They honored Albert Pujols tonight for his hitting 500 home runs, one of only 28 major league players to do so since baseball started.
Sunday, June 8, 2014
June 7 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs Chicago White Sox
Took a cab ride over to the Angels Ball field for a 7 pm game with the White Sox.
They honored Albert Pujols tonight for his hitting 500 home runs, one of only 28 major league players to do so since baseball started.
Pretty big crowd- we left after 5 innings as we were tired from being up 20 hours and it was a bit chilly.
They honored Albert Pujols tonight for his hitting 500 home runs, one of only 28 major league players to do so since baseball started.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Greensboro Grasshoppers Class A for Miami Marlins Greensboro NC.
This was a mail in concession so we could save time returning to SC on Cooper's trip in the summer of 2014.
Greensboro has fielded professional teams since the early 1900s, in several different leagues. Early on, the nickname Greensboro Patriots was applied to those teams, in reference to the Battle of Guilford Court House.
There were a few false starts. In 1902 local cotton broker Leon J. Brandt fielded a Greensboro team in the North Carolina League, but the league failed in mid-season. The Virginia-North Carolina League of 1905 included a Greensboro franchise, also owned by Brandt. The league completed its season but disbanded thereafter.
The Patriots joined the Carolina Association in 1908 and began a run of 10 straight seasons in pro ball. The league was reorganized as the North Carolina Association for 1913 and renamed itself the North Carolina State League in 1916. The league played one more season and then disbanded after 1917. By then, America's involvement in World War I was well under way, and many minor leagues folded after 1917.
With peacetime, interest in professional baseball and the minor leagues revived. The Greensboro Patriots were revived as well, joining the newly formed Piedmont League in 1920, winning its inaugural championship. The Patriots also won the league title in 1926. In 1930, the club began a five-year affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Greensboro clubs initially played their home games at Cone Athletic Park, better known as simply Cone Park, a small facility on the grounds of the Cone Mills textile plant. World War Memorial Stadium opened in 1926 (on Armistice Day), but the Patriots continued to play at Cone Park until 1930, when the addition of lights and other improvements to the Stadium, spurred by the affiliation with the Cardinals, resulted in the team moving to the Stadium. The various Greensboro clubs would call the Stadium "home" for the next 75 years.
After the Cardinals contract expired, the franchise transferred to Asheville Tourists in 1935. Five years later, minor league ball returned to Greensboro for a couple of years, with another Piedmont League entry called the Greensboro Red Sox, which played during 1941-1942.
After the Piedmont League years, another Greensboro team operated in the Carolina League during 1945-1968. The club was known variously as the Patriots (1945–1951), the Greensboro Pirates (1952–1954), the Patriots again (1955–1957), the Greensboro Yankees (1958–67), and the Patriots once again (1968). Following the 1968 season, Greensboro dropped out of professional ball for the next ten years, during a time when minor league baseball had lost popularity. That situation would start to change for the better in the late 1970s, and Greensboro would benefit from it.
The minors returned to Greensboro in 1979, with a new entry in the Western Carolinas League. The WCL renamed itself as the South Atlantic League the next year, reviving the name once used by the Southern League. Abandoning the old nickname of "Patriots", which by then was best known for the New England Patriots of the NFL, the new club instead decided to adopt the nickname Greensboro Hornets. That nickname was better known for teams based in Charlotte, but the Charlotte Hornets baseball team had abandoned its nickname after the 1973 season, and the new Greensboro team adopted it. Some naming rights complications arose when the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA began play in 1988. The nicknames co-existed in the state until 1994, when the Hornets settled with the NBA and changed their name to the punning nickname Greensboro Bats. Consequently, the team mascot switched from a hornet to a flying bat wielding a baseball bat.
With the move from 80-year-old War Memorial Stadium to the new park in 2005, the club further expanded its corporate face-lift by changing nicknames again, to the alliterative Greensboro Grasshoppers.
In the 2008 season 18-year-old rookie Michael Stanton, former second round pick by the Florida Marlins set the single season home run record for the Hoppers with 39 homers.[1]
In 2011, the Grasshoppers won their last 13 of 15 regular season games to make the playoffs for the first time in 12 years. After winning the second half of the season in the Northern Division, the Grasshoppers went on to beat the Savannah Sand Gnats in five games to win the South Atlantic League championship, their first title in 29 years.
