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. […]
Archive | Minor-League Baseball
El Paso opponents: We want ballpark on fall ballot
Opponents of a new El Paso ballpark for a Triple-A team want to force approval of the project on the fall ballot, as they’ve gathered over 2,300 signatures on the issue. The ballpark is already tentatively on the ballot in the form of a proposal to raise the city’s hotel/motel occupancy tax by two percentage points […]
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 […]
Northwest League bringing back All-Star Game in 2013; Everett to host
The Everett AquaSox are hosting the 2013 Northwest League All-Star Game on August 6, 2013, the first time the circuit has held an All-Star Game since 2004, with the plan for it to become an annual event once again. The All-Star Game celebration will include several other events, including a Homerun Derby and an All-Star […]
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 […]
Lugnuts, Blue Jays extend PDC
The Lansing Lugnuts (Low Class A: Midwest League) and the Toronto Blue Jays are extending their player-development contract (PDC) through the 2014 season. “We are proud to continue our partnership with the Toronto Blue Jays,” said Lansing Lugnuts Co-Owner Tom Dickson. “They’re a top notch Major League organization who are outstanding to work with, and […]
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 […]
PCL approves El Paso purchase of T-Padres
This pretty much wraps it up: the Pacific Coast League has preliminarily approved the purchase of the Tucson Padres by MountainStar Sports Group, which plans on moving the Triple-A franchise to El Paso in 2014. The ownership group received approval of its Preliminary Application Review (“PAR”). Branch B. Rickey, president of the PCL, sent a […]
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 […]