Birmingham: We’re close to finalizing Barons ballpark plans
With 80 percent of the land needed for a new Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) ballpark already acquired, the city of Birmingham says it’s on the verge of moving ahead with a new downtown facility. The site, across from Railroad Park, will feature a new $50-million ballpark with 8,500 seats, 26 suites (20 sold […]
Windy City closes in on millionth fan
The Windy City ThunderBolts (independent; Frontier League) will be hitting an impressive milestone sometime next month when the one-millionth fan in team history will walk through the Standard Bank Stadium turnstiles. The team joined the Frontier League in 1999 as the Cook County Cheetahs, playing at Hawkinson Ford Field; today the ThunderBolts play at the […]
Will Legion move to wood bats?
With three statewide American Legion baseball programs mandating wood bats and several others evaluating a switch, we could see a nationwide shift in the country’s major youth baseball program toward traditional baseball. Rhode Island, Connecticut and Florida Legion programs now mandate wood bats, and several other state programs are evaluating a switch. If enough states […]
Day after botched MLB call, NCAA makes move toward instant replay
Though the two aren’t related, the timing couldn’t be better: a day after umpire Jerry Meals totally butchered a call at that plate that gave an illegitimate win to the Braves, the NCAA is instituting instant replay at the College World Series. By now most baseball fans have seen the blown call that ended a […]
More MLB dreams in Montreal
Rodger Brulotte says there’s an investment group willing to bring Major League Baseball back to Montreal. Are they serious, or are Expos fans getting their hopes up unnecessarily? When the Expos left Montreal and Olympic Stadium, there were some pretty bad feelings all around: locals were upset about Jeffry Loria dumping the franchise in MLB’s […]
Memorial Stadium / Boise Hawks
It might have been a stunner when opened in 1989, but Memorial Stadium, home of the Boise Hawks (short season A; Northwest League), is now coming dangerously close to being an outdated professional facility, as the team is seeking a new ballpark after concluding it’s not worth renovating the old place. FAST FACTS Year Opened: […]
Vikings stadium debate could help Saints, Huskies — but unlikely to happen
A proposed new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark and a renovation of Duluth’s Wade Stadium could be part of any bonding bill for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium — but the Legislature is unlikely to meet in special session to consider the issue. The state of Minnesota made national headlines with a 20-day […]
Future of Mustangs to be decided next month
The future of the Martinsville Mustangs (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League) will be decided early next month, as the City Council will review finances and decide if progress is being made on the team’s operating deficit. The city-owned team has been running a deficit while playing at Hooker Field. Tired of subsidizing the team to […]
New NAL ballpark pitched for Bay Area
Another new independent North American League ballpark is in the works, as investor Brian Clark pitches the Dublin City Council on a $8-million facility in that Bay Area city. Clark, whose Centerfield Partnership is also pitching a new ballpark in San Rafael, is looking for city funding for a ballpark that could cost between $5 […]
New Richmond ballpark by 2014?
Though there’s been little public discussion, progress is being made in talks between the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) and the Richmond Metropolitan Authority over a new ballpark next to The Diamond in the city’s Boulevard district. The area has been the center of baseball in Richmond for decades; Parker Field sat at […]
SIU pitching $4.9 million ballpark renovation
Southern Illinois University is pitching a $4.9-million renovation of Abe Martin Field — Ancient Abe, as it’s known locally — that would add a new grandstand and take out some bleachers that came from the original Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. Abe Martin Field is the oldest ballpark in the Midwest Missouri Valley Conference, and […]
The Week That Was: July 24
More fireworks from the independent North American League, possible ballpark changes in Tucson and debates over the future of Tropicana Field highlighted the most popular stories of the past week on Ballpark Digest, as measured by page views. Fielders’ Zaman quits on the air Tucson revoking Toros lease for Hi Corbett; Wildcats, T-Padres to follow? […]
Rox sell not one, but two $80 hot dogs
Celebrating National Hot Dog Day, the Brockton Rox (independent; Can-Am League) sold not one, but two $80 hot dogs, breaking the Guinness world record for the Most Expensive Hot Dog during the team’s game against the Newark Bears on Saturday evening. The K-O Dog, named in honor of the club’s mascot and retailing for $80, […]