Any minor league baseball fans?

[813Jag]

Does anyone attend any local minor league games? I go to see the Tampa Yankees.

Attendance isn't really good, it's still kind of weird having the Yankees here with the Rays trying to get a foothold in the city.

[AshevilleApp2]

I like to go see the Asheville Tourists, particularly on Thursdays. They have dollar beers those nights and I live close enough to walk.

[SideLine Shooter]

I like to go see the Asheville Tourists, particularly on Thursdays. They have dollar beers those nights and I live close enough to walk.

I use to go see the Tourists when I was in town. Great Minor League Ball Park and a lot of fun. They really know how to take care of the fans there.xthumbsupx xthumbsupx xthumbsupx xthumbsupx

[andy7171]

I haven't been to a minor league game in years. Not that I am opposed to going, it's just that the Aberdeen Ironbirds (A) are 40 minutes away and the Frederick Keys (A) are 45 minutes away and the Bowie BaySox (AA) are like an hour. Camden Yards is a 5 minute drive. The O's play like a AAA team sometimes though.

[mcveyrl]

I'm right smack in the middle of the Appalachian League (Rookie League). I've got 4 or 5 teams within 30 minutes. The cool thing is that there's a lot of history in the league. It's been around for a while and a lot of hall of famers have come through (Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken, Kirby Puckett, etc.).

Having said that, I usually only go once or twice a year to the closest one (Kingsport Mets).

[AshevilleApp2]

I'm right smack in the middle of the Appalachian League (Rookie League). I've got 4 or 5 teams within 30 minutes. The cool thing is that there's a lot of history in the league. It's been around for a while and a lot of hall of famers have come through (Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken, Kirby Puckett, etc.).

Having said that, I usually only go once or twice a year to the closest one (Kingsport Mets).

Is the Bristol team still affiliated with the Tigers?

[813Jag]

I'm right smack in the middle of the Appalachian League (Rookie League). I've got 4 or 5 teams within 30 minutes. The cool thing is that there's a lot of history in the league. It's been around for a while and a lot of hall of famers have come through (Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken, Kirby Puckett, etc.).

Having said that, I usually only go once or twice a year to the closest one (Kingsport Mets).
That's why I like it here. In my general area there is: Tampa Yankees, Clearwater Thrashers, Sarasota Reds, Dunedin Blue Jays, Lakeland Tigers, Fort Myers Miracle, and Daytona Cubs.

[mcveyrl]

Is the Bristol team still affiliated with the Tigers?

No, they were when I was little (my wife just threw away my Bristol Tigers batting helment). Now they're affiliated with the White Sox.

The teams are:

Bristol Sox
Kingsport Mets
Johnson City Cardinals
Danville Braves
Burlington Royals
Princeton Devil Rays (will they drop the Devil too?)
Elizabethton Twins
Burlington Royals
Bluefield Orioles
Greeneville Astros

[mcveyrl]

They've talked for a few years about making the Appy League a co-op league with several teams being affiliated with each team. To me, that would sort of take away from it, but if it's what it takes to keep the league...

[89Hen]

I haven't been to a minor league game in years. Not that I am opposed to going, it's just that the Aberdeen Ironbirds (A) are 40 minutes away and the Frederick Keys (A) are 45 minutes away and the Bowie BaySox (AA) are like an hour. Camden Yards is a 5 minute drive. The O's play like a AAA team sometimes though.
That's my team when I go. The Keys are only 35 minutes from me and it's actually a lot more enjoyable in many ways compared to MLB games. I can buy tix right behind home plate the day before the game for $11 a seat or just do GA for $8 ($5 for kids). Park in a lot within a couple hundred yards of the gate. Micro brews are half the price of an MLB game. What's not to like?

Just went on the website and for this Friday I can make my kids feel like they are big wheels and get second row behind the plate. xthumbsupx

[FCS Preview]

I usually get to a couple of LI Ducks games a year.

When we go to FLA we head to Roger Dean Stadium to catch a Cardinals or Hammerheads (they share the stadium) game.

The park is usually empty...good for my kids getting a foul ball, and the last two times we've been there, they've gotten to take part in the mid-inning entertainment. Last year my daughter got to race the Hammerhead mascot around the bases, while my son another inning answered a trivia question (hold up A, B or C kind of thing).

