The addition of the Richmond Flying Squirrels is causing Eastern League officials to realign the league into Eastern and Western divisions and more. The addition of the Richmond Flying Squirrels is causing Eastern League officials to realign the league into Eastern and Western divisions and more. The Reading Phillies will move into the division now […]
Author Archive | Kevin Reichard
P-Nats eye new Loudoun County ballpark
A developer has applied for permissions for a new Potomac Nationals ballpark in Loudoun County, Virginia. Loudoun County, Virginia is suddenly the hot baseball area, with one new ballpark under development and a second potential ballpark in the works. Comstock Partners is proposing a new ballpark for the Potomac Nationals (High Class A; Carolina League) […]
American Defenders to Pittsfield; Lewis, Duquette to remain on ownership team
The remaining owners of the American Defenders of New Hampshire have applied to move the franchise to Pittsfield's Wahconah Park for 2010. The remaining owners of the American Defenders of New Hampshire (independent; Can-Am Association) have applied to move the franchise to Pittsfield's Wahconah Park for 2010. The franchise shut down operations before the end […]
2009 BPD Ballpark of the Year: Huntington Park
This was a banner year for new ballparks in the minor and major leagues. But at the end of the day, there was one new facility that stood head and shoulders above the rest: Huntington Park, the new home of the Columbus Clippers. Indeed, Huntington Park is one of the best ballparks to open in […]
2009 BPD Editor’s Choice Award: The Staff of Roger Dean Stadium
Our second Editor’s Choice Award is for all the grunts who make baseball work on a daily basis: the folks who tend the grass, clean the grandstand and prepare the facilities for the next day’s game. That routine is taken to the extreme by the hard-working staff at Jupiter’s Roger Dean Stadium, the busiest baseball […]
Naturals move broadcasts to FM
ESPN 92.1 The Ticket (KQSM-FM) is the new home for the Texas League team's broadcasts.The Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Class AA; Texas League) announced that with the 2010 season will come a new flagship affiliate for Naturals baseball – ESPN 92.1 The Ticket (KQSM-FM). The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon live on the air at Cumulus’ […]
Fisher Cats raise over $150,000 for charity
Good news in the midst of the holidays: the New Hampshire Fisher Cats raise more than $158,000 for charity at annual dinner.The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) raised an all-time record $158,504.38 for charity at the Granite State Baseball Dinner on November 21. Monies raised through dinner ticket sales, raffle tickets and […]
GBL brings Japanese female knuckleballer to Arizona Fall League
There’s certainly a novelty factor here: Eri Yoshida, a 17-year-old female sidearm pitcher whose knuckleball tops out at 50 m.p.h., will pitch for the Yuma team in the Arizona Winter League. Yoshida, 17, made headlines and impressed the baseball world last summer when she became the first female to play professionally in Japan. Equipped with […]
Stenman, Schmitt to own new Wisconsin Rapids ballclub UPDATED!
Owning the new Wisconsin Rapids team in the summer-collegiate Northwoods League: the braintrust of the immensely successful Madison Mallards. This will be formally announced later today, but we thought you'd be interested to know that the owners of the new Wisconsin Rapids franchise in the summer-collegiate Northwoods League will Vern Stenman and Steve Schmitt, GM […]
2009 BPD Editor’s Choice Award: Camelback Ranch-Glendale
The Ballpark Digest award season continues, as we announce our first Editor’s Choice citation for Camelback Ranch-Glendale, the spring-training home of the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. Camelback Ranch-Glendale is a bold re-imagining of the spring-training complex, bringing in the feel of a classic training camp with all the amenities of today. The […]
Northwoods League expands to Wisconsin Rapids
The summer-collegiate Northwoods League is expanding in the 2010 season in Wisconsin Rapids, a former Midwest League outpost. The summer-collegiate Northwoods League is expanding in the 2010 season in Wisconsin Rapids, a former Midwest League outpost, setting up in Witter Field. On Wednesday, December 16th beginning at 6:00 PM, at the Centralia Center in Wisconsin […]
Pelicans sell out ballpark bonds in 30 hours
Some good financial news for the baseball industry: bonds for Pensacola's downtown park, which includes a new Pensacola Pelicans ballpark, sold out in 30 hours. Some good financial news for the baseball industry: $45 million in bonds for Pensacola's downtown park, which includes a new Pensacola Pelicans (independent; American Association) ballpark, sold out in 30 […]
GBL expanding to Palm Springs — sometime
The independent Golden Baseball League will have a team in Palm Springs either in 2010 or 2011. The independent Golden Baseball League will have a team in Palm Springs either in 2010 or 2011. The ownership group — not specified by the league, but we're assuming it's the current Orange County Flyers ownership — will […]