Ryan Voz Named as President/Commissioner of the NWL

PRESS RELEASE – Ryan Voz, co-owner of the Willmar Stingers, has been named as the 4th President/Commissioner of the Northwoods League.

MiLB President & CEO O’Conner Announces Retirement

PRESS RELEASE – After 38 years in professional baseball and 28 years with the Minor League Baseball office, Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner [this week] announced that he will retire on Dec. 31, 2020.

The Field of Dreams Game that Would Have Been

Joe Mock of  BaseballParks.com was all set to cover the “MLB at Field of Dreams Game” in Dyersville (IA), when MLB headquarters cancelled the event.  Because he already put together an article for USA TODAY previewing the game and ballpark built at the famous movie site, he has graciously posted it here.  Enjoy!

Designing and building a new ballpark at the iconic Field of Dreams movie site is what baseball fantasies are made of. While we won’t see the inaugural game played today, we’re keeping the ballfield in anticipation of next year’s planned event.@MLB @BaAMProductions @BrightView pic.twitter.com/pJs6601A4g

— Populous (@Populous) August 13, 2020

Prospect League Adds Johnstown (PA) to Lineup, Name-the-Team Contest Underway

PRESS RELEASE – The Prospect League is proud to announce the addition of Johnstown, Pa. as an expansion franchise, which will begin play in the 2021 season at Sargent’s Stadium at the Point.

Lafayette Aviators Selected to Lease New Loeb Stadium

PRESS RELEASE – The City of Lafayette and Lafayette Board of Parks & Recreation are pleased to announce that the Lafayette Aviators have been named the baseball team to play in Loeb Stadium. The announcement was made during a Park Board meeting at the Loeb Stadium construction site.

Hinchliffe Stadium Update

The Paterson (NJ) City Council recently approved the use of $1.1 million in federal housing funds for the 75-unit senior citizen building being done in conjunction with the reconstruction of Hinchliffe Stadium.  The council also gave final approval to a 30-year tax break for the Hinchliffe development. The $76.7 million project also would include a 315-space parking garage as well as a restaurant with museum exhibit space.  Read more here and here.  Thanks to John Cerone for links.

West Coast Reportedly Adding Kamloops

The West Coast League (Summer Collegiate) reportedly plans to expand to Kamloops (BC), possibly beginning the 2021 season.  Read more here.  The league recently announced the naming of the new franchise in Nanaimo (BC).  Kamloops is about two hours from Kelowna (BC), the home of WCL’s Kelowna Falcons.

Joe Mock Granted Near-Exclusive Access to Fanless Christening of Globe Life Field

Joe Mock of  BaseballParks.com was one of the few granted access to Globe Life Field, as the Texas Rangers christened their new ballpark with no fans in the stands.  Mock’s original reporting appeared in USA TODAY Sports Weekly.  Read story and view photos here.

The @Rangers opened beautiful @GlobeLifeField Friday, but no fans could attend. Read about the fan-less atmosphere, with thoughts from the gameday coordinators and broadcasters. https://t.co/3hAg4thdDJ pic.twitter.com/qGdGQQJzlI

— Joe Mock (@baseballparks) July 27, 2020

Atlantic League Adds Gastonia (NC) to 2021 Lineup

The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) announced today it is expanding to the City of Gastonia with a team ownership group led by Brandon Bellamy, CEO of Velocity Companies, Inc. Gastonia becomes the second Atlantic League location in North Carolina, joining High Point, where the Rockers began play in 2019.

Empty MLB Ballparks to Pipe in Video Game Crowd Noise

Big league players will still hear the roar of the crowd even though the stands will be empty when the baseball season opens next week.  Taking a cue from two European soccer leagues, Major League Baseball will play crowd noise from its official video game through ballpark sound systems during games.  Read more here.

It’s the ‘Nanaimo NightOwls’

PRESS RELEASE – The lights, the history, the proud First Nations lore. And the world-famous dessert that helped make the City of Nanaimo a household name, all combined.

