Minor League Baseball last year generated $52.2 million in sales of licensed merchandise, the third largest since the national merchandising program began in 1991, representing a 2.2 percent increase compared to 2010. “Minor League Baseball merchandise continues to remain extremely popular with our millions of fans, thanks to the efforts of our clubs and licensees,” […]
Archive | Minor-League Baseball
Self-serving promotion: The Minor Leagues Report
Here’s today’s self-serving promotion: check out The Minor League Report, where three outstanding Minor League Baseball broadcasters completely outclass Ballpark Digest publisher Kevin Reichard. Here’s a link to the podcast. It’s also available on iTunes. The Minor League Report is put together by three of the best broadcasters in Minor League Baseball: Trenton’s Jay Burnham […]
Sally League All-Star game to feature unusual home-run derby: on a flight deck
When the Charleston RiverDogs host the 2012 South Atlantic League All-Star Game, the traditional home-run derby will be held on the flight deck of the USS Yorktown. The competition, set for June 18, will feature Sally League sluggers launching drives into the Charleston harbor. The USS Yorktown is a historic venue: the decommissioned aircraft carrier is the […]
Fort Myers Miracle set to welcome 2-millionth fan to ballpark
The Fort Myers Miracle (High Class A; Florida State League) are approaching a huge milestone: the team expects to welcome its 2-millionth fan to Hammond Stadium on Monday. “Monday will be a very special night for us,” said Miracle general manager Andrew Seymour, “and we want to make it extra-special for our two millionth fan as […]
Grasshoppers evaluating purchase of NewBridge Bank Park
The Greensboro Grasshoppers (Low Class A; Sally League) ownership is evaluating whether to exercise an option to buy their home, NewBridge Bank Park. When the ballpark was built in 2005 for $22.6 million, the Grasshoppers negotiated an option to buy the facility down the road from the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation. Getting the new ballpark built […]
After five years, future still bright in Quad Cities
Five years after buying the Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League), Dave Heller and Bob Herrfeldt are enthused about the market and possible ballpark upgrades. Visiting Davenport annually always means one thing: viewing the latest in ballpark improvements at Modern Woodmen Park. In past years that’s included new party spaces, a hot […]
New SI Yanks owners, management meet the press
It’s a whole new look for the Staten Island Yankees (short season A; NY-Penn League), as new ownership and a new front office takes control of the team. Gone are Mandalay Baseball Properties and Joe Ricciutti, the 2008 Ballpark Digest Executive of the Year who turned the franchise around after owner New York Yankees mismanaged the team […]
Milwaukie advances, Hillsboro retreats in Portland-area ballpark race
In the effort to bring pro baseball back to Portland, Milwaukie will proceed with planning and Hillsboro put the brakes on its effort — and both expressed displeasure with the short-season Northwest League. As you’ll recall, there are two efforts by Portland suburbs to bring affiliated baseball back to the market. In Milwaukie, the City Council […]
Affiliated ball in St. Paul? Don’t hold your breath
A hot rumor in Twin Cities baseball circles has the St. Paul Saints possibly going affiliated if a new downtown ballpark opens. Forget it: the chances that happens are slim and none. Not that there’s no precedence for a market switching from indy to affiliated in the wake of a new facility: it’s happened in […]
Hagerstown: Let’s begin designing new downtown ballpark
Despite the lack of state funding and a long-term lease from the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League), Hagerstown officials want to see design begin immediately on a new downtown ballpark. Time apparently is of the essence, as the timeline for a new downtown ballpark will be presented to Mayor Robert Bruchey II and […]
Upper deck of PNC Field coming down this week
We expect lots of reports on the progress of the PNC Field renovations: this week the upper deck of the home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) is coming down. It won’t be dramatic: because the lower deck will remain intact, as well as the home clubhouse and the playing field, crews can’t […]
Milwaukie ballpark-planning vote set for next week
A big deadline is on tap for the effort to bring pro baseball back to Portland: On May 15 the Milwaukie City Council will decide whether to move forward with a $300,000 ballpark feasibility study. Milwaukie and Hillsboro, two Portland (Ore.) suburbs, are both seeking to build a new ballpark for a short-season-A Northwest League […]
MiLB attendance up 11.2 percent in April
Good weather, new Mexican League teams and some popular franchise shifts accounted for an 11.2 percent attendance increase among Minor League Baseball teams in April. MiLB clubs attracted 6,401,632 fans through the end of April, an 11.2 percent increase over the same time period last year. The total number of fans is the second highest […]