The last two seasons should have been gravy time for the Sioux Falls Fighting Pheasants (independent; American Association) as the team set marks for wins. Instead, attendance is plunging after branding and concession changes. What can be done to stem the tide? No doubt managing partner Gary Weckwerth thought he was opening a new chapter […]
Archive | Independent Baseball
Diablos on market; will city support indy ball?
With the El Paso Diablos (independent; American Association) on the market and many in the city not wanting to put any money into Cohen Stadium unless affiliated ball is in the offing, the future of the team is far from assured. Owner Mark Schuster and Ventura Sports have the team on the market. In the […]
Beach Bums to Tressel: Manage our memorabilia!
Nice promotion from the Traverse City Beach Bums (independent; Frontier League): the University of Michigan stalwarts are offering former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel the opportunity to join the Beach Bums for the 2011 season in the merchandise department. For those missing the news this weekend: Tressel resigned as the Ohio State coach because […]
No Lady Gaga, but good crowd for Scorpions
The independent North American League has a lot riding on the Yuma Scorpions this season after investing in Jose Canseco and Ozzie Canseco, and so far the crowd reports are mixed — but a decent weekend might be giving the team some traction. It’s hard to get a handle on how the NAL and the […]
Minnesota Legislature adjourns with no Saints ballpark funding
The Minnesota Legislature adjourned for the 2011 session with a lot left on its plate, including bonding bills that would help pay for construction of a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark — but with the certainty of a special session, the issue is far from dead. The Legislature adjourned with many large […]
Skeeters bringing back bullpen cart
Remember the capped bullpen carts used in Major League Baseball in the 1970s and 1980s? They’ve disappeared from the MLB world, but the Sugar Land Skeeters (independent; Atlantic League) are bringing one back — complete with a sponsor — for the 2012 season. The yet-to-be-named cart, sponsored by Texas Direct Auto, will be visible with every […]
Atlantic League unveils All-Star uniforms
The uniforms for the 2011 Atlantic League All-Star Game have been unveiled by host team York Revolution, with the game slated for July 13 at Sovereign Bank Stadium. Designed by Concepts-York, a firm which handles many of the Revolution’s design needs, the look of the jersey was created specially for the 2011 All-Star Game. The Freedom […]
New for 2011: Provident Bank Park
As we noted this weekend, Provident Bank has committed to a 10-year naming-rights deal for a new Ramapo, N.Y. ballpark housing the Rockland Boulders (independent; Can-Am League): the new ballpark will be called Provident Bank Park. The bank will pay $2.75 million over 10 years, a figure lower than Ramapo officials had expected during initial […]
Provident Bank to buy Ramapo naming rights
We have a new naming-rights deal on the horizon, as Provident Bank, the city of Ramapo and the Rockland Boulders (independent; Can-Am League) are expected to announce a multi-year arrangement at a Tuesday press conference. No word on ths specifics, though we’re told the deal will run ten years and bring in a couple hundred […]
It’s Bieboar Fever for the St. Paul Saints
The annual search for a moniker for the porcine mascot of the St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) has yielded a winner, as the ball-toting pig will be named Justin Bieboar. “Midway Stadium has played host to numerous musical sensations over the years including Bob Dylan, Hootie and the Blowfish, R.E.M. and Willie Nelson, but […]
Barnstormers unveil new unis, logos
The Lancaster Barnstormers (independent; Atlantic League) are sporting a new look this season, with uniforms and logos riffing off the team’s successful rural barn theme dating back to the team’s 2005 inception. The barn motif can be seen in three looks. The first and most comprehensive is that “plank” markings, indicating the basic framework of […]
Bill funding Saints ballpark introduced in MN State Senate
A bill authorizing $27 million in state money for a new Lowertown ballpark for the St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) has been introduced in the Minnesota State Senate as the chamber enters the final three weeks of session. The bill, introduced by Sen. Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul) and Sen. Dave Senjem (R-Rochester), who had […]
Clock ticking on new Saints ballpark funding
With the Minnesota Legislature coming down to the wire on big issues like a $5 billion budget deficit, it’s looking increasingly unlikely legislators will be passing a state bonding bill this year — and that means the St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) could be waiting another year for new-ballpark funding. Traditionally, the state bonds […]