Chiefs, Cardinals extend PDC through 2020
Another PDC to announce: The Peoria Chiefs (Low Class A; Midwest League) and St. Louis Cardinals have extended their player-development contract for four additional years, through the 2020 season. The current four-year deal was signed in September 2012 and runs through the 2016 season. “The Peoria Chiefs continue to run a first-class operation providing us […]
IronBirds to host 2015 NY-Penn ASG
The 2015 NY-Penn League All-Star Game will be hosted by the Aberdeen IronBirds at Ripken Stadium, the second time the ballpark has hosted the event. “The Aberdeen IronBirds and Ripken Baseball are thrilled to have the best and brightest in the New York-Penn League come to Ripken Stadium next summer and play baseball the Ripken […]
Grande, Kaat to call Triple-A championship in Charlotte
We have the broadcast team for the 2014 Gildan Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game, to be held on Tuesday, September 16 at BB&T Ballpark, home of the Charlotte Knights: George Grande and Jim Kaat. Returning in 2014 as the play-by-play voice of the Gildan Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game is George Grande, who began his […]
New Braves ballpark hit with lawsuit
Owners of a building next to the proposed Atlanta Braves ballpark development in Cobb County have filed suit against the project — just days before bonds are set to be sold, arguing traffic and noise would negatively impact their property. Attorneys representing Fairly Breezy LLC filed suit in Cobb Superior Court, arguing the county improperly rezoned […]
Judge: Augusta GreenJackets ballpark project can move forward
Project Jackson, an ambitious mixed-use development that includes a new Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) ballpark, can move forward after a judge ruled North Augusta (S.C.) properly authorized a TIF district to partially provide financing. South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Ernest Kinard ruled that North Augusta could indeed create a TIF district to […]
Rock Cats avoid eviction, pay property taxes
The New Britain Rock Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) won’t be evicted from New Britain Stadium after owner Josh Solomon delivered a $164,569 check to pay back taxes and settle city concerns. New Britain officials had threatened to evict the Rock Cats for unpaid taxes. The team’s lease calls for a payment to New Britain […]
Frisco RoughRiders sale approved by Texas League, MiLB
The sale of the Frisco RoughRiders (Class AA; Texas League) to a new ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg and Scott Sonju has been finalized and approved by the Texas League and Minor League Baseball. That means the new group is now in charge after Major League Baseball did not object to the sale. This […]
Miss Babe Ruth sidelined by injury
Your injury report for the day: Miss Babe Ruth, the Labrador Retriever bat and ball dog for the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Low Class A; Sally League), may have her 575-game streak broken while recovering from a recent ear surgery. Babe, who has entertained millions of Grasshoppers fans for 575 consecutive home games, had the 90 minute […]
Cleveland’s League Park restoration to be celebrated Saturday
After years of restoration work, League Park will be holding a grand opening this Saturday to celebrate the former home of the Cleveland Indians. The Indians played at League Park between 1901 and 1946. This was actually the second League Park at the site. The first opened in 1891 and was a wooden facility holding 9,000 […]
Duluth approves first round of Wade Stadium renovations
A $4.6-million renovation of Wade Stadium, home of the Duluth Huskies (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) will begin this fall and extend into next spring. The renovation work will be done in two parts, with $2.3 million coming from the state and $2.3 million coming from Duluth. The historic ballpark, which opened in 1941 with assistance […]
Palisades Arcadia Baseball closes on purchase of Dayton Dragons
Palisades Arcadia Baseball has completed the purchase of the Dayton Dragons (Low Class A; Midwest League) from Mandalay Baseball Properties, with Palisades now owner and operator of the team. The agreement has been approved by the Midwest League and the offices of Minor League Baseball, and unopposed by the Office of the Commissioner of Major […]
Populous lands Columbia ballpark design contract
A new ballpark in Columbia (S.C.) for a team owned by Hardball Capital’s Jason Freier will be designed by Populous. There is a history between Freier and Populous: the Kansas City-based firm designed award-winning Parkview Field, home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps (Low Class A; Midwest League), another team owned by Freier. (Disclosure: Populous is […]
What a difference a new ballpark makes
As we approach the end of the season, the two biggest success stories, the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) and El Paso Chihuahuas (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), have one thing in common: a new ballpark. No secret to the business strategy here: build a new ballpark and see a huge jump in attendance […]