Jon Dehler, who purchased naming rights for Dehler Park, home of the Billings Mustangs (rookie; Pioneer League), is current after making a $50,000 payment last week. We’re not so sure this was very newsworthy, but the local paper aggressively covered a situation where Dehler was late on an annual $100,000 payment — kinda. He made […]
Tag Archives | rookie
White Sox commit to Bristol for two more years
The Chicago White Sox will be back in the rookie Appalachian League after signing a two-year management deal with Bristol Baseball, Inc. (BBI). The agreement ensures that professional baseball will remain alive in the Twin Cities for the forty-fifth and forty-sixth consecutive summers, with BBI operating the Bristol White Sox team competing in the Appy […]
Mets return to Gulf Coast League
The New York Mets are once again fielding a team in the rookie Gulf Coast League, with the team playing out of the minor-league complex in Port St. Lucie. The reason for the addition: the new CBA pushes up the signing deadline for players taken in the First-Year Player Draft. “The new CBA has accelerated […]
Mike Ellis new president of Northwest League
Mike Ellis, the owner of the Missoula Osprey (rookie; Pioneer League), is the new president of the short-season Northwest League, replacing Bob Richmond, who retired this year after 30 years leading the circuit. “After a thorough selection process with many highly qualified candidates, it became clear that Mike Ellis was a perfect fit for our […]
Dehler misses naming-rights payment for Mustangs home
This seems be a case of the meh: Jon Dehler missed a July 1 naming-rights payment for Dehler Park, home of the Billings Mustangs (rookie; Pioneer League), but city officials aren’t concerned. Dehler missed a $50,000 payment, but says he’ll make it next week to keep current. Normally this would raise some level of concern […]
Reds, Mustangs extend PDC to 2016
It wasn’t up until 2014, but that didn’t stop the Cincinnati Reds and Billings Mustangs (rookie; Pioneer League) from extending their player-development contract (PDC) for two more years. “The entire Cincinnati Reds organization is ecstatic to announce that we are extending our PDC with the Billings Mustangs,” said Reds Assistant Director of Player Development Jeff […]
Missoula ballpark backers: We won’t make good on pledges
Three of the community leaders signing a pledge to back Ogren Park at Allegiance Field, home of the Missoula Osprey (rookie; Pioneer League), say they were coerced into backing the deal and are refusing to pay. When nonprofit Play Ball Missoula began fundraising for Ogren Park at Allegiance Field, local business leaders were asked to […]
Front-office changes in Bluefield, Bridgeport
Some front-office changes to report today: Jeff Gray is the new GM of the Bluefield Blue Jays (rookie; Appalachian League), while Ken Shepard is new GM of the Bridgeport Bluefish (independent; Atlantic League). Gray has front-office experience with the Dunedin Blue Jays (High Class A; Florida State League) and was associate general manager of the U.S. […]
In memoriam: Tom Saffell
Tom Saffell, a former MLB outfielder who spent 30 years as the president of the rookie Gulf Coast League, has passed away. He was 91. Saffell, who played four seasons in the majors for the Pirates and Athletics and some 17 seasons in the minors, was best known in MiLB as president of the rookie circuit […]
Royals extend PDCs with Idaho Falls, Burlington
The Kansas City Royals have extended their player-development contracts with the Idaho Falls Chukars (rookie; Pioneer League) and Burlington Royals (rookie; Appalachian League) through 2014. Idaho Falls has been affiliated with the Royals organization since the 2004 campaign while Burlington, who has already clinched the East Division of the Appalachian League, has been a part […]
Butte’s Alumni Field coming down
Alumni Field, the quaint former home of the Butte Copper Kings (rookie; Pioneer League), is coming down, as owner Montana Tech decides to upgrade the adjoining football field with artificial turf. It really wasn’t much of a ballpark, even by rookie-ball standards: a small grandstand and even smaller concession stand/gift shop, some kids’ play features […]
Remembering the Salt Lake Trappers
It’s been 25 years since the Salt Lake Trappers (rookie; Pioneer League) set a pro-sports record for consecutive wins — and also served as a blueprint for what would become a lively independent-baseball industry. A team in an affiliated league may seem like an unlikely precursor to independent baseball, but the Trappers were an independent […]
Grand Junction Rockies open strong
It was a good crowd on hand for the first game in Grand Junction Rockies (rookie; Pioneer League) history, as 4,850 fans showed up to Suplizio Field. As a bonus: the team won, 10-6, over Idaho Falls. The Rockies played last season as the Casper Ghosts; the team was bought in the offseason by the Monfort brothers, owner […]