LaGrave Field, Fort Worth
Cats
It is one of the most unique facilities in pro
ball: LaGrave Field, the home of the Fort Worth
Cats (independent; American Association), sits
where the original LaGrave Field sat from 1926
through 1967. The dimensions are the same as in
the original facility, home plate sits in the same
place, and the dugouts of the old ballpark have
been converted to dugout suites. And, being Texas,
there's a hitching rail beyond the outfield for
folks riding to the games on horseback.
Doug Kingsmore Stadium,
Clemson Tigers
Before its thorough makeover and renaming in 2003,
“Beautiful Tiger Field” described the home of the
Clemson Tigers. Not surprising, and not an
overstated moniker. While the ballpark and other
athletic facilities are closely connected to the
western edge of campus, the grandstand view
features an appealing pastoral feel, and although
the ballpark is now named for Tigers alum and
contributor Doug Kingsmore, it's still a beautiful
field.
QuikTrip Park at Grand
Prairie, Grand Prairie AirHogs
The aviation theme is strong
at QuikTrip Park at Grand Prairie, the new home of
the Grand Prairie AirHogs (independent; American
Association), but it's not overwhelming and
gimmicky. We were there opening night: it's an
impressive facility that raises the bar for indy
facilities and should allow the team to be
competitive in the increasingly crowded
Dallas-Fort Worth market.
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reserved. My wife is a lawyer, so she will come and chop off
your hand in a legal fashion if you rip off this site
in any form. All logos are the property of their respective
owners.
Wrigley Field
to host New Year's Day game?
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The
NHL is taking a lesson from its TV partners and
learning that reruns can be successful. The league
and NBC got high marks for their performance on
New Year's Day 2008 when Pittsburgh visited
Buffalo at Ralph Wilson Stadium, and so their pair
have been in search of another outdoor venue for a
hockey game. It was first suggested that Yankee
Stadium might be the locale for a 2009 game but
operating issues at the soon-to-be-defunct
ballpark have apparently put the kibiosh on that
idea. The latest rumor has Detroit facing Chicago
at Wrigley Field. There seems to be good reason to
think this could happen. Chicago Blackhawks
president John McDonough used to work for the Cubs
and left on good terms. Chicago is an attractive
market, and the Red Wings are one of the league's
glamour teams. But there are also plenty of
reasons to think this idea won't work. First of
all, there is the matter of keeping Wrigley in
good enough condition for a game 2-3 months after
the last baseball game is played; let's face it,
weatherizing an older place like Wrigley Field
isn't the easiest of tasks, and to host a game
at a ballpark in the midst of winter the basic utilities (like water) must be
maintained. (The place hasn't been used out of
baseball season since the Bears left after the
1970 season.) Also, Detroit might have to
surrender playing at home on New Year's Eve, a
tradition that dates back to the 1960s. The NHL is
scheduled to make an official announcement on the
subject next week. UPDATE: As we predicted,
this isn't likely to happen,
according to officials involved.
An argument in
favor of proximity: Texas and Frisco
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It
seems to be a never-ending source of discussion in
the baseball world: whether or not an affiliate
minor-league club will work in the shadows of a
major-league squad. There are still many in
baseball who argue against it, saying that the
minor-league team will draw business and dollars
away from the major-league team. Still, the
evidence seems to be strongly to the contrary, and
a good case in point is
the relationship between the Texas Rangers and the
Frisco RoughRiders (Class AA; Texas League),
which is close on many levels, to say the least --
Rangers front-office personnel can be often found
at Dr Pepper Ballpark, and Rangers owner Tom Hicks
has a financial investment in the area surrounding
the ballpark. There are other instances where you
have a strong minor-league operation in the
major-league market -- Lowell and the Red Sox,
Brooklyn and Staten Island and the New York City
teams -- so we're not sure this is a valid
argument any longer, though teams like the Detroit
Tigers continue to invoke it.
