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.

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!”

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.

Vibes Lead Pioneer League in Attendance After Inaugural Opening Weekend

The Rocky Mountain Vibes (Rookie, Pioneer League) now lead the Pioneer circuit in attendance with an average of 3,959 fans per game after the team’s inaugural three-game homestand this past weekend.    That’s still filling less than half of a 8,500-seat venue that hosted a Triple-A club until the end of last season, but it’s a great start.   As we’ve suggested before, we worry about the impact the lack of intimacy of a half-empty ballpark will have on the fan experience and long-term attendance.  We’ll see.  Read more here.  Watch video here.

What other baseball team gives fans post game S’mores? 🍫🔥✌️ pic.twitter.com/FeX5EH9Blt

— Vibes Baseball (@VibesBaseball) June 22, 2019

Vibes Unveil Uniforms, Mascot

The Rocky Mountain Vibes (Rookie, Pioneer League) have unveiled their inaugural uniforms and mascot named Toasty. Read more here and here.

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.

Osprey Announce New Ownership

PRESS RELEASE – Mike and Judy Ellis, the majority stakeholders in Mountain Baseball LLC, the franchise ownership group since 1993, announced Friday their intent to sell the franchise to Peter Davis and Susan Crampton Davis of Big Sky Professional Baseball LLC.

Deal Approved: Concerts Coming to Osprey’s Ballpark

The Missoula (MT) City Council on Wednesday ratified an agreement struck with the Missoula Osprey (Rookie, Pioneer League) and concert-promoter Logjam Presents to make greater use of Civic Stadium and bring the city more financial security in paying the facility’s debt.  The three-way agreement reduces the team’s annual lease from $120,000 to $40,000 a year.  Read more here.

County Formally Closes Book on Pueblo Ballpark Plan

The Pueblo County (CO) Commissioners officially shut down the proposed baseball stadium issue Monday, terminating a deal with the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority.  Read more here.

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.

Announcing the Oklahoma City Dodgers Rookie League

PRESS RELEASE – The Oklahoma City Dodgers and Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation have joined forces to create the OKC Dodgers Rookie League in order to help bolster youth baseball participation in the community as well as foster an environment that emphasizes leadership, teamwork and sportsmanship, the organizations announced today.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Suplizio Field (Grand Junction, CO)

Graham Knight of BaseballPilgrimages.com has posted a review of his ballpark visit to Suplizio Field, home of the Grand Junction Rockies (Rookie, Pioneer League).  Read more and view photos here.

Local Group Ponies Up for Field Improvements

The not-for-profit Bristol Baseball organization has borrowed the money necessary to address over $100k in field drainage issues at Devault Memorial Stadium, home of the Appalachian League’s Bristol (VA) Sox.  This year is the final year of the contract with the Chicago White Sox, the rookie league organization’s parent club, and there is concern that if field challenges are not addressed, the team might not be back.  Read more here.