Best Ballparks for Craft Beer Lovers

Freelance writer Clare Goggin Sivits takes a look at the top 10 Major League Baseball Stadiums for craft beers on The Daily Meal.com.  We hate to spoil it, but the Seattle Mariners’ Safeco Field tops the list.  Read more here.

Let ‘Free’dom Ring at the Ballpark

Brad Tuttle from Time magazine’s Business & Money section takes a look at the “game” being played by baseball fans in Miami and elsewhere who are finding ways to avoid paying a dime at the ballpark, whether it’s to punish an owner or simply save a few bucks on a tight budget.  Read more here.  Thanks to Joe Mock for the link.

Talking Lawsuit in San Jose

As the four-year impasse drags on over the proposed move by the Oakland A’s to a new ballpark in downtown San Jose, frustrated business leaders eager to tap an anticipated fan spending windfall have begun exploring the idea of suing Major League Baseball and the San Francisco Giants for holding it up.  Read more here.  Thanks to Joe Mock for the link.

Comparing the Price of Beer and Hot Dogs at MLB Ballparks

CNNMoney surveyed operators of all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums to see which offer the most bang for the buck at the concession stand.  Read more here.  View team-by-team results here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the story.

Forbes Releases 2013 MLB Team Valuations

Forbes announced today its annual valuations of Major League Baseball’s 30 teams, reporting that the average team is now worth $744 million.  This all-time record marks a 23% increase from last year, which is the largest increase since Forbes began tracking MLB finances in 1998. The increase is driven by new national television deals, climbing valuations for MLB Advanced Media and baseball’s investment fund.

Wolff Shrugs Off Controller’s Report

California State Controller John Chiang filed a report on Thursday finding that San Jose inappropriately transferred properties, cash and other assets from its former redevelopment agency before it and hundreds of other agencies were exterminated by Gov. Jerry Brown, but Oakland A’s owner Lew Wolff is not concerned nor deterred from his campaign to move his team to San Jose.  Read more here.

A’s Reach 20-Year Agreement to Train in Mesa Beginning in 2015

PRESS RELEASE – The Oakland Athletics and the City of Mesa have reached a 20-year agreement for the team to train in the East Valley city, beginning in February 2015. The A’s, who also hold two five-year options that could extend the contract to 30 years, will conduct workouts at Fitch Park and play their Spring Training games at Hohokam Stadium, the current home of the Chicago

Glimmer of Hope for A’s Move to San Jose?

Bill Shaikin from the Los Angeles Times is reporting that credible sources have secretly told him that the commissioner’s office has provided the Oakland Athletics with tentative guidelines for a potential move to San Jose.  Meeting the guidelines wouldn’t mean a move would happen, but it could lead to a vote by MLB owners.  Read more here.

Old Ballpark Sites Reminders of Change

Doug Miller from MLB.com takes a look at old ballpark sites that continue to serve as reminders of a bygone era and an ever-changing industry landscape.  Read more here.

MLB Executive Visits New Ballpark in Mexico

Major League Baseball senior vice president of baseball operations Kim Ng made an appearance at the Caribbean Series on Sunday, touring the brand-new Estadio Sonora and meeting with Caribbean Baseball Confederation president Juan Francisco Puello Herrera regarding potential usage by Major League teams in the future.  Read more here.

Brewers Announce ‘Design a YOUniform’ Contest Winner

On Sunday at “Brewers On Deck,” Ben Peters of Richfield (MN) was announced as the winner of the Brewers “Design a YOUniform” contest.  Peters’ design will be worn by the Brewers in exhibition games on March 22 in Phoenix at Maryvale Baseball Park and on March 30 in Milwaukee at Miller Park.

Read more here.  View press release here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the story.

Work Begins on Long-Awaited Ballpark Village

The St. Louis Cardinals and real estate developer Cordish Companies announced Wednesday that financing for construction of the $100 million first phase of Ballpark Village has been secured.  While preliminary site work started Wednesday, a formal groundbreaking ceremony is set for Friday, Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. CST.  Read more here.  Learn more about the Ballpark Village project 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.