In 2012, the Grasshoppers won the SAL Northern Division "1st half" championship by posting a record of 46-24. They won the Northern Division title with a 2-0 sweep of the Hagerstown Suns
Greensboro has fielded professional teams since the early 1900s, in several different leagues. Early on, the nickname Greensboro Patriots was applied to those teams, in reference to the Battle of Guilford Court House.
There were a few false starts. In 1902 local cotton broker Leon J. Brandt fielded a Greensboro team in the North Carolina League, but the league failed in mid-season. The Virginia-North Carolina League of 1905 included a Greensboro franchise, also owned by Brandt. The league completed its season but disbanded thereafter.
The Patriots joined the Carolina Association in 1908 and began a run of 10 straight seasons in pro ball. The league was reorganized as the North Carolina Association for 1913 and renamed itself the North Carolina State League in 1916. The league played one more season and then disbanded after 1917. By then, America's involvement in World War I was well under way, and many minor leagues folded after 1917.
With peacetime, interest in professional baseball and the minor leagues revived. The Greensboro Patriots were revived as well, joining the newly formed Piedmont League in 1920, winning its inaugural championship. The Patriots also won the league title in 1926. In 1930, the club began a five-year affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Greensboro clubs initially played their home games at Cone Athletic Park, better known as simply Cone Park, a small facility on the grounds of the Cone Mills textile plant. World War Memorial Stadium opened in 1926 (on Armistice Day), but the Patriots continued to play at Cone Park until 1930, when the addition of lights and other improvements to the Stadium, spurred by the affiliation with the Cardinals, resulted in the team moving to the Stadium. The various Greensboro clubs would call the Stadium "home" for the next 75 years.
After the Cardinals contract expired, the franchise transferred to Asheville Tourists in 1935. Five years later, minor league ball returned to Greensboro for a couple of years, with another Piedmont League entry called the Greensboro Red Sox, which played during 1941-1942.
After the Piedmont League years, another Greensboro team operated in the Carolina League during 1945-1968. The club was known variously as the Patriots (1945–1951), the Greensboro Pirates (1952–1954), the Patriots again (1955–1957), the Greensboro Yankees (1958–67), and the Patriots once again (1968). Following the 1968 season, Greensboro dropped out of professional ball for the next ten years, during a time when minor league baseball had lost popularity. That situation would start to change for the better in the late 1970s, and Greensboro would benefit from it.
The minors returned to Greensboro in 1979, with a new entry in the Western Carolinas League. The WCL renamed itself as the South Atlantic League the next year, reviving the name once used by the Southern League. Abandoning the old nickname of "Patriots", which by then was best known for the New England Patriots of the NFL, the new club instead decided to adopt the nickname Greensboro Hornets. That nickname was better known for teams based in Charlotte, but the Charlotte Hornets baseball team had abandoned its nickname after the 1973 season, and the new Greensboro team adopted it. Some naming rights complications arose when the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA began play in 1988. The nicknames co-existed in the state until 1994, when the Hornets settled with the NBA and changed their name to the punning nickname Greensboro Bats. Consequently, the team mascot switched from a hornet to a flying bat wielding a baseball bat.
With the move from 80-year-old War Memorial Stadium to the new park in 2005, the club further expanded its corporate face-lift by changing nicknames again, to the alliterative Greensboro Grasshoppers.
In the 2008 season 18-year-old rookie Michael Stanton, former second round pick by the Florida Marlins set the single season home run record for the Hoppers with 39 homers.[1]
In 2011, the Grasshoppers won their last 13 of 15 regular season games to make the playoffs for the first time in 12 years. After winning the second half of the season in the Northern Division, the Grasshoppers went on to beat the Savannah Sand Gnats in five games to win the South Atlantic League championship, their first title in 29 years.
