It’s been in the works for many years, and it sounds like Amarillo officials are ready to move forward on an ambitious downtown redevelopment plan that includes a new Amarillo Sox (independent; American Association) ballpark. A RFQ for development proposals was issued way back in 2011, with the decision made to pursue a new ballpark […]
Archive | Independent Baseball
Fielders: We’re ready to return!
Like Monty Python’s Black Knight, the Lake County Fielders don’t know when to quit, as a lawyer for the team says they’re ready to come back and set up shop in a new Zion ballpark. As you’ll recall, the Fielders collapsed in a sea of debt, litigation and broken dreams, forced out of their offices […]
Worker killed at Saints new-ballpark construction site
A male worker was killed this morning at the construction site of a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark when a concrete section of the Gillette building collapsed. The accident happened around 8 a.m., and Johnny Valek, 61, of Plymouth was operating a crane, clearing debris from the site. From the Pioneer Press; […]
Tritz is American Association Executive of the Year
Sioux City Explorers General Manager Shane Tritz is the 2013 American Association Executive of the Year, as decided by a vote of a league field managers and media representatives. This is the first time in team history that a member of the Sioux City Explorers organization has received the award. “We are thrilled to have […]
Calderwood is Frontier League Broadcaster of the Year
More postseason plaudits: Tim Calderwood, the voice of the Schaumburg Boomers, has been named broadcaster of the year in the independent Frontier League. Ne earned the award for the second time in his career, with the first coming in 2009 during his time with the Traverse City Beach Bums. “I am humbled to receive this […]
Boomers named FL Organization of the Year
Nice honor for the folks working out of Boomers Stadium: the Schaumburg Boomers have been named Organization of the Year in the independent Frontier League. “For the Boomers, being named Organization of the Year is about as good as it gets, and we’re extremely humbled to be recognized this way by the 13 other outstanding […]
Doing the Harlem Shake in St. Paul
You don’t see this too often: Check out this video of St. Paul Saints and Sioux City Explorers players combining on the Harlem Shake during yesterday’s season ender at Midway Stadium. The independent American Association teams combined to perform the popular dance at the end of the second inning. Nothing profound; just fun. —- Share […]
Canaries poised to break attendance record
We expect to be running lots of stories about teams setting attendance records in coming days, so here’s a start: the Sioux Falls Canaries (independent; American Association) are only 2,688 fans from a record, with four home games remaining. The current team record is 150,837 fans attending Canaries games in 2008. This year, 148,150 fans […]
Design deadlines slip on new Saints ballpark
A hard deadline of Aug. 23 for design work on a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark has slipped and isn’t expected to be met for months. The contract with Ryan Companies called for design work and a firm estimate of the maximum construction cost to be met on Aug. 23. That deadline, […]
Report: Fort Worth Cats players, vendors go unpaid
A report from WFAA-TV in Dallas-Fort Worth says Fort Worth Cats (independent; United League Baseball) players, coaches and vendors are going unpaid at the end of the season. From the WFAA website: “My last paycheck, I took it to the bank Tuesday afternoon and it would not clear,” said first base coach Mike Ford. News […]
Otters closing out successful season
Nice to see such good news coming from an old, historic ballpark: the Evansville Otters (independent; Frontier League) are wrapping up a very successful season, with attendance up some 700 fans a game. In fact, the Otters are poised to lead the indy circuit in attendance for the very first time, averaging some 3,309 fans […]
Diablos close out El Paso tenure
The second incarnation of the El Paso Diablos (independent; American Association) came to an end yesterday, as the team wrapped up its season and history at Cohen Stadium. The original Diablos and flamboyant owner Jim Paul are still remembered fondly in some Minor League Baseball circles: an aggressive promoter whose approach to giveaways and promote […]
Bill “Spaceman” Lee plays all nine positions for Pacifics
Quite the promo for the San Rafael Pacifics (independent; Pacific Association): 66-year-old Bill “Spaceman” Lee played all nine positions last night in a loss to Na Koa Ikaika Maui. “I made a bad play at second but I played first well. I caught, I had an assist on a foul tip and another assist when […]