Jerry Reese Legal Battles Over

Jerry Reese, who has brought multiple failed lawsuits to stop the construction of a new uptown Charlotte ballpark for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights (International League), has agreed to pull the plug on his crusade to kill the project, after a judge threatened to impose sanctions against him.  Reese will now focus his efforts to bring Major League Baseball to the Carolinas in communities outside of

Astros Officially Unveil New Logo, Unis

This news isn’t too exciting, as many of us already saw the leaked images of the Houston Astros’ new look, but the team officially unveiled their new logo and uniforms Friday.  Read more here.  View photos from launch party.  View video here.

New Uniforms Unveiled (Houston Astros)

Raising the ABL Ballpark Bar in Australia

ACT Labor is promising to spend $5 million in additional upgrades to Narrabundah Ballpark, home of the Australian Baseball League’s Canaberra Cavalary, if the party is re-elected in October.  Read more here.

Brewers Unveil Uecker Statue

The Milwaukee Brewers dedicated a new 7-foot-tall bronze statue of beloved player and broadcaster Bob “Mr. Baseball” Uecker during a ceremony outside Miller Park Friday.  The “Ueck” joins three others outside the main gates, including statutes honoring Hall of Famers Hank Aaron and Robin Yount, and Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig.  Read more and view video here.

Milwaukee Brewers Facebook Photo

‘Montreal Baseball Project’ Alive and Well

Despite the fact that the organization’s website has been down, former Montreal Expos star Warren Cromartie says his Montreal Baseball Project is moving full steam ahead.  The website is apparently being revamped, and Cromartie hopes to hold a press conference soon in Montreal to share progress on his organization’s effort to bring Major League Baseball back to the city.  Read more here

Boss of the Playoffs

TBS announced Wednesday that the song Land of Hope and Dreams by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will serve as the theme song for the 2012 MLB playoffs.  Read more and listen here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Twins, Target Field Awarded 2014 MLB All-Star Game

As expected, Major League Baseball announced today that the Minnesota Twins and Target Field will host the 2014 MLB All-Star Game.  Read more and view announcement here.

Actual Attendance vs. Tickets Sold

Those inside the baseball business, fans who experience games first hand, and sports reporters know that attendance figures reported by MLB teams (and all teams at all levels for that matter) rarely, if ever, mean actual butts in the seats.  Even sold out games may not be sold out.  Read more here.

Lack of Trust Will Keep St. Pete Council Quiet During Ballpark Presentation

The St. Petersburg City Council plans to hear a proposal from developer CityScape LLC for a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium in the  Carillon business park, just west of the Howard Frankland Bridge, in the Gateway area of St. Petersburg.  However, the city attorney has advised council members to remain silent during the meeting, for fear the Rays might exploit council comments to break their stadium agreement.  Read more here.

Padres Sold to O’Malley, Mickelson

A group led by former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley and pro golfer Phil Mickelson reportedly reached an agreement Monday to buy the San Diego Padres for around $800 million.  Read more here.

Committee Meets with San Jose, Oakland Officials

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig‘s blue-ribbon committee on the Oakland A’s ballpark situation discretely slipped into the Bay Area this past week to meet with San Jose and Oakland officials about their new ballpark plans.  San Jose is still in a tussle with state officials over Governor Jerry Brown‘s disbanding of redevelopment agencies.  New developments in Oakland could give life

MLB Ballpark Delights You Can Make at Home

Can’t make it out to your nearest Major League ballpark this weekend for some delicious eats?  Why not try your hand a making one of the 11 signature ballpark recipes posted by TheDailyMeal.com today, including the Minute Maid Park Baja Fish Tacos and the PNC Park Pulled Pork and Pierogi Stacker.  Read more and view recipes here.

Rangers Introduce the Broomstick Express

Move over Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile!  The Texas Rangers have unveiled the “Broomstick Express,” a weiner car of sorts to promote the mega Broomstick hot dog introduced by the Rangers and foodservice-provider Delaware North earlier this year.  The winner of Monday night’s Broomstick hot dog eating contest was the first to receive a ride around the field on the new promo vehicle.  Read more here.

Broomstick Express, Texas Rangers Facebook Photo

Cubs Organist Celebrates 25 Years

One of the last surviving members of his craft in the industry, Chicago Cubs organist Gary Pressy celebrates 25 years at Wrigley Field, and he says he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.  Read more here.

