Canton’s Thurman Munson Stadium, the former home of the Canton-Akron Indians (Class AA; Eastern League) and two independent Frontier League teams, may once again see pro baseball in the form of the startup Ultimate Baseball League. The ballpark, which opened in 1989, has been used for amateur baseball since the demise of the Canton Coyotes; […]
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Flyers sale still in works; indy world waits on resolution
A sale of the Schaumburg Flyers (independent; Northern League) is still ongoing and could close within a week or two, but the future of the team is still in up for debate and generating a lot of buzz in indy-ball circles, as the fate of the team could affect the proceedings in at least two […]
New for 2011: Joliet Slammers
We have a name for the new Silver Cross Field team in the independent Frontier League: the Joliet Slammers, as team ownership goes with a penal theme for its inaugural season. “We deliberated over this for many days and many nights,” said team president Bill Waliewski. “And when all the evidence was considered, we came […]
What’s up in Kalamazoo?
The offices of the Kalamazoo Kings (independent; Frontier League) have been closed in recent weeks, and the local newspaper is questioning whether the team will be back in business next season despite being present in the league’s 2011 schedule. From the Kalamazoo Gazette: The fate of the Kings has yet to be answered definitively — […]
The Week That Was: Dec. 19
It was a week for dramatic franchise and league shifts, the collapse of the Metrodome roof and its impact on the baseball world, and new naming-rights deals emerging. The most popular stories of the past week on Ballpark Digest, as measured by page views. Carolina to Pensacola, Kinston to Zebulon in 2012 Frontier League unveils […]
Frontier League unveils ’11 schedule; Oakland County to go dark
The independent Frontier League unveiled a 2011 schedule today that includes the new Joliet team playing out of Silver Cross Field; the big news is the the Oakland County Cruisers will go dark for the season and will not resume operations until a new ballpark is finished. Basicall, the Frontier League will be the same […]
New Joliet team launches name-the-team contest
The new Joliet team in the independent Frontier League is launching a name-the-team contest and is starting with a solid list of names already suggested by others, including our favorite: the Jailbirds. Names already on the docket also include Pioneers, ’66ers, Gems, Jackrabbits, Old-Timers, Gravel, Stonecutters, Luckys, Steelheads and Jailers. “We have had many brainstorming […]
New group takes control of Joliet ballpark
The regime change in Joliet, Ill., is complete, as a new ownership group led by Alan Oremus takes control of Silver Cross Field and sets up operations today. Now comes the fun part: prepping for the 2011 season. Steel City Baseball paid $915,000 for the privilege of playing at Silver Cross Field, along with all […]
Cruisers: We’ll be ready to play in new ballpark in 2011
The owners of the Oakland County Cruisers (independent; Frontier League) say they’re ready to close on $13 million in financing for a new Waterford, Mich. ballpark — Diamond at The Summit — and should be ready to play in the facility for the 2011 season. Diamond Heroes of Southeast Michigan, Inc., says it is anticipating […]
Joliet approves Steel City Baseball lease for Silver Cross Field
The pieces are almost all in place for Steel City Baseball to field an independent Frontier League team in Joliet’s Silver Cross Field, as the City Council approved a 10-year lease; John Dittrich will be GM of the new effort. Yesterday was a big deal for Steel City Baseball, headed by local resident Alan Oremus, […]
Steel City Baseball Club LLC buys Joliet assets
Steel City Baseball Club LLC has closed on a purchase of the lease to Joliet’s Silver Cross Field and other physical assets held by the owners of the Joliet JackHammers (independent; Northern League), clearing the way for a new independent Frontier League team to play there next season. The city will consider a new lease […]
Joliet to enter Frontier League if lease approved
A new Joliet team could be entering the independent Frontier League for the 2011 season if the city on Monday approves a sale of the Silver Cross Field lease from the current Joliet JackHammers (independent; Northern League) ownership. The city is expected to debate a sale of the lease to a group led by Alan […]
The Week That Was: Nov. 28
New uniforms and logos, independent-baseball shifts, a possible return to Ottawa for affiliated ball and ballpark renovations were in the news this week. The most popular stories on Ballpark Digest for the past week, as measured in page views. Altoona Curve unveils new look, logos, colors Group says it’s ready to play in Omaha; MECA […]