From yesterday’s Ballpark Digest newsletter: with the Columbia Blowfish (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League) season over and Cap City Stadium sold, the future of baseball there is in serious flux. UPDATED! By all measures, Columbia (S.C.) should be a pretty good market for Minor League Baseball: the city has a population of 129,272 and sits in the middle […]
Tag Archives | sally league
Giants, GreenJackets extend PDC
It’s two more years for the Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) and the San Francisco Giants, who renewed their player development contract (PDC) through the 2014 season. “We’re pleased to have the San Francisco Giants back with us to continue our partnership and the development of future major leaguers here in Augusta.” said GreenJackets […]
Winchester: We’re not optimistic about landing Suns
With Hagerstown moving ahead on a bonding plan on a new downtown ballpark for the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A: Sally League), Winchester (Va.) officials aren’t optimistic about landing the team. With the proposal already a long shot, Winchester officials now say they pretty have given up on the chance to land the Suns, a […]
Hagerstown takes first steps toward ballpark bonding
The Hagerstown City Council took a preliminary step toward a bonding proposal for a new downtown Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A: Sally League), with final approval set for this fall. It’s not close to a done deal, as the city still needs to come to a lease agreement with the Suns, but the wheels are […]
Grasshoppers close on purchase of NewBridge Park
The Greensboro Grasshoppers (Low Class A; Sally League) are now the proud owners of NewBridge Bank Park, paying $12.8 million for the ballpark. Greensboro Baseball LLC closed on a deal to buy the facility from Joseph M. Bryan Foundation of Greater Greensboro. As you’ll recall, it took years of effort and a lot of work […]
Brawls and thrown bases: your video update
A Mississippi/Mobile brawl and a second eruption from the Asheville Tourists’ legendary Joe Mikulik is making for some fine, fine video viewing today. You all remember Joe Mikulik, manager of the Asheville Tourists (Low Class A; Sally League), whose first eruption during a game in 2006 made the viral-video rounds. Indeed, it’s one of the best […]
Hagerstown mayor: We’re close to long-term lease with Suns
Hagerstown Mayor Robert Bruchey II says his city is close to a lease agreement to keep the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) in the area, playing at a new downtown ballpark. The goal: to present a lease to the Hagerstown City Council by the middle of August, which would allow for a new […]
Giants expected to re-up with Augusta — but with hesitations
The San Francisco Giants and Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) will probably renew their player-development contract, but the Giants warn they want to see better facilities in the Georgia city. The condition of Lake Olmstead Stadium is a matter for debate by locals, who see nothing wrong with the basic facility. But that’s […]
Savannah officials: let’s look at arena/ballpark complex
Savannah officials are warming to a new downtown ballpark for the Savannah Sand Gnats (Low Class A; Sally League), but remain committed to an arena as part of the project. The issue: in 2006 approved a sales tax for a new downtown arena. One proposal has the proceeds of that local sales tax diverted to […]
In Savannah, don’t underestimate Freier when it comes to new ballpark
He pulled off new-ballpark construction against some daunting odds in Fort Wayne, so don’t underestimate efforts by Sand Gnats owner Jason Freier to build a new facility in Savannah. Those of us with longer memories can recall the obstacles faced by Hardball Capital’s Freier as he put together a funding plan for Parkview Field, the home […]
Savannah officials to visit Fort Wayne ballpark
If this doesn’t convince Savannah officials about the need for a new ballpark, nothing will: The City Council will visit Parkview Field, home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps (Low Class A; Midwest League). Hardball Capital, which owns both the TinCaps and the Savannah Sand Gnats (Low Class A; Sally League), has been working on a […]
Lakewood lands 2013 Sally League All-Star Game
The Lakewood BlueClaws will be the center of Sally League attention in 2013, hosting the circuit’s All-Star Game. “This is a banner day in BlueClaws history,” said BlueClaws General Manager Geoff Brown. “Almost 10 years to the day we hosted the All-Star Game in 2002, we are thrilled to announce that this magnificent event is coming to […]
Winchester pitches Suns with new ballpark offer
The battle for the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) continues, with Winchester (Va.) officials pitching lead owner Bruce Quinn with a revised proposal for a new ballpark. The pitch follows weeks of inactivity from Winchester, which once was the leader to land the Suns but came up short after a proposed ballpark site […]