In memoriam: Mike Lockert
Former Southern Illinois Miners (independent; Frontier League) and South Bend Silver Hawks (Low Class A; Midwest League) play-by-play announcer Mike Lockert died suddenly of an apparent heart attack in his sleep at his home in South Bend Thursday night.Former Southern Illinois Miners (independent; Frontier League) and South Bend Silver Hawks (Low Class A; Midwest League) […]
Ballpark Notes for March 2, 2009
In today’s ballpark news, Dave Nitz is the new voice of the Sioux City Explorers, while the Hagerstown Suns add Ben Burnett in ticket sales. In today’s ballpark news, Dave Nitz is the new voice of the Sioux City Explorers, while the Hagerstown Suns add Ben Burnett in ticket sales. The Sioux City Explorers […]
Archive: Photos of the Day
This page contains the archives to our daily photo of the day. MARCH 3, 2009: Today we unveil a new feature in Ballpark Digest: the photo of the day. The photo may come from a team, our staff, or — as is the case today — a photo archive. This photo from the Library of […]
Sign of the times: Pro soccer outsells M’s on Seattle season-ticket front
The newest team in Major League Soccer, the Seattle Sounders, have outsold the Seattle Mariners in season tickets for the 2009 season.The Seattle Mariners may have been the boys of summer at Safeco Field for the past decade, but there’s a new player in town, as MLS’s Seattle Sounders — an expansion team — has […]
Prim seeks $6 million in outside financing to complete ballpark
Billy Prim, the owner of the Winston-Salem Dash, is looking for outside investors to put in up to $6 million for a share of a new ballpark.Billy Prim, the owner of the Winston-Salem Dash (High Class A; Carolina League), is looking for outside investors to put in up to $6 million for a share of […]
Jaramillo: Global warming will aid Rangers’ pitching this year
Texas Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo says Rangers Ballpark in Arlington will turn into a pitchers’ nirvana because of global warming causing changes in the airstream. Texas Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo says Rangers Ballpark in Arlington will turn into a pitchers’ nirvana because of global warming causing changes in the airstream. OK, so Jaramillo […]
Dodgers, White Sox open Camelback Ranch
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox formally inaugurated Camelback Ranch yesterday before a crowd larger than either team ever saw in Vero Beach or Tucson.The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox began the Phoenix part of their spring-training history before an announced crowd of 11,802 at Camelback Ranch. The large crowd was […]
Renovated Kauffman Stadium ready for regular season
The extreme makeover of Kauffman Stadium is almost complete, as the Royals prepare to unveil the renovated ballpark for an April 10 opener against the Yankees.The extreme makeover of Kauffman Stadium is almost complete, as the Royals prepare to unveil the renovated ballpark for an April 10 opener against the Yankees. The two-year renovation of […]
College games proving to be lucrative draw for pro venue operators
College baseball can be a great draw for minor-league operators — provided the right teams are involved.We may be more than a month away from the start of the regular season, but minor-league operators — especially those in the South — are finding themselves already gearing up for business with the launch of college games […]
With A’s and Fish having ballpark problems, ‘C’ word comes up
With the Oakland A’s and Florida Marlins facing diminished hopes for new ballparks, contraction is again an option some MLB owners are throwing on the table.With the Oakland A’s and Florida Marlins facing diminished hopes for new ballparks, contraction is again an option some MLB owners are throwing on the table. We can’t speak with […]
Bowden steps down as Nats GM
Under investigation by MLB and the FBI, the embattled Bowden stepped down this morning, saying he was a distraction to the team.Jim Bowden resigned this morning as GM of the Washington Nationals, saying investigations of his handling of Domincan player contracts were detracting from the team. Bowden and his longtime assistant, Jose Rijo, are under […]
Pensacola / Pensacola Pelicans / 2011
New ballpark plans for Pensacola Pelicans.Opening: 2011 (tentative) Capacity: 3,500 fixed seats Number of Suites: To be determined Owner: City of Pensacola Architect: HKS Contractor: Maritime Park Development Partners Ballpark Cost: $40 million (total project cost) Location: Downtown Pensacola waterfront A new ballpark for the Pensacola Pelicans (independent; American Association) is the centerpiece of a […]
Florida collegiate league expands into DeLand
The Florida Collegiate Summer League will field a team at Stetson University’s Melching Field at Conrad Park this season.We had a chance to chat with Rob Sitz, vice president and COO of the summer-collegiate Florida Collegiate Summer League, at Wednesday’s Astros spring opener at Osceola County Stadium. (By the way, thanks to all the readers […]