This seems to be the day for poignant stories: Clinton LumberKings (Low Class A: Midwest League) players and coaches will shave their heads this Friday to support St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven charity dedicated to raising funds for research for childhood cancer. Players Tyler Pike, Brock Hebert and Steven Ewing along with Hitting Coach Mike […]
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Fightin Phils to give away Jaguar, complete with cassette deck
The Reading Fightin Phils (Class AA; Eastern League) are holding an unusual promo: the team is giving away a 1991 Jaguar owned by first baseman Jim Murphy. The raffle will benefit Baseballtown Charities and its Baer Park Rehabilitation Project. Instead of driving the car back to his home state of Washington after the end of […]
Consultant: Biloxi ballpark site would be a winner
This is quite the endorsement: Charles Johnson IV of Johnson Consulting calls a proposed Biloxi ballpark a sure winner, with average baseball attendance and above-average event attendance. The recipient of a $25,000 contract from the city, Johnson pegs the ballpark’s economic impact at $34 million annually (with the average game/event attendee spending $70 during each […]
Hagerstown: Yes, we really do want a downtown ballpark
Changing course once again in a last-minute attempt to retain affiliated baseball, a majority of Hagerstown City Council members now support a new downtown site preferred by the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League). Suns ownership had set their sites on a new downtown ballpark that would anchor additional development. But the City Council […]
IronPigs funeral promo turns poignant
A tongue-in-cheek promo turned poignant when the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Class AAA; International League) and a local funeral home awarded a free funeral package to a local man diagnosed with ALS. The package, sponsored by Reichel Funeral Home and valued at nearly $10,000, covered all the services normally associated with a funeral — casket, professional […]
Ports, Athletics extend affiliation through 2016
The Stockton Ports (High Class A; California League) and the Oakland Athletics extended their Player Development Contract (PDC) through the 2016 season. Prior to this new two-year extension, the A’s and Ports had signed a two-year agreement April 15, 2010 for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. “It is great to see so many former Stockton […]
Savannah columnist: Let the Sand Gnats go
If Savannah loses professional baseball in the form of the Savannah Sand Gnats (Low Class A: Sally League), it won’t be because team ownership didn’t work to bring the community a new ballpark. This harsh column by Adam Van Brimmer of Savannahnow.com shows a fairly parochial attitude toward efforts to bring a new ballpark to […]
New El Paso ballpark set for April 11, 2014 opening
The new Triple-A Pacific Coast League El Paso ballpark for the relocating Tucson Padres is set for an April 11, 2014 opening, according to team and city management. The season opener for the new franchise is scheduled for April 3, giving team officials some precious time to make sure operations are set. Ballpark construction moves […]
Frederick eyes ballpark signage to raise funds
To lessen the city subsidy for Harry Grove Stadium, Frederick officials are looking at selling signage outside the home of the Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League). The issue: the city pays $42,000 to subsidize operations at the ballpark, and finding a way to cut that amount has been a goal of city officials […]
Pacific Coast League unveils 2014 realignment
The franchise is moving only 300 or so miles, but the addition of an El Paso team in 2014 is causing the Class AAA Pacific Coast League to plan a divisional realignment. The makeup of the PCL conference divisions for 2014: Pacific Northern – Fresno Grizzlies, Reno Aces, Sacramento River Cats, Tacoma RainiersPacific Southern – […]
GreenJackets ballpark project moves forward
Tax-increment financing for Project Jackson, which contains a new Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) ballpark, received approval from the local school district last night. The approval came with a few strings, however. Most prominent: none of the TIF proceeds generated by school-district participation can go toward financing the new ballpark. Instead, funds must […]
Private financing pitched for new Suns ballpark
The Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) and the city of Fredericksburg are negotiating a revised financing deal for a ballpark that calls for significantly less in public spending. The original plan called for the city to finance the costs of a new ballpark. The new plan, prepared with New Jersey-based Diamond Nation, calls […]
Rochester Red Wings to host outdoor hockey this December
Outdoor hockey will come to Frontier Field, home of the Rochester Red Wings (Class AAA; International League), this December with six games over 10 days. We’ve seen several ballparks host hockey in recent years, including both MiLB and MLB facilities. The model that seems to work best: multiple games tied to an event. That’s the […]