It was not an auspicious New Year for the West Michigan Whitecaps in 2014, when team management and ownership saw fire take out part of Fifth Third Ballpark on January 3. The resulting rebuilding of the ballpark over a two-year period earned the West Michigan Whitecaps Ballpark Digest’s Best Ballpark Improvements Award for 2015. (more…)
Tag Archives | west michigan whitecaps
Your outrageous food news from Twins, Whitecaps
We expect to be reporting on a lot of outrageous food offerings for the 2015 season over the next two weeks, so let’s begin with some new concession items from the Minnesota Twins and West Michigan Whitecaps (Low Class A; Midwest League). (more…)
Whitecaps, Tigers extend PDC
We have a player-development contract extension to report, with the West Michigan Whitecaps (Low Class A; Midwest League) and the Detroit Tigers agreeing to remain partners through 2020. (more…)
Year-end countdown: #10, Fifth Third Ballpark fire
Between now and New Year’s Eve we’ll run down the top ten stories covered on Ballpark Digest in 2014, determined by page views. At #10: the January 3 Fifth Third Ballpark fire and the amazing efforts by the West Michigan Whitecaps to reopen for the regular season. (more…)
Personnel news in West Michigan, Lakewood, Bridgeport
We have a slew of personnel announcements involving the West Michigan Whitecaps (Low Class A; Midwest League), Lakewood BlueClaws (Low Class A: Sally League) and the Bridgeport Bluefish (independent; Atlantic League). In the Midwest League, Whitecaps Vice President of Sales Steve McCarty has been named the league’s 2014 Executive of the Year, Steve McCarthy. During […]
After 28 years, George Spelius stepping down as Midwest League president
Another milestone to note: After 28 years, George Spelius is stepping down at the end of the season as president of the Low Class A Midwest League. “There comes a time when it’s time, and it’s time,” the 80-year-old Spelius told the Quad-City Times. “It’s been a good, long run and the league is as […]
Bird meets baseball at Parkview Field
Shades of Randy Johnson and Dave Winfield! A small bird had an unfortunate experience after being struck by a pitch during Saturday’s Fort Wayne TinCaps-West Michigan Whitecaps game at Parkview Field. To set the scene: West Michigan’s Jon Maciel was throwing a 1-1 pitch to Fort Wayne’s Josh VanMeter, when a small bird flying across […]
After offseason fire, Fifth Third Ballpark shines at Midwest League ASG
Tuesday night’s Midwest League All-Star Classic was more than a showcase of baseball talent. It was a celebration of a remarkable effort by the West Michigan Whitecaps to rebuild a ballpark heavily damaged by fire less than six months ago, reports Trey Wilson. As more than 7,000 fans filled the seats of Fifth Third Ballpark, […]
After tumultuous offseason, Whitecaps ready for season opener
What an amazing story: after a January fire that saw part of Fifth Third Ballpark destroyed, the West Michigan Whitecaps (Low Class A; Midwest League) are ready for a season opener tomorrow. You’ll recall the Jan. 3 fire that wiped out the right-field suite level at Fifth Third Ballpark, along with the concourse installation and […]
Whitecaps unveil 2014-2015 ballpark improvements
Turning some lemons into lemonade, the West Michigan Whitecaps (Low Class A; Midwest League) ownership unveiled ballpark improvements for this season and next. The improvements for this season addresses the portion of the ballpark damaged by a January fire, which damaged the first-base-line concourse and the home clubhouse below. The new concourse concession space will […]
Fifth Third Ballpark restoration begins
Work has begun on the cleanup of Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the West Michigan Whitecaps (Low Class A; Midwest League), after a fire destroyed 12 suites, a popular concourse and other ballpark space. The cleanup involves saving what can be saved — mostly in the lower level of the ballpark — while tearing down […]
Fire at Fifth Third Ballpark caused by space heater
An unsupervised space heater and problems with the sprinkler system led to the fire at Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the West Michigan Whitecaps (Low Class A; Midwest League). The seven-page report from the Plainfield Township fire investigators provided a detailed look at what happened. In all, the fire that destroyed 12 suites and a […]
Did sprinkler failure contribute to Fifth Third Ballpark fire?
The potential failure of a sprinkler system may have contributed to the fire Saturday at Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the West Michigan Whitecaps (Low Class A; Midwest League), as fire officials and insurance investigators determine exactly what happened. Investigators are focused on the potential failure of the sprinkler as a contributing factor to the […]