Despite taking a hit on the weather front and losing 100 games to weather, Minor League Baseball announced today that its 176 clubs in 15 leagues drew 9,221,023 fans in July, bringing the season total to 31,567,709. “It is encouraging that our attendance remains ahead of last year, despite losing more than 100 games to […]
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SWB Yankees to dive right into 2013 season
No pressure here: the new Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) will begin the 2013 season at a renovated PNC Field on April 4 — the first day of the MiLB season. Normally teams opening a new ballpark open the season on the road to give everyone involved every possible minute to complete their tasks. […]
Wally Backman: Hall of Famer on the meltdown front
When it comes to video goodness, former major leaguer Wally Backman, manager of the Buffalo Bisons (Class AAA; International League), is pure gold — and we’ve compiled some greatest hits. The fiery Backman is known for his passion on the field — both as a player and a manager — and that passion has certainly […]
Your weekend treat: An MiLB game re-creation
Used to be that most away baseball games were re-created in a radio studio, with tickers providing the plays and announcers providing embellishment. Jesse Goldberg-Strassler brings back the practice this weekend. Goldberg-Strassler, the voice of the Lansing Lugnuts (Low Class A; Midwest League), annually broadcasts a game via re-creation, and this year’s broadcast is set for […]
Grasshoppers close on purchase of NewBridge Park
The Greensboro Grasshoppers (Low Class A; Sally League) are now the proud owners of NewBridge Bank Park, paying $12.8 million for the ballpark. Greensboro Baseball LLC closed on a deal to buy the facility from Joseph M. Bryan Foundation of Greater Greensboro. As you’ll recall, it took years of effort and a lot of work […]
P-Nats go way retro — to Alexandria Dukes
The Potomac Nationals (High Class A; Carolina League) are going way retro on us during the team’s 35th anniversary season: On August 10 the team will don the uniforms and the caps of the 1978 Alexandria Dukes. The Dukes played for six years at Four Mile Run Park in Alexandria, added to the four-team Carolina […]
Pelicans, Fisher Cats approaching 3M attendance mark
Two franchises are approaching the three-million attendance mark in team history: the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High Class A; Carolina League) and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League). The Pelicans need just 4,302 more fans in attendance this season to hit the milestone, and the team expects to celebrate it this weekend. Myrtle […]
Three Blind Mice strikes again
It’s never a good idea to taunt the umpire, as Daytona Cubs (High Class A; Florida State League) intern Derek Dye found out when he played “Three Blind Mice” after a controversial call at first base. Here’s the backstory. Mario Seneca was home-plate umpire for last night’s Fort Myers-Daytona game at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. First-base […]
Richmond ballpark discussion shifts back to Shockoe Bottom; Manchester in play as well
Shockoe Bottom, the controversial area near downtown Richmond once eyed as a ballpark site, is back in the running as the potential site of a new Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark, as is the city’s industrial Manchester area. Former Mayor Doug Wilder pushed Shockoe Bottom as the site of a ballpark for […]
River Bandits to honor memory of late Shelby Harris
Shelby Harris, the 111-year-old Rock Island citizen who threw out the first pitch at the Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League) season opener and passed away July 25, will be honored at Wednesday’s game. Harris passed away at the Rock Island Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Wednesday, July 25, at the age of 111 […]
Expecting a great night at McKechnie Field
You remember the drama last February at McKechnie Field, when Trevor Gooby delivered a baby outside the ballpark gates. In true MiLB form, the Bradenton Marauders are issuing a bobblehead to commemorate the occasion. The story: Gooby, the senior director of Florida operations for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton and GM of the Bradenton Marauders (High Class […]
Foster: Opposition to new El Paso ballpark not a surprise
Paul Foster, one of the four owners of a potential El Paso Triple-A team, says opposition to public funding of a new downtown ballpark was expected and understandable, but a purchase of the team is at hand. Foster, along with his wife Alejandra de la Vega Foster, businessman Woody Hunt and his son, Josh Hunt, are […]
Brawls and thrown bases: your video update
A Mississippi/Mobile brawl and a second eruption from the Asheville Tourists’ legendary Joe Mikulik is making for some fine, fine video viewing today. You all remember Joe Mikulik, manager of the Asheville Tourists (Low Class A; Sally League), whose first eruption during a game in 2006 made the viral-video rounds. Indeed, it’s one of the best […]