Tampa Yankees on verge of move to Ocala
The Tampa Yankees (High Class A; Florida State League) could be headed north to Ocala if a new ballpark is approved by the Ocala City Council. A proposed $45-million ballpark/entertainment complex is on the agenda for Tuesday’s workshop meeting. No action is scheduled for Tuesday; instead, the agenda will feature an explanation of the proposed […]
Arkansas Travelers unveil new logos, branding
The Arkansas Travelers (Class AA; Texas League) unveiled new logos and branding, drawing on the design of the state flag and other state icons, paying tribute to the Travelers’ 112 year-old storied history. The centerpiece of the identity is a new horse head chiseled from Arkansas State Capitol Building limestone. Several logos feature elements from […]
Selig: No updates on Rays ballpark situation
There’s been no progress on a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark this fall, but MLB Commissioner Bud Selig says he plans to address the issue after the World Series. Earlier this year it appeared St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster was softening his stance that the Rays completely play out their lease at Tropicana Field. But […]
Now Hiring: Director of Ticket Sales, Everett AquaSox
The Everett AquaSox are looking for a new Director of Ticket Sales, responsible for leading and managing all ticket related areas, including Season Tickets, Groups, Inside Sales and Box Office operations. Primary focus is on building a sales culture conducive to hitting the companies overall sales goals. Reports to: Executive Vice-President Start Date: November 2013 […]
Upcoming books, millions of page views and more
Coming attractions at Ballpark Digest: several new baseball books in coming weeks, including a Southern League history, as we look to the second million-page-view month in a row. Site updates this week have been slow for one simple reason: we’re prepping a whole slew of new-book titles for the winter and spring, and there are […]
Charlotte Knights unveil new look for 2014
The Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) unveiled new logos and branding to coincide with a move to a new ballpark for the 2014 season. In keeping with a medieval theme, the Knights new image showcases gold and silver, colors synonymous with royalty. The team’s four on-field caps feature a base color of black with […]
Ballparks of the World Series: Boston and St. Louis
When the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals open the 2013 World Series tonight, it will mark the fourth time the teams have met in the ultimate postseason play. Here’s a look at the ballparks hosting the four Series. In 1946 the Cards defeated the Red Sox, four games to three, in a […]
Northwoods League buys back Green Bay Bullfrogs
The summer-collegiate Northwoods League is buying back the Green Bay Bullfrogs from Jeff Royle and Titletown Baseball Group, LLC, which had owned the team since its inception in 2007. The league had a contractual option to purchase the team and the Northwoods League board of directors voted unanimously on Oct. 16 to exercise that right. […]
Kim Kardashian, Kanye West ruin ballpark nuptuals
Well, there’s no way you can compete with this: Kanye West rented out AT&T Park, complete with string ensemble and scoreboard graphics, to propose to Kim Kardashian. That the pair is marrying doesn’t come as a surprise: after all, they did produce one offspring already and are, by all tabloid accounts, happy together. But staging […]
Personnel moves across baseball for Oct. 23
We have news of several staff appointments and promotions in Lowell, Southern Illinois and San Rafael. The Lowell Spinners (short season A; NY-Penn League) announced a trio of personnel promotions, elevating three long-time staff members to new positions. Director of Media Relations Jon Boswell has been promoted to assistant general manager, while Jon Goode has […]
New GreenJackets ballpark plan moving forward
A proposed new ballpark for the Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) received initial approval by the North Augusta City Council, but two more public votes are on the horizon. The Council approved the Project Jackson development plan, which includes TIF money for a parking ramp and the ballpark. The total $144-million project (which […]
Henry purchase of Globe stalled for now
We have an interesting situation in Beantown, where John Henry’s purchase of the Boston Globe has been stalled because of an impending class-action suit. The basic story: Judge Shannon Frison of Worcester Superior Court ordered the sale of the Globe from The New York Times to Henry be suspended per the resolution of a pending […]
New for 2014: El Paso Chihuahuas
The name of the new Class AAA Pacific Coast League team beginning play in 2014: the El Paso Chihuahuas. “First and foremost, we want to appeal to kids and families, our core audience,” said Alan Ledford, president of MountainStar Sports Group. “We want to celebrate the region, create fan experience opportunities and build a brand […]