More on the finances of the RoughRiders from the
Frisco Enterprise Star. On the flip side,
the Rangers' attendance is down this year
(though the schedule may have a lot to do with
it), so perhaps the arrangement isn't as
successful as everyone assumes.
D-Backs reaping
the benefits of successful 2007 season
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The
Arizona Diamondbacks are seeing a payoff to their successful 2007 playoff team
and a division-leading squad this season: attendance is up 19 percent and
concession sales are up almost 30 percent. The jump in concession sales is also
attributable to the D-Backs lowering prices for many ballpark staples, including
hot dogs and beer -- in fact, the team is making a point of offering at least
one $4 14-ounce beer at every brew stand.
Ballpark
Visit: AT&T Field, Chattanooga Lookouts
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This is the opposite
of a cookie-cutter ballpark: AT&T Field, the home
of the Chattanooga Lookouts (Class AA; Southern
League) was built on donated land that posed a few
design challenges, to be sure. But what could have
been a cramped ballpark ended up being a very
unique design benefiting from a great location.
Read
more here.
Should Dunn
Tire Park be renamed to honor former mayor?
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Let's
face it: Dunn Tire Park is not the most inspiring of monikers for a ballpark.
Yes, we know why cities and teams sell naming rights, but many feel the home of
the Buffalo Bisons (Class AAA; International League) is worthy of a more
community-centric name. So it's no surprise to see some in Buffalo call for a
renaming of the place to honor Jimmy Griffin, the former mayor who passed away
last Sunday. Griffin was a key player in the decision to build what was then an
untried concept -- a retro ballpark, a style that reverberates throughout the
majors and minors -- and worked hard to promote baseball in his area. The
Buffalo News
suggests a name like Jimmy Griffin Field at Dunn Tire Park: it sounds like a
win-win for all involved.
Atlantic Coast
League looks at former SCL markets
Posted May 30, 2008 (feedback)
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story) (discuss) We're
not unconvinced there's not a market for
independent baseball in Southeast, though there
certainly are some significant challenges, and the
time may not be right. Still, that's not stopping
Michael Harden from making the rounds of former
South Coast League cities and pitching them on his
concept for the Atlantic Coast League, which he
says will be ready for a 2009 unveiling. We're
also not quite sure about
his business model,
which calls for no names on the field and little
between-innings entertainment in favor of pure
baseball. He's also banking on a leaguewide radio
deal and envisions centralized league ad sales
instead of local deals. He's not the first one to
pitch this model, but so far no one has succeeded,
and surely history should teach us something.
Here's an account of Harden's visit to Aiken,
which is probably more of a Coastal Plain League
market than a pro market.
Ballpark Notes
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Vice
President Orlando Diaz has been promoted to
the position of President of the Dominican
Summer League. Diaz, who has been associated
with the league for 24 years, will handle all the
day-to-day operations of it, as well as other
details. The Dominican Summer League is the
largest in Minor League Baseball. Nearly every
Major League organization is represented in the
37-team rookie league this year. Teams, which
consist of young players from the Caribbean, play
a 70-game schedule from May until August. Diaz
began working with the league when it began as a
four-team co-op one stocked by several MLB clubs
in 1985. He moved into the league office three
years later, after earning an accounting degree
from the University of Santo Domingo....One of the
coolest things about attending Greensboro
Grasshoppers (Low Class A; Sally League) games
is seeing Miss Babe Ruth in action. Her new
brother, Yogi Berra will be making his
first public appearance tonight as the Hoppers
take on West Virginia tonight. Fans overwhelmingly
selected Yogi Berra in the online voting
for what the name of Babe’s brother should be; it
trumped JoJo DiMaggio and Hammerin’ Hank Aaron in
a landslide. Yogi will be taking in his first
professional baseball game, but will have to wait
until after the game to make his first public
appearance: Following the game and before the
post-game fireworks, Babe will introduce her
brother Yogi while running the bases....The
Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A;
Midwest League) are offering sno-cones with a
twist: they are enhanced with vodka and comes in
11 different fruity flavors. "We made a commitment
to upgrading our concessions menu when we took
over this team, and this is another element of
that process," said owner Dave Heller. "Our
fans can come to the ballpark and have a wide
variety of high-quality options, more than just
staple ballpark foods like hot dogs and nachos."
