Atlantic League All-Star Game completely sold out
Tonight’s independent Atlantic League All-Star Game is completely sold out, as host York Revolution sold the last of the berm seating to the match at Sovereign Bank Stadium. All-Star Games are notably hard to sell out for most teams. Today’s events kick off with the Stauffer’s All-Star Family Fun Festival on the Brooks Robinson Plaza […]
McBride Stadium damaged by heavy winds
McBride Stadium, the home of the Richmond RiverRats (summer collegiate; Prospect League) and a historic WPA-era ballpark, suffered severe roof damage last night right after a game. The area was hit with 75-mph winds and tore roofs off several buildings as well as uprooting trees and small concession buildings in the area. At the ballpark, […]
Fielders: Don’t blame us, blame Zion
Reps from the Lake County Fielders (independent; North American League) say payroll issues leading to a player revolt is not their fault — instead, they point the finger at Zion, Ill. for failing to provide an adequate ballpark. As you’ll recall, the Fielders released 14 players and traded nine others after an open player revolt […]
Astros to AL West: Report
The Houston Astros will be moving to the American League West as Major League Baseball tackles the issue of realignment, according to a report from Fox Sports Arizona. Jack Magruder, a very reliable reporter, is writing that two sources told him the Arizona Diamondbacks would not be asked to move from the National League West […]
Metrodome roof to be raised
The roof of the Metrodome is set to be raised for the first time since December’s snowy collapse, as $22.7 million in repairs are nearing completion. The home of the Minnesota Golden Gophers baseball team and the former home of the Minnesota Twins has been closed since Dec. 12, when heavy snow and ice caused […]
Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium ownership resolved
The ownership of Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium, the home of the Kannapolis Intimidators (Low Class A; Sally League), is now clear: the City of Kannapolis is buying it from Rowan County, paying $3 million over 50 years — and not paying interest. For the mathematically challenged, that’s $60,000 a year. We shudder to think about how […]
Mets bid for Nassau County ballpark was missing one big component: a team
At the end of the day, the independent Atlantic League — and not a New York Mets group — snared a deal to manage and play at a new Nassau County ballpark because Frank Boulton could unconditionally deliver a team. There were two groups bidding to manage and play in a new $50 million Long […]
Marlins shut down upper deck at Sun Life Stadium
Makes sense when you play in the largest facility in Major League Baseball: The Florida Marlins are shutting down the upper deck at Sun Life Stadium for the rest of the regular season save a few special events. The cost of manning operations in the upper level outweighs the number of fans actually buying tickets […]
Unpaid players revolt in Lake County: 9 traded, 14 released
It’s chaos with the Lake County Fielders (independent; North American League), as the team releases 14 players and trades nine after missing payroll; manager Tim Johnson and interim coach Pete LaCock are gone as well. As it turns out, the decision by LaCock to field a team with pitchers in the field and position players […]
Consultant: Ballpark safety needs to be reevaluated
In the wake of Shannon Stone’s tragic fall at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington and a nearly disastrous fall last night during the All-Star Home Run Derby, a safety consultant is calling for higher railings at ballparks across the country. There’s no uniform building code for ballparks; team determine things like railing heights in conjunction with […]
Holman Stadium just right for summer-collegiate ball
Nashua’s Holman Stadium, where independent teams struggled in recent years, has a tenant this season managing to draw decent crowds: the summer-collegiate Nashua Silver Knights. True, the Silver Knights are averaging only 749 fans per game — lower than what the pro teams drew but enough to lead the startup Futures Collegiate Baseball League in […]
Midwest Collegiate League adds Kankakee for 2012
The summer-collegiate Midwest Collegiate League is adding a Kankakee (Ill.) team for the 2012 season, as the team will be playing at the Kankakee Community College ballpark. “The Kankakee, Illinois market offers the Midwest Collegiate League an ideal location, which is easily accessible from the I-57 Interstate Highway,” said Midwest Collegiate League Commissioner Don Popravak. […]
Sheriff Joe calls off chain gang at the All-Star Game
No surprise Sheriff Joe would be elbowing his way into the spotlight during the All-Star Game, but it sounds like cooler heads prevailed over the craziness as Arpaio scrapped plans to have a chain gang picking up trash outside Chase Field Tuesday night. Arpaio, for the uninitiated, is the controversial Maricopa County sheriff whose law-enforcement […]