Financial Problems Threaten Future of 78-year-Old Tournament

An internal audit of the city-owned National Baseball Congress’ books shows its operators, the indy pro Wichita Wingnuts (American Association), are more than a quarter-million dollars in debt and two years in arrears to the city on lease payments for Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.  Read more here.

NHL Game at Dodger Stadium Confirmed

The first regular-season NHL game scheduled for an outdoor venue in a warm-weather city has been finalized, as the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks will face off at Dodger Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, on Jan. 25, 2014.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Saints Block Party, Largest Game of Catch, Naming of the Pig Set for Next Week

PRESS RELEASE – The St. Paul Saints circus is coming to downtown St. Paul.  There will be pigs, nuns, baseball players, inflatables, food and fun and is the block party to end all block parties.  It’s the Hiway Federal Credit Union World’s Largest Game of Catch, in conjunction with the Greater St. Paul Building and Managers Association (BOMA).

Pro Baseball Returns to Montreal With Aigles, Capitales

PRESS RELEASE – As part of the Can-Am League’s preseason exhibition schedule, the Quebec Capitales and Trois-Rivieres Aigles will meet in the first-ever Quebec Baseball Classic on Saturday, May 11 at Montreal’s Ahuntsic Park at 7:30 p.m.

Mother’s Day Is Joplin’s Time to Shine

Mike Beatty from The Joplin Globe makes a pitch for fans to turn out in force at century-old Joe Becker Stadium on Mother’s Day, May 12, to watch the indy pro American Association’s Kansas City T-Bones and Wichita Wingnuts play an exhibition game.  Locals hope to show the league that Joplin is capable of supporting a franchise.  Read more here.

A Sandlot Sleepover at Rangers Ballpark

On Saturday, May 11, the Texas Rangers are giving fans the unique opportunity to camp out under the stars in the outfield at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.  The event will kick off with the Rangers’ road game against the Houston Astros shown on a large display screen, followed by a special screening of The Sandlot movie, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.  Read more here.

River Cats Announce Food Truck Fourth

PRESS RELEASE – Raley Field will host a first-of-its-kind Fourth of July celebration this Independence Day, when the food truck community will gather on Raley Field’s outfield for a family-friendly event featuring some of the region’s best local food, live music and a fireworks extravaganza, presented by Bug Zappers Pest Control.

Food Truckin’ Fest at Rangers Ballpark

The inaugural Texas Food Truckin’ Fest was held at Ranger Ballpark on Friday (4/26) and Saturday (4/27), while the Texas Rangers were on the road.  Read more here.  View photos View photos on Facebook here.

Peninsula Pilots to Host 2013 CPL All-Star Game, Logo Unveiled

PRESS RELEASE – The Coastal Plain League announced today that the 2013 All-Star Game will be hosted by the Peninsula Pilots on July 8 at War Memorial Stadium in Hampton, Virginia. This will mark the first-ever time the league’s marquee event has made its way into the beautiful state of Virginia.

Boomers Hold First-Ever Beer Tasting Event

The indy pro Schaumburg Boomers (Frontier League) held their inaugural Ballpark Brew Fest on Saturday at Boomers Stadium (formerly Alexian Field).  The event showcased the newest batches of craft beers by well-known and up-and-coming brewers, including the country’s first vegan brewery.  Live music was provided by a Talking Heads tribute band.  Read more and view photo gallery here.

Pump Jacks to Host 2013 TCL All-Star Game

PRESS RELEASE – Over the last three seasons, no Texas Collegiate League franchise has sent more players to the TCL All-Star Game than the East Texas Pump Jacks. This summer, Pump Jacks all-stars won’t have to travel very far for the event.

Express Unveil All-Star Game Logo, Announce Festivities

PRESS RELEASE – The Eau Claire Express and Northwoods League today announced details for the 2013 league All-Star festivities, scheduled for July 22 and 23 in Eau Claire, Wis. The game will feature the Northwoods League’s top performers in the first half of the summer season.

NHL’s Ducks, Kings to Face Off at Dodger Stadium

Details are still being negotiated, but there are plans in the works to bring the National Hockey League’s Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks to Dodger Stadium to play a regular-season game on Jan. 25, 2014, using portable rink and refrigeration equipment provided by the NHL.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Rangers Play Two at the Alamodome

San Antonio (TX), America’s seventh-largest city, hopes to one day host a Major League Baseball franchise.  In the meantime, a total of 75,210 fans (34,641 Friday and 40,569 Saturday) showed up at the Alamodome for two games over the weekend between the Texas Rangers and San Diego Padres.  Read more here and here.  View photo gallery here from World Wide Baseball Stadiums.

