The city of Jacksonville made it official: the playing field at the Baseball Grounds will be known as Bragan Field, with temporary signs at the ballpark unveiled. The field is named for longtime Jacksonville Suns (Class AA; Southern League) owner Peter Bragan Sr. Bragan, who passed away on July 7 at the age of 89, […]
Tag Archives | class aa
Experts: Downtown ballpark could revitalize Richmond
As Richmond officials continue to debate the best course of action regarding a new Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark, experts advise a downtown location for the most impact. Former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy was on a panel discussing new ballpark at the Real Estate Trends Conference, and his advice was clear: build […]
Canal Park lease extension approved for new Aeros owner
Approvals are in place for Ken Babby to buy the Akron Aeros (Class AA; Eastern League), and the city has agreed to a new Canal Park lease that will keep the team in town through 2037. The new lease doesn’t call for the city to put more money into the ballpark, said Mayor Don Plusquellic; rather, […]
Attempt to refinance Tulsa ballpark debt thwarted by foes
An attempt to refinances ONEOK Field debt has been blocked by opponents of the downtown assessment district paying down debt on the home of the Tulsa Drillers (Class AA; Texas League). It is a unique situation, one that requires a little backstory. When it came time to pay for ONEOK Field, city officials set up […]
Akron to look at ballpark upgrades to keep Aeros in town
Akron officials are looking at upgrades to Canal Park to keep the Akron Aeros (Class AA; Eastern League) in town after the team’s lease expires in five years. The upcoming sale of the team apparently has unsettled officials; though the team was not a candidate to move to Ottawa in 2014, there was enough ill-informed […]
Babby emerging as Aeros buyer
It’s been an open secret in baseball and broker circles the last two years that the Akron Aeros (Class AA; Eastern League) have been on the market, and it looks like the team finally has a buyer: Ken Babby. The Akron Beacon Journal is reporting that Babby, the former general manager of digital media for the […]
Sea Dogs installing new turf, irrigation system
Big changes for 2013 at Hadlock Field, home of the Portland Sea Dogs (Class AA; Eastern League): a new irrigation system and playing field, with Maine- and New England-based companies completing the work. The playing surface at Hadlock Field will be completely replaced, including both the infield and outfield. The field will be re-grated and […]
No, Erie’s not moving to Ottawa
We were pitched this story and passed because we know it’s not true, but apparently there’s enough talk to make it worth covering elsewhere: No, the Erie SeaWolves (Class AA; Eastern League) are not moving to Ottawa. An original, erroneous report in the Ottawa Citizen had the Mandalay Baseball Properties-owned SeaWolves as being a team […]
Angels, Travelers back in bed for two more years
With no other options on the table, the Arkansas Travelers (Class AA; Texas League) and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim signed a two-year extension of their player-development contract (PDC), through 2014. The announcement was made by Travelers team president Russ Meeks on Monday morning at Dickey-Stephens Park. It was no secret the Travelers were […]
Debate emerges over Birmingham Negro Leagues museum
When the new home of the Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) opens next spring, a planned museum honoring Negro League history won’t be open — though it is fully funded. The issue: how to program the museum in the face of criticism from Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick, who says the world doesn’t […]
Suns, Marlins extend affiliation through 2014
The Jacksonville Suns (Class AA; Southern League) and the Miami Marlins extended their player-development contract through the 2014 season. “We are excited to have the Marlins back in Jacksonville, and I fully expect the Marlins to send us a team that will contend for another Southern league Championship in 2013,” said Jacksonville Suns President Peter Bragan […]
Huntsville, Milwaukee extend PDC
The Huntsville Stars (Class AA; Southern League) and the Milwaukee Brewers have renewed their player-development contract (PDC) through 2014. The announcement was made jointly today by Brewers President of Baseball Operations – General Manager Doug Melvin and Stars General Manager Buck Rogers. “We have agreed to extend our working agreement with the Stars,” said Melvin. […]
Baldwin, Squyres honored by Southern League
The Class AA Southern League named Pensacola Blue Wahoos President Bruce Baldwin as the 2012 Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year and Jacksonville Suns Director of Group Sales January Squyres as the league’s Woman of Excellence. Votes for both awards were received from league general managers. It is the second Southern League Executive of the […]