Here’s a nice promotion to end the season for the Chicago White Sox: longtime organist Nancy Faust, the woman who gave us “Na Na Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye” at the ballpark, will be honored with her very own bobblehead on the eve of her retirement. Faust began playing organ at the original Comiskey Park […]
Author Archive | Kevin Reichard
It’s official: Canadians now farm team for Toronto
You read it here first, and it was officially announced today: the Toronto Blue Jays have signed a player-development contract with the Vancouver Canadians, as the only two Canadian teams in affiliated ball join forces. The announcement confirms what we reported yesterday. Here’s the word from the official press release: Partnering with Vancouver is a […]
Riverview Park emerges as choice for Cubs spring-training facilities
Fascinated by its potential as a retail site where fans can buy all things Cubbie year-round, the Chicago Cubs front office and Mesa officials have settled on Riverview Park, in the northwest corner of the city, as the site of a new spring-training complex. The site emerged as a favorite after a study indicated it […]
Three finalists named in Sugar Land name-the-team contest
We have the three finalists for the name-the-team contest in Sugar Land, Texas, for the new independent Atlantic League team — and are they doozies. The three names: the Lizard Kings, the King Canes and the Skeeters. The King Canes are a reference to the sugar industry in Sugar Land (duh!), the Skeeters are a […]
Jays wooing Canadians as affiliate
The only two affiliated teams in Canada may be uniting forces, as the Toronto Blue Jays are close to signing a player-development contract with the Vancouver Canadians (short season A; Northwest League). The move makes sense if you are Canadian: it gives the Blue Jays a coast-to-coast presence north of the border, and it gives […]
Booted from Myrtle Beach, Atlanta turns to Lynchburg
Atlanta will have a new High Class A affiliate for the next four years — the Lynchburg Hillcats, on their third parent in three years — after the Braves were dumped as a parent by the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a move that also leaves Cincinnati in a bad situation. The Braves were informed by the […]
Pelicans to switch affiliation to Rangers
With owner Chuck Greenberg now an owner of the Texas Rangers, it was only natural that the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High Class A; Carolina League) would shift affiliation to the Rangers; we’re told it will be announced tomorrow. The move ends the Pelicans’ relationship with the Atlanta Braves. The move comes after the Rangers officially […]
Blue Jays to Doubledays: See you later
The Toronto Blue Jays have officially informed the Auburn Doubledays (short season A; NY-Penn League) that their 10-year affiliation marriage is over, and the Blue Jays will seek the affections of another short-season team. No surprise: the Blue Jays had telegraphed they were not happy in Auburn and would probably seek another farm team. And, […]
Stars, Brewers extend PDC — by default
The Huntsville Stars (Class AA; Southern League) and the Milwaukee Brewers were the two left standing at the end of the dance, so they’ll extend their player-development contract — reluctantly — through 2012. It’s not been announced, though we received an email from a Brewers staffer about the deal. An announcement is expected in the […]
K-Tribe, Cleveland extend PDC
The Kinston Indians (High Class A; Carolina League) and the Cleveland Indians will remain partners for the next two seasons, as the pair signed an extension to their player-development contract through 2012. “We are excited and proud to continue our relationship with the Cleveland Indians,” says K-Tribe General Manager Shari Massengill. “The Cleveland Indians organization […]
P-Nats, Washington extend PDC
The Potomac Nationals (High Class A; Carolina League) will remain an affiliate of the Washington Nationals for two more years, as the pair signed an extension of their player-development contract. “We are very pleased to renew our player development contract with the Washington Nationals,” said Potomac Nationals owner Art Silber. “We have had a positive […]
It’s now official: Rangers, Express sign four-year PDC
We reported it would happen a month ago, and today the Texas Rangers and Round Rock Express (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) made it official: the Express will be the Rangers’ top farm team for the next four years. No surprise: we reported a month ago the shift was likely to happen. The reason behind […]
Lee County passes on City of Palms as a swim facility
Lee County has decided to pass on a proposal to convert City of Palms Park, the spring home of the Boston Red Sox, to a swimming facility after National Swimming Center Corp. failed to provide detailed financial information. The proposal would have converted Fort Myers’ City of Palms Park to a natatorium to host competitive […]