San Jose officials are so eager to land the Oakland Athletics that they’re willing to sell Lew Wolff land for less than half it’s worth on the open market. The deal would sell about five acres of prime downtown land for $6.9 million. San Jose paid $25.1 million for the six parcels of land over the […]
Tag Archives | bud selig
With MLB realignment, it looks like the Astros
With MLB Commissioner Bud Selig saying he wants realignment by 2013 and Jim Crane negotiating a price break on his purchase of the team, it’s all but certain the Houston Astros are moving to the American League West. Selig made his comments about realignment during his annual World Series press conference, held before Game Four. […]
Dodgers lower season-ducat costs for 2012
The Los Angeles Dodgers, operating under a cloud as owner Frank McCourt and MLB fight it out in court, go on the offensive by lowering season-ticket pricing for 2012. That 2011 was a very miserable year for one of baseball’s flagship franchises is an understatement: announced attendance was down some 18 percent, to 36,236 per […]
Bud’s retirement plan: Back to college in Madison
Curious about what Bud Selig has planned after retirement? He’s already set up plans to teach and write in Madison, Wis., conveniently near Ballpark Digest World HQ. The first pitcher of beer on the Terrace is on us, Bud. Selig is a UW graduate, attending the school the same time as Oakland A’s owner Lew […]
Jamie to Frank: The Dodgers are yours
Perhaps sensing this is the best way to get some cash out of her divorce to Frank McCourt, Jamie McCourt has agreed to let him keep the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dodger Stadium as part of a settlement and will support his effort to sell the team’s media rights. The McCourts have been embroiled in […]
Oakland player plan depends on new ballpark
It will be an interesting offseason for the Oakland Athletics, as the fate of a new ballpark will determine whether the team goes into rebuilding mode or brings back established players to spiff up the franchise for a sale. The backstory, for those living in a cave the last few baseball years. Like many fans […]
MLB records strong year on attendance front
It was a good year for Major League Baseball and the Philadelphia Phillies: MLB recorded the fifth-highest attendance in its history, while the Phillies led baseball in attendance for the first time. This year’s total of 73,425,568 was the most since the 2008 season (78,588,004) and was 0.5 percent greater than last year’s total of […]
MLB to bankruptcy judge: Force McCourt to sell Dodgers, or we’ll do it later
In a bankruptcy-court filing, Major League Baseball has asked the Delaware judge overseeing matters to force Frank McCourt to sell the Los Angeles Dodgers and related assets — or else MLB will seize the team post-bankruptcy. “Mr. McCourt cannot hide the Dodgers in bankruptcy forever,” the filing read. The Los Angeles Times reported on the […]
Blue Wahoos cleared for play
Yeah, it was a mere formality, but it’s still a reason to celebrate: the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Class AA; Southern League) were officially approved to play in 2012 by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. The approval, which was expected after approval from the Southern League and Minor League Baseball, means the Blue Wahoos front office can […]
Brochu: No way MLB returns to Montreal
Claude Brochu, the man who dismantled the 1994 Montreal Expos and still blamed by fans as triggering the decline of the franchise, says there’s no way Major League Baseball returns to the city while Bud Selig remains in charge of the game. Which may not be long: Selig insists he’s stepping down next year to […]
MLB, Royals unveil 2012 All-Star Game logo
The Kansas City Royals and Major League Baseball unveiled the logo for the 2012 All-Star Game, to be held July 10 at Kauffman Stadium. The official logo uses the Royals’ crown logo and colors of blues and metallic golds are incorporated into a theme of a family crest, accompanied by flags, and the type appears […]
Yet another group seeks to break Rays ballpark logjam
Yet another group of influential local businesspeople have stepped up to find a Tampa Bay Rays ballpark solution — but St. Pete Mayor Bill Foster continues to oppose any development that calls for the team to leave the increasingly decrepit Tropicana Field. The group, the Clutch Hitters, was formed to encourage businesses to buy season […]
Judge: Dodgers must accept MLB loan
A Delaware bankruptcy judge held that the Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt must negotiate with MLB over the terms of a loan, citing the more favorable terms of the deal. McCourt had arranged $150 million in Debtor-in-Possession (DIP) financing from a JP Morgan hedge fund, Highbridge Capital, under some pretty onerous terms — 10+% interest, […]