[griz8791]

There are rookie league teams scattered around Montana, Idaho, and northern Utah, including one here in Great Falls. Generally the pitchers aren't all that hot and you get to see the rest of the game instead of a bunch of guys being struck out one after the other.

[andy7171]

That's my team when I go. The Keys are only 35 minutes from me and it's actually a lot more enjoyable in many ways compared to MLB games. I can buy tix right behind home plate the day before the game for $11 a seat or just do GA for $8 ($5 for kids). Park in a lot within a couple hundred yards of the gate. Micro brews are half the price of an MLB game. What's not to like?

Just went on the website and for this Friday I can make my kids feel like they are big wheels and get second row behind the plate. xthumbsupx

Question is, do you let 89jr hold your keys in the 7th inning stretch? :p

You should stop at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen on your way back to DE. It's like a mini Camden Yards, and the smell of steamed crabs in right field drives you insane!

[brownbear]

I went to a Pawtucket Red Sox game a few weeks ago (first time I had ever been to a Paw Sox game), but I've been to about 25 games around the country over the years. Next year, the Richmond Braves are moving to Gwinnett County, Georgia to a new park about 20 minutes from my house, so I hope to go to a lot of those games. Going to a 7:30 Braves game at Turner Field means I usually have to leave the house 5:00 to get down there because of traffic and parking (The Atlanta cops actually block off streets to make traffic worse around the stadium). It's becoming a pain, and now tickets have doubled in price over the last five or so years.

I've been to games at these stadiums:

Pawtucket
Richmond
Nashville
Chattanooga
Huntsville
Frederick, MD
Salisbury, MD

[813Jag]

I went to a Pawtucket Red Sox game a few weeks ago (first time I had ever been to a Paw Sox game), but I've been to about 25 games around the country over the years. Next year, the Richmond Braves are moving to Gwinnett County, Georgia to a new park about 20 minutes from my house, so I hope to go to a lot of those games. Going to a 7:30 Braves game at Turner Field means I usually have to leave the house 5:00 to get down there because of traffic and parking (The Atlanta cops actually block off streets to make traffic worse around the stadium). It's becoming a pain, and now tickets have doubled in price over the last five or so years.

I've been to games at these stadiums:

Pawtucket
Richmond
Nashville
Chattanooga
Huntsville
Frederick, MD
Salisbury, MD
Does MARTA run near the stadium? I'm making plans to be in Atlanta this summer and my wife is dying to move back.

[mcveyrl]

Does MARTA run near the stadium? I'm making plans to be in Atlanta this summer and my wife is dying to move back.

I always take the train to the Five Points station and they have a shuttle that runs to the stadium. If you're too early to take the shuttle, there's a bus line that runs to the stadium too (usually the driver will go off the route to get you right at the stadium).

[813Jag]

I always take the train to the Five Points station and they have a shuttle that runs to the stadium. If you're too early to take the shuttle, there's a bus line that runs to the stadium too (usually the driver will go off the route to get you right at the stadium).
I know we used to take the train to the underground. I wasn't sure.

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

Usually try to take in a game ever year in New Britain (Rock Cats - Twins) and Norwich (CT Defenders - Giants, the last time I checked, they don't get much coverage in Hartford because of the proximity of the Rock Cats) to watch AA baseball. Going to try to do better this year. The worst seats in the park are ones you'd have to pay an arm and a leg for at a major league park.

[Eaglesrus]

Sorry to say that I haven't been out to see the Sand Gnats yet this year. My Company has a gathering out there every year and we usually go to a couple of other games each season.

[Cobblestone]

Usually try to take in a game ever year in New Britain (Rock Cats - Twins) and Norwich (CT Defenders - Giants, the last time I checked, they don't get much coverage in Hartford because of the proximity of the Rock Cats) to watch AA baseball. Going to try to do better this year. The worst seats in the park are ones you'd have to pay an arm and a leg for at a major league park.

xthumbsupx

Dodd Stadium, great place to watch a game. I go there a couple of times a year with the family. Skybox seats at that park are $15.00 per person, try to find that at any sports venue out there. I like the grassy knoll areas on either side of the two bullpens. The Defenders weren't very good last season but so far are playing pretty well. I've already got tickets for the Memorial Day game vs. Harrisburg (AA affiliate of the Nationals), looking forward to it.