The new stand will celebrate its grand opening by
offering half-price sno-cones on Friday. The 11
flavors of vodka to choose from are raspberry,
watermelon, vanilla, lime, strawberry, black
cherry, green apple, orange, cranberry, citrus,
and blueberry. If fans want more than one flavor,
they will be able to mix and match their favorite
flavors to make the sno-cone of their
dreams....The Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A;
Sally League) will be retiring the number 50 in
honor of league President Emeritus John Henry
Moss. The Suns, with Moss in attendance, will
retire the number on Friday prior to the game
between the Suns and the Delmarva Shorebirds.
Before becoming President Emeritus, Moss served as
League President from 1959-2007. Along with the
number-retiring ceremony, the Suns will be
honoring Moss with a bronze plaque to be placed in
Municipal Stadium, highlighting his 50 years of
service to the South Atlantic League. Moss, who
re-organized the Western Carolinas League in 1959
into what would later become the South Atlantic
League, will be on hand at Municipal Stadium on
Friday in his season-long tour of all 16 SAL
ballparks....
Ballpark
Visit: Modern Woodmen Park, Quad Cities River
Bandits
Posted May 28, 2008 (feedback)
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(discuss) We revisit Modern Woodmen Park, the home of the
Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A;
Midwest League). New this season: a hot-tub deck,
Tiki bar/lounge/bed and more. Speaking of the Tiki
Village (as the River Bandits are calling it): It
certainly sounds like a unique space. All fans in
the ballpark have access to the area, which will
feature half-price Pina Coladas on Wednesday and
Thursday and plenty of Jimmy Buffett music to
celebrate its opening. In addition to Pina Coladas
and a standard drink menu, themed beverages such
as Mississippi Mai Thais and Tiki Bombs will also
be served. And when a River Bandits player hits a
"Tiki Bomb" – a home run that lands in or over the
Tiki Bar – that drink will be offered for just $2
for the remainder of that inning. Guests in the
Tiki area will also be able to order food from the
barbeque pit located next to the nearby Jumer’s
Casino Rock Island Hot Tub Deck. The Tiki Bed,
also known as the “most comfortable seat in all of
sports,” is a unique new spot designed to host
cozy groups of six people or less. For just $90,
groups can enjoy River Bandits games from the most
luxurious seat in all of baseball, featuring a
king size bed and a private wait staff to satisfy
all of your food and beverage needs. A couples
package is also available that includes champagne,
chocolate covered strawberries, and a candlelit
dinner. Read
more here.
Ballparks of the Past: Tiger Stadium
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It opened the
same day as Fenway Park, and for many years was
considered a grander home for baseball. Detroit
native Dave Wright put together a history of Tiger
Stadium, a ballpark that could easily be torn down
before the end of year. For decades Tiger Stadium
was where Detroit residents met, shared good
times, and took refuge from the divisions roiling
the community. John Moist contributed photos of
Tiger Stadium when it was still a working
ballpark.
Read
more here.
Posted May 28, 2008 (feedback)
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story) (discuss) On
this week's podcast: A host of new-ballpark news;
we re-visit Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar
Rapids; and Norm Braman continues to fight public
funding of a new Marlins ballpark. Publisher
Kevin Reichard and Senior Editor Dave Wright
review the hot topics in the baseball and ballpark
worlds in the weekly Ballpark Digest podcast.
We've added the ability to listen directly to
Ballpark Digest podcasts from the front page of
the site: just click on the audio button in the
box directly below this -- no need to load a media
player or other software. The Ballpark Digest
podcast has proven to be a popular feature of the
site: according to the Feedburner stats it's been
heard 12,549 (!) times via that service alone
since Sept. 17, 2007. To directly subscribe to the
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go to this page and click on the "Subscribe Now"
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Comments are welcome.
