PRESS RELEASE – Baseball in Burlington finally has its own identity. One that embraces the history of the community, and one that they can say is uniquely theirs. Burlington Baseball announced this morning via their YouTube that the long-awaited rebranding process has culminated in the team’s sockingly different identity, now known as the Burlington Sock Puppets. The identity, created by Dan Simon of Studio Simon, pays homage to the rich textile tradition of this area by featuring two different sock puppets inside the primary logo.
Tag Archives: Appalachian League
Burlington Royals Become Burlington Sock Puppets
Filed under Branding & Marketing
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.
Filed under Uncategorized
Petition to Save the Appalachian League
It didn’t take long after Major League Baseball announced a proposal to eliminate 42 teams from the Minor League Baseball (MiLB) line-up for someone to step up to the plate and launch a petition drive to save certain franchises. Click here for a petition to save the Appalachian League. What? Didn’t MiLB just announce Pulaski as the winner of the President’s Award? ‘Thanks for the memories, Pulaski!”
Filed under League & Franchise, Market & Location
Pulaski Wins MiLB President’s Award
PRESS RELEASE – Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) announced today that the Pulaski Yankees are the recipients of the 46th annual John H. Johnson President’s Award. The team will receive Minor League Baseball’s top honor at the Baseball Winter Meetings Banquet on Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.
Filed under Awards & Recognition
Kingsport Mayoral Candidates Discuss Proposed Ballpark
More than three years have passed since the birth of the One Kingsport initiative, a five-year roadmap aimed at making the Model City the premiere place to live, work and raise a family in the Tri-Cities. In the second of a five-part series, the Times-News asked the candidates running for mayor and aldermen in the upcoming city election their thoughts about the proposal. Here are their replies: Read more here.
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
JC Cardinals Name New Assistant General Manager
PRESS RELEASE – Boyd Sports, LLC has announced that Kat Deal will be the Assistant General Manager of the Johnson City Cardinals, effective immediately.
Filed under Personnel & Operations
City Considers New Ballpark for K-Mets
City leaders in Kingsport will consider the possibility of a brand new minor league baseball stadium Tuesday. The new stadium would replace Hunter Wright Stadium, where the Kingsport Mets (Rookie, Appalachian League) currently play. Read more here.
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
Atwell Named GM of G-Reds
Boyd Sports, LLC has announced Kristen Atwell as the new General Manager of the Greeneville Reds (Rookie, Appalachian League), effective immediately. Atwell’s new role with the G-Reds comes following the inaugural season where she served as the Assistant General Manager of the team. Read more here.
Filed under Personnel & Operations
New Ballpark Initiative on Deck in Kingsport
Building a new minor league baseball stadium in downtown Kingsport (TN) for the Kingsport Mets (Rookie, Appalachian League) is now the main focus of the One Kingsport initiative. It essentially takes the place of the outdoor venue idea and expands upon it. Read more here.
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
Major Renovations Coming to Calfee Park
Major renovations are coming to Motor Mile Field at Calfee Park, according to the Pulaski Yankees (Rookie, Appalachian League). On deck are an additional 675 seats and a new upper concourse along the third baseline. Read more here. Read press release here.
Are the Elizabethton Twins Truly in Jeopardy?
In early February, the Elizabethton (TN) City Council voted unanimously to set a February 28th deadline for the Minnesota Twins to commit to an improvement plan for Joe O’Brien Field, home of the Elizabethton Twins (Rookie, Appalachian League). At the time, the mayor said that if the deadline isn’t met, Elizabethton leaders would withdraw their offer. Continue reading
Filed under Design & Construction, Lease & Contracts, Stadium Issues
Appalachian League President to Retire After 2018 Season
PRESS RELEASE – The Appalachian League of Professional Baseball Clubs announced today that after 23 seasons at the helm, league president Lee Landers will retire following the 2018 season.
Filed under Personnel & Operations
Appalachian League President Lee Landers Named King of Baseball
Minor League Baseball announced today that Lee Landers, president of the Appalachian League, has been named the 2017 King of Baseball. The King of Baseball is a long-standing tradition in which Minor League Baseball recognizes a veteran of professional baseball for longtime dedication and service. Read more here.