Minor baseball is one of the best deals in America.

[813Jag]

A few shots I took a couple of weeks ago at Legends field:

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa108/cdwells750/ty.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa108/cdwells750/ty2.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa108/cdwells750/ty3.jpg

[813Jag]

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa108/cdwells750/ty4.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa108/cdwells750/ty5.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa108/cdwells750/ty6.jpg

[TwinTownBisonFan]

When I was in college I used to go to F-M Redhawks games, Newman Outdoor Field was great.

Living in St. Paul, I'll never go see the Saints... not with the Twins in town... I live in a big league town... I watch a big league team. But when I get the chance... I go down to Miesville for townball... which is the best in the world.

[andy7171]

Hey 813jag, is it as humid as it looks down there already?

[813Jag]

Hey 813jag, is it as humid as it looks down there already?
The humidity has been picking up the last couple of weeks. It was actually cool (for Tampa) on the night I took those pics.

[Reed Rothchild]

I'll occasionally catch the Iowa Cubs (AAA) in Des Moines at Principal Park. Games are fun and they draw some of the best attendance in AAA.

The first base line has a wonderful view of the downtown skyline and is even better after sunset.

[poly51]

I go to the San Luis Obispo Blues games at times. I attended my first Blues game in 1952. They are the local semi pro/Collegiate summer league team.

[Eaglesrus]

One thing we're looking forward to in Savannah:

Sometime soon (before the end of May) it's going to be GSU - UGA night at a Savannah Sand Gnats game. A representative of one of the schools will throw out the first pitch, there will be competitions (I'm sure nothing serious) between the fans between innings, etc. GSU fans will probably be substantially out-numbered, but it'll be fun.

[Seawolf97]

Make a few Long Island Ducks games each summer. When I go to Myrtle Beach there is always the Pelicans. Of course the Mets and Yankees are only an hour from here. The Ducks games are always alot more fun and easier to get to and they arent too bad either.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I was at a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankee game last week and enjoyed it. I wouldn't mind heading down to the stadium soon to catch another. What i find funny is the lack of support the team receives. Everyone thought when the Phillies AAA affiliate moved to Allentown and the Yankees came here support would increase tenfold. In just the second year attendance is once again dreadful. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metro area just insn't interested in AAA baseball. Our AAA hockey team, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Penguins have awesome fan support and sell out almost every game.

[TheValleyRaider]

Local team is the Hudson Valley Renegades from the New York-Penn League (Short Season A). Usually end up going once a summer. They're in the Rays' organization, so lots of top draft picks have played at least a couple of weeks at Dutchess Stadium

Been to a handful of other Minor League parks over the years. Saw the Carolina Mudcats and Durham Bulls (both the old DAP and the new DBAP) when I lived in NC. Saw a couple of Syracuse Chiefs games while at Colgate. Last year stopped to see the Salem Avalanche on my drive down to Texas, then just tonight saw the Harrisburg Senators on my way home. Harrisburg's park is really nice, on an island on the river in the center of the city.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankee's PNC Field

http://www.ballparkreviews.com/scranton/swb2.jpg

http://www.ballparkreviews.com/scranton/swb4.jpg

http://www.ballparkreviews.com/scranton/swb.jpg

[HiHiYikas]

For three years I lived about a half a mile from Richmond's The Diamond. Despite the cool name, The Diamond pretty much embodies everything that baseball teams have been rushing to demolish over the last decade. It's like Cincinnati's old Riverfront Stadium, except somebody's taken 3 or 4 good bites out of the donut.

A lot of the roof blew away during Hurricane Isabel a few years ago, then a giant sinkhole opened in the outfield, forcing the R-Braves to play home games in Norfolk. It's surrounded by railroad yards, sketchy-looking warehouses, and interstate highways. The place has almost no redeeming qualities at all, yet talk of a new stadium got lots of Richmonders up in arms.

"SAVE THE DIAMOND" signs started popping up in people's yards. Folks with petitions worked pretty much every R-Braves home game.

So plans for a new park downtown stalled, and now the Braves are leaving town. I say "good riddance." The Braves don't deserve to have fans outside of Georgia, much less 2 hours from Camden Yards and Nationals Stadium.

