Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts addressed the ongoing silence between the team and Mayor Rahm Emanuel, saying any disagreements won’t matter in the long run. The team hasn’t made any headway on efforts to secure public financing of improvements to Wrigley Field since the political activities of family patriarch Joe Ricketts regarding a perceived smear […]
Tag Archives | chicago cubs
Spat between Cubs, Mayor Rahm continues
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says there’s been no contact between his office and the Chicago Cubs for the past five months, after the two sides disagreed over the political activities of Joe Ricketts. Ricketts is the family patriarch; the trust he set up owns the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field. After Emanuel went out on […]
The Week That Was: October 7
New Astros uniforms, potential new Rays ballparks, teams maneuvering for 2013 and ownership changes made headlines this past week. The top stories on Ballpark Digest, as measured by page views. Astros to unveil new uniforms Nov. 2 Loudoun Hounds: We have deal for 2014 ballpark Cubs pitch new seating behind Wrigley Field home plate Abundance […]
Cubs pitch new seating behind Wrigley Field home plate
An already intimate ballpark would be even more cramped if the Chicago Cubs receive approval to move in the brick backstop at Wrigley Field and add an extra row of seats behind home plate. Not quite sure it’s a big deal either way. Right now it’s a reported 60.5 feet from home plate to the […]
Ballpark nanny: Wash your hands!
Talk about obsessive: a dentist, his wife and a crew of germaphobes visited 26 MLB ballparks to tally how well fans washed their hands in the restrooms — and hung out there to research the hard numbers. In general, washing your hands is a good idea when there’s the chance to pass around something nasty, […]
Mesa: Cubs, ASU must put aside differences on ballpark lease
Mesa officials don’t want the ASU Sun Devils to abandon the idea of sharing a new spring-training facility with the Chicago Cubs, so they are initiating talks between the two sides. You can read the full story at our sister site, Spring Training Online. The basic issue: Arizona State thought it had a deal to […]
Hamilton calls last game; will return for a single sign-off
Milo Hamilton, one of the great broadcasters in baseball, called his last game for the Houston Astros last night, culminating a 67-year career in baseball. The 85-year-old Hamilton has been behind the Astros mike for the last 28 years, the last stint in a career that began broadcasting minor-league games in the Quad Cities and included stops […]
Cedar Rapids to Twins, Kane County to Cubs
Two big affiliation deals in the Low Class A Midwest League were announced this afternoon: The Cedar Rapids Kernels hooked up with the Minnesota Twins, while the Kane County Cougars signed a new deal with the Chicago Cubs. For the Cougars and the Cubs, a new two-year player-development contract brings the MLB’s Low Class A […]
Chiefs, Cards sign four-year PDC
Another change on the affiliation front: the St. Louis Cardinals and the Peoria Chiefs (Low Class A; Midwest League) have signed a new player-development contract, through 2016. The Cardinals had been affiliated with the Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League); the Chiefs are coming off a long-term relationship with the Chicago Cubs. […]
Daytona, Cubs: Let’s stay together
Though there really wasn’t any doubt about it, the Daytona Cubs (High Class A; Florida State League) and the Chicago Cubs signed a two-year extension to their player-development contract (PDC), through 2014. Apparently the two sides agreed to a deal and are only now getting around to announcing it. Actually, there have been no press […]
Twins meet with Kernels; more meetings today
Minnesota Twins officials met yesterday with the board of directors of the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Low Class A; Midwest League) and will meet with at least one more Midwest League team today, as the affiliate dance continues. The Cedar Rapids Gazette is reporting that an affiliate deal between the Twins and Kernels is a done […]
Hawks, Cubs renew affiliation
The Boise Hawks (short season A; Northwest League) and the Chicago Cubs are renewing their player-development contract, despite concerns from the Cubs about the conditions at Memorial Stadium. The pair will remain affiliated for two more years, through 2014. Here’s a look at the current affiliate status. RELATED STORIES: As Hawks open season, new Boise ballpark […]
Indy ball apparently not good enough for Joliet
Though the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) have worked hard on a quality product, some locals say baseball won’t be successful until affiliated ball arrives — which will probably be never. The Slammers were a smash in the first season, then saw things level off in 2012. That’s led to some talk about affiliated ball […]