Despite bureaucratic indifference, Tiger Stadium lives on
With the Detroit Tigers in the World Series, you can bet you’ll see plenty of shots of the old Tiger Stadium site before and during the games. The grandstand may be gone, but the ballpark lives on. Go to Michigan and Trumbull and almost any day you’ll find someone tossing a ball, stepping in the […]
Manatees bring back game broadcasts
Let’s hope this is a trend: the Brevard County Manatees (High Class A; Florida State League) are broadcasting all home games, as well as road games at Daytona and St. Lucie. These games will be streamed online for free at ManateesBaseball.com. Handling the play-by-play duties for the Manatees will be Dave Walkovic. Walkovic was born […]
St. Pete ratchets up legal threats over new Rays ballpark
Just when it appears there’s some movement on a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark, St. Petersburg officials step in to throw cold water on the proceedings, threatening to sue anyone who pitches the team on a new facility. The legal threat comes from St. Petersburg City Attorney John Wolfe, sent directly to Hillsborough County attorneys […]
Mikulik not returning to Tourists
Joe Mikulik, the human highlight film whose onfield rants have entertained millions of YouTube fans, will not be returning as manager of the Asheville Tourists (Low Class A; Sally League). Mikulik is responsible for two of the most memorable tantrums in Minor League Baseball history. The most recent came last season: It’s not clear whether […]
Lexington Legends to unveil new look next week
With the move to a new MLB parent in the form of the Kansas City Royals, the Lexington Legends (Low Class A; Sally League) will introduce a new look on Thursday, October 25. The Legends’ Big L will be among those descending from the 410-foot-tall Lexington Financial Center Thursday, October 25, and his attire for […]
Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark / Oklahoma City Dodgers
Let’s begin with the bricks: 480,000 of them were used in the construction in the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, home of the Oklahoma City Dodgers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). Small wonder, then, that the stadium is nicknamed The Brick. FAST FACTS Opened: April 16, 1998 Capacity: 13,066 seats Dimensions: 325L, 400C, 325R Surface: Grass Owner: […]
Follow the money: How efficiently MLB teams spent money this season
It’s one thing for a Major League Baseball team to spend money in pursuit of wins and, presumably, a robust box office. Success can be elusive, however, as our rankings of how efficiently MLB teams spent money indicate. With the 2012 season completed, it’s time to look at how well MLB did in translating payroll […]
Pfander new GM of Akron Aeros
New Akron Aeros (Class AA; Eastern League) owner Ken Babby brings in a familiar face to run the team, naming Jim Pfander general manager of the franchise. The Akron native served as executive vice president and COO of the Aeros in 2011. Pfander’s efforts that season resulted in the first attendance increase in seven years. Ticket […]
Gems record loss for 2012
Quincy Civic Center Authority members expressed concern that the Quincy Gems (summer collegiate; Prospect League) posted a $23,178 loss in 2012. The Gems took in $225,749 in revenue and spent $248,927. The team management was expecting more on the revenue front, but ticket revenue and beer sales were down this past season. At the end of […]
Florence discussing replacement for American Legion Field
Fresh off the loss of the Florence RedWolves (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League) to Francis Marion University’s Sparrow Stadium, Florence officials are considering a new downtown ballpark. There’s plenty wrong with American Legion Field when it comes to game-day operations: there’s not much space and there are no basic amenities like clubhouses or workout facilities, […]
Chattanooga rallies to support Engel Stadium
Closed down recently for safety reasons, Engel Stadium is on the mend and could host between 100 and 150 events next year, as Chattanooga rallies to preserve a historic asset. Engel Stadium is the former home of the Chattanooga Lookouts (Class AA; Southern League), but after the team moved to AT&T Field, the 1929 ballpark […]
St. Paul reverses course, will let Saints ballpark contract to bid
The city of St. Paul will drop a no-bid contract for a St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark and instead open the design/build process to bid. The change in plans came after the Taxpayers League and a local conservative activist filed suit last week, seeking to overturn the decision to award the design/build contract […]
Is a business park the best place for a Rays ballpark?
As the debate continues over a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark, real-estate experts say a business park with limited parking may not be the best location. Developer Darryl LeClair has pitched the city and the Rays on a unique plan to nestle a ballpark in the middle of a commercial development, Carillon Business Park. The […]