Pecos League Takes Over Sam Lynn Ballpark

The Bakersfield Train Robbers (Independent Professional, Pecos League) have set up shop at Sam Lynn Ballpark in Bakersfield (CA).  The team replaces the former Bakersfield Blaze (Single-A, California League), which departed for the Carolina League.  Read more and view photo here.

Sam Lynn Garage Sale Saturday

Though the Bakersfield Blaze (Single-A, California League) franchise is over after 75 years, fans have one last chance to get their hands on some Blaze memorabilia at an open house sale this Saturday.  Read more here.

Blaze, Mavs Heading to Carolina League

Minor League Baseball will reportedly announce today that the Bakersfield Blaze and High Desert Mavericks will be contracted from the Single-A California League at the end of the 2016 season.  In the worst-kept industry secret, the two franchises will head east for the Single-A Carolina League.  The Cal League will become an eight-team, one-division circuit.  Read more here.  Read background story here.

Blaze and Salinas Still Talking New Ballpark, Relocation

City leaders said earlier this week they are continuing to work with Bakersfield Blaze owner D.G. Elmore on developing a ballpark as well as a hotel, restaurant and retail complex on the corner of John and Abbott streets in Salinas (CA).  Read more here.

Elmore Eyes New Property in Salinas for Blaze Relocation

Bakersfield Blaze (Single-A, California League) owner D.G. Elmore says that, following an unsuccessful effort to build a ballpark on the Front Street property of Hayward Lumber in Salinas (CA), he is cautiously optimistic that he will close a similar deal on property at the corner of John and Abbott streets.  Read more here.

New Picnic Area on Deck at Sam Lynn Ballpark

Renovations plans are underway at Sam Lynn Ballpark, home of the Single-A Bakersfield Blaze (California League), which will turn the  Terrace area along the third base line into a covered, 500 capacity picnic area.  Read more here.  View construction update here.

A little photo album of the renovation progress thus far. #SamLynnsanity pic.twitter.com/OaPbbZ8GFC

— Bakersfield Blaze (@BakoBlaze) February 11, 2015

Pondering the Future of the Blaze

Bakersfield (CA) has had a minor-league baseball team for 73 years.  For at least 29 of those years, team officials have wanted to play in a new stadium.  That desire hasn’t changed under the frustrated current ownership.  Read more here.

Blaze Break Off Talks with Salinas Property Owner

After eight months of negotiations, the Single-A Bakersfield Blaze (California League) broke off talks with Hayward Lumber on Monday to build a ballpark for the club on Front Street next to the proposed Alisal Marketplace in Salinas (CA).  The team is still eyeing three other unidentified sites in Salinas, but time is running out for a 2016 relocation.  Read more here and here.

Blaze Make Pitch in Salinas

D.G. Elmore, owner of Elmore Sports Group, met with the Salinas (CA) City Council Tuesday to pitch his idea of bringing the Single-A Bakersfield Blaze (California League) to town for the start of the 2016 season.  Elmore said he hopes to be a part of the economic development in Salinas surrounding the long-awaited Alisal Marketplace housing and shopping project.  Read more here.

Bakersfield Blaze Eye Relocation to Salinas

If about $25 million from private investment materializes, D.G. Elmore could be moving his Single-A Bakersfield Blaze (California League) to a new ballpark in Salinas (CA) in time for the 2016 season.  On Sept. 23, developer Sean Cooley, who’s behind the proposed 56-acre Alisal Marketplace project, will ask City Council to extend existing 10-year tax credits for 20 years to help support the adjacent stadium plan.  Read more here.

Hero Cat Throws Out First Pitch

Tara the hero cat that saved a boy from a dog attack threw out the first pitch at the Single-A Bakersfield Blaze (California League) game Tuesday night.  Read more and watch news report here.  Go to AP/ESPN coverage here.

Kick-A** Cat Coming to Sam Lynn Field Next Week

Tara the cat, who fought off a ferocious dog to protect a child, will “throw out” the ceremonial first pitch before the Single-A Bakersfield Blaze (California League) baseball game on May 20.  Read more and watch attack video here.

Local Reporter Dismisses Idea of Blaze Departure

We don’t know what planet he is living on, but Casey Keirnan from the ABC affiliate in Bakersfield (CA) seems to scoff at the idea that the Single-A Bakersfield Blaze (California League) would leave town.  Below are two of his statements:

Elmore Reclaims Ownership of Blaze

PRESS RELEASE – The Bakersfield Blaze are pleased to announce that D.G. Elmore of the Elmore Sports Group has reclaimed ownership of the club, the second ownership transition in the past two years.