In 2012, the Grasshoppers won the SAL Northern Division "1st half" championship by posting a record of 46-24. They won the Northern Division title with a 2-0 sweep of the Hagerstown Suns
| Greensboro Grasshoppers Founded in 1979 Greensboro, North Carolina | |||||
| |||||
| Class-level | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | Single-A | ||||
| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| League | South Atlantic League | ||||
| Division | Northern Division | ||||
| Major league affiliations | |||||
| Current | Miami Marlins (2003–present) | ||||
| Previous | New York Yankees (1990–2002)
| ||||
| Minor league titles | |||||
| League titles | 4 (1980–1982 as the Hornets, 2011) | ||||
| Division titles | 2 (2011, 2012) | ||||
| Team data | |||||
| Nickname | Greensboro Grasshoppers (2005–present)
| ||||
| Colors | Green, Orange and White | ||||
| Ballpark | NewBridge Bank Park (2005-present) | ||||
| Previous parks | World War Memorial Stadium (1979-2004) | ||||
| Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | Greensboro Baseball LLC | ||||
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Buffalo Bisons AAA for Toronto Blue Jays Buffalo New York
We visited here with the Kingston's way back I think in May of 2008. It was about the coldest I have ever been at a ball game- it was about 41 degrees and the wind was blowing at 15-20 mph. We only lasted until about the fifth inning.
As close to the feel of a major league stadium as one will find in the minors. A fine facility on the whole, Pilot Field (now known as Coca-Cola field) is set in downtown Buffalo. With a capacity of 20,000+ it is one of the biggest minor league stadiums, and is annually among the attendance leaders in the minors. Most of the seating is on the field level, with some club level seating. A large concourse area houses a great variety of food and concession stands. A restaurant also resides on the premises down the right field line. Most of the seats in the stadium provide a view similar to what you would find in a major league stadium, certainly not typical of the intimacy of the lower minor leagues. The atmosphere is great with many promotions and fans who seem to enjoy the games. Ticket prices are quite low for such an outstanding facility and high level of minor league ball.
| |||||
Class-level
| |||||
Current
|
Triple-A (1985–Present)
| ||||
Previous
|
Double-A (1979–1984)
| ||||
Minor league affiliations
| |||||
League
|
International League (1998–Present)
| ||||
Division
|
North Division
| ||||
Previous leagues
|
| ||||
Major league affiliations
| |||||
Current
|
Toronto Blue Jays (2013–Present)
| ||||
Previous
|
New York Mets (2009–2012)
| ||||
Minor league titles
| |||||
League titles
|
1933, 1936, 1957, 1961, 1997, 1998, 2004
| ||||
Division titles
|
1998, 2001, 2004, 2005
| ||||
Team data
| |||||
Nickname
|
Buffalo Bisons (1979–Present)
| ||||
Colors
|
Scarlet, blue, white
| ||||
Ballpark
|
Coca-Cola Field (1988–Present)
·
| ||||
Previous parks
|
War Memorial Stadium (1961–1970, 1979–1987)
| ||||
Owner(s)/
Operator(s) | |||||
Manager
| |||||
General manager
| |||||
Saturday, April 12, 2014
After all these years, Las Vegas 51's is completed. AAA for New York Mets Las Vegas, Nevada
I originally went to Las Vegas with Brandon back in 2008 on a Western trip. I remember the game and field due to the fact that we were at the game at 8 pm, and the temperature was 106 at game time. They had misters in the stands to keep you from passing out!!!!
I had a pin, but not a ball. New mail in policy fixed that issue.
I'll have to look and see if I can find the original post I did from the visit.
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. As of the 2013 baseball season, the 51s are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets. This marks the Mets' third Triple-A affiliate change since their 37-year affiliation with the Norfolk Tides ended after the 2006 season (the New Orleans Zephyrs and Buffalo Bisons have also served as New York's AAA affiliate since 2007). The 51s were most recently the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, who have since taken the Mets' place as Buffalo's major league parent club.
They play at Cashman Field (capacity 9,334) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). The 51s won the PCL championship as the Stars in 1986 and 1988.
The 51s take their name from Area 51 which is located near Rachel, Nevada, about 80 miles north of Las Vegas, although the route that must be taken by car to get there takes about three hours of travel. The team logo jokingly depicts one of the grey aliens thought by UFO believers to inhabit that base.