MiLB Shelves Season

PRESS RELEASE – Major League Baseball™ (MLB™) has informed Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) that it will not be providing its affiliated Minor League teams with players for the 2020 season. As a result, there will not be a Minor League Baseball season in 2020.

Atlantic League Clubs Announce Updated 2020 Plans

PRESS RELEASE – The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball today announced that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several member clubs have not gained necessary approval from governmental and health officials to open their ballparks to a capacity level sufficient for participation. As a result, the 2020 schedule for each team has been opened up, with clubs permitted to seek new solutions for this season that conform to their current governmental guidelines in order to get ballparks opened and begin play.

Rockers Home Stadium Name to Change to Truist Point

PRESS RELEASE -The High Point Rockers, along with Truist announced today that the teams home stadium of BB&T Point will officially be rebranded as Truist Point this summer. The transition comes as a contribution of its naming rights partnership with the independent Atlantic League franchise.

Five NWL Teams Will Begin Play July 1 in Regional ‘Minnesota-Iowa Pod’

PRESS RELEASE – Another “pod” of Northwoods League teams comprised of the Willmar Stingers, Mankato MoonDogs, Rochester Honkers, St. Cloud Rox and the Waterloo Bucks will return for play this summer starting July 1. The season for this pod will last until August 20th with the team holding the best winning percentage being declared the winner.

The NWL and Kingfish Announce Plans for 2020 Season

PRESS RELEASE – The Northwoods League and the Kenosha Kingfish are happy to announce that the Kingfish will be taking the field this summer in front of fans at Simmons Field.

Northwoods Leagues Announces Six-Team ‘Michigan Pod’ to Begin Summer Play

PRESS RELEASE – The Traverse City Pit Spitters, Kalamazoo Growlers and the Battle Creek Bombers in cooperation with the Northwoods League, announced today that baseball will be played in Traverse City, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek this summer.

American Association to Start 2020 Season with Three Ballparks, Six Teams

PRESS RELEASE – Sports talk show hosts and fans believed the perfect time to begin the 2020 baseball season was the Fourth of July Weekend. America’s birthday, fireworks, and baseball have always gone together. Baseball fans were looking for a glimmer of hope.

Affiliated Minor League Ballparks to Host Six TCL Teams, Bringing Circuit to 10 for 2020

PRESS RELEASE – This morning at 11am in multiple cities in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana press conferences are being held to announce the return of baseball after the COVID-19 pause of the college and professional game.

Six Northwoods League Teams Will Begin Play July 1 in Regional ‘Wisconsin-Illinois Pod’

PRESS RELEASE – Another “pod” of Northwoods League teams comprised of the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders, the Green Bay Booyah, the La Crosse Loggers, the Rockford Rivets, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, and the Wisconsin Woodchucks will return for play this summer starting July 1st.

Bismarck Larks Add Two Teams to Play in 2020: Bismarck Bull Moose, Mandan Flickertails

PRESS RELEASE – The Bismarck Larks have made big changes to their 2020 season. The biggest change is welcoming two other Northwoods League teams to the community, the Flickertails and Bull Moose. To eliminate travel, the three teams will each play a 48-game schedule against each other for a total of 72 games at Bismarck Municipal Ballpark, home of Dakota Community Bank & Trust Field.

Kalamazoo Growlers to Temporarily Re-Brand as ‘Mac Daddies’

PRESS RELEASE – Father’s day might look a bit different for many families on June 21st due to COVID-19. The same will be said for the Kalamazoo Growlers baseball team when the team will rename itself the “Kalamazoo Mac Daddies” in honor of fathers and mac and cheese lovers. The change is a dual salute to Dad, along with Michigan’s Undeniably Dairy Mac and Cheese Festival that is still slated to be hosted at Homer Stryker Field for the 2nd year later this fall after selling out in record time in 2019.

