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Archives: March 26-April 1, 2007

Tribe unveils plaque honoring Ray Chapman
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Tucked away and forgotten for years, a plaque commemorating one of baseball's darkest moments has been brought back to life. A 175-pound bronzed memorial for Ray Chapman, the Cleveland Indians shortstop killed when he was hit in the head with a pitch in a 1920 game, was recently rediscovered after decades in storage. Now refurbished, it will be displayed as one of the signature pieces in the new Heritage Park, a walkthrough exhibit beyond the center-field wall at Jacobs Field honoring Cleveland's Hall of Famers and the Indians' history. More on Heritage Park.

10 great places to relish fine ballpark fare
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USA Today asks us to list our 10 favorite ballpark food items, and we comply. Regular readers of the site probably won't be too surprised by our selections: we call AT&T Park a foodie's delight, and rightfully so: consumption of food items at the home of the San Francisco Giants is one of the highlights of our baseball tours. We probably went a little contrarian with our choices -- we eschewed the higher-profile celebrity BBQ pits to highlight the offerings from Gates BBQ at Kauffman Stadium -- but you really can't go wrong with a Schmitter or a Primanti Brothers sandwich.

Chiefs to plant palm trees Monday
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A sure sign the season is beginning: the Peoria Chiefs (Low Class A; Midwest League) are planting palm trees at O’Brien Field on Monday. The nine Queen Palms are currently en route from Florida and will be planted in the left field berm on April 2. For the fifth straight year, Kelch Turf Farms and Landscaping out of Kickapoo will plant the trees in the left field and left-centerfield berms. The Chiefs and O’Brien Field started the tradition of Palm Trees in Peoria when the stadium opened on May 24, 2002 with 20 trees both inside and outside the ballpark. The Chiefs switched to Queen Palms before the 2003 season as the Queens are better equipped to handle the changes in the Central Illinois climate. This season, as in 2004, the Queen Palms will be planted inside the ballpark only as trees more indigenous to Central Illinois have been planted outside the ballpark.

Chase's vision mixes wreath, race, diamond
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Worth checking out this weekend is the first-ever Civil Rights Game at AutoZone Park, the home of the Memphis Redbirds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). Playing tomorrow before the cameras of ESPN will be the Cleveland Indians play the St. Louis Cardinals, and MLB has done a pretty good job in promoting the game as a way to remember civil-rights struggles of the past as we head into the future. Dave Chase, president of the Redbirds, is the man who came up with the plan; this article tells how it came to be.

Officials: Grapefruit League sets attendance record
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The attendance record for the Grapefruit League was shattered this spring. The first 258 games of spring training in Florida drew 1,605,263 fans, the Florida Sports Foundation announced. That total, reached Wednesday, passed last year's record of 1,604,333 fans in 274 games. Seven teams had passed the 100,000-fan plateau through Wednesday: the New York Yankees (who train in Tampa), Minnesota (Fort Myers), Atlanta (Orlando), Philadelphia (Clearwater), Boston (Fort Myers), Detroit (Lakeland) and St. Louis (Jupiter).

Attendance record set at Tempe Diablo Stadium
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Tempe Diablo Stadium set an attendance record for the 2007 Cactus League season, with 123,184 fans attending Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim games. "The Angels are very happy," stadium manager Jerry Hall said. "We had a great season. We had great attendance. The crowd was real good the whole time." Arnold Davis, executive secretary of the Tempe Diablos, who sponsor spring training in Tempe, said the Diablos will look at possible improvements for next year, including off-site parking to reduce traffic jams.

Turn on the lights; party's over as McKechnie Field gets lights
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Twenty seasons after Wrigley Field went electric, the last ballpark without lights that is used by a major league team is pulling down the shades on all-daylight baseball. Bradenton's McKechnie Field, which has existed on its current site since 1923 and has been the Pittsburgh Pirates' spring training home since 1969, is about to get lights. And not everyone is happy about it. "We prefer playing day games in the spring, I don't think there's any question about it," said Pirates spring instructor Bill Virdon, who first played at McKechnie in the 1950s and has returned nearly every spring since as a player, manager or coach. Between two and six games will be played under the lights next spring.

Goodyear approves ballpark design contract
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Goodyear, Az. is hiring HOK Sport to design and engineer a spring-training complex for the Cleveland Indians, slated to open in 2009. Entering into the $3-million contract with HOK is a key step that kicks off the work on a $75-million, 10,000-seat spring-training complex. The City Council-approved agreement puts the sports venue development firm in charge of crafting the look and feel of the new spring home of the Indians. Construction could begin as early as August. There are tight deadlines to complete construction. The Indians are expected to begin training in Goodyear in 2008, with the first game scheduled for February 2009.
    RELATED STORIES: Cactus League aims to reclaim fan base; Goodyear inks deal on spring-training facility; Goodyear eyes noted ballpark designer; Indians fan thrilled by new facility plans; $80 mil for baseball taps out sports authority; White Sox to delay Phoenix move?; Arizona commission to fund both proposed spring-training facilities; Glendale offers spring-training plan; Parties expect Dodgers, Sox deal to pan out; Leaving Tucson will be tricky for White Sox; County not eager to match baseball largess; State panel shouldn't fund White Sox move from Tucson; Goodyear ballpark plan hits funding snag; Pima County trying to avert loss of White Sox for spring training; Dodgers, White Sox reach deal with Glendale; A new Glendale ballpark -- in Phoenix; Goodyear prepares to make its pitch for ballpark funds; What could the future hold for Dodgertown?; Glendale wants to bring Dodgers' spring training to Valley; Goodyear sees spring-training complex as path to development; Goodyear finds support for spring-training plan; It's official: Indians agree to Grapefruit League move; Indians, Dodgers close to deal to move spring training to Arizona; Clock ticks on Disney-Indians deal; Cleveland says no to Cape Coral's springtime offer; Arizona move still a possibility

Bennington ballpark stalls
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A planned 2,000-seat ballpark for the Bennington Bombers (summer collegiate; NYCBL) has been postponed indefinitely, but baseball is still expected to come to Bennington this summer. The Bombers are expected to play at Southern Vermont College when the season begins in about nine weeks, according to William Colvin, president of Applejack Art Partners. Developer Jack Appelman, who has several other projects in Bennington County, had planned to build the ballpark on town-owned land in what is known as lower Willow Park. The stadium was to include a baseball museum, press box and artificial turf. But the cost of building at lower Willow Park has grown substantially. Appelman had budgeted between $1.5 million and $1.8 million for the first phase, which would have included bleachers, basic parking, artificial turf, lights and a fence. Because the site had once been the village landfill, however, environmental issues drove the cost estimate for site work alone to $3.9 million -- and that's without any ballpark construction.
    RELATED STORIES: Bennington ballpark gets positive feedback; Bennington board to review proposal for ballpark; Town reviews ballpark plans

New game in town: Solar power at Jacobs Field
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AT&T Park isn't the only ballpark going green this season: Solar panels will go up soon at Jacobs Field, the home of the Cleveland Indians, allowing fans to view and learn about renewable energy.  Green Energy and the Cleveland Indians will erect 50 photovoltaic panels on the upper concourse at Jacobs Field, along Carnegie Avenue. The array will be 86 feet long and 15 feet high, generating a modest amount of power for The Jake, said Jim Folk, the team's vice president for ballpark operations. The Indians want to reduce energy consumption, Folk said, and could expand solar capacity by adding panels to the sun screen over the upper deck. He declined to say what the project costs.

Big ballpark, itty bitty attendance
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Chase Field, the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, hosted a neutral-site match between the University of Arizona and Arizona State University before a smallish crowd of 4,296 -- and most of those were ASU fans. We spent some time in Tucson last week and attending a few ASU games at Sancet Stadium; yes, the school was on spring break, but it was a little sad to see crowds of fewer than 100 at the ballpark. Add to that a smaller crowd at Chase Field than most would like to see, and it's a little sadder that a very good college program doesn't get more respect.

More than dogs at Pigs' park
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Here's an interesting deal. Capital Blue Cross signed a deal with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Class AAA; International League) as presenting sponsor for both the team and Coca-Cola Park. As part of the deal, the medical firm will ensure that several concession stands are set aside to make healthy foods such as salads and smoothies available to the fans.
    RELATED STORIES: IronPigs unveil logo; Experts say IronPigs will be a success; The ballpark, the market & the nickname; New for 2008: Coca-Cola Park; Allentown ballpark begins to take shape; Revised Allentown ballpark cost released; Affiliated baseball finally comes to Valley; Allentown breaks ground on new ballpark; International League approves sale of Lynx; Lynx poised to leap after 2007

Dice-K's arrival nearly brings in $1 million
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The economic impact of Daisuke Matsuzaka joining the Boston Red Sox was fairly minimal, driven mostly by the 200 or so Japanese journalists cover Dice-K's Florida adventure. The final tally was $722,000, according to the Lee County Sports Authority. The resulting economic impact "ranks up there with our largest ... youth baseball tournaments, but pales in comparison to the North American Roller Hockey Championships, which had a $12.5 million impact in 2005," said Jeff Mielke, sports authority director. The estimate also (tacitly, anyway) assumes that 87 hotel rooms in Lee County would have been unsold if the Japanese journalists had not descended en masse; we think that assumption may be a little shaky.

