Expected: The Durham Bulls (Class AAA; International League) and the Tampa Bay Rays extended their player development contract (PDC) for four more years, through the 2018 season. The four-year contract comes on the heels of a four-year deal signed in August 2009 that went in to effect after the 2010 season. In the last four […]
Tag Archives | international league
Grande, Kaat to call Triple-A championship in Charlotte
We have the broadcast team for the 2014 Gildan Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game, to be held on Tuesday, September 16 at BB&T Ballpark, home of the Charlotte Knights: George Grande and Jim Kaat. Returning in 2014 as the play-by-play voice of the Gildan Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game is George Grande, who began his […]
What a difference a new ballpark makes
As we approach the end of the season, the two biggest success stories, the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) and El Paso Chihuahuas (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), have one thing in common: a new ballpark. No secret to the business strategy here: build a new ballpark and see a huge jump in attendance […]
Norfolk Tides to go gnome tonight
This is certainly a season for ugly uniforms in Minor League Baseball, and tonight sees another entrant in that proud tradition: the Norfolk Tides (Class AAA; International League) are donning gnome jerseys. The jerseys are part of the gnomification of the Tides. The team is also giving away a gnome figurine of Tides manager Ron […]
Final days of Knights Stadium
With the property sold and a business plan in place, all that’s left is to tear down Knights Stadium, former home of the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) in coming months. Cato Corp., a Charlotte-based clothing retailer, has indeed closed on the purchase of the now-empty Fort Mill, S.C. ballpark site for $841,284. The […]
Mud Hens to install putt-putt golf on Fifth Third Field turf after season
Well, this takes the cake for the most imaginative offseason use for a ballpark we’ve seen: the Toledo Mud Hens (Class AAA; International League) are converting the Fifth Third Field playing field to a putt-putt golf course after the season. An 18-hole miniature golf course, no less. The Links at Fifth Third Field opens to […]
Knights poised to break all-time attendance record tonight
Well, this is certainly an accomplishment: The Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) should break their all-time attendance mark for a single season — in just 45 games at BB&T Ballpark. When the record is reached, the Knights will reward one lucky fan with a special prize pack at tonight’s game. The record of 429,132 fans […]
Syracuse has fans lining up for Chiefs tattoo promo
Every team should do this: the Syracuse Chiefs (Class AAA; International League) had folks lining up six hours before gametime for a free team tattoo giving them general-admission privileges for life. Other teams have done this — in fact, we were at a Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League) contest when the […]
Red Wings, Monroe County pitch Frontier Field renovations
The Rochester Red Wings (Class AAA; International League) and Monroe County are pitching a $7.5-million renovation of Frontier Field — the first major upgrade since the ballpark opened in 1996. The improvements would potentially add more group areas, a museum, new field, renovated concourse and suites, and new entrance to the ballpark. The state is […]
RailRiders, Yankees extend PDC
This is more a formality than anything else, as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Class AAA; International League) and the New York Yankees extended their PDC through 2018. The signing extended their relationship for four more years, through the 2018 season. That is the longest extension allowed per baseball rules. This is no surprise: the Yankees are […]
New faces, same results for Syracuse Chiefs
New management at the Syracuse Chiefs (Class AAA; International League) is finding out the hard way that turnarounds take more than a few months — but optimism reigns at NBT Bank Stadium. You’ll recall all of the offseason turmoil at NBT Bank Stadium, where longtime front-office execs Tex and John Simone were removed as part […]
Physicians to IronPigs: Don’t bring home the bacon
In the midst of National Barbeque Month, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Class AAA; International League) are under criticism from a physicians group objecting to the team’s emphasis on that greatest of food groups: bacon. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is taking out a billboard near Coca-Cola Park, home of the IronPigs, advising teams to […]
One last look at Cooper Stadium
We’re in the middle of our Target Field/Midway Stadium day-night doubleheader, but we thought you’d like to see this shot: the ongoing demolition and repurposing of Cooper Stadium, former home of the Columbus Clippers (Class AAA; International League). As you’ll recall, Cooper Stadium, which opened in 1932, has sat empty since the Clippers moved to […]