There were some collective groans when MLB announced teams would be installing metal detectors at ballparks over the next two seasons, but so far the impact seems to be minimal. We’ve experienced metal detectors several times this season, most recently at Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game at Target Field. Like most attendees, we hit the ballpark […]
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Remembering the Inter-American League
It was the last new affiliated minor league, but it didn’t last a full season: remembering the 1979 Class AAA Inter-American League, with teams in Miami and the Caribbean. We’ve written in the past about Bobby Maduro, the visionary minor-league-baseball entrepreneur who owned the Havana Sugar Kings and later served as a liaison between baseball […]
Today’s brilliant baseball marketing: #VoteKluber
MLB is doing some brilliant marketing these days, but the Cleveland Indians unleashed the creative hounds in pushing Corey Kluber for the All-Star team. The Indians took to social media to promote Kluber: Ever wonder what @CKluber does the morning of an off day? http://t.co/e84yU9epqd #VoteKluber #ClevelandRox pic.twitter.com/5CDzrZKT8t — #VoteKluber (@Indians) July 7, 2014 Scary […]
Bunning: Cubs best argument to eliminate MLB antitrust exemption
The sale of the Chicago Cubs to the Ricketts family — despite higher bids from the like of Mark Cuban — is a great argument for eliminating MLB’s antitrust exemption, according for former U.S. lawmaker Jim Bunning. Bunning is also a former MLB pitcher, so he’s seen the business of the game from all sides. […]
San Jose MLB appeal set for August
San Jose’s appeal of a federal court ruling upholding MLB’s right to keep the Oakland A’s from moving to the city will be heard by an appeals court in August. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals announced Monday it would hear the appeal on August 12, later than San Jose officials anticipated when it […]
Montreal preps for return of MLB; Carter to be honored
The return of Major League Baseball to Montreal in the form of Blue Jays/Mets exhibitions should be an emotional one this weekend, with the late Gary Carter — who starred for both the Expos and the Mets — to be honored. About 75,000 tickets have been sold for the two weekend exhibitions games. (Organizers are […]
New for 2014: The $25 D-Bat Dog
Another gutbuster is making its way to an MLB ballpark this season: The Arizona Diamondbacks will be selling the $25 D-Bat Dog, a deep-fried 18-inch corn dog delight. The Diamondbacks were already pushing the envelope in terms of high-calorie dogs at Chase Field, but the D-Bat Dog is just on this side of acceptable of […]
Advertising exec: Keep MLB at Turner Field once Braves depart
Well, this is certainly outside-the-box thinking: an Atlanta ad exec says MLB should be coerced into placing a team in Turner Field once the Atlanta Braves move to a new Cobb County ballpark. Mike McDonald says there’s enough of a fan base in Atlanta to support two MLB teams, and he says the Atlanta Surge […]
A-Rod drops lawsuits, accepts 2014 suspension
Well, there’s one distraction out of the way as baseball and the New York Yankees approach spring training: Alex Rodriguez will drop his lawsuits against MLB and the players union, accepting his year-long suspension. After an independent arbitrator determined a year-long suspension (including the playoffs) would be enough for usage of performance-enhancing drugs in the […]
MLB to Portland? Not likely, says mayor
Despite some passionate supporters, it’s highly improbable Major League Baseball will land in Portland any time soon — and that assessment comes from those who should know, including Mayor Charlie Hayes. Tracy Ringolsby wrote a piece for MLB.com indicating some support for Major League Baseball in Portland: organizers have identified a waterfront site near the […]
MLB: How intrusive can ballpark technology be?
With almost two-dozen teams implementing Apple’s iBeacon technology for personalized product pitches, MLB and BAM will find out how intrusive message alerts can be at the ballpark. Personalized, targeted messaging is the Holy Grail of marketing these days: why waste time on a generalized message when you can target a potential buyer? Though it’s a […]
MLB security upgrades not due until 2015
There’s been some inaccurate information floating around out there about MLB’s plan to enhance security at ballparks, and the first thing to remember is simple: any changes will be mandatory in 2015. That means teams have a season to plan and implement changes. Some, like the Seattle Mariners, will screen fans as they enter the […]
Instant-replay system approved by MLB owners
The expansion of instant replay was approved unanimously by Major League Baseball owners yesterday, setting out the specifics of when managers can call for replay and under what circumstances. The expansion had been tentatively approved in November, subject to a detailed implementation plan and approval from Major League Baseball Players Association and the World Umpires […]