Selig defends DirecTV deal
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MLB Commissioner Bud Selig defended his sport's hardline stance with cable companies over access to out-of-market games. Members of Congress and others have criticized Major League Baseball for its $700 million deal with satellite provider DirecTV to air the league's "Extra Innings" package, which allows fans to watch up to 60 out-of-market games a week for an annual subscription of $160 to $200. The deal requires cable companies to match the terms offered by DirecTV, including a commitment to carry The Baseball Channel when it launches in 2009. So far the cable companies have refused to do so, though negotiations continue.
    RELATED STORIES: Kerry urges MLB, DirecTV to hold off on deal; Cable, MLB argue over out-of-town games

UCF study: Major League Baseball gets highest grade ever for race, gender
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A new study released by the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics and Sport shows that Major League Baseball achieved its highest grade ever in both race and gender, as well as its highest combined grade. In fact, notes UCF's Richard Lapchik, with the score of 89.1 for race, baseball is on the brink of achieving its first A, coming in with a solid B-plus for the latest study, as well as a C-plus for gender. This was a marked improvement from the 2005 Major League Baseball Racial and Gender Report Card when MLB earned a low-range B-plus for race, a D-plus for gender and a combined C-plus, he says.

Carneal to skip Twins home opener
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Herb Carneal, broadcaster for the Minnesota Twins since 1962, says he'll skip Monday's home opener because of health issues. Herb's had a rough offseason; he was hospitalized for five weeks and already works on a reduced schedule (only home games, and then only three innings on Sundays, weekday day games and a few Tuesday and Saturday games).

Ballpark Notes
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The Richmond Braves (Class AAA; International League) will again partner with UTEXT Sports to deliver interactive SMS programs during the 2007 season. The Braves employ UTEXT Sports’ JumpTXT™ Media Platform to manage their mobile CRM database delivering SMS alerts to their fans that have opted in to receive mobile updates, promotional alerts and special offers. "We have always looked for unique and innovative ways to engage our fans," says Braves General Manager Bruce Baldwin. "UTEXT Sports' mobile products and services allow us to reach our fans anytime, anywhere with timely information to make sure we provide them with the best fan experience possible."

Does Las Vegas need a new ballpark?
Posted March 29, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Here's the annual call for a new ballpark to replace Cashman Field, the home of the Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), with a newer facility. Cashman Field is a very basic facility, to say the least, but in recent years plans for a new facility have been stymied by the potential of landing an MLB team. Today team officials would love to see some sort of mixed-use development that would include housing, retail and a ballpark. What's kinda weird is the general business plan of Mandalay Baseball Properties, owners of the 51s, specifically calls for its teams to be part of such mixed-used plans, but the firm hasn't been able to locate a developer to partner with in one of the fastest-growing regions of the United States. Given that the franchise has also been on the market for much of the past few years, we're also wondering how serious Mandalay really is about such a development. More from PCL President Branch Rickey on the need for a new ballpark.

Statue of McGwire sits in St. Louis warehouse
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A bronze statue forged to honor slugger Mark McGwire is built to last forever. The only question is whether it ever will see the light of day. The Cardinals commissioned the statue after McGwire hit 70 homers in 1998, obliterating Roger Maris' 37-year-old record. There's a place set aside for it alongside other mini-monuments to Cardinals legends outside Busch Stadium. But the bronze is draped in cloth, hidden in a downtown warehouse. Its place in the limelight has been thrown into question, like so much of McGwire's legacy, by suspicion that steroid use enhanced his career. Cardinals officials say that only Cardinals elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame merit a statue (not totally true; Ken Boyer has a statue displayed), and when the statue was commissioned McGwire seemed a lock for induction. Today, it's a much dicier proposition. CORRECTION: We erred. Boyer is the only Cardinal with a retired number who is not in the Hall of Fame; he does not have a statue at  Busch Stadium.

Twins ballpark meeting is delayed
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A scheduled meeting to discuss the new Minnesota Twins ballpark has been delayed until April 10 until Hennepin County officials have worked out a deal with the Burlington Northern railroad to move its line at the ballpark site. (It's not a smooth process changing the route of a train line; because of the various state and federal agencies involved, there are multiple parties as part of the transaction.) The closed-door meeting is now scheduled for April 10, but we've been told the April 5 unveiling of ballpark plans and a May launch of ballpark construction are still on. UPDATE: Apparently the April 5 unveiling has now been scrapped as well.
    RELATED STORIES: Ballpark impasse solution may be near on Twins ballpark; Twins moving ahead with ballpark plans; Pohlads step up to plate to help county save deal; Possible fix for Twins ballpark impasse arises; Are Twins working to end ballpark impasse?; Building a ballpark may hinge on having the Twins pay more; County officials, landowners of Twins ballpark site remain in a holding pattern; County looking at two new sites for Twins ballpark; Official says changing site of Twins ballpark would mean delays; A great ballpark divide; Twins postpone ballpark unveiling; Hennepin County, Twins say they'll look for a new ballpark site; Draft environmental review for Twins ballpark unveiled; Judge rules Twins ballpark has public purpose; sides still apart on price; Community leaders eager to see Twins ballpark design; Twins ballpark likely to sport modern look; Ballpark site owners put squeeze on Twins; New year brings new ballpark tax for Hennepin County shoppers; Ballpark players ironing out use, development agreements; Twins release more details on new ballpark; New Twins ballpark bypasses standard reviews; Ballpark's link to downtown Minneapolis inadequate, group says; Ballpark should be held to high standards; Twins formally announce design team for new ballpark; Firms lined up early for stadium work; Eminent-domain effort begins for Twins ballpark land; Designing the experience around the Twins ballpark; Ideas for Twins ballpark, some from left field; A freeze frame for Twins; Experts blow hot, cold on ways to heat new Twins ballpark; Appraisal delay puts Twins new ballpark off schedule; Twins pick ballpark designers; As Twins chase playoffs, ballpark preparations push on; Twins ballpark on track to open in 2010; Hennepin County Board approves ballpark sales tax; It's official: Twins to switch broadcast rights to KSTP-AM; Twins to switch broadcast partner after 46 seasons; Twins seek partners for naming rights, sponsorships; Twins searching for trademark ballpark design; Hennepin County OKs spending plan for Twins ballpark; Naming rights options scary; More than a ballpark in Minneapolis

Renovated Durham Athletic Park may be for only games
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It appears a renovated Durham Athletic Park can accommodate all the teams that might want to play games in it, but they might have to practice elsewhere if city officials want to make sure the field holds up, consultants say. That realization is shaping the renovation planning being done for the 1930s-era stadium by Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, the Baltimore developer that the city hired to spearhead what will be at least a $4 million project. If the ballpark houses N.C. Central University's baseball team, city Parks and Recreation Department leagues, a possible training operation for Minor League Baseball, a minor-league-baseball museum and other events, it appears likely that the field will be used more than 150 days a years.
    RELATED STORIES: Minor League Baseball interested in DAP; Durham ballpark may get second wind; Businessman warns against remake of park area; Old ballpark renewal plan progresses

Half of Swing ownership team shows enthusiasm over purchase
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We're guessing the other half does as well. Dave Heller was in Davenport to meet with the media about his purchase of the Swing of the Quad Cities (Low Class A; Midwest League) along with Bob Herrfeldt. Heller, who also owns the Columbus Catfish (Low Class A; Midwest League), says approval of the sale from Kevin Krause should come shortly. He also said he's in it for the long-term; Davenport has the potential of being an excellent baseball market, and the rebuilt facility doesn't hurt. More from the Quad Cities Times.

Orioles are back in Fort Lauderdale 2008, with new facility in 2009
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The Baltimore Orioles, who wrapped up their 12th spring at Fort Lauderdale Stadium on Wednesday, will return for spring training in the city's aging venue next year, but team officials are planning for a renovated complex in 2009. Attorneys representing the team said they expect to meet soon with Fort Lauderdale officials to hammer out the details of a $40 million financing plan, including a schedule for issuing and repaying bonds, to overhaul the 45-year-old ballpark and create a community park complex with baseball diamonds and soccer fields.
    RELATED STORIES: O's spring-training renovations not expected until '09; Issues remain in Fort Lauderdale Stadium deal; Florida finalizes five spring-training grants; Lauderdale reverses decision; O's to stay; Commissioners should rethink Orioles plan; Lauderdale won't support new complex; Orioles could move spring-training site; Florida makes preliminary decision on state spring-training grants; Fort Lauderdale Stadium renovation plan boosted; Broward County commits $800,000 annually toward new O's digs; Orioles pitch for $38-million spring ballpark rehab; Fort Lauderdale strikes tentative spring-training deal with Orioles

Ballpark deadline looming in Fort Wayne
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One idea that had some support during a public meeting of downtown redevelopment in Fort Wayne that includes a new ballpark for the Fort Wayne Wizards (Low Class A; Midwest League): studying the issue further. The warning in this editorial is that offers of private investment -- which are rather sizeable in this instance -- don't last forever. The owners of the Wizards are bringing $19.5 million to the plate, and another $10 million in tax credits can be recouped if bonds are sold before the end of the year. Considering there have been multiple studies of downtown redevelopment already, it's probably time to decide one way or another about the project. A majority of the city council is apparently leaning toward approving the project, however.
    RELATED STORIES: Fort Wayne City Council divided on downtown ballpark; Cheaper seats offered for new Fort Wayne ballpark; Wizards' owner steps up to bat for Harrison Square; 'A few more pros than cons'; Downtown Fort Wayne ballpark: pro and con; Developer submits proposal for downtown Fort Wayne hotel; Fort Wayne ballpark just a start in renewal endeavor; Ballpark's future subject to study; Poll backs downtown development, not new ballpark; Some on council aren't buying Fort Wayne ballpark plan; Ballpark's future is far from certain; Building the public square; Mayor calls ballpark plan opportunity of lifetime; Fort Wayne unveils ballpark plans; Top of the ninth in Fort Wayne; Poll: Tax-funded downtown Fort Wayne ballpark is unpopular; Wizards set 2008 ballpark goal; Enjoy downtown for what it is, not what you remember; Downtown Fort Wayne needs a full plan, including a ballpark; Playing ball downtown; We need to build ballpark downtown; Study supports downtown Fort Wayne ballpark; Can downtown Fort Wayne ballpark be a boon?; Learning by example from Dayton; Fort Wayne looks at improvements to Memorial Stadium; A new(er) ballpark in Fort Wayne?; Ballpark panel sees one diamond in future; New owners bring fresh ideas to Fort Wayne; Fort Wayne's baseball future may be downtown; A new downtown castle?; Memorial Stadium far from obsolete; Fort Wayne Wizards sold; Fort Wayne ballpark has 50 years of usability left, says architect; Debate begins on proposed downtown Fort Wayne ballpark; Group set to discuss downtown Fort Wayne ballpark

Swindal divorce means Boss needs new heir
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We don't cover personal news like this often, but it does involve who runs a very high-profile team in the future. Steve Swindal -- George Steinbrenner's announced successor -- and Steinbrenner's daughter Jenny are divorcing, the Swindals announced yesterday in a joint statement. The parting, while cited as being conducted "amicably," will remove Swindal from his post as the potential successor to Steinbrenner, who has vowed to keep the team in the family. Contenders to replace Swindal: team Vice presidents Hal and Hank Steinbrenner, George's sons, as well as Felix Lopez, married to Steinbrenner's other daughter, Jessica.

Key ally fed up with Sounds
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The Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) asked Tuesday for more time to work out a downtown ballpark deal, but even their Metro Council sponsor voiced opposition, leading some to (inaccurately, we feel) raise the specter of the city's longtime baseball team being replaced by another club. The Sounds joined their development partner, with whom they've been at odds for months, in asking for a six-month extension. If the council rejects the extension, Metro could find the Sounds in default of their agreement with the city and the developer, Mayor Bill Purcell said. In theory, that ultimately could allow the developer, Baltimore-based Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, to build the ballpark and find a new minor-league baseball team to play in it -- in theory, because for that to happen the Sounds and the Pacific Coast League would need to give up the territory. Now, where this comes from is interesting: it sounds like the prospect of bringing in another team was brought up by Struever Brothers officials, who even invoked the name of Cal Ripken Jr. as a potential team owner. But Struever can't just go ahead and build a ballpark for an affiliated team: the Sounds and the Pacific Coast League control the territory, and getting permission from the PCL to move another Class AAA team into the market would be roughly zero unless the Sounds agreed to it. The prospect of another team at this time is mere saber-rattling, but it plays well with reporters who know nothing about how baseball's territorial rules work. You can read more details about the dueling development plans from the Sounds and Struever at Nashville City Paper. Meanwhile, elected officials in Franklin say they'd welcome the Sounds to town. City Paper's editorial page rips the Sounds for not bringing anything to the table in terms of finances -- their end of the deal seems to be based on borrowed money, and there are some rumblings about the real financial status of the team.
    RELATED STORIES: Sounds GM Yaeger criticizes Struever Bros. as "wrong partner"; Struever, Sounds now have until 4 p.m. tomorrow to seal ballpark deal; Struever, Sounds now have until 4 p.m. tomorrow to seal ballpark deal; Struever would build Sounds ballpark; Sounds, Struever keep swinging for a ballpark solution; Nashville ballpark plan may be losing its luster; Metro concerned about progress of Nashville ballpark deal; Sounds must make decisions regarding downtown ballpark; Struever says Sounds ballpark will be built; Amid ballpark questions, plan for two hotels unveiled; Sounds delay ballpark opening until 2009; Ballpark financing lag worries Sounds; Sounds fail to file lease legislation; Council approves lease extension for Nashville ballpark development; Sounds unveil ballpark plans; Metro agrees to deadline extension on Sounds project; Sounds' project team huddles to nail down a deal; Sounds get jump-start on ticket sales for new ballpark; Sounds ballpark developer needs to score soon; Ballpark financing not set as deadline approaches; Struever mulling ballpark-area changes in Nashville; Sounds unveil ballpark plans; PCL president applauds Nashville ballpark deal; Yaeger calls stadium plan flexible and fan-friendly; Sounds settle on 2008 opening date for new ballpark; Ballpark opening date up in air, Sounds say; Nashville Metro Council approves new Sounds ballpark; Company says Sounds deal sets stage for Frank project; Sounds send commitment letter to Council; Caucus continues pressure for minorities' role in stadium; Nashville Council Black Caucus wants more minority work on ballpark; Sounds are rounding third; Sounds remain at bargaining table; Nashville Sounds one vote away from new ballpark; Council should give Nashville ballpark their support; Sounds woo minority business owners for ballpark project; Sounds ballpark vote delayed; Museum, dining wanted at new Sounds ballpark; Sounds move ahead with ballpark design; Sounds weak; Sounds ballpark proposal passes first test on Council; Opposition to Nashville ballpark gears up on council; Many good questions raised over Sounds deal; Chamber of Commerce backs Sounds ballpark plan; Downtown merchants rally for Sounds; Board seeks information on Sounds ballpark deal; Neighbors of Nashville ballpark expect project to spark development; Sounds, Nashville sign agreement for new ballpark; Sides close on Sounds ballpark plan; Sounds ballpark plan nearly triples in size; New Sounds ballpark proposal in doubt; Nashville ballpark bill may have to wait until fall; Sounds deal stalls, but still in play; City bobbling save on Sounds’ perfect plan; Sounds ballpark negotiations slow; Will ballpark make SoBro soar?; Sounds swing deal to get new ballpark; Sounds win city approval for new ballpark

Talks continue between Reinsdorf, city over Sens deal
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Talks continue with Harrisburg officials and reps from Michael Reisndorf's International Facilities Group over the sale of the Harrisburg Senators (Class AA; Eastern League). There are some issues at play here before the April 10 deadline set by Mayor Stephen Reed. First, Reed has put some conditions on the sale apart from the ballclub itself, such as financial support of some of Reed's pet projects in the city. Second, we hear the Eastern League and MiLB aren't too thrilled with Reinsdorf's involvement in the independent Frontier League -- a politically sensitive issue in the EL because of encroachments by the Frontier League and the Atlantic League into EL territory (i.e., Lancaster and York). MiLB has been pretty firm about not allowing those affiliated with independent ball to buy an affiliated franchise -- most recently John Simmons, owner of the Savannah Sand Gnats (Low Class A; Sally League), took himself out of the mix for the Southern Illinois Miners (independent; Frontier League) and put the team in his wife's name following negotiations with MiLB -- but there are some who don't think MiLB's prohibition against indy ownership would stand up in court, if it came to that. If Reinsdorf's firm does land the team and runs the deal by MiLB, the folks in St. Pete would be a very, very tight place: Jerry Reinsdorf is one of the most powerful people in baseball, but allowing the deal to go through would set a precedent and basically eviscerate the cross-ownership prohibition.
    RELATED STORIES: Mayor: Harrisburg negotiating with one firm for sale of Senators; City still in talks to sell Senators

IronPigs unveil logo
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The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Class AAA; International League) unveiled their official club logo in the Grand Parliament Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza in Allentown on Tuesday.
    "Today marks the birth of the IronPigs identity," IronPigs General Manger Kurt Landes said. "Our primary logo is part of our continuing effort to embody the spirit and tradition of the Lehigh Valley."
    The IronPigs look honors Lehigh Valley’s role in producing much of the steel that built America. The primary logo includes a stylized pig head made of iron and the words “IronPigs” riveted together in bold letters. The team’s official colors Brick Red (PMS 187), Furnace Blue (PMS 282) and IronPigs Steel (Cool Grey 6 C) are colors of the old Bethlehem Steel mills and at the team’s new stadium, Coca-Cola Park. The IronPigs are the first professional sports team to use this color combination.
    The club’s name was selected after more than 10,000 fans chose "IronPigs" in a month-long name-the-team contest. "IronPigs" is derived from "Pig Iron," the raw iron used to make steel. The iron was called Pig Iron because it ran into a row of molds, said to resemble a litter of pigs.
    The IronPigs identity is the work of Plan B Branding, a San Diego-based creative ideas company specializing in storytelling and branding ideas. Partners Jason Klein and Casey White dreamed up fresh looks for the Cincinnati Reds as well as for other Pennsylvania clubs like the Harrisburg Senators and State College Spikes. Plan B will continue to help the team with several themed elements centered around the IronPigs brand story.
    The development process began last January, when Klein and White met with fans, staff and community members to learn about the stories, history and personality of the Lehigh Valley. Plan B is currently developing the club’s supporting logos, uniforms and mascot, and is providing ideas to enhance the 2008 fan experience at Coca-Cola Park.
    The look must have struck a nerve: Within 30 minutes of their unveiling, the IronPigs had already sold  more than $2,000 worth of merchandise. More from the Express Times and the Allentown Morning Call.
    RELATED STORIES: Experts say IronPigs will be a success; The ballpark, the market & the nickname; New for 2008: Coca-Cola Park; Allentown ballpark begins to take shape; Revised Allentown ballpark cost released; Affiliated baseball finally comes to Valley; Allentown breaks ground on new ballpark; International League approves sale of Lynx; Lynx poised to leap after 2007

Kerry urges MLB, DirecTV to hold off on deal
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Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) urged baseball to hold off on a deal to put the sport's "Extra Innings" package of out-of-market games exclusively on DirecTV, but the sport's No. 2 official wouldn't make a commitment. Kerry made the push at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing he chaired Tuesday in an effort to keep the games on cable TV and EchoStar's Dish Network. The dispute revolves largely over how many homes will receive baseball's new television network in 2009, with DirecTV agreeing to carry it on a basic tier available to about 15 million homes. The company also would own 20 percent of the channel. In Demand president Rob Jacobson, whose company is owned by affiliates of the companies that own Time Warner, Comcast and Cox cable systems, offered to carry the package on the same terms that DirecTV is for the next two seasons while putting off the issue of The Baseball Channel until it launches.
    RELATED STORIES: Cable, MLB argue over out-of-town games

Aberdeen ballpark deal is taking shape
Posted March 28, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The outlines of a possible deal between Cal Ripken Jr. and his hometown of Aberdeen on the sale of Ripken Stadium began to emerge yesterday, one in which the retired ballplayer's company could take possession of the ballpark but avoid paying annual property taxes. The idea is for Ripken Baseball to make payments in lieu of property taxes as a way to minimize the firm's financial hit in buying the ballpark. Still, the idea of a local municipality building a facility and then selling it to a private investor has some officials worried about passing on millions in payments on public bonds. State officials, by the way, say they're not interested in buying the home of the Aberdeen IronBirds (short season; NY-Penn League).
    RELATED STORIES: Senator pushes plan for Ripken Stadium; Aberdeen may sell Ripken ballpark

O's spring-training renovations not expected until '09
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We've been assuming all along the renovations to Fort Lauderdale Stadium, the spring home of the Baltimore Orioles, wouldn't be completed until 2009, so it's a little surprising to hear Orioles executive vice president John Angelos say there's a small chance a renovation could be completed in 2008. There's a lot of work to be done: nearby Lockhart Stadium will be demolished to make way for new practice fields, and the ballpark will be stripped down to the girders to make way for a totally rebuilt facility. Considering some of the financial work on the deal and the design of complex need to be completed, we'd be totally amazed if 2008 is truly under consideration.
    RELATED STORIES: Issues remain in Fort Lauderdale Stadium deal; Florida finalizes five spring-training grants; Lauderdale reverses decision; O's to stay; Commissioners should rethink Orioles plan; Lauderdale won't support new complex; Orioles could move spring-training site; Florida makes preliminary decision on state spring-training grants; Fort Lauderdale Stadium renovation plan boosted; Broward County commits $800,000 annually toward new O's digs; Orioles pitch for $38-million spring ballpark rehab; Fort Lauderdale strikes tentative spring-training deal with Orioles

City reaches Diamond deal; Storm to take over ballpark operations
Posted March 28, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Thirteen years after building a ballpark on the south side of town and after nearly five years of trying to figure out what to do with the 6,000-seat park, the city has reached an agreement with a partner who city officials say should help relieve them of a heavy financial burden. The city's redevelopment agency, a legally distinct arm of city government that has the five-member City Council act as its board of directors, voted unanimously in closed session Tuesday to approve, in principle, a deal with the Lake Elsinore Storm (High Class A; California League) that will have the minor-league baseball team take over the ballpark's operations. The city spends $800,000 a year operating and maintaining the facility, and city officials said after Tuesday's vote was announced that they were pleased that the city is finally getting rid of that burden. The deal does come with some conditions: the Storm will be paid $400,000 annually by the city for the first four years of the 10-year deal.

Door closed on use of Miami CRA funds for ballpark
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Redevelopment dollars are off the bargaining table as funding sources for some City of Miami pet projects after a vote by the board of the Omni and Southeast Overtown/Park West community redevelopment agencies Monday. The board, made up of the city's five commissioners, resolved unanimously -- although commissioners Joe Sanchez and Angel Gonzalez were absent --  to prohibit use of agency funds for a new ballpark for the Florida Marlins. Dade County officials had counted on using CRA money to fill in some funding gaps for a new downtown ballpark. But with the prospects of a downtown ballpark becoming increasingly iffy given the better chance of local officials committing to the Orange Bowl site -- the vote may be irrelevant.
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Fort Wayne City Council divided on downtown ballpark
Posted March 28, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
On the issue of Harrison Square, the Fort Wayne City Council doesn’t yet see black or white. It sees shades of gray. Tuesday night’s meeting clearly showed the council is divided on the city’s $125 million-to-$160 million proposed downtown revitalization project, which includes a new ballpark for the Fort Wayne Wizards (Low Class A; Midwest League). The council and an audience of more than 50 heard two presentations with key differences regarding the project. While it would be easy to generalize and say one was in favor of and the other opposed to Harrison Square, each council member who spoke gave his own opinion on the project, emphasizing there are more than two sides to every issue. The final proposal for the project is expected to be discussed by council in mid-April.
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Nats' ticket sales are waning
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Less than a week before the season, the Washington Nationals have sold fewer than 30,000 seats for Opening Day at RFK Stadium, team president Stan Kasten said Tuesday. In addition, the team's season ticket base has fallen for the third straight year to what Kasten would only describe as "15 and change" -- or somewhere between 15,000 and 16,000. The season ticket base last year was just more than 16,400, down from nearly 22,000 in 2005 -- the first year Washington hosted a team since 1971. After a drop-off of more than half a million fans last year to just below 2.2 million, Kasten would not make projections on attendance for the year, the final season at RFK Stadium.
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New for 2007: Brazos Valley Bank Ballpark
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The expansion Brazos Valley Bombers (summer collegiate; Texas Collegiate League) have sold naming rights to Travis Field as part of an expansion of the former home of the original Bryan Bombers in the 1940s and 1950s). New seating in the forms of chairback seats are being added to make up a Founder's Club, while general-admission seats are being added down in each, expanding the capacity of the ballpark to 2,000. Also on the agenda: modern netting, new concession stands and restrooms, and a kids' play area.

Cougars keep eye on future
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With the home opener of the Kane County Cougars (Low Class A; Midwest League) home opener and start of its 17th season in Geneva just over a week away, team management is looking ahead -- to a year from now, when a renovation and expansion of Elfstrom Stadium is expected to be completed. The $5 million overhaul of Elfstrom Stadium was postponed a year, but the Kane County Forest Preserve District, which owns the stadium on Kirk Road, is expected to review and approve construction contracts for the project at a special meeting April 24.

Thunder's Finley enjoying the ride
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Here's a profile of Joe Finley, who certainly seems to lead the dream life. The former "paper-pushing business lawyer" turned minor-league baseball mogul and married father of three, including newborn twins, has parlayed a job clerking at a Cherry Hill law firm in 1987 into multi-million dollar partnerships involving three professional teams: the Trenton Thunder (Class AA; Eastern League), the Lakewood BlueClaws (Low Class A; Sally League) and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Class AAA; International League.

Mud Hens reach 350,000 sales figure for 2007
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The Toledo Mud Hens (Class AAA; International League) have reached another ticket milestone in selling 350,000 tickets for the sixth consecutive season. This number is made up of season tickets, group sales, and individual game tickets that have been sold for the 2007 season. The Hens reached the 350,000 ticket plateau on April 4 last year. The Hens broke the all-time Toledo baseball attendance record in 2006 when 569,380 fans witnessed the Mud Hens win their second straight Governors' Cup in the International League. The former record was 556,995 fans during the 2005 season at Fifth Third Field. Ticket sales for the 2007 season are on pace to match the 2006 total.

Revolution teases on mascot; will make announcement on Saturday
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The York Revolution (independent; Atlantic League) released some teaser photos of their new mascot cavorting on the grounds of Sovereign Bank Park, current under construction. The unveiling will be held at DreamWrights Youth and Family Theatre. More from the York Dispatch.

