Chico State to Honor Steve Nettleton

Chico State Athletics will be holding a celebration of the life of Steve Nettleton on Saturday at the stadium bearing his name, Nettleton Stadium.  His lifelong interest in baseball and dream of owning a baseball team came to fruition when Nettleton and his partners brought the Chico Heat (Independent Professional, Western Baseball League) to town in 1997.  Nettleton passed away in January.  Read more here.  Read more about the Heat here.

A Decade-Long Quest for Minor League Baseball in Sonoma County

Chris Lee of Kenwood (CA) started trying to bring baseball back to Sonoma County in 2004.  More than 10 years later, he is still at it.  The Pacific Association aside, Sonoma County hasn’t had minor league baseball since the Sonoma County Crushers (Indy Pro, Western Baseball League) played at now-demolished Rohnert Park Stadium from 1995-2003.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.  Read background story here.

Chico Heat Name General Manager

PRESS RELEASE – THe Chico Heat announced today that Hunter Hampton has joined the organization as General Manager to bring baseball back to Chico. The Heat have joined the Great West League and will begin play next June.

New Soccer Fields Replace Old Moana Stadium

Demolition of the old Moana Stadium in Reno (NV) began in July, as part of a plan to revitalize the property with soccer fields.  Now 200,000 square feet of freshly laid sod covers the site of the old ballpark and field.  In the spring, 7,500 players in the Great Basin Youth Soccer League will begin play on the new turf.  Read more and view news clip here.

Freedom Pro Baseball League Expects to Return

The indy pro Freedom Pro Baseball League is wrapping up its red-ink-bleeding inaugural season, but league chief Joe Sperle doesn’t seem deterred from returning next season in an interview with Rodney Johnson, president of the Arizona Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR).  In the interview, Sperle attempts to show how his

Moana Stadium to Face Wrecking Ball?

The Reno Recreation and Parks Commission has voted 9-0 to permanently close (and eventually level) deteriorating Moana Stadium to make room for a possible aquatic center.  There are still many hoops to jump through before the 50-year-old ballpark can be demolished, but it appears that its days are numbered.  The most recent team to make Moana home were the indy pro Reno

Blair Field to Get Major Makeover?

Blair Field, the former home of various indy pro clubs and still the “Dirtbags” of Long Beach State, might be getting a $8 to $12 million makeover.  Read more and view HKS rendering here.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Nut Tree Stadium (Travis Credit Union Park)

Ballpark Reviews visits what’s left of Nut Tree Stadium in Vacaville (CA), former home of the defunct Solano Steelheads from the failed indy pro Western Baseball League.  View photo here.  Compare this to the ballpark’s status a few years ago prior to being dismantled and shipped to Redding (CA).

Chico Outlaws on the Brink?

Once the darling market of the defunct indy pro Western Baseball League and now the Golden Baseball League, Chico (CA) might not be hosting indy pro ball next season. The Chico Outlaws are at the end of a six year lease agreement with Chico State University for the use of Nettleton Stadium, and the team has outstanding contractual obligations that will stifle lease renewal negotiations if they are not satisfied.  Read more here.