Franklin mulls new Frontier League ballpark
A new independent Frontier League is being debated in Franklin, a suburb of Milwaukee, but progress on the project on the city side hasn’t moved past the listening stage. Last night the city’s Plan Commission ballpark task force took testimony on a Special Use Permit zoning change that would allow a 2,000-seat ballpark (with capacity […]
RiverDogs, city upgrade multimedia at The Joe
Another upgrade at Riley Park, as the Charleston RiverDogs (Low Class A; Sally League), The Citadel and the City of Charleston partnered on a new videoboard and scoreboard, instant replay and live video streaming for the 2014 season. The city is contributing one-half of the total cost and the early-funding to get the project started […]
Personnel news in Lincoln, Joliet
Some personnel news to end the week: Mark Vasko returns to the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League), while Steve Zoucha is new director of sales for the Lincoln Saltdogs (independent; American Association). Vasko returns to the Slammers as Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for the upcoming season. Vasko was the radio voice for the […]
Metrodome demolition almost completed
It took years to build and mere weeks to take down: Demolition of the Metrodome has proceeded to the point that for all intents and purposes the former home of the Minnesota Twins is no more. Officials with the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority say that most of the Metrodome has been […]
Whitecaps unveil 2014-2015 ballpark improvements
Turning some lemons into lemonade, the West Michigan Whitecaps (Low Class A; Midwest League) ownership unveiled ballpark improvements for this season and next. The improvements for this season addresses the portion of the ballpark damaged by a January fire, which damaged the first-base-line concourse and the home clubhouse below. The new concourse concession space will […]
Field naming rights in Biloxi up for bid
Biloxi (Miss.) officials will be marketing field-naming rights to the new Class AA Southern League ballpark that will host the relocating Huntsville Stars in 2015 and beyond. From the Sun-Herald: City attorney Michael Collins told the Biloxi Council on Tuesday the administration is drafting a request for proposals so interested parties can bid on the […]
Lugnuts to celebrate Hump Day with camel appearances
We’ve seen racing monkeys and ball-delivering pigs at games, but the Lansing Lugnuts (Low Class A; Midwest League) are upping the ante by bringing in Humphrey the Camel to make Hump Day appearances at Cooley Law School Stadium. Humphrey, a live camel, will be at every Hump Day (Wednesday) game this season. Hump Day activities […]
Alliance protests Braves ballpark public funding
An alliance of 12 groups is protesting Cobb County spending on a new Atlanta Braves ballpark, arguing commissioners have not been open about where taxpayer money is committed to the project. The Atlanta Braves plan a new 2017 Cobb County ballpark and will be financing most of the project on their own. Cobb County has […]
New for 2014: The $25 D-Bat Dog
Another gutbuster is making its way to an MLB ballpark this season: The Arizona Diamondbacks will be selling the $25 D-Bat Dog, a deep-fried 18-inch corn dog delight. The Diamondbacks were already pushing the envelope in terms of high-calorie dogs at Chase Field, but the D-Bat Dog is just on this side of acceptable of […]
Diamondbacks, Dodgers prep for season opener Down Under
Sydney Cricket Ground has been transformed into a Major League Baseball venue, as the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers prepare to open the season on March 22 in Australia. Several games are on the agenda, beginning with a Thursday night (7 p.m. Sydney, 4 a.m. ET) game when the Los Angeles Dodgers take on […]
Slugger the Sea Dog to embark on epic walk in May
Nice promotion on a few levels: Portland Sea Dogs (Class AA; Eastern League) mascot Slugger the Sea Dog will walk from Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts to Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine to raise money and awareness for Tourette’s Syndrome (TS). Slugger will depart from the warning track at Fenway Park at noon on Sunday, […]
Shanahan steps down from BayBears
Mobile BayBears (Class AA; Southern League) President Bill Shanahan, who has been with the team since its inception, has stepped down and will move with his family to South Carolina. Shanahan began his career in Minor League Baseball in 1984 and has thirty years of professional sports ownership, management, sales and operations experience. Shanahan has […]
Wrigley Field at 100: George Will on baseball’s grandest frame
Wrigley Field turns 100 years old this season, and a host of books are arriving on the scene to commemorate the occasion. Jesse Goldberg-Strassler reviews George Will’s A Nice Little Place on the North Side. Use either your imagination, or a handy search engine, and envision Georges Seurat‘s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of […]