No New Ballpark for Bakersfield Blaze

Plans for a new ballpark in Bakersfield (CA) for the Single-A Bakersfield Blaze (California League) are apparently dead, as team owners Gene Voiland and Chad Hathaway said Monday that their tireless efforts to raise money for a privately funded facility have fallen substantially short of what is needed to make the project happen.  Read more here.  Thanks to Joe Mock for the link.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Sam Lynn Ballpark (Bakersfield, CA)

MLB.com reporter Benjamin Hill recently visited Sam Lynn Ballpark, home of the Single-A Bakersfield Blaze (California League).  Read more and view photos here.

Blaze Announce Delayed Timeline for New Ballpark

PRESS RELEASE – The owners of the Bakersfield Blaze announced today that the new stadium to be built at Bakersfield Commons is expected to be ready for the opening of the 2015 season, one year later than originally anticipated.

Permit Approved for New Bakersfield Ballpark

The Bakersfield (CA) Board of Zoning Adjustment has approved a conditional use permit for a new 5,000-seat ballpark for the Single-A Bakersfield Blaze (California League) on the site of the 255-acre Bakersfield Commons project.  This was a necessary first step, as the commercial center zone where the project will be built doesn’t automatically allow for a stadium.  Read more here.

Blaze Owner Talks Ballpark on KERN

Gene Voiland, one of the owners of the Single-A Bakersfield Blaze (California League), appeared on KERN 1180 AM today for 41 minutes to talk about the future of the club and plans to build a new stadium north of Brimhall Avenue in northwest Bakersfield.  You can watch the full interview here.

Breaking News: Bakersfield Getting New Park

This is breaking news from our friend Joe Mock from BaseballParks.com: “With the possible exception of Nashville, no city needs and deserves a new ballpark more than Bakersfield, as Sam Lynn Ballpark (left) is surely the worst facility in High-A baseball. Plans were just announced for a new park to be built on the west side of Bakersfield. It will anchor a new retail center, and could open in 2014. Pendulum is the architect. More from Channel 17.”

Blaze Announce Ballpark Improvements

PRESS RELEASE – If your first move was to glance at a calendar, that’s perfectly normal. With the baseball season just 22 days away, Bakersfield Blaze owners Gene Voiland and Chad Hathaway have made it a priority to get Sam Lynn Ballpark into its best shape in decades.

Local Oilmen Buy Blaze, New Ballpark Still Needed

PRESS RELEASE – Local business leaders Gene Voiland and Chad Hathaway have purchased the Bakersfield Blaze, the current Class Advanced-A Minor League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. Voiland and Hathaway, who will own and operate the team as the Bakersfield Sports Group LLC, will use their extensive business and civic expertise to create significant improvements to the Blaze fan experience.

Blaze, A’s Sign PDC, Martin Hired as GM

PRESS RELEASE – The Bakersfield Blaze today announced it has entered into a two year Player Development Contract with the 2010 National League Central Champion Cincinnati Reds. The agreement begins immediately and will conclude at the end of the 2012 baseball season. “The Reds look forward to returning to the Cal League and beginning a relationship

Rangers Dump Bakersfield, Announce PDC with Pelicans

The Texas Rangers have ditched the California League’s Bakersfield Blaze as an affiliate and announced a player development contract with the Carolina League’s Myrtle Beach Pelicans.  Chuck Greenberg, the managing partner and CEO for the Rangers, owns the Pelicans, so this move was not unanticipated.

Dark Days Ahead for Baseball in Batavia

The future is looking mightly bleak for fans of the Single-A Batavia (NY) Muckdogs.  Three years ago, the Triple-A Rochester (NY) Red Wings stepped in to operate the struggling franchise, but it looks like the rescue mission has run its course.  The Red Wings will apparently not be back.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the article, which also mentions the uncertain future facing the California League’s Bakersfield Blaze and High Desert Mavericks.

Windsor (CA) a Target for New Ballpark, Affiliated Club

The Windsor (Sonoma County, CA) Town Council will consider on Wednesday a proposal by Pacific Baseball Partners to build a privately financed $10 million ballpark on an 8 to 10 acre site that would be acquired by the local redevelopment agency.  The ballpark would apparently be for an affiliated club, which we assume would be the California League’s Bakersfield Blaze or High Desert Mavericks.  Read more here.