T-Bones Become Monarchs

The Kansas City Monarchs are back — sort of.  New owners of the Kansas City T-Bones baseball club in Kansas City (KS) announced Thursday that the team will adopt the name of Kansas City’s storied Negro Leagues team beginning this season.  Read more here.

Prospect League Adds Clinton LumberKings, Burlington Bees to Lineup

PRESS RELEASE – The Prospect League is proud to announce further expansion with the additions of the Clinton LumberKings and Burlington Bees.  “We are proud to announce that both the Burlington Bees and the Clinton LumberKings are joining the Prospect League for the upcoming 2021 season and beyond,” said Prospect League Commissioner Dennis Bastien. “We applaud their decision to be a part of our league and welcome them with open arms.”

Twins Drop Triple-A Rochester, Look to Affiliatize Independent Professional St. Paul Saints

The Minnesota Twins are looking for a new top farm team, after officially informing the Rochester Red Wings (Triple-A, International League) that they are out.  The St. Paul Saints (Independent Professional, American Association) are the targeted replacement.  Read more here.

Yankees Ditch Double-A Trenton for Independent Somerset

The New York Yankees have announced changes to their minor league affiliation structure as a result of the expiration of the Professional Baseball Agreement (between Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball) and the creation of the Prospect Development Pipeline.  Read more here.  Read about the Somerset Patriots here.

Branding Change: Introducing the ‘Jersey Shore BlueClaws’

PRESS RELEASE – The BlueClaws and the Jersey Shore have made great partners over the last 20 years, and on Wednesday night, they officially announced a name change and re-branding to the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. The official name change announcement was made at a VIP event at Seahorse, part of Asbury Park’s historic Convention Hall.

Rookie Appalachian League Will Operate as Summer Collegiate Wood-Bat League

Culminating a busy week for Major League Baseball, MLB announced on Friday that the Appalachian League (Rookie) will operate as a summer wood-bat league for rising freshmen and sophomores.  Read more here.

2019 Major League Attendance Analysis Released

David P. Kronheim from NumberTamer.com has released his 262-page Major League Baseball attendance analysis for the 2019 season.  Mr. Kronheim has been kind enough to share his data with us over the last few years, and this and other reports can be found at the bottom of our Attendance Rankings page.  You can view his 2019 Major League Baseball Attendance Analysis here.

2019 Minor League Attendance Analysis Released

David P. Kronheim from NumberTamer.com has as released his 211-page minor league baseball attendance analysis for the 2019 season.  Mr. Kronheim has been kind enough to share his data with us over the last few years, and this and previous reports can be found under our Attendance Rankings page.  View Kronheim’s 2019 Minor League Baseball Attendance Analysis here.

Mallards Transforming Duck Pond Into Drive-In Theater Starting May 20

PRESS RELEASE – Take me out to the…movies? That’s right! The Madison Mallards have announced that the Duck Pond is transforming into the Duck Pond Drive-In Theater! Drive-In Theaters were just given the approval to open this week and the Duck Pond Drive-In will be the first to open in Dane County.

“Nopening Day” Today for St. Paul Saints

PRESS RELEASE – In an alternate universe the St. Paul Saints sixth season at CHS Field opens with all the pomp and circumstance of a home opener, a sold out crowd watching a banner raising ceremony, getting another look at the 2019 championship trophy, and a chance to put a tidy bow on their title run by honoring last season’s team. With the season postponed until July, the Saints are setting up for the most unique start to a season in franchise history with the first, and hopefully only, Nopening Day.

Goldpanners Cancel Season, Midnight Sun Game

The Alaska Goldpanners (Summer Collegiate) have canceled their 2020 season due to coronavirus, marking the first summer since 1960 without Goldpanner baseball in Fairbanks (AK).  The 115th annual Midnight Sun Game, a baseball game played the night of the summer solstice without the use of artificial light, also has been canceled.  Read more here.

Get Your Ballpark Food Fix

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are offering their fans Ballpark Dinners To-Go on Tuesday, April 28.  Fans may order dinner online through the team’s website and pickup their order any time between 4:30pm and 6:30pm on that day.  Read more here.  The Clinton LumberKings are offering curbside ballpark food pickup too.  Read more here.  Click here for Order Form.

Uncertainty Surrounds MiLB’s Season

While most everyone involved in MiLB is cautiously optimistic publicly, the reality is it is going to be quite difficult for any MiLB team to play at all this year. In off-the-record discussions with people all around the game, there is a near-universal acknowledgement that there are a massive amount of hurdles that have to be overcome to make any MiLB season happen.  Read more here.

Sorry, We’re Back!