Filed under Awards & Recognition
Johnson City’s VP/GM Accepts Position with Lugnuts
Boyd Sports, LLC has announced that Johnson City Cardinals Vice President/General Manager Tyler Parsons is moving on from the organization after accepting a position with the Lansing Lugnuts of the Midwest League. Read more here.
Filed under Personnel & Operations
Astros Cut Ties with Greenville, Appalachian League
The Houston Astros are ending their affiliation with the Rookie Level Appalachian League, making the future of minor league baseball in Greeneville uncertain. Read more here and here. Thanks to Joe DeLeonard for the news.
Filed under League & Franchise
New Turf Looking Good in Johnson City
Boyd Sports has completed its $250,000 installation of new synthetic turf on TVA Credit Union Ballpark’s infield and other areas well ahead of the Johnson City Cardinals’ (Rookie, Appalachian League) season. Read more and view photo gallery here.
Filed under Field & Turf
JC Cardinals Set Single Season Attendance Record
PRESS RELEASE – The Johnson City Cardinals set a new single-season attendance record Tuesday night by welcoming their 48,039th fan, Doug Janz, through the gates of TVA Credit Union Ballpark in 2016. The new mark eclipses the 48,038 total from the 1994 campaign. Janz received a special prize pack from the Cardinals for the recognition, including a team autographed jersey. Continue reading
Filed under Rankings & Attendance
Ballpark Renovations Underway in Johnson City
TVA Credit Union Ballpark, home of the Johnson City Cardinals, is undergoing $450,000 in renovations, which include the construction of a new party new deck. The work is expected to be completed by opening day on June 26. Read more here.
Bristol Eyeing Ballpark Improvements
Bristol (VA) city officials are developing plans to make improvements to Boyce Cox Field, home of the Bristol Pirates (Rookie, Appalachian League). Read more here
JC Cardinals Unveil Rendering for New Deck
PRESS RELEASE – The Johnson City Cardinals have released the first renditions of their new Party Deck/Beer Garden addition to TVA Credit Union Ballpark for the 2016 season. Continue reading
Calfee Park Looking Good, More Events Targeted
After undergoing $6 million in renovations over the past couple of years, operators of Calfee Park, home of the Pulaski Yankees (Rookie, Appalachian League), are looking to keep the facility humming with more games and events. Read more and enjoy a news report/ballpark tour here.
B-Royals Ballpark Getting New Bleachers
New bleachers will be installed along the first- and third-base sides at Burlington Athletic Stadium in another upgrade that Burlington Royals (Rookie, Appalachian League) General Manager Ryan Keur said is a significant enhancement. Read more here.
Filed under Amenities & Features, Stadium Issues
Bristol (TN) Approves Funding for Ballpark Study
A resolution to fund a $35,000 study to determine if Bristol needs a new Minor League baseball stadium for the Bristol Pirates (Rookie, Appalachian League) on the Tennessee side of town was approved by City Council Tuesday night. The Virginia side of town currently hosts the team at Boyce Cox Field at DeVault Memorial Stadium. Read more here.
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
Appy League Unveils New Logo
PRESS RELEASE – The Appalachian League of Professional Baseball Clubs announced today the creation of a new logo for the 10-team Rookie-Advanced level league. Continue reading
Filed under Branding & Marketing
Pulaski to Sell Ballpark, Mariners Pulling Out
The city of Pulaski (VA) voted Tuesday night to sell antiquated Calfee Park to Shelor Motor Mile — a car dealership owned by David Hagan. The Rookie-level Pulaski Mariners (Appalachian League) will not be returning in 2015. Hagan plans to renovate the park and is currently negotiating to bring in Continue reading
Filed under League & Franchise, Market & Location, Stadium Issues
Burlington (NC) Dreams of New Downtown Ballpark
Powers in Burlington (NC) dream of a new downtown ballpark for the Rookie-level Burlington Royals (Appalachian League), but it’s really nothing more than a dream right now. The B-Royals currently play at Burlington Athletic Stadium. Read more here.
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
Owners of Pulaski Mariners to Retire, Owners of Speedway/Dragway Will Take the Reins
PRESS RELEASE – After twenty-five years of operating a team in the Appalachian League, the owners of Pulaski Baseball, Inc. have decided to retire. Continue reading
Filed under Personnel & Operations
Ballpark Visit ALERT: Joe O’Brien Field (Elizabethton, TN)
Graham Knight from BaseballPilgrimages.com visits Joe O’Brien Field, home of the Rookie-level Elizabethton Twins (Appalachian League). Read more and view photos here.