I hope that, if/when a new team comes to town, its not AAA. A lot of those guys are playing for MLB league minimum, which is getting pretty close to $300K. A lot of them are guys who don't have what it takes to move up, but don't have anyplace else to go. That, or they're prematurely washed-up big leagers on their way back down.

I grew up watching A ball, a bunch of 18-to-20-somethings playing for $600 a month. I really liked that. I hope Richmond's new team is, at most, a AA team.

[Cobblestone]

Minor League baseball stadiums have come a long way over the years. It's amazing how beautiful and comfortable even some of these AA ball parks are not to mention the AAA parks.

Here are a few shots of Dodd Stadium which is home of the Connecticut Defenders (AA affiliate of the SF Giants)

http://www.ballparkreviews.com/norwich/norwich2.jpg

http://www.ballparkreviews.com/norwich/norwich7.jpg

http://www.digitalballparks.com/Eastern/Dodd_-_From_Left_Berm_V2T.jpg


This is Hadlock Field, home of the Portland Sea Dogs (AA affiliate of the Red Sox).

http://www.seadogs.com/hadlock_clip_image002.jpg

[andy7171]

Anyone driving through Maryland on I-95 north of Baltimore drives right past this one.
Aberdeen Ironbirds (Orioles A)

http://ripkenbaseball.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/thumbcache/ceeabe3e2a3f8158a242a72c134ff83c.300.jpg

http://ripkenbaseball.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/News/Ripken%20Stadium.com%20photo.jpg

http://keepstrong.way-nifty.com/photos/stadiums/img_0935.jpg

http://www.digitalballparks.com/NYPenn/Ripken_-_From_1st_Upper_640T.jpg

http://www.pepimpact.com/images/GerryRipkenStadium_lg.jpg

[furman94]

GREENVILLE DRIVE! Best Minor League Park EVER! Voted best park of the year in 2006, beating several new MLB parks! The Drive knows how to treat the fans. With a sellout almost every night, there is always a great atmosphere. If you are ever in Greenville during the summer, GO TO A DRIVE GAME!

[UMass922]

I used to live practically across the street from the Vermont Expos, but I never went to a game.

As I kid I went to a couple of New Britain Red Sox games, at one of which Bob Feller was signing autographs. I still have the signed picture I got.

[Grizalltheway]

I usually make it to one or two Helena Brewers games per summer.

[BeauFoster]

I was a Winston-Salem Warthogs (high single A - Carolina League) season ticket holder for several years, but dropped them last season. I have been to games with over 6,000 in attendance, and I have been to games when I was literally the only person in my section. On one particularly overcast, damp night, I counted 64 people at the park. I walked over to an adjacent section to get a foul ball. Nearly everyone in attendance cheered for my effort.

[McNeese75]

I did go buy a t-shirt at the Toledo Mudhens stadium a couple years ago :D

[gokats85]

I'll be in Corpus Christi for a few days this summer to go and see the Hooks. A lot of Astros fans make the trip as it is the AA affiliate of the 'Stros.

http://www.thevillasofpadre.com/CorpusChristi_lg.jpg
http://www.logoserver.com/baseball/CorpusChristiHooks3.GIF

[chrisattsu]

http://texas-league.com.ismmedia.com/ISM2/MultimediaManager/712.jpeg.300.jpeg

San Antonio has a AA team for the Padres. Our mascots are Henry the Puffy Taco and Ballapeno

Go Missions!

[PaladinFan]

I love to watch my hometown Columbus Catfish.

If any of you are in the Greenville area this summer go see a game at Flour Field, home of the Drive. Hands down, no question, prettiest minor league ballpark I've been to.

[89Hen]

Anyone driving through Maryland on I-95 north of Baltimore drives right past this one.
Aberdeen Ironbirds (Orioles A)
xconfusedx No pics of the warehouse replica?

[andy7171]

xconfusedx No pics of the warehouse replica?

Ripken Stadium isn't the a replica of Camden Yards. The warehouse is actually a hotel for campers and LLWS competition. It's in the outfield of Cal Senior's field, which is one of four replica fields for the Ripken Little League Complex. The other three fields are Fenway, with Green Monster, Wrigley, with ivy and brick backstop and Memorial. All 4 have been dimensioned down for little league play. Very cool! xthumbsupx

10003

[Marcus Garvey]

I used to occasionally attend minor league games when I lived in New England: Nashua, Lowell and Pawtucket (no team in Manchester at the time). I lived in Tucson for 7 years and attended maybe 5 Sidewinders (Pacifc Coast League) games. Their stadium is in a god-forsaken part of the metro area, and isn't even within the city limits. There was absolutely nothing to do nearby.

