Fielders to play June games in Kenosha; will open July 2 at home
A new Lake County Fielders ballpark in Zion, Ill., will not open this month, as home games are being shifted to Kenosha's Carthage College ballpark. A new Lake County Fielders (independent; Northern League) ballpark in Zion, Ill., will not open this month, as home games are being shifted to Kenosha's Carthage College ballpark. The new […]
Hot Rods snare Carlton for autograph signing
If you're in the Bowling Green area, this might be an opportunity too good to pass on: Steve Carlton, who doesn't make many autograph appearances, will be at Saturday's Hot Rods game for signings. If you're in the Bowling Green area, this might be an opportunity too good to pass on: Steve Carlton, who doesn't […]
Promotions Watch: Brevard County eschews BP for hitting rehearsal
The Brevard County Manatees hope to make their displeasure regarding the BP oil spill by changing the name of team batting practice. The Brevard County Manatees (High Class A; Florida State League) hope to make their displeasure regarding the BP oil spill by changing the name of team batting practice. “As an organization we feel […]
New for 2011: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
The new spring-training facility for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies has a name. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) and their partners, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies, announced today that their new Spring Training facility will be called Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. The new complex is located at 7555 […]
The burden of history: Today’s Rickwood Classic
This year's Rickwood Classic is in the books, as one of the largest crowds ever to see the new Barons in the old ballpark was on hand. Rickwood Field is 100 years old this summer. Carrying the weight of 100 years of baseball history — never mind the 100 years of social and civil-rights history […]
Thoughts on the Rickwood Classic and baseball in America / 3
This year's Rickwood Classic is now in the books, as the 100th anniversary of the opening of Rickwood Field is commemorated by a Birmingham Barons game. Page 3: Rickwood Field history, conclusions. HISTORY Rickwood Field opened on August 18, 1910, as the home of the original Birmingham Barons Team owner Rick Woodward wanted an opulent […]
The Rickwood Classic and baseball in America
Carrying the weight of 100 years of baseball history — never mind the 100 years of social and civil-rights history as well — is an awfully heavy load for any ballpark. But Birmingham’s Rickwood Field was equal to the task during the 15th annual Rickwood Classic Wednesday, as fans celebrated the upcoming 100th anniversary of […]
New Hagerstown owners unveiled
We've discovered the buyers of the Hagerstown Suns, as well as their intentions on the future of the Sally League franchise. Meanwhile, other affiliated teams are hitting the market. Though it's not been officially announced, we've been told who is buying the Hagerstown Suns from Mandalay Baseball: Bruce Quinn, the COO and GM of Polo […]
Ballpark Visit: Regions Park, the home of the Birmingham Barons
We visit Regions Park, the home of the Birmingham Barons. This is a big, big place lacking many of the amenities found in more modern ballparks. But it's also a very busy place — over 400,000 fans attend Barons games and the SEC baseball tourney — and one gets the sense it's built more to […]
Ballpark Visit: Regions Park / Birmingham Barons / 2
We visit Regions Park, the home of the Birmingham Barons. Page 2: Cruising the Ballpark. CRUISING THE BALLPARK As noted, the ballpark was built when Birmingham had allusions of securing a Triple-A team, so it's big. It seats over 10,000, but a crowd of over 13,000 was accommodated for the recent SEC Baseball Tournament championship […]
Regions Park / Birmingham Barons
Regions Park is a big ballpark. Really big. Built to Triple-A specs at a time when Triple-A specs actually meant something, Regions Park is the very huge home of the Birmingham Barons. Too big, really, for the Barons. (But not too big for the SEC Baseball Tournament, which ended last week drawing 9,957 fans a […]
Mandalay buying Oklahoma City, selling Hagerstown
The minor-league giant is reportedly making some changes in its portfolio, returning to the Pacific Coast League via the Oklahoma City RedHawks, a transaction partially funded by an inpending sale of the Sally League Suns. Mandalay Sports Entertainment is in the process of buying the Oklahoma City Redhawks (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and is […]
Japanese knuckleballer making impact in Golden League
Publicity is the lifeblood of any independent league, and the Golden Baseball League has a winner in Eri Yoshidi, a 18-year-old female knuckleballer from Japan. Publicity is the lifeblood of any independent league, and the Golden Baseball League has a winner in Eri Yoshidi, a 18-year-old female knuckleballer from Japan. She's created a stir both […]