awards, we honor our 2011 Ballpark of the Year: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, the spring home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. In a year that saw several noteworthy new ballparks, one stood out as a way that fundamentally rethought how a spring-training […]
How best to use old spring-training facilities: Soccer
Spring training may be totally gone from Tucson, but it looks like the city found a great use for former MLB training facilities: professional MLS soccer will bring six teams to the Kino Stadium complex. Six MLS teams will be training in Tucson this spring, with four of them set to participate in the Desert Diamond […]
Don’t look now, but spring training is around the corner
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but spring training is around the corner. Time to make your plans, as tickets are going fast at some spring-training ballparks. At least, that’s the report from Scottsdale, where Salt River Fields general manager David Dunne reports that opening day and some weekend games for the Arizona Diamondbacks and […]
Gebhard, Jirschele receive Bender, Coolbaugh awards
Arizona Diamondbacks Vice President & Special Assistant to the General Manager Bob Gebhard and Omaha Storm Chasers manager Mike Jirschele are the recipients of the Sheldon “Chief” Bender and Mike Coolbaugh awards, respectively. Gebhard and Jirschele will be honored on December 8 at the annual Banquet during the Baseball Winter Meetings at the Hilton Anatole […]
2012 MLB schedule released; no realignment or playoff expansion
Major League Baseball released a 2012 schedule this morning, with no changes in the division or league lineups, no expansion of wild cards in the playoffs and a regular season beginning with a Miami Marlins game on April 4. Yes, that’s right: the Miami Marlins (nee the Florida Marlins) will open the 2012 MLB season […]