Triple-A All-Star Game broadcast set for July 17
We have the specifics for the 27th annual Triple-A All-Star Game from Durham Bulls Athletic Park, to be televised live on MLB Network July 16. While the Game has been telecast nationally for most of its 27-year history, including every season since 1995, this will be the fifth time the Triple-A All-Star Game has aired […]
Atlantic League to take another run at quickening pace of play
It’s a major issue for the independent Atlantic League, and leaders are taking another run at ways to quicken the pace of games with the formation of a Pace of Play (POP) Committee. The committee is tasked with reviewing ways to reduce the average time and enliven the pace of baseball games in order to […]
Selig calls new Coliseum lease “crucial” in keeping A’s in Oakland
As expected, the Oakland A’s and the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority agreed to a 10-year O.co Coliseum lease extension, with Bud Selig calling it crucial in keeping the Athletics in Oakland. Athletics managing partner Lew Wolff announced the deal, which had been in the works for several weeks and still faces (an expected) approval from […]
Red Wings, Monroe County pitch Frontier Field renovations
The Rochester Red Wings (Class AAA; International League) and Monroe County are pitching a $7.5-million renovation of Frontier Field — the first major upgrade since the ballpark opened in 1996. The improvements would potentially add more group areas, a museum, new field, renovated concourse and suites, and new entrance to the ballpark. The state is […]
Chief Wahoo, Indians under scrutiny by Native American group
With the NFL’s Washington Redskins losing trademark protection, a Native American group plans on suing the Cleveland Indians for $9 billion in damages because of the team name and Chief Wahoo logo. It’s no secret the Chief Wahoo logo is offensive to many: the Indians have downplayed its use in recent years and removed it […]
Cyclones to celebrate “25 Years of Seinfeld”
This should be one of the MiLB promo highlights of the season: the Brooklyn Cyclones (short season A; NY-Penn League) are celebrating 25 years of nothing in a Seinfeld promo on July 5. It’s quite clever, really: put together the Soup Nazi, lots of fan participation and tons of Seinfeld references (Junior Mints, marble rye […]
Crosscutters to don what could be ugliest uniforms ever worn in professional baseball
Our eyes hurt just from seeing the image of the Christmas-sweater jersey to be worn on Aug. 2 by the Williamsport Crosscutters (short season A; NY-Penn League) during a Halfway to Christmas promotion. Actually, this is a brilliant promotion. These jerseys are so ugly they are beautiful — just like the best/worst Christmas sweaters — […]
On tap today: the Rickwood Classic
Today sees one of the great traditions in Minor League Baseball, when the Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) host the Mississippi Braves in the annual Rickwood Classic. This year’s Classic will celebrate the Roaring Twenties, a decade that saw the Barons capture two Southern Association titles and set numerous attendance records at Rickwood Field. […]
Hartford: New ballpark already attracting development
Hartford officials say the sale of building sitting vacant for the last six years can be attributed to a new ballpark opening downtown for the New Britain Rock Cats (Class AA; Eastern League). The former bank-processing building, built in 1971 and used last by Bank of America, sits on an entire block near where the […]
Thanks once again to Ballpark Digest readers
This is truly humbling: for the sixth month in a row we’ve surpassed a million monthly page views on Ballpark Digest. Thanks once again: our readers rock. For the record, page views are up 68 percent over a year ago. We’ve surpassed a million page views every month in 2014. We’ve had plenty of excitement […]
Future of Midway Stadium: 2015 demolition, redevelopment
We have a plan for Midway Stadium after the St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) depart: the ballpark will be torn down next year and redeveloped by a company controlled by the Minnesota Twins ownership. United Properties, the real-estate firm controlled by the Pohlad family (which owns the Twins), will work with the St. Paul […]
Missouri Supreme Court: Flying hot dogs not inherent part of baseball
The Missouri Supreme Court reversed a lower-court decision and held that flying hot dogs are not inherently part of the baseball experience, potentially holding the Kansas City Royals liable for injuries caused to a fan during a promotion. A lower court had held the Royals weren’t liable when fan John Coomer was struck and injured […]
Worth the drive: four BoSox World Series trophies on display this Sunday
If you’re a Boston Red Sox fan, you’ll be in heaven at Centennial Field Sunday, when the Vermont Lake Monsters (short season A; NY-Penn League) will have four BoSox World Series trophies on display, including the 1912 trophy. Joining the 1912 trophy on display will be trophies from the 2004, 2007 and 2013 World Series. […]