A long-term development plan for Dubuque’s Chaplain Schmitt Island includes a new ballpark on city-owned land, but city officials say there are no firm plans for a new facility or team at this time. Dubuque (Iowa) has been mentioned frequently in the last decade as a potential home for a Class A Midwest League team […]
Archive | At the Ballpark
The Week That Was: July 6
The Dayton Dragons sale, remembering Lou Gehrig’s riveting “Luckiest Man” speech, and a tarp accident in Cedar Rapids were the top stories this week on Ballpark Digest, as measured by page views. Here are the top stories of this week, in order of popularity: Dayton Dragons sale announcedMLB to honor Lou Gehrig this weekendSeveral Kernels […]
Fundraising continues for Hamtramck Stadium restoration
Though Tiger Stadium dominates discussion of Detroit’s endangered ballparks, there’s another old ballpark also worthy of attention: Hamtramck Stadium, former home to the Detroit Stars of the Negro National League. We’ve written about Hamtramck Stadium before; in 2012 it received a designation on the National Register of Historic Places. Built by businessman John Roesink in 1930 as […]
The Week That Was: June 29
Ballpark prep, ugly sweaters, a potential Twins/Saints affiliation and Petco Park A/V upgrades were the top stories on Ballpark Digest this past week, as measured by page views. Here are the top stories, in order of popularity: What happens at a ballpark before a game? Lots of prepCrosscutters to don what could be ugliest uniforms […]
Chandler moves ahead with Compadre Stadium demolition
The Chandler (Az.) City Council last night approved a zoning change allowing housing development on a 65-acre site that include Compadre Stadium, former spring-training home of the Milwaukee Brewers. Compadre Stadium opened in 1986 as spring home of the Brewers, replacing the team’s home in Sun City. It was only home to the Brewers until […]
Thanks once again to Ballpark Digest readers
This is truly humbling: for the sixth month in a row we’ve surpassed a million monthly page views on Ballpark Digest. Thanks once again: our readers rock. For the record, page views are up 68 percent over a year ago. We’ve surpassed a million page views every month in 2014. We’ve had plenty of excitement […]
Future of Midway Stadium: 2015 demolition, redevelopment
We have a plan for Midway Stadium after the St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) depart: the ballpark will be torn down next year and redeveloped by a company controlled by the Minnesota Twins ownership. United Properties, the real-estate firm controlled by the Pohlad family (which owns the Twins), will work with the St. Paul […]
Now available: Never a Bad Game: Fifty Years of the Southern League
We’re proud to announce the immediate availability of Never a Bad Game: Fifty Years of the Southern League, by the award-winning author Mark McCarter. Fans of the Southern League have seen it all since the circuit was founded 50 years ago: colorful characters, charming ballparks, and some of the best baseball players showing their potential. […]
Jose Canseco hits ballparks this summer — via RV
This is a pretty good idea: Jose Canseco will be traveling the continent via RV to appear at charity events and various minor-league/summer-collegiate ballparks under the Home Run Tour banner. The tour, put together by Jose Melendez and crew at New World Sports Management, will begin next week and run for over two months, as […]
Introducing Soccer Stadium Digest
We have another company announcement today: now live is our newest professional-sports website, Soccer Stadium Digest. Yesterday we announced the launch of a history project with the NY-Penn League (thanks for all the positive comments on that project by the way — yes, we are also excited!) and hinted at further announcements. More are on […]
Future of Al Lang Field under review — again
With the city of St. Petersburg mapping a new waterfront development plan and the Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) seeking a new stadium, the future of historic Al Lang Field will be mapped out in coming months. The Al Lang Field site has been used for spring training and professional baseball since 1923, but the present […]
The Week That Was: June 7
Visiting a historic old ballpark in Kenosha, remembering Don Zimmer, and the unveiling of a new ballpark plan in Hartford were the top stories of the past week on Ballpark Digest, as measured by page views. Here they are: Simmons Field / Kenosha KingfishIn memoriam: Don ZimmerOriole Park in line to host 2016 ASG?Hartford ballpark […]
In memoriam: Don Zimmer
Don Zimmer, who over the course of a 66-year baseball career virtually defined the term of baseball lifer, passed away last night. He was 83. Zimmer’s career began with a bang in 1949 after being signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the beginning of a minor-league career that included an astounding 10 steals of home […]