You can listen directly to the podcast on your own
PC via this link
(it's a standard MP3 file).
More on Ballpark Digest
podcasts here.
Sarasota
pitches $70 million ballpark for BoSox; wants
exclusive negotiating period
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A
$70-million, 10,000-seat ballpark
and spring-training complex is being dangled
before the Boston Red Sox as Sarasota officials
attempt to lure the team from Fort Myers. The new
facility would be built from scratch (and not
utilize the existing spring home of the Cincinnati
Reds) and feature five practice fields, major- and
minor-league clubhouses, and year-round offices
for the Red Sox. The preliminary plan calls for a
ballpark with a total capacity of 15,000 or so:
10,000 permanent seats, outfield berm area, and
party decks down each line. The whole project
would be funded by an increase in the local hotel
tax -- a step county officials were unwilling to
take to keep the Cincinnati Reds in town. In
addition, we continue to hear the Red Sox are
lining up investors to work with Fenway Ventures
on an associated development that would include
housing, hotels and retail, as the team envision a
year-round destination. (Making room for a
permanent home for the Ted Williams Museum,
currently existing in scaled-back form at
Tropicana Field, would be a nice touch.) The
county will now ask the Red Sox for a 90-day
exclusive negotiating period -- not uncommon these
days. We're not hearing much from Fort Myers or
Lee County officials about any attempts to match
or exceed this offer; it's as though they really
don't think the Red Sox will leave,
and local officials admit they may not be able to
match the Sarasota deal.
Roger Drouin, who has been working this story
hard, has more details here.
Ballpark Notes
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The
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA;
Eastern League) announced the promotion of Mike
Ramshaw to the position of Vice President
of Sales. Ramshaw, 34, is in his second season
with the Fisher Cats after coming aboard in the
fall of 2006 as the Director of Ticket Sales.
Following the 2007 season, Ramshaw was promoted to
the title of Executive Director of Sales,
incorporating corporate sales with his ticket
sales responsibilities. "Mike's rapid ascent
through our front office speaks to how vital he
has been to our development of strong business
partnerships in the community," said Fisher Cats
owner Art Solomon. "He has done a
tremendous job in leading our talented sales staff
to new levels of success, and we congratulate him
on this well-deserved promotion."...The first
2,500 people entering Chukchansi Park on
Saturday, May 31, will receive a Drag Kings Bobble Doll, forever
immortalizing the premier infield-dragging dance crew in Minor League Baseball.
The crew will be accompanied that night by a special Drag Kings performance to a
song chosen by fans of the Fresno Grizzlies (Class AAA; Pacific Coast
League).....The Stockton Ports (High Class A; California League) will
host Canadian Tuxedo Appreciation Night at Banner Island Ballpark on Thursday when
the Ports take on the High Desert Mavericks at 7:05 p.m. Ports fans and staff
alike are encouraged to show their support for the Ports by donning the denim
and committing a JOJO (Jean-On-Jean Offense). Urban Dicitonary.com defines the
Canadian Tuxedo as "An outfit consisting of a denim jacket and denim
jeans.” The Ports would like to utilize their platform and standing within the
Stockton community to orchestrate the comeback of the Canadian Tuxedo. Fans who
dress up will have the opportunity to be a part of the “Best Dressed”
Competition with prizes for the winners. In addition, fans who accessorize their
Canadian Tuxedo with flare from the 1980s (i.e. mullets, mustaches, REO
Speedwagon T-shirts, etc.) will be awarded cool points and render the judging
process biased and favorable toward their cause. Denim themed prizes will be
given out at the game, as well as other themed promotions and entertainment. In
addition, live music will be provided in a prior to the start of the game....