But the main reason why I seldom attended minor league games is the g--damn promotions that they run between innings. Kids dressing up in sumo suits, "Spin on the bat" races, etc... I hate those. I'm here to watch baseball dammit. I thoroughly enjoy watching the game and find all the promotional activities and the families with brats that they attract to be really annoying.
Now, don't get me wrong. I fully understand why minor league owners do those promotions. I have no doubt that if I owned a team, I'd be doing the same thing to draw crowds.
It's just that I enjoy the sport and it irritates me that people would attend games primarily for that other crap. Just my xtwocentsx

[SunCoastBlueHen]

That's why I like it here. In my general area there is: Tampa Yankees, Clearwater Thrashers, Sarasota Reds, Dunedin Blue Jays, Lakeland Tigers, Fort Myers Miracle, and Daytona Cubs.


I've been to a few Clearwater Thresher's games (single A Phillies affiliate) in the years that I have lived here. It is a nice ballpark to take the little ones as they have a large playground facility down the third base side. The main attraction, though, is the tiki bar in left field. Without exaggeration, I would say that most nights there are more people hanging at Frenchy's than actually sitting in the stands.

http://www.ballparkreviews.com/clearwater/bhn4.jpg

[Go...gate]

Trenton Thunder, Newark Bears, Somerset Patriots, Lakewood Blue Claws and Atlantic City Surf. All are a lot of fun. We also had the NJ Cardinals in Augusta (Sussex County) for a while, but I believe they are now gone for good.

[andy7171]

Trenton Thunder, Newark Bears, Somerset Patriots, Lakewood Blue Claws and Atlantic City Surf. All are a lot of fun. We also had the NJ Cardinals in Augusta (Sussex County) for a while, but I believe they are now gone for good.

I've been to a Surf game in AC when vacationing in OCNJ. They love to do fireworks up there! xthumbsupx

[Cobblestone]

I used to occasionally attend minor league games when I lived in New England: Nashua, Lowell and Pawtucket (no team in Manchester at the time). I lived in Tucson for 7 years and attended maybe 5 Sidewinders (Pacifc Coast League) games. Their stadium is in a god-forsaken part of the metro area, and isn't even within the city limits. There was absolutely nothing to do nearby.

But the main reason why I seldom attended minor league games is the g--damn promotions that they run between innings. Kids dressing up in sumo suits, "Spin on the bat" races, etc... I hate those. I'm here to watch baseball dammit. I thoroughly enjoy watching the game and find all the promotional activities and the families with brats that they attract to be really annoying.
Now, don't get me wrong. I fully understand why minor league owners do those promotions. I have no doubt that if I owned a team, I'd be doing the same thing to draw crowds.
It's just that I enjoy the sport and it irritates me that people would attend games primarily for that other crap. Just my xtwocentsx

I agree but sadly we're seeing more and more of this in the sports world. But minor league baseball does take it to the extreme.

[brownbear]

I used to occasionally attend minor league games when I lived in New England: Nashua, Lowell and Pawtucket (no team in Manchester at the time). I lived in Tucson for 7 years and attended maybe 5 Sidewinders (Pacifc Coast League) games. Their stadium is in a god-forsaken part of the metro area, and isn't even within the city limits. There was absolutely nothing to do nearby.

But the main reason why I seldom attended minor league games is the g--damn promotions that they run between innings. Kids dressing up in sumo suits, "Spin on the bat" races, etc... I hate those. I'm here to watch baseball dammit. I thoroughly enjoy watching the game and find all the promotional activities and the families with brats that they attract to be really annoying.
Now, don't get me wrong. I fully understand why minor league owners do those promotions. I have no doubt that if I owned a team, I'd be doing the same thing to draw crowds.
It's just that I enjoy the sport and it irritates me that people would attend games primarily for that other crap. Just my xtwocentsx

Some parks have very few if any promotions. A lot of the AAA parks I've been too did not have them, but when you get down to AA and below, you have a ton of them.