Many of you may have been wondering where we have been over the past month or more.  We’re sorry we have left you hanging.  Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has substantially impacted us from a time commitment and focus standpoint.  You should know that this is a site driven solely by volunteer hours, which have been impacted by significant outside obligations and commitments during this crisis.  We’re doing out best to get back up and running.  Please stay safe and healthy!

Chase Field Looks to Expand Programming with Arizona State, NCAA

Chase Field opened its gates to Arizona State’s wrestling team on Saturday, Jan. 11, and, in doing so, became the first ballpark to host a collegiate wrestling event in history.  It marked the start of what Chase Field hopes will be an expanded partnership with NCAA athletics, not just for their own venue, but for MLB ballparks across the country.  Read more here.

Baseball Winter Meetings Underway in San Diego

PRESS RELEASE – Approximately 4,500 baseball executives from more than 200 professional teams, media from around the world and hundreds of exhibitors and job seekers will converge on San Diego for the 2019 Baseball Winter Meetings™ at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront and the San Diego Convention Center from Dec. 8-12.

Trash Pandas Introduce ‘Sprocket”

Intertwining baseball and Huntsville’s (AL) space legacy heritage, the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Double-A, Southern League) have revealed the name of the team’s mascot — “Sprocket.”  While a sprocket is a wheel with teeth or cogs, it’s also a colloquial shorthand for the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville.  Read more here.

Sod Poodles to Host 2020 Texas League All-Star Game, Release Logo

PRESS RELEASE – The Texas League of Professional Baseball Clubs announced today that HODGETOWN and the Champion Amarillo Sod Poodles have been chosen to host the 2020 Texas League All-Star Game.

It’s the ‘Kannapolis Cannon Ballers’

PRESS RELEASE – In a nod to the historical significance of Kannapolis as a mill town whose history is tightly woven with America’s Pastime, the community gathered Wednesday to celebrate the team’s new identity. The event’s location at the Historic Gem Theater celebrated the old, while its continuation outside along the West Avenue Streetscape also lauded the new.

Comparing the 2019 World Series Ballparks

As the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros prepare to meet in Game 1 of the 2019 MLB World Series on Tuesday, Joe Mock from BaseballParks.com has posted his annual comparison of the two ballparks we’ll see in this year’s Fall Classic.  Read more here.   View World Series game schedule here.

Horseheads to Host 2020 Expedition League All-Star Game

PRESS RELEASE – The Expedition League today announced that the 2020 All-Star Spectacular, presented by Hydrotex, will be held at Mike Lansing Field in Casper, Wyoming, home of the Casper Horseheads. The Expedition League’s All-Star break is July 20-22, 2020.

Gators Release Virtual Fly-Through of New Ballpark

The University of Florida broke ground on a new, state-of-the-art baseball stadium on Feb. 8, and on Thursday the program released a virtual fly-through of the new digs on Twitter.  Read more here.

Interested in a closer look at the new #FloridaBallpark?

Take a look at our new fly-through video! pic.twitter.com/ftYMKsMlqF

— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) September 12, 2019

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Man Dies While Competing in Taco-Eating Contest

A man participating in a taco-eating contest at a Fresno Grizzlies (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) game died Tuesday night after officials say he began choking.  There is no official cause of death pending an investigation, but emergency staff at the hospital reportedly did clear food from the man’s throat, and preliminary indications are that he died of choking.  Read more here.  View statement from the Grizzlies here.

Ballpak Visit ALERT: Routine Field (Franklin, WI)

Joe Mock from BaseballParks.com recently visited the new Routine Field, home of the first-year Milwaukee Milkmen (Independent Professional, American Association).  Mock sums up his visit with this quote of approval:

“But whether it’s Wow or Whoa, Routine Field is anything but routine. It warrants a visit the next time you’re in the Milwaukee area.”

Read full review and see photos here.

Construction of New Wichita Ballpark Well Underway

If you drive by the the old Lawrence Dumont Stadium, you’ll see the beginnings of the new one under construction for the relocating New Orleans Baby Cakes (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League).  Read more and watch news report here.

A preview of an area that will have some great shade when you come to a day game! #RepYour2020 pic.twitter.com/pFptItzkJV

— Wichita Baseball 2020 (@WichitaBaseball) July 1, 2019

Views of Diablos’ New Ballpark

Chicago-based international firm, FGP Atelier, has unveiled the cutting-edge Diablos Rojos Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico, the new home of the Diablos Rojos del México (Triple-A, Liga Mexicana de Béisbol).  Read more here.  View photos here.