In April 2013, the team was purchased by Summerlin Las Vegas Baseball Club LLC, a joint venture of Howard Hughes Corp. and Play Ball Owners Group, including investors Steve Mack, Bart Wear and Chris Kaempfer, with intentions of moving it to a new proposed stadium of $60 million, in Summerlin near the Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino. Summerlin is an affluent neighborhood in the western area of Las Vegas. Possible obstacles are the effects on property values and quality of life, in addition to potential stress on the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area ecology.[1]
On March 24, 2008, Mandalay Baseball Properties sold the 51s franchise to Stevens Baseball Group.[2] There were no plans to move the team,[3] and talks of building a new stadium have been essentially stagnant for the past seven years.[4][5] The team has sold about 5,000 tickets per game on average the last few years,[6] but far fewer fans typically attend home games.[7]
In May 2011, Stevens Baseball Group came to an agreement to sell the 51s for an undisclosed amount to Silver State Baseball Group, LLC, with ownership to be transferred by the end of July 2011. Chris Milam, head of Silver State Baseball Group, LLC plans to move the team to a new ballpark at his proposed Las Vegas National Sports Center, if the complex is built.[8]
I had a pin, but not a ball. New mail in policy fixed that issue.
I'll have to look and see if I can find the original post I did from the visit.
| Las Vegas 51s Founded in 1919 Las Vegas, Nevada | |||||
| |||||
| Class-level | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | Triple-A (1983 – present) | ||||
| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| League | Pacific Coast League (1983 – present) | ||||
| Conference | Pacific Conference | ||||
| Division | Southern Division | ||||
| Major league affiliations | |||||
| Current | New York Mets (2013 – present) | ||||
| Previous | Toronto Blue Jays (2009–2012)
| ||||
| Minor league titles | |||||
| League titles | 1986, 1988 (2) | ||||
| Division titles | 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2002 (8) | ||||
| Team data | |||||
| Nickname | Las Vegas 51s (2001 – present) | ||||
| Previous names | Las Vegas Stars (1983–2000)
| ||||
| Colors | Blue, Gray | ||||
| Ballpark | Cashman Field (1983 – present) | ||||
| Previous parks | Fairgrounds Recreational Park (1973–1983)
| ||||
| Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | Stevens Baseball Group[a] | ||||
| Manager | Wally Backman | ||||
They play at Cashman Field (capacity 9,334) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). The 51s won the PCL championship as the Stars in 1986 and 1988.
The 51s take their name from Area 51 which is located near Rachel, Nevada, about 80 miles north of Las Vegas, although the route that must be taken by car to get there takes about three hours of travel. The team logo jokingly depicts one of the grey aliens thought by UFO believers to inhabit that base.
In April 2013, the team was purchased by Summerlin Las Vegas Baseball Club LLC, a joint venture of Howard Hughes Corp. and Play Ball Owners Group, including investors Steve Mack, Bart Wear and Chris Kaempfer, with intentions of moving it to a new proposed stadium of $60 million, in Summerlin near the Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino. Summerlin is an affluent neighborhood in the western area of Las Vegas. Possible obstacles are the effects on property values and quality of life, in addition to potential stress on the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area ecology.[1]
The team's first affiliation was with the San Diego Padres from 1983 to 2000. In 2001, they became the top farm club of the Los Angeles Dodgers. That affiliation ended at the conclusion of the 2008 season, when the 51s signed on with the Toronto Blue Jays. The New York Mets became affiliated with the 51s after the Blue Jays and Buffalo Bisons, with whom the Mets had been affiliated since 2009, struck an agreement; since the 51s were the only other unaffiliated team the Mets moved their Triple-A club cross country.
In May 2011, Stevens Baseball Group came to an agreement to sell the 51s for an undisclosed amount to Silver State Baseball Group, LLC, with ownership to be transferred by the end of July 2011. Chris Milam, head of Silver State Baseball Group, LLC plans to move the team to a new ballpark at his proposed Las Vegas National Sports Center, if the complex is built.[8]
The Las Vegas 51s originally began as the second incarnation of the Portland Beavers baseball club, who reentered the Pacific Coast League after a two-year hiatus. In 1973, the team moved to Spokane, Washington, and were renamed the Indians.