West Coast League Cancels 2020 Season

PRESS RELEASE – This week the West Coast League’s board of directors voted to cancel its 2020 summer collegiate season, due to pandemic-related safety guidelines and travel restrictions across Washington and Oregon. Concurrently, league members Cowlitz, Port Angeles, Ridgefield, Walla Walla, and Yakima Valley are cancelling their respective seasons.

Prospect League Cancels 2020 Season

PRESS RELEASE – Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting government regulations, the Prospect League has made the heartbreaking determination to cancel the 2020 season. The decision was based on the varying guidelines for safety, protection and limits on public gatherings and travel across the five states that are home to Prospect League teams.

MINK League Cancels 2020 Season

PRESS RELEASE – Under the recommendation of MINK League Commissioner Ron Rodriguez, the league has elected to cancel the 2020 season. This decision was made due to the ongoing nationwide COVID-19 pandemic and the many uncertainties that still remain. The league prioritizes player, staff, and guest safety above all other factors.

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.

Drone Footage of Dodger Stadium Renovations

No games yet, but you can check out the most-recent drone footage of the Dodger Stadium renovations on YouTube, courtesy of John Kay. Read more here.

Goundbreaking Soon for New Beloit Ballpark, Opening Targeted for 2021

Members of the Riverbend Stadium Authority say they expect new, state-of-the-art baseball stadium in Beloit (WI) for the Beloit Snapper’s (Single-A, Midwest League) will be ready in time for the 2021 season.  Read more here.

Milkmen Announce Milky Way Drive-In at Ballpark Commons, Movies Begin May 22

PRESS RELEASE – The Milwaukee Milkmen announced today a partnership with Franklin Tourism and Studio Gear to bring back a vintage movie-going experience via the brand-new Milky Way Drive-In at Ballpark Commons located in Franklin, WI.

Minor League Baseball Facing Crisis Never Imagined

A Sports Illustrated survey of minor league organizations, sent to all teams in late April, shows just how desperate the situation has become. The responses of 68 clubs—in addition to interviews with executives representing 21 of those teams—make clear that the minor leagues are facing a crisis that could destroy professional baseball in cities across the country.  Read more here.  This could apply to independent professional and summer collegiate clubs as well.

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.

Summer Collegiate Seasons Canceled or Postponed, Tracker Available

Once the spring season was officially canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic and the dust began to settle on the Division I Council’s decisions about eligibility, aid and roster limits, eyes at the college level turned to summer ball as the next domino that could potentially fall.  Read more and view tracker here.

Get Your LIVE Baseball Fix: ESPN to Air KBO Games Starting Late Tonight

PRESS RELEASE – ESPN today announced it has reached an agreement with Eclat Media Group regarding the KBO League – South Korea’s most popular sports league – to exclusively televise six, live regular-season games per week in the U.S. starting with Opening Day – NC Dinos vs. Samsung Lions – on Tuesday, May 5, at 1 a.m. ET / Monday, May 4, at 10 p.m. PT.

NECBL Announces Cancellation of 2020 Season

PRESS RELEASE – The New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) has announced that its board of directors, comprised of executives from its 13 member teams and officers, have voted to cancel the 2020 summer collegiate baseball season.

Expedition League Postpones Start of 2020 Season

PRESS RELEASE – The Expedition League has been closely monitoring the developments regarding COVID-19 and the corresponding directives from Federal, State and Local governmental authorities. While none of the four great states where Expedition League teams play – North Dakota,

Little League Cancels 2020 World Series and Region Tournaments

Due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Little League International has made the difficult and disappointing decision to cancel its World Series and Region Tournaments for first time in organization history.  Read more here.

Coastal Plain League Announces Season Delayed Until July 1

PRESS RELEASE – The Coastal Plain League and its 15 franchises released the following official statement on Wednesday, April 29th in regards to their upcoming 2020 season.

Realigned MLB Could Begin Play by July 2

Major League Baseball officials have become cautiously optimistic this week that the season will start in late June, and no later than July 2, playing at least 100 regular-season games, according to three executives with knowledge of the talks. They requested anonymity because the plan is still under consideration.  Read more and view possible realignment here.