Curve Renew PDC With Pirates, Franchise Awarded 2014 Eastern League All-Star Game

PRESS RELEASE – The Pittsburgh Pirates and Altoona Curve have extended their Player Development Contract (PDC) through the 2018 season, the two sides announced today prior to the Pirates-Curve Exhibition Game in Altoona.  The announcement was made by Curve owner Bob Lozinak, Curve General Manager Rob Egan, Pirates President

Intimidators Host NHRA vs. NASCAR Charity Softball Game

PRESS RELEASE – The race is on as drivers from NASCAR and NHRA will take the field in a charity softball game at CMC-NorthEast Stadium, home of the Kannapolis Intimidators – Class A Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, on Wednesday, April 17. An hour-long pre-game autograph session begins at 5 p.m. with first pitch at 7:00 p.m. The game will be followed by a concert

Steamboat Company Offering Baseball-Themed Cruises

The American Queen Steamboat Company based out of Memphis is offering up baseball-themed cruises this summer between St. Louis, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.  Read more here.  View cruise details here.

Dr. Pepper Ballpark Investing to Host More Events

The operators of Dr. Pepper Ballpark, home of the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders (Texas League), plans to spend $1 million in upgrading the facility’s food services, as part of a push to become an events destination for non-baseball game days.  A new website has even been launched to drive this effort.

Baseball Vying to Make Olympic Return

Leaders of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will meet this week to decide which sport they will drop from the Summer Olympic Games in 2020.  IOC executives will then meet in Russia in May to decide which sport to add.  Baseball and softball are vying to get back in the international sports competition, after the sports were voted out in 2005 for the 2012 London Games.  Read more here.

Wild Things to Host 2013 Frontier League All-Star Game, Logo Revealed

PRESS RELEASE – The Washington Wild Things, presented by Washington Financial, are pleased to announce that CONSOL Energy Park in Washington, Pa has been selected to host the 2013 Frontier League All Star Game and Festivities July 15 – 18.  The Frontier League consists of 14 professional baseball teams that hail from Washington, PA (furthest East) to St. Louis, MO (furthest West) to  Marion

Cavalry Win Australian Baseball League Title, Watch Tape Delayed Today on MLB Network!

We have to apologize, but we failed to apprise you that the MLB Network was covering the Australian Baseball League Championship Series this weekend.  The Canberra Cavalry defeated the Perth Heat 7-6 in Game 2 on Saturday to win the league title in front of a record crowd

Barons to Honor 1948 Black Barons at 18th Rickwood Classic

PRESS RELEASE – The Birmingham Barons and Friends of Rickwood announced details Thursday for the 18th Annual Rickwood Classic presented by State Farm Insurance. Set for Wednesday, May 29, the classic will celebrate the legendary 1948 Birmingham Black Barons. The 12:30 p.m. contest will showcase the Birmingham Barons against the Tennessee Smokies

NBC World Series’ Finances Under Review

The city of Wichita (KS) is auditing the books of the struggling National Baseball Congress, amid concerns that the decades-old NBC World Series baseball tournament held every August at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, home of the indy pro Wichita Wingnuts (American Association), has been habitually delinquent paying its participant teams and vendors.  The city hopes to find a way to

Fans Tour PNC Field

Fans of the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (International League) braved the snow and cold this weekend to get their first glimpse of the new PNC Field during Saturday’s open house.  Read more and view video and photos here.

Super Bowl-Bound Ravens to Practice at Tulane Baseball Facility

The Baltimore Ravens will prep for Super Bowl XLVII by practicing at Tulane University’s renovated Turchin Stadium.  Interestingly, Tulane has had somewhat of a storied history with the NFL.  Old Tulane Stadium, demolished in 1980,  played host to three Super Bowls in the 1970s, including IV, VI, and IX.   Read more here.

MLB All-Star Game Coming to Cincinnati

Great American Ball Park and the Cincinnati Reds will play host to Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game in 2015.  This will be the fifth time the mid-summer classic has been played in Cincinnati, but it will be the first ever for Great American.  Read more here and here.

Mayor Announces Public Hearing on Ballpark Project

PRESS RELEASE – On Monday, February 4th, Mayor Gary Christenson and the Malden Redevelopment Authority will hold a Public Hearing in the City Council Chambers, Malden Government Center, 200 Pleasant Street, from 6:00-8:00 PM, to seek input from residents and businesses on the proposal for a professional baseball ballpark in Malden.