Mail in visit- Lancaster Jet Hawks A Advanced for Houston Astros Lancaster, California
Another of the California Mail-Ins, to save time on this June's trip with Cooper
| Lancaster Jet Hawks Founded in 1955 Lancaster, California | |||||
| |||||
| Class-level | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | Class A – Advanced | ||||
| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| League | California League | ||||
| Division | Southern Division | ||||
| Major league affiliations | |||||
| Current | Houston Astros (2009–present) | ||||
| Previous |
| ||||
| Minor league titles | |||||
| League titles | 2012 [1960, 1961, 1975, & 1976 (as the Reno Silver Sox)] | ||||
| Division titles | 2004, 2008 (First & Second Half Crowns), 2012 (Wild Card) | ||||
| Team data | |||||
| Nickname | Lancaster JetHawks (1996–present)
| ||||
| Ballpark | The Hangar (1996–present) | ||||
| Previous parks | UC-Riverside Sports Center | ||||
| Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | Peter A. Carfagna and family | ||||
| Manager | Rodney Linares | ||||
| General manager | Will Thornhill | ||||
Mail in Visit- Lansing Lug Nuts- A for Toronto Blue Jays Lansing, Michigan
Mailed this one in, to save time on this summer's trip to Michigan- Will do a drive by though.
| Lansing Lugnuts Founded in 1955 Lansing, Michigan | |||||
| |||||
| Class-level | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | Single-A (1955–present) | ||||
| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| League | Midwest League (1955–present) | ||||
| Division | Eastern Division | ||||
| Major league affiliations | |||||
| Current | Toronto Blue Jays (2005–present) | ||||
| Previous | Chicago Cubs (1999–2004)
| ||||
| Minor league titles | |||||
| League titles | 1958, 1959, 1960, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1986, 1997, 2003 | ||||
Friday, April 11, 2014
Mail In Visit Round Rock Express Triple AAA for Texas Rangers Round Rock Texas
| Round Rock Express Founded in 1979 Round Rock, Texas | |||||
| |||||
| Class-level | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | Triple-A (2005–present) | ||||
| Previous | Double-A (2000–2004) | ||||
| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| League | Pacific Coast League (2005–present) | ||||
| Conference | American Conference | ||||
| Division | South Division | ||||
| Previous leagues |
| ||||
| Major league affiliations | |||||
| Current | Texas Rangers (2011–present) | ||||
| Previous | Houston Astros (2005–2010)
| ||||
| Minor league titles | |||||
| League titles | 1984, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002 | ||||
| Conference titles | 2006 | ||||
| Division titles | 1984, 1990, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2011 | ||||
| Team data | |||||
| Nickname | Round Rock Express (2000–present) | ||||
| Previous names | Edmonton Trappers (1981–2004)
| ||||
| Ballpark | Dell Diamond (2000–present) | ||||
| Previous parks | Telus Field (1995–2004)
| ||||
| Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | Ryan-Sanders Baseball | ||||
| Manager | Steve Buechele | ||||
| General manager | Chris Almendariz | ||||
Mail in visit- Carolina Mudcats High A for Cleveland Indians Zebulon, N.C.
Decided to do this as a mail in so we could save time on the return trip from Maine this summer.
| Carolina Mudcats Founded in 1978 Zebulon, North Carolina | |||||
| |||||
| Class-level | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | AHigh-A (1963–1974, 1978–present) | ||||
| Previous | B (1925–1927, 1956–1957, 1962)
| ||||
| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| League | Carolina League (1956–1957, 1962–1974, 1978–present) | ||||
| Division | Southern Division | ||||
| Previous leagues | Coastal Plain League (1934–1941, 1946–1952)
| ||||
| Major league affiliations | |||||
| Current | Cleveland Indians (1987–present) | ||||
| Previous | Co-op (1973, 1986)
| ||||
| Minor league titles | |||||
| League titles | 1935, 1947, 1962, 1988, 1991, 1995, 2004, 2006 | ||||
| Division titles | 1988, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2011 | ||||
| Team data | |||||
| Nickname | Carolina Mudcats (2012-present) | ||||
| Previous names | Kinston Indians (1987–2011)
| ||||
| Ballpark | Five County Stadium (2012–present) | ||||
| Previous parks | Grainger Stadium (1949–1952, 1956–1957, 1962–1974, 1978–2011)
| ||||
| Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | Steve Bryant (majority owner) and Carolina Mudcats Professional Baseball Club, Inc and Quint Studer. | ||||
| Manager | Edwin RodrÃguez | ||||
| General manager | Joe Kremer | ||||
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