Storm Chaser throws, loses, regains no-hitter
Unusual game last night in Memphis: Omaha’s Luis Mendoza threw a no-hitter last night against the Redbirds, lost it after a scoring change, then regained the no-hitter after yet another scoring change — but he could lose it again, pending potential league review. Mendoza went all nine innings in a complete-game no-hitter, with the Omaha […]
Tucson revoking Toros lease for Hi Corbett; Wildcats, T-Padres to follow?
Tucson is in the midst of revoking the Hi Corbett Field lease from the Tucson Toros (independent; North American League), as the city and Pima County look at big changes at where baseball teams play. The Toros played two seasons in the North American League before going on hiatus when the Tucson Padres (Class AAA; […]
Fielders’ Zaman quits on the air
Another casualty of the Lake County Fielders (independent; North American League) not paying bills: play-by-play broadcaster Qumar Zaman, who quit because he wasn’t being paid by the team — and took to the air to explain. Audio within. As you’ll recall, the Fielders released 14 players and traded nine others after an open player revolt […]
Thunder on serious roll at the box office
It’s been a good season for the Trenton Thunder (Class AA; Eastern League): the team has sold out six straight games and attracted 48,617 fans ((8,103 per game) to Waterfront Park during that stretch. The six-game sellout streak is the organization’s first since a seven game streak in 2003 when 7,531 fans attended per game […]
Slammers work hard to regain community trust
The Joliet JackHammers almost salted the territory after failing to pay bills the past few seasons, but the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) are working hard to regain community trust — and succeeding. The JackHammers folded after owing $400,000 to vendors and $200,000 to the city for rent at Silver Cross Field — a deficit […]
Rocky season for the Newark Bears
Legal disputes over ownership, unpaid bills, and plenty of empty seats have characterized the Newark Bears (independent; Can-Am League) this season, as the team struggles to find a following — and the answer may be a reality TV series. The Star-Register has a long chronicle of the many issues faced by the changing Bears ownership […]
San Rafael debates NAL ballpark at Albert Field
The San Rafael City Council will decide tonight whether to approve a plan from Centerfield Partnership to add temporary fielding to Albert Field in hopes of hosting an independent North American League team there next season. The proposal would add 800 temporary seats to the city-owned park and upgrade restrooms and clubhouses. Opponents say adding […]
Reevaluating Fair Grounds Field after 25 years
It was once the very model of a modern ballpark, but 25 years later Fair Grounds Field is showing the effects of time and a less-than-aggressive maintenance budget, as Shreveport evaluates the future of the home of the Shreveport-Bossier Captains (independent; American Association). Built for $3.5 million, Fair Grounds Field was designed to be a […]
Work continues on Engel Stadium preservation
A transfer of Engel Stadium management to a nonprofit will help preserve the historic former home of the Chattanooga Lookouts (Class AA; Southern League), which is sorely in need of some TLC. Engel Stadium opened in 1929 and is very much a product of the era, with the classic grandstand and brickwork throughout the grounds. […]
Financing elusive for new McHenry County ballpark
After several years of work on financing for a new $18-million McHenry County K-Nines (independent; Frontier League) ballpark, team owners have returned bonding money to the county, as the project has stalled. The plan was to build the new ballpark as part of a development that includes a gravel pit and possibly the new grounds […]
Wrigleyville West delays possibly extended
The Chicago Cubs won’t be building a Wrigleyville West entertainment complex at a new Mesa spring-training complex until 2014 at the earliest, as city and team officials work to come to some sort of game plan in terms of scope and scale. The enormity of the task in creating a retail complex at a spring-training […]
Blue Wahoos rework lease for new Pensacola ballpark
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Class AA; Southern League) will be paying more for a new ballpark that meets Class AA standards, as the $13 million ballpark will be ready for a March opening. Quint and Rishy Studer had an agreement for a new waterfront ballpark as owners of the Pensacola Pelicans (independent; American Association), but […]
The Week That Was: July 17
Unpaid bills, potential MLB realignment and the unveiling of the world’s most expensive hot dog made headlines this week. We unveil the most popular stories on Ballpark Digest from the past week, as measured by page views. Unpaid players revolt in Lake County: 9 traded, 14 released Astros to AL West: Report Rox to sell […]