SLO Blues owner arrested for writing bad checks
Steve McPherson, who sold baseball dreams as the owner of the summer-collegiate SLO Blues and Lodi GrapeSox, was arrested and jailed for writing bad checks associated with the Blues — but his tale is a cautionary one for communities looking for baseball.When Steve McPherson — going by the name of Stevie Mac — came to […]
The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville / Jacksonville Suns
Boy, $34 million doesn’t buy a lot anymore when it comes to ballparks. Case in point: the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, the new $34-million home of the Jacksonville Suns. True, there’s nothing really wrong with the Baseball Grounds: when you’re settled in your new seat, the Baseball Grounds is a pleasant enough place to watch […]
Victory Field / Indianapolis Indians
Victory Field is one of the most lauded ballparks built in the last 20 years; go to the Indy Indians’ Web site and you’ll see kudos from the likes of Bob Costas, who hails the minor-league ballpark as one of the best ever built. FAST FACTS Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 14,200 Largest crowd: 16,168 (July 22, […]
Melaleuca Field / Idaho Falls Chukars
At a time when it seems the minimum cost for a new pro-level ballpark is $12 million, the Idaho Falls Chukars have accomplished the seemingly impossible: open an impressive new ballpark for $5.6 million without cutting corners or scaling back expectations. In a world where minor-league facilities are now starting to look the same in […]
HoHoKam Park / Chicago Cubs
Considering the Chicago Cubs play the regular season in one of the most charming ballparks in baseball, a visit to HoHoKam Park in March will tend to be disappointing to anyone but the most hardcore Cubbie fan. In some ways HoHoKam is the polar opposite of Wrigley Field: the old ballpark at Clark and Addison […]
Kindrick Field / Helena Brewers
Kindrick Field is a classic Montana stadium, with a wooden covered grandstand the focal point of the stadium. It’s a fairly compact facility, so you’re never too far away from the action. And with the city and a nearby mountain serving as the backdrop past the outfield fence, you could argue that Kindrick Field is […]
Hammond Stadium / Fort Myers Miracle / Minnesota Twins
Hammond Stadium may be best known as the spring home of the Minnesota Twins, but it’s also home to the Fort Myers Miracle of the Florida State League. Located on the southern edge of Fort Myers, the ballpark is clearly geared to the Twins and spring training, but the Miracle team draws well (at least […]
Fluor Field / Greenville Drive
In retrospect, MiLB made the absolute right choice in awarding the territory to the Drive: Fluor Field is already one of our favorite ballparks in the minors. The other ballpark plans called for teams playing out in Greenville’s fast-growing suburbs. And while those ballparks probably would have been financially successful, they wouldn’t have provided one […]
War Memorial Stadium / Greensboro Bats
With crowded concourses, limited parking and some odd sightlines, War Memorial Stadium in Greensboro did not provide the best atmosphere for baseball. But it was a classic ballpark from a different era, and that for that reason alone its departure from professional baseball next season will leave a hole for those who love old […]
AirHogs Stadium / Texas AirHogs
At first glance, the empty seats in the grandstand in the midst of the first game in Grand Prairie AirHogs history didn’t seem like a good sign for the expansion American Association franchise, despite the match being a sellout. But the fans were still in the ballpark, as they certainly hadn’t bailed: they were all […]
GCS Ballpark / Gateway Grizzlies
There are many reasons to visit a minor-league ballpark: the ballpark itself, promotions during the game, great ballpark food, or the affordable entertainment. I really hate it when you attend a minor-league game and few of these aspects are present. However, that is not the case at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill. It is what […]
Great American Ball Park / Cincinnati Reds
Themed ballparks always seem a little gimmicky. That’s why we were a little apprehensive before visiting Great American Ball Park, the home of the Cincinnati Reds. As the home of the first professional baseball team, Cincinnati is a well-known baseball hotbed, and a great area deserves a great ballpark. But the Reds make a big […]
Chukchansi Park / Fresno Grizzlies
Chukchansi Park is a very attractive ballpark, and an excellent place to watch baseball. The park itself is a light sand color, with dark-green steel decking and seats. The lower deck extends from the foul pole in left and wraps around the foul pole in right. The best feature is the second deck, which starts […]