¿Quieres conocer la casa de los @DiablosRojosMX? pic.twitter.com/ei7ClRuYvE

— Aeroméxico (@Aeromexico) June 25, 2019

Vibes Inaugural Opening Weekend Begins Friday

The inaugural opening weekend for the Rocky Mountain Vibes (Rookie, Pioneer League) at UCHealth Park begins Friday, June 21st.  It will be very interesting to see if this Rookie-level team can sufficiently fill an 8,500-seat venue after Colorado Springs (CO) lost its Triple-A club to San Antonio (TX) in the off season.  The branding for the club is cool and unique, and hopefully the front office has the fun-guns loaded and ready, but will it be enough to avoid the cavernous feel and lack of intimacy of a potentially less-than-half-empty ballpark?  The Sky Sox averaged a little over 4,000 fans per game the past three seasons.  Good luck, Vibes!  Watch news report: Vibes don uniforms for first time.

Swan Song Celebration for Capital City Stadium

In an agreement with developers Weddle Real Estate Investments, the city of Columbia (SC) is requiring the New York company to pony up $60,000 so Historic Columbia can make a documentary about Capital City Stadium and plan a “last tour” event before it is demolished.  Read more and view photo gallery here.

Columbia can party one more time at Capital City Stadium before its torn down https://t.co/7Ge2aXyz6G

— The State Newspaper (@thestate) June 4, 2019

Thunder Welcome 10 Millionth Fan

The Trenton Thunder (Double-A, Eastern League) welcomed the 10 millionth fan in franchise history on Saturday night at ARM & HAMMER Park.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the heads up.

HarbourCats Add Ballpark Zipline

The Victoria HarbourCats (Summer Collegiate, West Coast League) have teamed up with WildPlay, a local company famous for its outdoor adventure parks throughout North America, to install a 400-foot zipline attraction to the already entertaining activities available at Royal Athletic Park.  Read more here.

Booyah Home Nearing Completion

Work on Capital Credit Union Park, home of the Green Bay Booyah (Summer Collegiate, Northwoods League), is progressing nicely.  The inaugural season at the new home field will be Saturday, June 1.  Read more and view photo here.

Over the last month, our team has been busy building out the field base for the Green Bay Booyah's new home at Capital Credit Union Park. Next week we start laying out their new synthetic turf system! #Booyah #Progress #NorthwoodsLeague #Baseball pic.twitter.com/cN8GffT2AW

— SCG Fields, LLC (@SCGfields) May 2, 2019

Boise State Renews Interest in New Ballpark Partnership with Boise Hawks

The baseball stadium saga in Boise (ID) added another chapter Monday as Boise State University announced that it has reignited talks with the owners of the Boise Hawks (Single-A, Northwest League) about potentially sharing use of a proposed stadium just west of Downtown.  Read more here.

Uniforms for Boise State’s revised baseball program

Michigan Battle Cats Return for One Night

PRESS RELEASE – No April Fools, here. While not rebranding full time, the Battle Creek Bombers will be throwing it Back to the Battle Cats On Friday, July 19th. The Bombers will be wearing specialty jerseys and hats to honor the Michigan Battle Cats for one night only. All jerseys will be auctioned off via a silent auction during the game. Very limited merchandise items will be available for purchase in the team store.

Woodpeckers Begin Moving In

It may be hard to tell by looking at it from the street, but Fayetteville’s (NC) new baseball stadium downtown is complete to the point that the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Single-A, Carolina League) began moving into its part of the building last week.  Read more here.

Construction Underway at Parkview Field, Theme Jerseys Unveiled

As the weather begins to warm for another season for the Fort Wayne TinCaps (Single-A, Midwest League), construction at Parkview Field has begun on a new group hospitality seating area.  Read more here.  Meanwhile, the team has unveiled their theme jerseys for the 2019 season.  See below:

No Martinez Clippers Team in 2019

It’s official – there will be no professional baseball in Martinez (CA) in 2019, as efforts to find a new owner for the Martinez Clippers (Independent Professional, Pacific Association) were unsuccessful, city officials said last week.  Read more here.

Nationals Unveil New Food Items

Aside from peanuts and Cracker Jacks, fans of the Washington Nationals will be reaching for Korean fried chicken wings and oysters on the half shell at Nationals Park this year.  Read more here and here.  Read about more new food items around the Majors here.

Royse City Baseball Project in Limbo

The long-anticipated baseball stadium project for a Southwest League (Independent Professional) franchise in Royse City (TX) has hit a roadblock and is in limbo.  Read more here.

Owner Selling Ballpark Magic in Wichita

With a New England accent and penchant for colorful detail delivered without taking a breath — at least when he’s in sales-pitch mode — New Orleans Baby Cakes (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) owner Lou Schwechheimer is in Wichita (KS) to sell a dream.  Read more here.

Rolling Out the Copa Logos for 2019

Minor League Baseball is unveiling the 72 team identities for the 2019 Copa de la Diversión program.  From the Chicharrones de Columbia to the San Bernardos de Salem, learn about the logos as they are revealed.  Read more and see logos here.