Kenosha Baseball Holds ‘First Pitch’ Event, Announces ‘Help Name Your Team Contest’

PRESS RELEASE – Kenosha Baseball, the group bringing a Northwoods League baseball franchise to Kenosha’s historic Simmons Field starting in June 2014, held its “First Pitch” event Thursday evening featuring a live brass band, entertainment from the nationally known Zooperstars and the unveiling of $1 million in stadium renovations. Guests were treated to free Bacon Glazer

RailRiders to Host Public Open House at New PNC Field

PRESS RELEASE – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders will be holding an Open House on Saturday, Jan. 26. Fans are invited to come out and check the progress of PNC Field. The event, which is free and open to the public, will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

P-Nats Owner to Unveil New Stadium Renderings Jan. 20

PRESS RELEASE – The Potomac Nationals are delighted to announce their 18th Annual Hot Stove Banquet and Silent Auction, an off-season hallmark of the Potomac Baseball franchise, will return to the Hyatt Fairfax at Fair Lakes on Sunday, January 20th. Indulge in an evening of Nationals Baseball talk, an exquisite silent auction, delicious food, and fellowship with the P-Nats faithful

Outdoor All-Star Game Held at Bowman Field

It wasn’t quite the NHL’s Winter Classic, but the FHL All-Stars defeated the Williamsport Outlaws 18-13 Wednesday in the Federal Hockey League‘s 2012 All-Star Game at Airmen Pond at Bowman Field, the summer home of the Single-A Williamsport Crosscutters (New York-Penn League).  Paul D’Amato who played Tim “Dr. Hook” McCracken in the 1977 movie Slap Shot was

Muskrats to Host All-Star Game

The summer collegiate Laconia Muskrats (New England Collegiate Baseball League) will host the 2013 NECBL All-Star Game on July 21, 2013.  As an interesting side note, you might recall that the Muskrats installed a 17 foot tall by 88 feet long replica of Fenway Park’s Green Monster at Robbie Mills Field last season.  The second phase of the project to be completed before next season will include adding a viewing deck to the back of the wall.  Read more here.

Laconia Muskrats Facebook Photo

Frisco’s Dr. Pepper Ballpark to Host Football Championship Game Pep Rally

The North Dakota State University Bison have moved their 1-AA (FCS) championship game pep rally from a smaller venue to Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco (TX), home of the Double-A Frisco Roughriders (Texas League).  The Bison will take on the Sam Houston State Bearkats again for the division championship at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco on Jan. 5.  Read more here.

Express to Host 2013 Northwoods League All-Star Game

The summer collegiate Eau Claire Express will host the Northwoods League’s 2013 All-Star Game on July 23 at historic Carson Park in Eau Claire (WI).  The franchise also hosted the game  in 2010.  Read more and view news report here.

A Little About Paseo Stadium in Guam

It really isn’t news that the Guam Seniors Winter Baseball League played four games at Paseo Stadium this past weekend in Guam, but we do like it when a story gives us an opportunity to share links to photos of stadiums we previously knew nothing about.  Read more here.  View photos of Paseo Stadium here, here, and here.

Yee Haw Time at Ottawa Stadium?

Capital Hoedown organizer Denis Benoit is interested in using Ottawa Stadium as a venue for the country music festival that he hopes to resurrect next summer.  The event has been billed as “Ottawa’s Biggest Summer Party!”  Read more here.

Newark Pilots to Host 2013 PGCBL All-Star Game, Logo Unveiled

PRESS RELEASE – The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League is happy to announce that this year’s All Star Game will be held at Colburn Park in Newark on July 24th.

MiLB President Pat O’Conner’s Opening Session Speech

PRESS RELEASE – It is about this time of year that we look back on the last 12 months and etch into our memory the more salient points of the year. 2012 was a very good year for Minor League Baseball, but was not without challenges, moments of peril and losses we would rather have not experienced. Coming out of the Thanksgiving holiday I feel it is important we all give thanks for the life we lead…and

Baseball Winter Meetings Begin Today

The annual conference for everyone in the baseball industry kicks off today at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville.  The event goes from Dec. 3-6 and includes the Baseball Trade Show and PBEO Job Fair.  Read more here.  View schedule here.  You can follow the happenings on Twitter and Facebook.

First-Year Victoria to Host 2013 West Coast League All-Star Game

PRESS RELEASE – Victoria HarbourCats Owner John McLean and General Manager Holly Jones are pleased to announce that the City of Victoria and the Victoria HarbourCats have been awarded the 2013 West Coast League (WCL) All-Star Game.