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

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.

Wine Bill Reaches Governor’s Desk

The Single-A West Virginia Power (South Atlantic League) might soon be able to sell wine at Appalachian Power Park, if the governor signs into law a bill passed by the legislature on Thursday.  This development would also impact Appalachian League ballparks in Bluefield and Princeton, but apparently the Rookie Blue Jays and Rays don’t sell any alcohol.  Read more here.