Suns' "Scoreboard Cowboy" makes triumphant return
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The Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) Scoreboard Cowboy has returned to Municipal Stadium following a year in exile. In February 2006 the popular manual scoreboard operator was replaced by the "Scoreboard Genie." Unfortunately, the Genie was never quite able to fill the void left in fans hearts after the Cowboy’s departure. This off-season the Genie sought to improve his status.
    The Scoreboard Genie used his three wishes to grant Suns fans their top three desires. With his first wish he aligned the Suns with the hometown Washington Nationals. Second, he forced Suns management to serve the fan-favorite “Hager Brat” at all grille locations within the ballpark. The third and final wish was used for the Scoreboard Genie to recreate himself as the new and improved Aladdin Awards Scoreboard Cowboy.

Danville Braves ink first-ever radio deal
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The Danville Braves (rookie; Appalachian League) announced that they have signed on with ESPN Radio 106.3 WMNA to broadcast their 34 home games in 2007. The agreement marks the first broadcasting deal for the Danville Braves since they arrived in the River City in 1993. "This is a great day for Danville Braves baseball and ESPN Radio 106.3," said D-Braves General Manager David Cross. "With this relationship we hope to be able to reach more fans and introduce them to the quality of baseball being played out here." The Braves will broadcast their home games live and potentially any home and away playoff games. In addition to the games, the Braves will host a pre and post game show to air approximately 30 minutes prior to and 15 minutes after each game, respectively. More form the Danville Register Bee.

Are too many teams playing at Appalachian Power Park?
Posted March 28, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Only eight days remain until the West Virginia Power (Low Class A; Sally League) opens the 2007 minor league baseball season. However, weather permitting, 26 games will have been played on the Appalachian Power Park diamond by the time the Power begins play -- and it would have been 32 if six games hadn't been cancelled or postponed because of wet weather. That is because team and city officials have allowed local middle school, high school and college teams to play some of their games at the three-year-old ballpark. Doing so can be problematic: the field had noticeable wear and tear less than two months into the 2006 season.

Ballpark Notes
Posted March 28, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium in conjunction with the Passaic County Historical Society present "Paterson’s Team: The New York Black Yankees." This event, described as a lecture/conversation, will take place on Friday, March 30th, at 7:00 PM at Lambert Castle, 3 Valley Road, Paterson, New Jersey. The event is free and open to the public.
    This is the first of a series of 2007 events planned by the Friends in celebration of Hinchliffe Stadium’s 75th anniversary. In this informal kickoff, two of the founding Friends, Brian LoPinto and Chris Coke, will explore both the history of the New York Black Yankees’ use of Hinchliffe Stadium as their home base and recent efforts to bring the stadium back into the life of the community.
    LoPinto, who has done extensive newspaper research into Stadium sports history, will add detail and insight into the New York Black Yankees tenure in the Silk City from 1933-1937 and again from 1939-1945. By far the most prominent tenant at Hinchliffe Stadium, the Black Yankees made major contributions to Black baseball and brought sports stardom to the corner of Liberty and Maple Streets.....
    PA SportsTicker is the official statistician for the independent South Coast League....

Mayor: Harrisburg negotiating with one firm for sale of Senators
Posted March 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
In a recent press conference Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed said the city was negotiating with just one potential buyer of the Harrisburg Senators (Class AA; Eastern League), but since the sales negotiations could collapse, he's keeping things under wraps for the time being. The quote from someone at the press conference: "We have made an initial selection for a buyer for the Harrisburg Senators and we are in the final stages of contract negotiations. We expect the contract negotiations to be done by or before April 10th. As soon as a mutually accepted agreement is in place and signed we will then announce who that buyer will be....I would say we preliminarily have selected a buyer. That hasn't ruled out other offers that we have; because if the current or final negotiations should unravel we have other options available to us. That's why we haven't announced who they are yet because it's not a done deal." We've done some asking around, and one name keeps popping up: Michael Reinsdorf, whose International Facilities Group has been involved in multiple major-league ballpark projects, including the new Washington Nationals ballpark, Miller Park, Comerica Park and Great American Ball Park. Earlier reports had the two potential buyers being Ivy Walls Management, owners of the Omaha Royals (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and the Lexington Legends (Low Class A; Sally League) and Professional Sports Marketing, owners of the Lansing Lugnuts (Low Class A; Midwest League) and the Montgomery Biscuits (Class AA; Southern League). 
    RELATED STORIES: City still in talks to sell Senators

Nationals ballpark 'on time, on budget' for 2008 opening
Posted March 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
With one week to go before the start of the 2007 season, the Washington Nationals and city officials gave upbeat assessments and they offered a tour of what will become the team's new home in 2008. The $611-million facility rising above the Anacostia River and south of the U.S. Capitol is starting to resemble a real ballpark. The lower bowl, the concourses and even much of the upper deck have taken shape. The outfield wall will go up later this month, with the scoreboard to follow in June or July and the playing field in October. Finding an adequate number of places for fans to park remains an issue, and there will be construction going on around the area once it opens as economic development follows the Nationals to this part of town. But the ballpark itself should be ready. More from the Washington Post.
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Sounds GM Yaeger criticizes Struever Bros. as "wrong partner"
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Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) General Manager Glenn Yaeger told The Tennessean that Struever Bros., Eccles & Rouse, the team's development partner for a proposed new downtown ballpark, is the "wrong partner." As is stands, if the Sounds and Struever Bros. do not come to terms on a joint development agreement (JDA) by 4 p.m. Tuesday, the project will be dead. According to the Sounds, the ball is now in Struever Bros.’ court. The Sounds have given Struever Bros. a proposal for a JDA, but Struever Bros. has yet to sign it. The Sounds and Struever have been going back and forth over the terms of the ballpark development, with a crisis point apparently at hand. More from Nashville City Paper and The Tennessean.
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Phillies donate resounding piece of Vet's history
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The Philadelphia Phillies auctioned off many remnants of the Vet before it was demolished on March 21, 2004. But they had also put aside plenty of artifacts, ranging from the bullpen benches to pieces of the outfield wall. Still, there is one tremendous piece that has remained hidden since it was last officially in action: the Liberty Bell, high atop the ballpark in dead centerfield, which lit up and rocked back and forth every time a Phillie hit a home run. The 6,000-pound, 18-foot iron bell has been in storage near Citizens Bank Park, laying facedown in a garden, with plants around it. The giant bell is expected to become the centerpiece of the eventual Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame after a donation from the Phillies.

Senator pushes plan for Ripken Stadium
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A Harford County senator wants the Maryland Stadium Authority to consider purchasing Ripken Stadium from Aberdeen, which is soliciting a buyer after losing hundreds of thousands of dollars each year since the facility opened to much fanfare six years ago. Sen. Nancy Jacobs said yesterday that she is pushing for a meeting between city officials and the authority to explore the concept of buying the home of the Aberdeen IronBirds (short season; NY-Penn League). A shortage of operating revenues coupled with the failure of an adjacent development to take shape has created $225,000 to $485,000 in annual losses for the city of 14,000.
    RELATED STORIES: Aberdeen may sell Ripken ballpark

Repairs, paint, new video screen to greet fans at PNC Park
Posted March 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Whether it's a new high-definition screen for fans or some fresh paint and new chairs for the press, PNC Park is sprucing up for the home opener April 9. The city-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority has approved $294,780 in spending from a capital reserve fund set up as part of PNC Park's construction to repair concrete outside the ballpark, paint steps inside, and make improvements to the press box. But for fans, the biggest change will be on the scoreboard. The announcement of these changes has led City Councilman Jim Motznik to call for an investigation into repairs being made to sidewalks surrounding PNC Park.

Will IronPigs logo fly?
Posted March 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Today the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Class AAA; International League) will unveil their new logo at an announcement ceremony expected to draw more than 700 fans, business partners, local dignitaries and press members. In addition to introducing their vision of what an IronPig looks like, the International League team will also begin in earnest to market itself to the public. Other announcements planned today involve the start-up of a new Web site as well as the kick off of season ticket and -- of course -- merchandise sales to the general public. However, the major focus of the day will be when a somewhat skeptical public gets to see the logo that will go with the team name that has generated debate and controversy since its selection.
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Baseball charts new course on seating
Posted March 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Ask for a box seat these days, and you get more options than voice mail. As seating charts evolve into color-coded mazes and teams charge an assortment of prices for the same seat, some box seats are more equal than others. The Dodgers sell 24 categories of seats at Dodger Stadium, 11 with "box" in the name, with box prices ranging from $20 to $100 a ticket. And you might pay more for your seat than the fan seated next to you. The Dodgers sell tickets in the field box section for $20, $30, $35, $37, $40 and $45, depending on whether you buy on game day, before game day or as part of a full-season, partial-season or group ticket package.

