Remembering Winter Haven’s spring-training heritage
Though it’s unlikely spring training will ever return to Winter Haven in central Florida, the city can look back on a several MLB teams training in the city. Here’s a look at the history of spring training in Winter Haven. The News Chief laid out the history of spring baseball in Winter Haven, which began […]
Rafters adding extra seating for All-Star Game
High-class problem to have: the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are adding bleachers to Witter Field for this Monday’s Northwoods League All-Star Game, as demands for tickets is outpacing the ballpark’s capacity. Witter Field is a historic old Wisconsin State League and Midwest League ballpark, revitalized by the emergence of the Rafters last season. The All-Star Game […]
Minor League Baseball bailing on Vero Beach lease
After losing a million dollars operating Vero Beach Sports Village last year and another half-million this season, Minor League Baseball has found someone else to assume to the lease to the former Dodgertown. MiLB would still have a presence at the facility, but the new leaseholder would be bringing in events beyond the tournaments and […]
MLB: McCourt not acting in best interests of Dodgers
Frank McCourt is pushing for bankruptcy court to approve an onerous hedge-fund financing plan instead of a lower-interest loan from Major League Baseball because he’d personally be on the hook for fees, according to papers filed yesterday. The battle between McCourt and Major league Baseball is getting intense and nasty, as the pair are fighting […]
Miss Babe Ruth statue returned to Grasshoppers
A statue of Miss Babe Ruth, the iconic Labrador Retriever mascot for the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Low Class A; Sally League), was stolen and subsequently recovered — but it can be yours, as the team is auctioning it away after arranging for a replacement. “Due to the proficient work of the Greensboro and High Point Police […]
Fielders continue blame game for financial woes, adding league to mix
After losing most of the roster because of nonpayment, the Lake County Fielders (independent; North American League) is admitting cash-flow issues but doubling down on criticism for how its ballpark issue was handled by Zion and throwing criticism of the league into the mix. Another attack — or positioning for future lawsuits, depending on your […]
No, Virginia, no new Dodger Stadium on the horizon
Though some outlets are reporting Major League Baseball looking at a new downtown ballpark for the Los Angeles Dodgers should the franchise be seized, the truth is far more pedestrian — and no, there’s no replacement ballpark on the horizon. SportsByBrooks reported that two sources had reported Major League Baseball had approached facilities giant AEG […]
Heavy winds take down center-field fence in Augusta
Lake Olmstead Stadium, home of the Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League), sustained damage tonight from a violent thunderstorm tearing through the area — violent enough to take down the center-field fence. Billy Byler, Augusta GreenJackets beat writer for the Augusta Chronicle, was kind enough to send us a link to a Chronicle video of […]
Rox to sell world’s most expensive hot dog
Very clever: the Brockton Rox (independent; Can-Am League) will be selling the world’s most expensive hot dog — an $80 frankfurter complete with truffles and caviar — in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record. The Rox hot dog consists of a half-pound all-beef foot-long hot dog, deep fried and rolled in truffle oil, […]
Nueces County sues CB Thunder over unpaid rent
After evicting the Coastal Bend Thunder (independent; United League Baseball) for unpaid rent at Fairgrounds Field in December, Texas’s Nueces County is now going after the team’s owners for maintenance, cleanup and attorney bills totaling $142,000. A lawsuit was filed Monday against the now-defunct franchise. The team had been evicted from the Robstown ballpark over […]
MCL expands to Lisle
The summer-collegiate Midwest Collegiate League announced a second expansion team for the 2012 season, as a new franchise will play at Lisle‘s Benedictine University. The team will be owned by Windy City Sports & Entertainment, which also owns the league’s Rockford Foresters team in the MCL. The ballpark was home to the DuPage Dragons (summer […]
Stone Crabs to host 2012 FSL All-Star Game
The Charlotte Stone Crabs will be hosting the 2012 Florida State League All-Star Game at Charlotte Sports Park, the team announced today. The game is scheduled for Saturday, June 16, 2012. Charlotte Sports Park is one of the better ballparks in the Florida State League. “It is a great honor to be chosen out of […]
Gophers still short on fundraising for new ballpark
The University of Minnesota still needs to raise more than a million dollars to start the first phase of renovations to decrepit Siebert Field — and that’s not counting the additional millions to complete the project. So far the school has raised a little less than $5.5 million, with the first round of renovations currently […]