Another book worth checking out: Tim Hagerty, the voice of the Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), has authored an entertaining overview of unusual team names and their histories. Root For the Home Team: Minor League Baseball’s Most Off-the-Wall Team Names and the Stories Behind Them (Cider House Press; $12.95) covers unusual team names from […]
Tag Archives | class aaa
SWB Yankees to dive right into 2013 season
No pressure here: the new Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) will begin the 2013 season at a renovated PNC Field on April 4 — the first day of the MiLB season. Normally teams opening a new ballpark open the season on the road to give everyone involved every possible minute to complete their tasks. […]
El Paso opponents: We want ballpark on fall ballot
Opponents of a new El Paso ballpark for a Triple-A team want to force approval of the project on the fall ballot, as they’ve gathered over 2,300 signatures on the issue. The ballpark is already tentatively on the ballot in the form of a proposal to raise the city’s hotel/motel occupancy tax by two percentage points […]
Durham to Bulls: Continue management of DAP
The Durham Bulls (Class AAA; International League) may extend their management of Durham Athletic Park, as the city seeks to work out a long-term plan for the historic facility. The future of the former home of the Bulls has been in question since Minor League Baseball walked away from a deal to manage the ballpark […]
Wally Backman: Hall of Famer on the meltdown front
When it comes to video goodness, former major leaguer Wally Backman, manager of the Buffalo Bisons (Class AAA; International League), is pure gold — and we’ve compiled some greatest hits. The fiery Backman is known for his passion on the field — both as a player and a manager — and that passion has certainly […]
PCL approves El Paso purchase of T-Padres
This pretty much wraps it up: the Pacific Coast League has preliminarily approved the purchase of the Tucson Padres by MountainStar Sports Group, which plans on moving the Triple-A franchise to El Paso in 2014. The ownership group received approval of its Preliminary Application Review (“PAR”). Branch B. Rickey, president of the PCL, sent a […]
Remembering Bob Blum
Every good minor-league front office has an old-timer to act as the institutional memory, to provide continuity where change is normal and accepted. For the Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), Bob Blum fit the bill. We noted that Blum passed away last week, at the age of 91. He worked for the 51s […]
York County leaning toward demolition of Knights Stadium?
York County is coming closer to a decision on the future of Knights Stadium, home of the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) — and the ballpark’s future is not looking too bright. It’s really a two-part decision: if the ballpark is to stay, what future use could it serve? An easy decision would be […]
Foster: Opposition to new El Paso ballpark not a surprise
Paul Foster, one of the four owners of a potential El Paso Triple-A team, says opposition to public funding of a new downtown ballpark was expected and understandable, but a purchase of the team is at hand. Foster, along with his wife Alejandra de la Vega Foster, businessman Woody Hunt and his son, Josh Hunt, are […]
Opposition to El Paso ballpark surfaces
It wouldn’t be a real ballpark if there wasn’t real opposition, as petitions opposing public funding of a new downtown El Paso ballpark are now being circulated. In fact, we can’t recall any effort for a new ballpark where opponents didn’t organize on some level, whether it be citizens groups going to court to oppose […]
Rosenblatt Stadium demolition begins today
With the seating removed and the grandstand emptied, the demolition of Rosenblatt Stadium, former home to the College World Series and the Omaha Royals (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), began today. We’re talking the serious demolition here: the two freestanding buildings and the grandstand will come down, as well as the outfield bleachers sections. Johnny […]
In memoriam: Bob Blum
Former Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) broadcaster and front-office member Bob Blum has passed away. He was 91. Blum worked for the 51s — the Las Vegas Stars at the beginning of his tenure — for almost 30 years, and was the team’s broadcaster from 1985 to 2005 and 2008 to 2010. “Blumer […]
Boston Rob ready for Yankee challenges
This coming offseason may be the most important one ever for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League), but we’re thinking new president/GM Rob Crain will be up to the challenge. Crain, tapped earlier this month to lead the franchise, certainly has a lot on his plate. First, he’ll need to oversee the re-opening of […]