Frontier League, Avon announce ballpark plans
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Avon (Ohio) Mayor Jim Smith presented a development package during the City Council meeting Monday that would capture an independent Frontier League team and a YMCA-operated recreation center should funding be approved by voters in November. Smith presented plans for a $6 million, city-owned ballpark, and said the league would create a new franchise for Avon, although the team’s name would be based on Lorain County. The stadium’s 3,500-seat capacity would overlook an artificial-turf field stretching 410 feet from home plate to the center-field fence. Smith said its uses would vary from youth tournaments to trade shows. The bulk of the funding would be covered by the team’s lease agreement and tax increment financing, in which a portion of property taxes from commercial developments within the 120-acre site would be used to pay for the infrastructure improvements over 20 years. The project hinges on whether residents approve a 0.25-percent income tax increase that will apply only to those who work in Avon. For those residents who live in Avon and work elsewhere, the tax won’t apply as the city credits residents for paying city taxes elsewhere.
    RELATED STORIES: Baseball sliding into Avon; Ballpark project may not sit well with builder's ex; Avon nears deal with Frontier League; County may help fund Lorain ballpark; Avon takes a swing at baseball; U.S. Steel donates for Lorain ballpark; Baseball slides into Lorain; Foltin: Avon also eyeing ball team; Foltin faces opposition over upgrades at park

Cactus League attendance holds its own
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Fueled by Cubs and Giants fans, Cactus League baseball is on pace to surpass last year’s attendance but fall short of the record-breaking 1.27 million attendance in 2005. Fewer rained-out games this season and a lack of competition from the World Baseball Classic contributed to the high attendance figures, said league organizers. With 20 Cactus League games remaining, the 12-team league is on pace to draw 1.22 million baseball fans this spring training season. The league’s average attendance per game stands at 6,910 — higher than the 6,587 average in 2006, but short of the 7,059 average in the record-breaking 2005 season. (In case you've wondered why updates to this site have been delayed, we're taking in some Cactus League action, so we're dealing with the crowds first-hand. It was a zoo yesterday in Tempe.)

No conflict in owning team, senator says
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At the request of the Democratic Party, the Wisconsin Ethics Board is weighing whether a Republican lawmaker's ownership of a collegiate-level baseball team conflicts with his official duties. Sen. Dan Kapanke's La Crosse Loggers (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) receive advertising and sponsorship payments from M&I Bank, U.S. Cellular, CenturyTel, Miller Brewing and other companies that lobby legislators in the Capitol. In a complaint, Democratic Party Executive Director Michael Murphy asked the Ethics Board to investigate whether Kapanke broke a law prohibiting legislators from acting on an issue in which they or members of their immediate families have a "substantial financial interest." Kapanke said documents he gave the Ethics Board show that he formed a foundation last year that receives the payments made by companies and organizations that lobby in the Capitol. That foundation then donates that money to local civic, church and medical groups, he said.

Dickey: Fremont not the answer for A's
Posted March 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Columnist Glenn Dickey argues the Oakland A's will eventually realize that Fremont is not the answer to the team's ballpark woes and that the mixed-use development envisioned by A's managing owner Lew Wolff will proceed without a ballpark. It's a pretty cynical approach, and we're not sure we buy it -- though, to be fair, there are many others in the baseball world who share that opinion. The Fremont site does have some advantages, but it's not close to mass transit (the closest BART station is five miles away) and poses some other challenges.
    RELATED STORIES: Toxic hazard creates bump in road to new A's ballpark; A's tout Cisco Field in ticket mailer; Will global warming swamp AT&T Park, new A's ballpark?; A's owner not sweating lack of BART at Fremont ballpark site; A's owner raises more questions than answers; Wolff seeks tax rebate for new ballpark village; Oakland A's owner buys office park near proposed Fremont ballpark; Fremont, A's continue talks for new ballpark; If Selig's coming, A's must be going; Wolff ready to go public on ballpark; Cisco blending tech and baseball; Records show evolving talks between A's, Fremont; Are the A's worth it to Fremont's neighbors?; More meetings with A's slated after new year; Fremont kicks off negotiations with the A's; A's detail Fremont plans down to the letter; San Jose still ponders illusory ballpark; Transit teams try to solve Cisco Field 'challenges'; A's Fremont ballpark must field host of hurdles; A's plan $400 million to $500 million ballpark village in Fremont; New A's ballpark would boast heavy Cisco tech; The next big thing: the San Jose A's?; A's ready to pull trigger on new Fremont ballpark; Oakland City Council grants A's extension; A's could move away; A's owner Wolff buys prospective ballpark land in Fremont; Fremont looking more and more like future home of Oakland A's; A's not ready to slide out of Oakland yet; A's pass on longer lease for McAfee Coliseum; Owner gives up on moving A's to San Jose; A's to decide ballpark fate by end of season; Fremont's attempt to lure A's running into obstacles; 'Let's plan for A's move,' Coliseum agency told; San Jose voters jeer ballpark plan; Wolff wants to keep A's in Bay Area; A's, Fremont near deal; A's must stay, Oakland mayor candidates say; A's close to deal for Fremont ballpark, officials say; Rumors trail A's search for new ballpark; A's owner in Fremont for meetings; Wolff says there's land for new A's ballpark in Fremont; A's officials confirm interest in new Fremont ballpark; A's take long look at Fremont ballpark site; The San Jose A's of Fremont?; San Jose will buy land for A's ballpark; Will smaller mean better for the A's?; A's committed to intimate 34,000 park in '06; A's owner's new plan for ballpark; Talks for new A's ballpark sputter; Soccer stadium throws curve at San Jose baseball plan; A's ownership group wants to buy MLS expansion team for San Jose; Athletics denied 3-year Coliseum lease extension; A's ballpark: 'Baseball Village' in the vision stage; Planning ahead to get A's to San Jose; San Jose buys first parcel of land for ballpark; Land acquisition for San Jose ballpark may cost $100 million; San Jose goes to bat for ballpark property; Fremont will consider a pitch for A's; Wolff on the hunt for more A's fans, new ballpark; Oakland ballpark village plan designed to win allies, public funds; Wolff's vision of ballpark raises questions; Wolff unveils plans for 35,000-seat ballpark near Coliseum; A's owner to offer specific ballpark plan to keep team in Oakland; Have A's settled on new ballpark site?; Smallball suits Lew Wolff just fine; A's think small with stadium plans; Fremont politicians make a pitch for A's; A's say Coliseum lot isn't feasible; Athletics announce committee to plan new Oakland ballpark; Another San Jose site eyed for baseball; The time has come for new A's ballpark; No specifics on new Oakland ballpark, but plans in the works; San Jose quits discussions on cannery; Wolff about to take over; Going to bat for A's is big opportunity for San Jose mayor; Wolff: A's ballpark already in works; Deal near for San Jose cannery site; For A's, way to San Jose paved with uncertainty; San Jose baseball crusader makes his pitch; A's sale could happen quickly; Sale of A's to heighten San Jose intrigue; BART to the ballpark, what a vision; Another San Jose pitch for baseball; San Jose mayor makes his pitch; Q&A with A's new owner Lew Wolff

Council to hear dueling Harrison plans
Posted March 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Harrison Square opponents and supporters on the Fort Wayne City Council hope to sway the undecided council members on the topic during tonight’s meeting. The council will have its first formal discussion on the $125 million public-private development, which includes a new downtown hotel, new condominiums, new retail and a city-owned ballpark for the Fort Wayne Wizards (Low Class A; Midwest League). To make the deal work, the city administration will need the council to approve borrowing about $12 million against community economic development income tax revenues. The amount makes up about 20 percent of the public financing for the project, but city leaders say it is critical for the development to move forward. The vote, however, won’t happen until mid-April at the earliest as city officials work to close agreements with a private hotel developer and the owners of the Fort Wayne Wizards for the amenities surrounding the ballpark. More from the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel.
    RELATED STORIES: Cheaper seats offered for new Fort Wayne ballpark; Wizards' owner steps up to bat for Harrison Square; 'A few more pros than cons'; Downtown Fort Wayne ballpark: pro and con; Developer submits proposal for downtown Fort Wayne hotel; Fort Wayne ballpark just a start in renewal endeavor; Ballpark's future subject to study; Poll backs downtown development, not new ballpark; Some on council aren't buying Fort Wayne ballpark plan; Ballpark's future is far from certain; Building the public square; Mayor calls ballpark plan opportunity of lifetime; Fort Wayne unveils ballpark plans; Top of the ninth in Fort Wayne; Poll: Tax-funded downtown Fort Wayne ballpark is unpopular; Wizards set 2008 ballpark goal; Enjoy downtown for what it is, not what you remember; Downtown Fort Wayne needs a full plan, including a ballpark; Playing ball downtown; We need to build ballpark downtown; Study supports downtown Fort Wayne ballpark; Can downtown Fort Wayne ballpark be a boon?; Learning by example from Dayton; Fort Wayne looks at improvements to Memorial Stadium; A new(er) ballpark in Fort Wayne?; Ballpark panel sees one diamond in future; New owners bring fresh ideas to Fort Wayne; Fort Wayne's baseball future may be downtown; A new downtown castle?; Memorial Stadium far from obsolete; Fort Wayne Wizards sold; Fort Wayne ballpark has 50 years of usability left, says architect; Debate begins on proposed downtown Fort Wayne ballpark; Group set to discuss downtown Fort Wayne ballpark

RedLegg Ale back for Reds games
Posted March 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Baseball and Cincinnati beer, a pairing once as natural as peanuts and Cracker Jack, are getting back together. After a two-year absence from Great American Ball Park, BarrelHouse Brewing Co.'s RedLegg Ale will once again be on tap during Cincinnati Reds games this season and at the park's Machine Room Grille, according to Rick DeBar, BarrelHouse's brewmaster.

