Efforts to bring a new ballpark for the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA: Eastern League) in Shockoe Bottom must be balanced with an awareness of the sad history of the slave trade in the area, according to activists opposing the project. Though there’s no proposal formally on the table, Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones has been […]
Archive | At the Ballpark
Curve announces staff changes
The Altoona Curve (Class AA; Eastern League) announced several staff changes for the upcoming season, including the promotion of Mike Passanisi to assistant GM. Director of Community Relations Elsie Gibney and Director of Creative Services John Foreman have both retired from baseball following long, successful tenures with the club. In addition, the Curve have promoted […]
Aeros announce staff promotions
The Akron Aeros (Class AA; Eastern League) announced several front office changes in its ticketing department, including two promotions and three full-time staff additions. The two promotions are group sales representative Jeremy Heit, who was promoted to Assistant Director of Ticketing, and group sales representative Mitch Cromes, who was promoted to Senior Manager, Group Sales. […]
Poll: Squirrels home should be built next to current home
In a nearly worthless poll, the Richmond Times-Dispatch discovered suburban voters love the idea of a new Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark be built for maximum suburban access. The poll of 694 people in Richmond (which, under Virginia law, isn’t within a county) and the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover showed […]
Parney named Eastern League Executive of the Year
Todd “Parney” Parnell, VP/COO of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, has been named the 2013 Class AA Eastern League Executive of the Year. The 2013 season marked Todd’s fourth with the Flying Squirrels. Parnell, who previously won the award in 2004 while with the Altoona Curve, will be presented with the award at the Baseball Winter […]
Tulsa Drillers, Hoppel score Texas League awards
The Tulsa Drillers were named the Class AA Texas League Organization of the Year for 2013, while Midland RockHounds GM Monty Hoppel was named executive of the year. “To be awarded the 2013 Texas League Organization of the Year is a tremendous honor for the entire Tulsa Drillers organization,” said general manager Mike Melega. “It […]
Veeck, Myers lead FSL Hall of Fame 2013 inductees
Mike Veeck, in his role as Fort Myers Miracle exec, and Ron Myers from the Lakeland Flying Tigers lead the nine inductees in the 2013 High Class A Florida State League Hall of Fame class. Players set for induction include players Al Nipper, Ramon Martinez, Jimmy Rollins and David Wright; current Baltimore Orioles manager Buck […]
Blue Crabs announce staff promotions
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (independent; Atlantic League) announced the promotions of Courtney Knichel, Sean Maher and Matthew Ammerman in the team’s front office. Knichel is one of the Blue Crabs original staff members beginning prior to the inaugural season in 2008. She has spent the past six seasons as the team’s Marketing Manager. The […]
Crane: We could have relocated PCL team here by 2016
Astros owner Jim Crane says Triple-A ball could be in the Houston area by 2016, and announced that planning a new spring-training home to be shared with the Toronto Blue Jays is in the final stages. The Astros have been working with an area developer on a plan that would include a new Triple-A ballpark; […]
Storm Chasers, Rafters announce staff additions/promotions
Some personnel news to convey: the Omaha Storm Chasers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) promoted Andrea Stava to assistant GM, while the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) promoted Liz Kern and John Fanta. In addition, the Storm Chasers hired Sean Olson as the team’s new director of ticket sales. “The front office of […]
Broken Field of Dreams in Iowa
Since the 1989 release of Field of Dreams, there have been various efforts to monetize the Iowa cornfield used as a film set. The latest attempt, which includes 24 playing fields, an indy team and a $70M budget, appears to be in trouble as well. Ever since the world saw Kevin Costner greet the likes […]
Million thanks to Ballpark Digest readers
Around noon yesterday something happened at Ballpark Digest that had never happened before: the site surpassed a million page views in a month. Now, in this age of Internet publishing, it’s certainly not unique for a single website to generate these sorts of numbers, and in fact both Spring Training Online and New West (two […]
Paterson moves forward with Hinchliffe Stadium renovation
A renovation of Hinchliffe Stadium, former home to Negro League baseball in New Jersey, will move forward after the Paterson City Council approved a design and construction contract. It’s not a full renovation of the ballpark, which opened in the early 1930s and served as home to the New York Black Yankees and New York […]