Filed under Ballpark Visits
Bristol Pirates Unveil Logos
The Rookie-level Bristol Pirates (Appalachian League) introduced their new branding at a press conference this afternoon at the Pavilion at Boyce Cox Field in Bristol (VA). View press release here.
Filed under Branding & Marketing
Burlington Royals Getting New Scoreboard
A new scoreboard for Burlington Athletic Stadium, home of the Rookie-level Burlington Royals (Appalachian League), has been approved and should be installed by spring. Read more here.
Filed under Amenities & Features, Media, Stadium Issues
John and Lois Dittrich Hired to Run Pulaski Mariners
PRESS RELEASE – The Pulaski Mariners (Appalachian League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners) have announced the hiring of veteran husband-wife baseball management team John & Lois Dittrich to oversee team operations in Pulaski. Continue reading
Filed under Personnel & Operations
Bristol Sox Change Name to Bristol Pirates
PRESS RELEASE – Bristol Baseball, Inc. has announced that Bristol’s team in the Appalachian League will officially be known as the Bristol Pirates. Continue reading
Filed under Branding & Marketing
Greenville Astros Say Goodbye to Mascots Tex and Tess
PRESS RELEASE – The Greeneville Astros announced today that longtime mascots Tennessee Tex and Tennessee Tess have decided it is time for them to move on and leave the job of leading the roar of the crowd at Pioneer Park to someone else. The announcement was made by Tex and Tess along with Greeneville Astros general manager David Lane during a news conference at Continue reading
Filed under Fun & Atmosphere, Personnel & Operations
P-Mariners Losing GM
PRESS RELEASE – The Pulaski Mariners have announced today that General Manager Ryan Kiel will be leaving the organization to become the Assistant Athletic Director at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne Florida. Continue reading
Filed under Personnel & Operations
Ballpark Visit ALERT: Howard Johnson Field (Johnson City, TN)
Brian Merzbach from BallparkReviews.com visits Howard Johnson Field, home of the Rookie-level Johnson City Cardinals (Appalachian League). View photos and review here.
Filed under Ballpark Visits
Greenville Astros Unveil New Branding, Unis
PRESS RELEASE – The Greeneville Astros officially revealed the club’s new uniforms, logos and color schemes for the 2013 season at a Launch Party held today at Pioneer Park. Astros’ fans in attendance witnessed the club reveal a blue and orange color scheme, the same colors that will be worn by the Houston Astros. Continue reading
Filed under Branding & Marketing, Merchandising
Paupeck Named GM of Kingsport Mets
PRESS RELEASE – The St. Lucie Mets have announced long-time employee Brian Paupeck has been named the General Manager of the Kingsport Mets. Paupeck, who served as the teams Manager of Food and Beverage Operations for 10 years, will run the day-to-day operations in Kingsport. Continue reading
Filed under Personnel & Operations
George McGonagle Crowned ‘King of Baseball’
PRESS RELEASE – Minor League Baseball named Bluefield Blue Jays President George McGonagle, who has been with the Appalachian League club for more than 50 years, the “2012 King of Baseball” tonight at the annual Baseball Winter MeetingsBanquet. The “King of Baseball” is a long-standing tradition in which Minor League Baseball salutes a veteran from the professional Continue reading
Filed under Awards & Recognition
From Bat Boy in Auburn to GM in Bluefield
Starting out as a bat boy in 2001, Jeff Gray, 22, spent a decade of summers in various roles with the Single-A Auburn Doubledays (New York-Penn League). Now he has the opportunity to run the show in Bluefield (WV) as the new general manager for the Rookie-level Bluefield Blue Jays (Appalachian League). Read more here.
Filed under Personnel & Operations
Greeville Astros Contemplating New Mascots
PRESS RELEASE – The upcoming 2013 season will mark the 10th year for the Greeneville Astros as a member of the Appalachian League, but the club will have a brand new look beginning next season. The Astros are following the lead of their parent club in Houston by changing the club’s logos, uniforms and color schemes beginning next season. The date of the unveiling of these Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized