The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Class AA; Southern League) had a pleasant surprise for city officials: the team paid its entire 2012 rent — $175,000 — in advance. The team was slated to pay the Pensacola CMPA with a rent check of $35,000 at its March meeting, per the team’s lease, Instead, Blue Wahoos President Bruce […]
Tag Archives | class aa
Local group launches season-ticket drive for Ottawa baseball
A local group, Champions for Ottawa Baseball, has launched a season-ticket drive for a Class AA Eastern League team in 2013, invoking the name of the Toronto Blue Jays in the process. The group, which counts Mayor Jim Watson among its members, is asking 2,500 baseball fans to put down $25 on deposit for a […]
It’s Kazoo for the Blue Wahoos
We have a mascot for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Class AA; Southern League): Kazoo, the result of a name-the-mascot contest. “Kazoo was a huge hit,” said Blue Wahoos vice president of community relations Julie Borshak. “He has a very unique design and he’s extremely eye catching with his bright colors which we kept consistent with […]
Nats extend affiliations with four farm teams
The Washington Nationals extended their affiliations with four minor-league clubs: the Syracuse Chiefs (Class AAA; International League), Harrisburg Senators (Class AA; Eastern League), Potomac Nationals (High Class A; Carolina League) and Auburn Doubledays (short season A; NY-Penn League). Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Assistant General Manager and […]
Ottawa ballpark will sport artificial turf — per request of parent team?
A Class AA Eastern League team in Ottawa will reportedly play on artificial turf based on the request of its future parent team — though there’s no team there yet and no parent team on tap. Gerald Sheehan, chief financial officer for Beacon Sport — the investment firm working on a plan to buy an […]
Smokies offer dollar ducats for Opening Night
To celebrate the team’s President’s Award last season, the Tennessee Smokies (Class AA; Southern League) are offering dollar tickets for Opening Night. For the next 160 hours, the team is offering the “President’s Award Ticket Special,” In appreciation of the Smokies being named the Minor League Organization of the Year in 2011. Fans can purchase […]
In memoriam: Don Mincher
Former Southern League president, Huntsville Stars owner and Major Leaguer Don Mincher passed away last night after a long illness. He was 73. Mincher retired last fall as president of the Class AA Southern League due to the health problems. The league is still searching for a replacement. A Huntsville native, Mincher began his career […]
New Britain Rock Cats sold
The New Britain Rock Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) are in the process of being sold to an investment group headed by former GM John Willi for $15 million, according to multiple sources. The local newspaper had incorrectly reported the sale of the team to DSF Sports and Entertainment, which already owns the New Hampshire […]
Vispoli, Boesch trade spots in broadcast booths
Alex Vispoli is the new voice of the Frisco RoughRiders (Class AA; Texas League), with Brian Boesch moving from Frisco to replace him as the voice of the Winston-Salem Dash (High Class A; Carolina League). In addition to serving as the team’s liaison to the media, Boesch (pronounced “BUSH”) will broadcast all 140 Dash games […]
Ottawa committee approves $5.7M in ballpark improvements
We’re another step closer to affiliated ball returning to Ottawa, as a city finance committee today approved $5.7 million in spending on renovations to Ottawa Stadium for the 2013 season. The full Ottawa City Council is expected to approve the spending plan next Wednesday. Beacon Sports, a Boston-based finance firm, has been negotiating with the […]
Blue Jays GM: We’re not shifting affiliation to Ottawa
Toronto Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos says his team has no plans to shift Double-A affiliation to a new Ottawa team — but the statement means less than you think, considering he’s contractually obligated to say this. National Post baseball writer John Lott caught up with Anthopoulos after it was announced a Double-A Eastern League […]
It’s official: Eastern League to Ottawa in 2013
The reports were true: Conditional upon various baseball approvals, we should see the move of a Class AA Eastern League team to Ottawa Stadium for the 2013 season. Boston-based Beacon Sports has been negotiating a 10-year lease for Ottawa Stadium, the former home of the Ottawa Lynx (Class AAA; International League). The ballpark would be […]
Birmingham: Design of new ballpark still evolving
Though final demolition plans for a new Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) ballpark site are now set, the final design of Regions Field won’t be presented for approval until April. This means the pretty renderings we’ve been showing from HKS are conceptual at this point. But that’s OK: readers of this site seem to […]