Marlins on Pace for Record-Setting Attendance, But It’s Not What You Think

A new retractable-roof stadium, new branding, and new everything else, but the Miami Marlins are only on pace for a mere 2.2 million fans this season, which would be the record lowest for any MLB team operating for a full season in the first-year ballpark since the Minnesota Twins in 1982.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Developer Offers to Build New A’s Ballpark in Oakland

We don’t know any details about the proposed plan or how legitimate it might be, but a Sacramento developer named Rick Tripp says he’s willing to build a new stadium for the Oakland A’s in Oakland at no cost to the taxpayers.  Read more here.  Last March, Tripp talked with 27×7 about his proposed arena plan for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, which should give you a clue about what he has in mind.  Read more here.

MLB Participates in White House Sports and Sustainability Forum

PRESS RELEASE – Representatives from Major League Baseball participated in a “Sports and Sustainability” discussion held by the White House earlier today.

Selig: Rebuild Wrigley, All-Star Game Will Come

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig has apparently offered up the All-Star Game at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, as an incentive to the city to encourage a public-private partnership to update Wrigley à la Fenway Park.  Improvements to Wrigley are pegged at $300 million, with an additional $200 million for the new “triangle building.”  Estimated economic impact of the ASG to

ConAgra Plant Possible Location for New Tampa Ballpark?

For the first time, ConAgra Foods has given indication that it would be open to moving its flour mill located in downtown Tampa, which could make room for a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark.  It’s pretty much speculation at this point, but it’s an interesting development.  Read more here.

Sacramento a MLB Town?

This is a big stretch, but Sacramento (CA) Mayor Kevin Johnson has asked his Think Big Sacramento task force to look into marketing the city as a potential MLB market.  We love big thinkers and “vision,” but the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats (Pacific Coast League) are the perfect fit for the capital city.  The immediate population of Sacramento is 466,488.  Read more here.

Astros to Nix Choo Choo?

As the Houston Astros prepare to rebrand and move to the American League, owner Jim Crane is reportedly considering removing the train at Minute Maid Park to apparently make room for 12 new ad signs.  Okay, so we have to admit we haven’t experienced the stadium first hand, but it seems to us that removing such a unique and nifty feature is a bad move.  However, we’ll leave it to the fans to

Going Major League Green

The Kansas City Royals have gone green, as 120 solar panels have been installed at Kauffman Stadium, where the 2012 MLB All-Star Game will be played next Tuesday.  Kaufmann joins a list of 10 other environmentally-friendly stadiums, including those in Boston, Cleveland, Phoenix, St. Louis and San Francisco, where solar panels have also been installed, and Miami, Milwaukie

Struggling Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Jockeys for Attendance Boost from MLB All-Star Game

With the festivities for the 2012 MLB All-Star Game kicking off Friday, June 6, in Kansas City, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum hopes to capitalize on this unique opportunity for exposure and increased visitorship.  They’ve even unveiled a new exhibit called “They Were All-Stars.”  Read more here.

Twins to Turn Back the Clock to 1951 on Saturday

PRESS RELEASE – The Minnesota Twins are looking forward to their “Turn Back the Clock” game on Saturday, June 30 at 6:10 p.m. against the Kansas City Royals. During the game, the Twins will celebrate Minnesota baseball history by wearing throwback uniforms of the 1951 Minneapolis Millers and the first 20,000 fans through the gates will receive a Millers pennant. Named for the city’s

The Best Seats at MLB Stadiums

Charles Butler from DEPARTURES magazine, a publication for luxurious lifestyles, takes a look at the “Best Baseball Stadium Seats” at MLB ballparks.  Our friend Joe Mock from BaseballParks.com is quoted.  Read more and view slideshow here.

ESPN Announces ‘Battle of the Ballparks’

Which ballpark is the best in Major League Baseball?  ESPN has decided to settle it on the field by setting up a bracket-style “Battle of the Ballparks” tournament to allow fans to cast their votes over the next fews days for their favorite MLB stadiums.  A champion will be crowned on June 22.  Read more and cast your votes here.

Former Expos Gather for Pro Baseball in Montreal

Member of the division winning 1981 Montreal Expos are gathering June 14-16 in Montreal for charity and a reunion put together by the Warren Cromartie-led Montreal Baseball Project, an organization dedicated to honoring former players and bringing pro baseball back to Montreal.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.