Curve, U.S. Foodservice announce naming-rights deal
Posted March 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Altoona Curve (Class AA; Eastern League) announced a four-year extension of their longtime business and marketing partnership with U.S. Foodservice, which includes U.S. Foodservice receiving naming rights to the Third Base Picnic Pavilion at Blair County Ballpark through the 2010 season. As part of the naming rights package for the newly named U.S. Foodservice Picnic Pavilion, the company will receive prominent signage in the area located on the third-base side of Blair County Ballpark, inclusion in all references to the Picnic Pavilion in team publications and marketing materials, as well as other marketing and promotional considerations.
    In addition to their naming rights sponsorship of the Picnic Pavilion, U.S. Foodservice will also continue to have a major presence elsewhere throughout Blair County Ballpark for the next four season. The right-field bullpen deck and first-base barbeque pit area will also continue to feature the U.S. Foodservice logo.

Miners sign Danny Almonte
Posted March 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
We don't cover a lot of player signings here, but this one is worth passing along. The Southern Illinois Miners (independent; Frontier League) signed one of the most famous Little League players in Little League World Series history, Danny Almonte. Almonte was thrust into the national spotlight during the 2001 Little League World Series. At the time, Almonte was a member of the Rolando Paulino All Stars when he threw the first perfect game in Little League World Series in nearly 55 years. His statistics during the 2001 Little League Series were an amazing 46 strikeouts and only three hits in three starts, leading his team to a third-place finish. Shortly after the conclusion of the World Series, it was discovered that Almonte was 14 years old, two years older than then maximum age limit. The Rolando Paulino All Stars were stripped of their third place finish and all of Almonte’s records were erased from the record books. Almonte, who at the time didn’t speak English, knew nothing about the falsified documents and was exonerated of any wrong doing by Little League officials.
    Almonte played his high school baseball at perennial powerhouse James Monroe High School in New York City. During his career at Monroe, he helped lead the Eagles to the 2004 PSAL Championship. Almonte was named MVP of the 2004 PSAL Title Game, striking out 11 batters and allowing just one hit in a seven inning complete game shut out of #2 ranked George Washington. The following season, Almonte helped Monroe repeat as PSAL Champions. More from Newsday.

Duncan Park friends want to raise funds to save ballpark
Posted March 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Friends of Duncan Park plan to raise $750,000 before Jan. 1, with the hopes of having the former ballpark open in 2009. Lenny Mathis, president of the nonprofit group, presented city council members with an abbreviated four-part plan that they anticipate will take three to five years to complete. Through the course of that time, the group hopes to raise money to save the ballpark. The organization will begin raising money immediately, first by targeting foundations and support from individuals and corporate sponsors. Members will then start a grassroots fundraising effort. The total fundraising goal is $3 million. Duncan Park was most recently home to the Spartanburg Stingers (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League) and formerly hosted minor-league baseball.

Ballpark impasse solution may be near on Twins ballpark
Posted March 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
If you've been comparing Ballpark Digest's recent coverage of the prospects of a new Minnesota Twins ballpark and the Minneapolis Star Tribune coverage, you may notice the Strib's coverage has been decidedly more pessimistic, even to the point of saying no deal was forthcoming in a story late last week. Perhaps it's because we're a little more wired into what happening, but last week multiple sources told us a deal was eminent, followed by Jerry Bell's public announcement that the Twins were going ahead with a design unveiling on April 5. By comparison, the Star Tribune continued to be far more pessimistic about a deal coming together -- until today, when beat reporter Mike Kaszuba finally reported a deal was indeed nigh. Now, when it comes to ballpark politics in Minnesota Lord knows there are many with axes to grind, and in general Star Tribune reporting on the subject in recent years has been very anti-ballpark, and the Twins share the blame for some of it. In this case, though, multiple sources simply chose to bypass the Star Tribune in getting their word out.
    RELATED STORIES: Twins moving ahead with ballpark plans; Pohlads step up to plate to help county save deal; Possible fix for Twins ballpark impasse arises; Are Twins working to end ballpark impasse?; Building a ballpark may hinge on having the Twins pay more; County officials, landowners of Twins ballpark site remain in a holding pattern; County looking at two new sites for Twins ballpark; Official says changing site of Twins ballpark would mean delays; A great ballpark divide; Twins postpone ballpark unveiling; Hennepin County, Twins say they'll look for a new ballpark site; Draft environmental review for Twins ballpark unveiled; Judge rules Twins ballpark has public purpose; sides still apart on price; Community leaders eager to see Twins ballpark design; Twins ballpark likely to sport modern look; Ballpark site owners put squeeze on Twins; New year brings new ballpark tax for Hennepin County shoppers; Ballpark players ironing out use, development agreements; Twins release more details on new ballpark; New Twins ballpark bypasses standard reviews; Ballpark's link to downtown Minneapolis inadequate, group says; Ballpark should be held to high standards; Twins formally announce design team for new ballpark; Firms lined up early for stadium work; Eminent-domain effort begins for Twins ballpark land; Designing the experience around the Twins ballpark; Ideas for Twins ballpark, some from left field; A freeze frame for Twins; Experts blow hot, cold on ways to heat new Twins ballpark; Appraisal delay puts Twins new ballpark off schedule; Twins pick ballpark designers; As Twins chase playoffs, ballpark preparations push on; Twins ballpark on track to open in 2010; Hennepin County Board approves ballpark sales tax; It's official: Twins to switch broadcast rights to KSTP-AM; Twins to switch broadcast partner after 46 seasons; Twins seek partners for naming rights, sponsorships; Twins searching for trademark ballpark design; Hennepin County OKs spending plan for Twins ballpark; Naming rights options scary; More than a ballpark in Minneapolis

Struever, Sounds now have until 4 p.m. tomorrow to seal ballpark deal
Posted March 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Legislation to give the Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and Baltimore developer Struever Bros., Eccles & Rouse until Oct. 31 to complete financing and design work for their proposed downtown ballpark was filed with Metro by the noon deadline it was facing on Friday -- but the Sounds haven’t signed it. The filing was sufficient to keep the ballpark deal afloat until 4 p.m. tomorrow, when the Metro Council office, which had to receive the legislation Friday, according to a council rule, must send the document across the hall of the third floor of the Historic Courthouse downtown to the Metro Clerk’s office to be placed on the council’s April 3 agenda. It will be the council’s last meeting before the existing April 15 deadline Struever and the Sounds have to complete the financing and design work for the project. The deal isn't dead, but there's a lot of haggling on details at the last minute. Mayor Bill Purcell is not exactly brimming with optimism, either, while a local columnist calls for the deal to be scrapped and another use found for the prime riverfront site.
    RELATED STORIES: Struever, Sounds now have until 4 p.m. tomorrow to seal ballpark deal; Struever would build Sounds ballpark; Sounds, Struever keep swinging for a ballpark solution; Nashville ballpark plan may be losing its luster; Metro concerned about progress of Nashville ballpark deal; Sounds must make decisions regarding downtown ballpark; Struever says Sounds ballpark will be built; Amid ballpark questions, plan for two hotels unveiled; Sounds delay ballpark opening until 2009; Ballpark financing lag worries Sounds; Sounds fail to file lease legislation; Council approves lease extension for Nashville ballpark development; Sounds unveil ballpark plans; Metro agrees to deadline extension on Sounds project; Sounds' project team huddles to nail down a deal; Sounds get jump-start on ticket sales for new ballpark; Sounds ballpark developer needs to score soon; Ballpark financing not set as deadline approaches; Struever mulling ballpark-area changes in Nashville; Sounds unveil ballpark plans; PCL president applauds Nashville ballpark deal; Yaeger calls stadium plan flexible and fan-friendly; Sounds settle on 2008 opening date for new ballpark; Ballpark opening date up in air, Sounds say; Nashville Metro Council approves new Sounds ballpark; Company says Sounds deal sets stage for Frank project; Sounds send commitment letter to Council; Caucus continues pressure for minorities' role in stadium; Nashville Council Black Caucus wants more minority work on ballpark; Sounds are rounding third; Sounds remain at bargaining table; Nashville Sounds one vote away from new ballpark; Council should give Nashville ballpark their support; Sounds woo minority business owners for ballpark project; Sounds ballpark vote delayed; Museum, dining wanted at new Sounds ballpark; Sounds move ahead with ballpark design; Sounds weak; Sounds ballpark proposal passes first test on Council; Opposition to Nashville ballpark gears up on council; Many good questions raised over Sounds deal; Chamber of Commerce backs Sounds ballpark plan; Downtown merchants rally for Sounds; Board seeks information on Sounds ballpark deal; Neighbors of Nashville ballpark expect project to spark development; Sounds, Nashville sign agreement for new ballpark; Sides close on Sounds ballpark plan; Sounds ballpark plan nearly triples in size; New Sounds ballpark proposal in doubt; Nashville ballpark bill may have to wait until fall; Sounds deal stalls, but still in play; City bobbling save on Sounds’ perfect plan; Sounds ballpark negotiations slow; Will ballpark make SoBro soar?; Sounds swing deal to get new ballpark; Sounds win city approval for new ballpark