Pensacola
proposes new funding method for waterfront
ballpark
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Pensacola
officials are proposing a new funding method for a
Community Maritime Park that will include
a new
ballpark for the Pensacola Pelicans (independent;
American Association). The project has been in
limbo ever since the Florida Supreme Court held
voters must approve project where bonds will be
repaid with the proceeds of funds from a Tax
Increment Financing (TIF) district. The solution:
use other city funds to pay for the park and then
pledge the TIF funds to fill in those gaps in the
budget. At first glance it seems like the city is
playing a shell game of sorts, but then again this
is a project voters have already approved once.
The opening of the new HKS-designed ballpark is
now projected for 2010; it's been held up by the
legal issues surrounding the TIF financing but
also because of difficulties raising $30 million
from the private sector for the $70 million
project.
Ballpark Preview:
New Pensacola Pelicans ballpark
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If the renderings are accurate the Pensacola
Pelicans (independent; American Association) will
be playing in one of the most thematic ballparks
built in Florida. Anyone who's spent time in the
state will recognize the architectural vernacular
here, as designed by HKS: this is pure plantation
style. The ballpark is now slated for a 2010
opening.
More
renderings within.
Plans emerging
for new Chester County ballpark
Posted May 27, 2008 (feedback)
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story) (discuss) A
committee charged with bringing baseball to
Chester County has identified nine possible sites
for a new 4,000-5,000-seat ballpark that would
also include a new Pennsylvania Baseball Hall of
Fame and a Chester County Hall of Fame. The
proposed price tag for the facility is $35
million, and as of right now it's envisioned as
the home of an affiliated team (we keep hearing
the NY-Penn League in conjunction with the
project). We're talking about something several
years down the pike: local officials haven't yet
raised the $100,000 or so needed for a formal site
evaluation, much less identifying funding sources
for a new ballpark.
Ballpark Visit:
Principal Park, Iowa Cubs
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Principal Park, the home of the
Iowa Cubs (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), is
much like the city it is located in. It can’t seem
to make up its mind what it wants to be. Parts of
it are quite charming. Parts of it are very
practical. And parts of it seem to be tossed in
for no particular reason. It’s not the prettiest
park in the state, but it may be the most
practical -- and that quality goes a long ways in
Des Moines.
More photos and an
account of our visit here.
Still to come this week and next: Iowa
City, Chattanooga, Springfield and Davenport.
Texas League
reaches 100-million-fan mark
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The
Class AA Texas League hit a great milestone
Sunday: Over 100 million fans have attended Texas League
games since attendance was first recorded in 1922.
Since the league can trace its roots back to 1888,
we're guessing they reached that mark unofficially
many years ago, but it's still a great benchmark.
Overall attendance is up in the circuit; it has
helped that the Northwest Arkansas Naturals are
drawing
5,050 a game, more than what they were drawing
last season in Wichita.
Owls make
marketing wave in NASCAR race
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The
team hasn't yet played a game, but it's already
making waves in the sports-marketing world. The
Forest City Owls #52 Brad Teague car achieved it's
third-best finish of the season after placing 28th
in the Carquest Auto Parts 300 at the NASCAR-Nationwide
Series race in Charlotte. Teague and Jimmy Means
Racing partnered with the Owls during one of
NASCAR's most prestigious race weekends.
The team finished their second-best race of the year after
completing 196 of 202 laps and placed 28th
overall.
The Owls logo was the “primary logo” on the blue 52 car and
caught national exposure due to the race being
broadcast on ESPN 2.
"This was a great partnership for the Forest City Owls and
Jimmy Means Racing because not only did it bring
exposure to our team, but to the Coastal Plain
League itself, said Owls General Manager James
Wolfe.
Ballpark Preview:
McNair Field, Forest City Owls
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McNair
Field, the new home of the Forest City Owls
(summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League) -- the
former Spartanburg Stingers, for those of you
keeping score at home -- is set to open Thursday
night. Named for
former resident Bob McNair, owner of the Houston
Texans (NFL), who bought naming rights and a whole
lot more for $850,000, McNair Field is set to have
494 reserved seats in the grandstand that will
also hold over 1,000 fans in general admission
seating. The entire grandstand will be covered and
will feature a state of the art press box to house
game day operations, media personnel, and a home
and road radio broadcast. Fans are encouraged to
bring a blanket and take advantage of the grassy
areas planned behind first base and third base for
lounging on lazy summer nights.
