Touring Rickwood Field
Yeah, we know we’re a few weeks out of the Rickwood Classic, but you can still see what makes Birmingham’s Rickwood Field so awesome in videos from Tennessee Smokies (Class AA; Southern League) broadcaster Mick Gillispie. We’ve attended the Rickwood Classic in the past and had a ball, so we’d highly recommend the event for […]
Richmond: No vote on ballpark location
The Richmond City Council made it official last night: Residents will not get to choose the location of a new Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark. Council President Charles R. Samuels had proposed putting the location to voters in the form of a fall referendum. And while that initially was seen as a […]
Latest run at Tucson pro baseball winding down
Maybe there are some cities unsuited for pro baseball. That would include Tucson, where the Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) are 26 home games from a move to El Paso. Granted, the Tucson Padres were never slated to spend more than three or four seasons at Kino Stadium after the franchise was relocated […]
Fredericksburg City Council to debate new Sally League ballpark
A proposed Fredericksburg (Va.) ballpark for the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) will be debated tonight at a City Council meeting, with advocates and foes getting a chance to express their views. The plan calls for the city to finance a new ballpark, with bonds to be paid back with rent from the […]
New rules speeding play in Atlantic League
This season the independent Atlantic League instituted a series of rules designed to speed up and shorten games. So far, the plan has shaved 10 minutes off game times. The results were compiled by John Walk of the York Dispatch, who analyzed game times this season and then talked to players and front-office personnel about […]
Now available: Autographed copies of The Baseball Thesaurus
Here’s a great way to watch the All-Star Game next week: with an autographed copy of Jesse Goldberg-Strassler’s best-seller: The Baseball Thesaurus. All-Star Game is the very first entry in The Baseball Thesaurus: n. Midsummer Classic (or midsummer classic), showcase of stars, Summer Classic; summer showcase; SPANISH juego de estrella Baseball is a sport with […]
Price tag for new Saints ballpark could rise $9M
The cost of a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark could rise another $9 million after further testing revealed more environmental issues than anticipated. The increased cost has nothing to do with the actual ballpark, and the city would be on the hook for the clean-up costs no matter what was built on […]
Spring-training museum pitched for Mesa
The Mesa Historical Museum is proposing a $17-million Arizona Spring Training Experience, Museum and Community Center, with voters potentially deciding on the project in a November referendum. Funding would be part of $147.5 million bond referendum that also includes public safety department spending and infrastructure improvements. The Mesa Historical Museum has sponsored several spring-training exhibitions […]
Pacific Association in flux
The independent Pacific Association is moving to a new phase, with the East Bay Lumberjacks joining the circuit and the Vallejo Missions scaling back, bypassing a scheduled trip to Hawaii. The semi-pro Lumberjacks have been a fill-in opponent for the two Northern California teams in the four-team circuit. Technically, the San Rafael Pacfics, Maui Na […]
“White Rat” immortalized in a bobblehead
During his time in pro baseball Whitey Herzog was known as the White Rat. That nickname is being memorialized in a bobblehead giveaway from the River City Rascals (independent; Frontier League). Hall of Famer Whitey Herzog made his name as manager of the Kansas City Royals (1975-1979) and the St. Louis Cardinals (1980-1990), leading the […]
Storm Chasers set 45th-anniversary blowout
Another impressive milestone to mark: the Omaha Storm Chasers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) will celebrate the 45th anniversary of the team’s affiliation with the Kansas City Royals. The affiliation between the two teams is the longest-running arrangement in Triple-A baseball. Fittingly, the fete to mark the achievement is set for the 45th game of […]
Flying Squirrels: Fans don’t know what they are missing
A key selling point for the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) in the team’s quest for a new ballpark: fans don’t know what they’re missing when it comes to upgrades. There is a certain sentiment among Richmond baseball fans that The Diamond is a perfectly adequate venue for pro baseball, so what’s the […]
MiLB teams go patriotic for Fourth of July weekend
A good reason to hit the ballpark this Independence Day weekend: 106 Minor League Baseball clubs will wear specialty New Era Cap Company “Stars & Stripes” caps, featuring a navy bill and a gray crown with the participating club’s logo with stars and/or stripes in red, white and blue. The 106 clubs and Major League […]