Hi Corbett Field / Arizona Wildcats
A venerable and historic baseball facility gets yet another new lease on life, as Tucson’s Hi Corbett Field — home to MLB spring training for decades — will be the home of the Arizona Wildcats beginning with the 2012 collegiate season. FAST FACTS Capacity: 9,500 Year Opened: 1937; renovated in 1992, 1997 and 1999 Dimensions: […]
Fielders tossed from North American League
The Lake County Fielders have been kicked out of the independent North American League after failing to show up yesterday for a scheduled four-day series against Na Koa Ikaika Maui — the logical conclusion to one of the worst seasons in baseball history. The league made this announcement on its Facebook page: The North American […]
Fielders skip on Hawaii road trip; season in question
The Lake County Fielders (independent; North American League) did not fly to Hawaii for a long series against Na Koa Ikaika Maui today as scheduled, as the team’s status is now certainly up for debate. Ownership has been quiet about exactly what’s going on. That ownership, by the way, includes more than just Rich Ehrenreich, […]
Frederick reopens ballpark-lease discussions
A proposed lease between the Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League) and the city for Harry Grove Stadium will be reevaluated after city aldermen questioned why a higher bid from the independent Atlantic League was rejected. City officials will meet with Keys officials today to address some of these shortcomings — specifically, in the […]
Birmingham postpones Barons ballpark vote
No surprise here: the Birmingham City Council voted today to put off a decision on a proposed downtown Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) ballpark and has scheduled a work session next week to discuss the plan. Despite the request from Mayor William Bell to decide at today’s meeting, the majority of City Council members […]
Another forfeit in the NAL — this time in Chico
Things seem to be careening out of control in the independent North American League, as the circuit’s second forfeit in three days came last night after a bench-clearing brawl featuring former major leaguer Tony Phillips. The brawl had its roots in the third inning, when former major leaguer and current Yuma Scorpions third baseman Tony […]
Fielders game scrapped because of sub-par baseballs
Just when you think things couldn’t get weirder: last Friday’s Lake County Fielders (independent; North American League) game was scrapped because the team failed to provide official Rawlings baseballs and substituted recreational baseballs. Not all baseballs are created the same, and the professional baseballs manufactured by the likes of Rawlings are of a considerably higher […]
Twins searching for new play-by-play voice
With John Gordon stepping down at the end of this season, the Minnesota Twins have posted an opening for a new radio play-by-play broadcaster, we’re told — and we know the perfect guy for the position. It’s a big decision for the Twins; after all, the team has only had three lead broadcasters since the […]
Keys, Frederick have draft lease; aldermen want more information
The Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League) have reached a proposed lease agreement for Harry Grove Stadium, but city aldermen presented with it objected to some of the terms and asked for more information from city staff. The lease called for the Keys’ base rent to go up from $30,000 annually to $100,000 for […]
Dodgers attendance woes could cost team $27 million
A bad season for the Los Angeles Dodgers gets worse, as a significant drop in attendance could end up costing the team some $27 million in decreased game-day revenues — or even more. The Dodgers have experienced a significant drop in attendance this season to 36,706 a game, some 16 percent this season versus the […]
Expos spirit lives on in Quebec City
There’s still a Canadian ballpark where the retired numbers of the Montreal Expos are displayed — but it’s in Quebec City at Municipal Stadium, home of the Quebec Capitales (independent; Can-Am League). The right-field wall at historic Municipal Stadium features the three numbers retired by the Expos — #10 (Gary Carter), #10 (Andre Dawson and […]
Barons ballpark plan moves forward, adds Negro Leagues museum to mix
Birmingham Mayor William Bell wants to put the framework of a proposed Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) ballpark to a vote tomorrow — something unlikely to happen — and has restored a Negro Leagues museum to the project. The ballpark plan has moved forward by fits and starts since first proposed by Bell; ironically, […]
Canad Inns Stadium to be torn down next year
The former home of the Winnipeg Whips (Class AAA; International League) and the Winnipeg Goldeyes (independent; American Association) is slated to be torn down next year after the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers move to a new stadium. As a baseball venue, Canad Inns Stadium — the former Winnipeg Stadium — was always lacking, with a […]