More
renderings within.
Northwoods
League unveils video site
Posted May 27, 2008 (feedback)
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story) (discuss) The
summer-collegiate Northwoods League announced the
launching of
NorthwoodsLeague.tv, a new website designed to
give NWL fans free access to watch every game and
see exclusive video footage.
New in 2008, each and every Northwoods League game will be
broadcast live on the web with amazing streaming
video. The NWL and CyaNet Sports have partnered on
this project to allow fans from around the world
to see Northwoods League games by doing nothing
more than logging on to the web. There is no cost
to view the games and all games, nearly 500 by
season’s end, will be archived and available to
watch at any time. In most cases, the home team’s
radio broadcaster will provide the commentary.
In addition to the game broadcasts, fans will be able to
learn more about the League and its players by
viewing exclusive video content added throughout
the summer to
NorthwoodsLeague.tv. Expect interviews with
players and other team personnel, as well as
ballpark tours and a taste of the fan experience
that makes the Northwoods League what it is today.
Today's video:
Binghamton Mets pregame video
Posted May 27, 2008 (feedback)
(submit
story) (discuss) Here's
the video the Binghamton Mets (Class AA; Eastern
League) play at the start of every game. We
especially like the use of the A-Team musical
theme.
We'll be showing videos daily for the next several
days, including another from
the Binghamton Mets, one from the Pensacola
Pelicans (independent; American Association), a
new one from the Fayetteville SwampDogs (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain
League) and another from the Inland Empire 66ers (High Class A; California
League). We'd
love to share your video with the baseball
community, you can send them
directly to us at
editors@augustpublications.com.
Mantle museum
eyed for OK City
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As
Oklahoma City and Oklahoma RedHawks (Class AAA;
Pacific Coast League)
official discuss changes to AT&T Bricktown
Ballpark, some very intriguing possibilities are
emerging. The latest: the addition of a Mickey
Mantle museum near the ballpark. Mantle's family
was in Oklahoma City to scout things out, as they
decide on the best location for a tribute to the
Oklahoma native and former Yankee great. There's
already a statue of the Mick at the ballpark and a
Mickey Mantle Steakhouse across the street, so a
museum would be a natural.
More from the Oklahoman. RELATED STORIES:
RedHawks explore changes to Bricktown Ballpark
Ballpark Notes
Posted May 27, 2008 (feedback)
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The
Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern
League) announced the induction class for the
team's Hall of Fame: pitchers Rollie
Fingers, Burleigh Grimes and Satchel
Paige, and Birmingham journalist Rubin E.
Grant. A public ceremony announcing the class
of inductees will be held prior to the Rickwood
Classic, to be played at historic Rickwood Field
this Wednesday at 12:35 p.m. That's a pretty
solid class of inductees, to be sure; one worthy
of Cooperstown as well....The Baltimore Orioles
named former major leaguer Richie Hebner as
the manager of the Frederick Keys (High
Class A; Carolina League). Hebner joined the club
in Kinston on Memorial Day. He had been serving as
hitting coach for the Nashua Pride
(independent; Can-Am Association). Former Keys
manager Tommy Thompson left the team for
personal reasons on May 16....Renaldo
Lapuz will make a very special appearance at
QuikTrip
Park at Grand Prairie for the Grand
Prairie AirHogs (independent; American
Association) game on May 27. Yes, we're
American Idol geeks, so we know all about
Lapuz, who became an overnight sensation after his
performance on the American Idol tryout episode
taped in Dallas. He is known for his lavish
costumes and his song, "We’re Brothers Forever."
To honor Lapuz, who lives in the Dallas area, the
Airhogs will have him sing the National Anthem
prior to the Airhogs game against the Pensacola
Pelicans. Lapuz will also sing "Take Me Out to the
Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch and he
will be available to sign autographs and take
pictures with fans.