Tigers install new scoreboards at Comerica Park
Posted March 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Detroit Tigers will defend the American League Championship in front of a new state-of-the-art signage system at Comerica Park that will bring to life the ballpark’s fascia and outfield wall with full motion video and real-time statistics.
    ANC Sports Enterprises announced a multi-year agreement with the Detroit Tigers to supply and control a 25mm SMARTVISION light-emitting diode (LED) signage system. Beginning with the 2007 season, Comerica Park will feature a video board in the outfield wall, over 900 feet of animated fascia signage and an additional matrix display on the centerfield scoreboard.
    "We strive each off-season to look for ways to improve the Comerica Park experience for our fans both on and away from the field," said Tigers’ Senior Vice President of Business Operations Duane McLean. "ANC Sports innovative signage and software solutions will create an energetic game day atmosphere, while increasing the impact of our sponsorships programs."
    The new signage system will deliver in-game visuals, team animations, real-time statistics, out-of-town scores and advertisements. ANC will create sponsor and team content, as well as statistical templates for the entire signage system while controlling event visuals through its VisionSOFT operating system. ANC’s Data Interface Solution (DIS) will allow the VisionSOFT software to display real-time statistics or out of town scores in conjunction with sponsor or team messages.
    LED technology will highlight three sections of the fascia on the lower tier suite level, animating both the right and left field lines with full motion team graphics, player information and advertisements. The electronic outfield wall will highlight approximately 6½’ by 67’ and replace the scoreboard embedded in the right-center field, displaying game statistics and out of town scores with the ability to transform into full motion video. The 4’ by 53’ full color display on the centerfield scoreboard will compliment the existing video screen and matrix displays.

Aberdeen may sell Ripken ballpark
Posted March 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Ripken Stadium, the home of the Aberdeen IronBirds (short season; NY-Penn League), which opened to acclaim and sold-out games five years ago, has proved to be such a financial drain to the small town of Aberdeen that the mayor now wants to sell it. Mayor S. Fred Simmons says that he has had conversations with several potential buyers but that the most promising involve the stadium's namesake: hometown hero Cal Ripken Jr., who owns the IronBirds, as well as a sprawling youth baseball operation headquartered nearby. The team pays only $1 a year for use of the ballpark and keeps virtually all of the money generated from games. But officials say the biggest hit has come from an adjacent development project that was counted on to help pay for the ballpark but has been delayed. Each year Aberdeen loses several hundred thousand dollars on the ballpark -- a significant problem for a city with an annual budget of only $16 million.

Giants to unveil hi-def scoreboard this season
Posted March 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Baseball fans pouring into AT&T Park this season will see a larger-than-life Barry Bonds, with the San Francisco Giants slugger reaching heights of up to 31.5 feet. The team is installing a $3-million-plus, high-definition scoreboard, one of only three in a professional sports facility in the United States. It plans to officially unveil the screen, made by Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Vision, on Tuesday. The new display, 31.5-feet-high by 103-feet-wide, is the latest addition to the high-tech ballpark.

Friends of Duncan Park rally for ballpark
Posted March 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Friends of Duncan Park will reveal their multi-year plan for the park during today's Spartanburg City Council meeting. Lenny Mathis, president of the organization, said he will ask council to support the plan that was scheduled to be finalized during a Friends of Duncan Park meeting Sunday. The Friends of Duncan Park is a nonprofit organization with 12 board members. Mathis updated council last summer on the possible uses for the 80-year-old ballpark, considered the oldest in the state. Mathis and other members of the nonprofit group have talked with other groups that have successfully restored old ballpark and visited Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala., which was restored by a nonprofit group similar to the Friends of Duncan Park. The ballpark was formerly home to Low Class A Sally League and summer-collegiate Coastal Plain League teams in recent years.

In memoriam: Donna Vonachen
Posted March 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Donna Vonachen, considered the first lady of Peoria baseball, passed away in Sunday after battling cancer for many years. She was 70. Vonachen was a mainstay at Peoria Chiefs (Low Class A; Midwest League) games, scorebook in hand, after her husband Pete took control of the Chiefs in 1984.

Pelicans announce vote on team commercial
Posted March 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Here's a way to get some creative work done for a thousand dollars, as the Pensacola Pelicans (independent; American Association) are encouraging fans to vote for the Pelicans 2007 TV commercial from user submissions at the team's Website. The "Where Everyone Plays" TV Commercial Contest began at the end of February. The winning contestant will receive up to $1,000, season tickets, Pelicans merchandise, and the opportunity to have their spot aired during the Pelicans season.

Called out at home
Posted March 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Oakland Athletics' planned move to Fremont could spell the end for the San Jose Giants (High Class A; California League), the minor league baseball franchise that has called San Jose its home since the 1940s. As has often been repeated as San Jose leaders sought to bring the A's to the city, San Francisco owns this area as part of its major-league territory. But a Fremont ballpark would be close enough to Municipal Stadium to allow the A's to invoke minor-league territorial rights. This is all in the speculative stage: we're guessing the Oakland front office really hasn't considered the impact of the San Jose Giants on their future operations; at worst it's caused San Jose officials to refuse to put any money into the ballpark.

Diamond View needs zoning variance for ballpark project to move ahead
Posted March 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
In a move that may invigorate the sluggish pace of condo development around the MerchantsAuto.com Stadium, the home of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League), a Salem-area developer is planning to build a six-story condo tower at the edge of the ballpark, according to city officials and an engineer familiar with the project. Representatives from Diamond View LLC are expected to meet with aldermen at City Hall this week to discuss company plans. The tower would include 36 one- and two-bedroom condos and would be built on land that had been reserved for retail space or a restaurant. Related development was a key part of the city's approval of the ballpark plan.

Curve owner eager for new heights
Posted March 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Chuck Greenberg, president and managing partner of the Altoona Curve (Class AA; Eastern League), sits down with the local newspaper for an interview regarding the upcoming season. The Curve ownership group is up to three teams -- the State College Spikes (short season; NY-Penn League) launched operations last season, and this season will be the first full season the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High Class A; Carolina League) is under the group's control -- and it sounds like between the minor-league teams and Greenberg's participation in recent arena talks for the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL) they'll be focusing on existing operations, not on acquisitions.

It's time to get creative for Bakersfield ballpark
Posted March 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Here's a call for a new ballpark for the Bakersfield Blaze (High Class A; California League) and Cal State Bakersfield. There's a hazy game plan floating around that calls for Cal State Bakersfield to contribute the land and someone else paying for it. Team owner D.G. Elmore says the team can't afford to build a ballpark, and the city says it doesn't really want to do so, either. It's pretty common for all sides involved to want someone else to pick up the tab; it sounds like a new ballpark in Bakersfield won't come to be if the current players don't change their attitudes.

Five questions with Jason Freier
Posted March 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Fort Wayne Wizards (Low Class A; Midwest League) co-owner Jason Freier sits down with the editorial staff of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette to discuss the prospects of a new ballpark. Not much new information: Freier says the ballpark, as part of a larger project, will help revitalize downtown Fort Wayne. His firm, Hardball Capital, has proposed funding a portion of the ballpark's cost as well as other associated development.
    RELATED STORIES: Cheaper seats offered for new Fort Wayne ballpark; Wizards' owner steps up to bat for Harrison Square; 'A few more pros than cons'; Downtown Fort Wayne ballpark: pro and con; Developer submits proposal for downtown Fort Wayne hotel; Fort Wayne ballpark just a start in renewal endeavor; Ballpark's future subject to study; Poll backs downtown development, not new ballpark; Some on council aren't buying Fort Wayne ballpark plan; Ballpark's future is far from certain; Building the public square; Mayor calls ballpark plan opportunity of lifetime; Fort Wayne unveils ballpark plans; Top of the ninth in Fort Wayne; Poll: Tax-funded downtown Fort Wayne ballpark is unpopular; Wizards set 2008 ballpark goal; Enjoy downtown for what it is, not what you remember; Downtown Fort Wayne needs a full plan, including a ballpark; Playing ball downtown; We need to build ballpark downtown; Study supports downtown Fort Wayne ballpark; Can downtown Fort Wayne ballpark be a boon?; Learning by example from Dayton; Fort Wayne looks at improvements to Memorial Stadium; A new(er) ballpark in Fort Wayne?; Ballpark panel sees one diamond in future; New owners bring fresh ideas to Fort Wayne; Fort Wayne's baseball future may be downtown; A new downtown castle?; Memorial Stadium far from obsolete; Fort Wayne Wizards sold; Fort Wayne ballpark has 50 years of usability left, says architect; Debate begins on proposed downtown Fort Wayne ballpark; Group set to discuss downtown Fort Wayne ballpark