1.
Memphis, Tennessee
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Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U. S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the fourth Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf, Memphis had a population of 653,450 in 2013, making it the largest city in the state of Tennessee. It is the largest city on the Mississippi River, the third largest in the greater Southeastern United States, the greater Memphis metropolitan area, including adjacent counties in Mississippi and Arkansas, had a 2014 population of 1,317,314. This makes Memphis the second-largest metropolitan area in Tennessee, surpassed by metropolitan Nashville, Memphis is the youngest of Tennessees major cities, founded in 1819 as a planned city by a group of wealthy Americans including judge John Overton and future president Andrew Jackson. A resident of Memphis is referred to as a Memphian, and the Memphis region is known, particularly to media outlets, as Memphis and the Mid-South. Occupying a substantial bluff rising from the Mississippi River, the site of Memphis has been a location for human settlement by varying cultures over thousands of years. The historic Chickasaw Indian tribe, believed to be their descendants, French explorers led by René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle and Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto would encounter the Chickasaw in that area, in the 16th century. J. D. L. Chickasaw Bluffs, located on the Mississippi River at the present day location of Memphis, spain and the United States vied for control of this site, which was a favorite of the Chickasaws. The United States gained the right to navigate the Mississippi River, the Spanish dismantled the fort, shipping its lumber and iron to their locations in Arkansas. Captain Isaac Guion led an American force down the Ohio River to claim the land, by this time, the Spanish had departed. The forts ruins went unnoticed twenty years later when Memphis was laid out as a city, the city of Memphis was founded on May 22,1819 by John Overton, James Winchester and Andrew Jackson. They named it after the ancient capital of Egypt on the Nile River, Memphis developed as a trade and transportation center in the 19th century because of its flood-free location high above the Mississippi River. Located in the delta region along the river, its outlying areas were developed as cotton plantations. The cotton economy of the antebellum South depended on the labor of large numbers of African-American slaves. Through the early 19th century, one million slaves were transported from the Upper South, Many were transported by steamboats along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. This gave planters and cotton brokers access to the Atlantic Coast for shipping cotton to England, the citys demographics changed dramatically in the 1850s and 1860s under waves of immigration and domestic migration. Due to increased immigration since the 1840s and the Great Famine, ethnic Irish made up 9.9 percent of the population in 1850, but 23.2 percent in 1860, when the total population was 22,623. They had encountered considerable discrimination in the city but by 1860 and they also gained many elected and patronage positions in the Democratic Party city government, and an Irish man was elected as mayor before the Civil War
2.
Triple-A (baseball)
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Triple-A is the highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States and Mexico. Before 2008, Triple-A leagues also fielded teams in Canada, a total of 30 teams play in the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League, with 14 teams in the IL and 16 in the PCL. The MLB-independent Mexican League fields 16 teams, interleague play between the International League and Pacific Coast League occurs twice each season. In July, each leagues All-Star team competes in the Triple-A All-Star Game, in September each leagues regular season champions play each other in the Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game to determine an overall champion of Triple-A baseball. The Triple-A classification was created before the 1946 season, prior to then, the top level of the minors had been designated as Double-A since 1912. The modern Double-A classification also dates to 1946, when the former Class A1 level was renamed, Triple-A teams main purpose is to prepare players for the Major Leagues. ESPN wrote in 2010, Winning is nice, but secondary, players on the 40-man roster of a major league team are eligible for promotion to the major league club once the major league roster expands on September 1. For teams in contention for the postseason, these create the flexibility needed to rest regular starters in late regular-season games. For those not in contention, using such players lets the teams evaluate them under game conditions, teams at this level are divided into three leagues, the International League, the Pacific Coast League, and the MLB-independent Mexican League. The Mexican League fields teams throughout Mexico, the International League traditionally fielded teams in the Northeastern United States, and now fields teams in the Midwest and South as well. The Pacific Coast League originally fielded teams on the West Coast, each of the 30 Major League Baseball teams has an affiliation with one Triple-A team in the United States. However, Mexican Triple-A teams are not included in the farm team system. The Triple-A All-Star Game is a game held between the two affiliated Triple-A leagues—the International League and the Pacific Coast League. Each league fields a team composed of the top players in their respective leagues as voted on by fans, the media, the event has taken place every year since 1988 when the first Triple-A All-Star Game was played in Buffalo, New York. Prior to 1998, a team of American League-affiliated Triple-A All-Stars faced off against a team of National League-affiliated Triple-A All-Stars, traditionally, the game has taken place on the day after the mid-summer Major League Baseball All-Star Game. The game is meant to mark a symbolic halfway-point in the season, both Triple-A leagues share a common All-Star break, with no regular-season games scheduled for two days before the All-Star Game itself. Some additional events, such as the All-Star Fan Fest and Triple-A Home Run Derby, take each year close to. It was originally held annually at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, since 2011, the game has been held in a different Triple-A city each year
3.
Pacific Coast League
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The Pacific Coast League is a Minor League Baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern, and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball and it is officially named the Pacific Coast League of Professional Baseball Clubs, Inc. The PCL maintains its headquarters in Round Rock, Texas, during the first half of the 20th century, the Pacific Coast League developed into one of the premier regional baseball leagues. With no major league baseball team existing west of St. Louis, although it was never recognized as a true major league, its quality of play was considered very high. During 1945 the league voted to become a major league, some players made a career out of the minor leagues. One of the better known was Frank Shellenback, whose Major League pitching career was brief, many former major-league players came to the PCL to finish their careers after their time in the majors had ended. The mild climate of the West Coast, especially California, allowed the league to play longer seasons, sometimes starting in late February and this allowed players to hone their skills, earn an extra month or two of pay, and reduce the need to find off-season work. The longer playing season also allowed for games on the schedule. Teams sometimes played more than 200 games in a single season, during the 1905 season the San Francisco Seals set the all-time PCL record by playing 230 games. Even just prior to the 1958 reshuffling, the league was playing 170–180 games per season, one consequence of such lengthy seasons was that a number of the all-time minor-league records for season statistical totals are held by players from the PCL. In 1952, the PCL became the minor league in history to be given the Open classification. This limited the rights of major clubs to draft players from the PCL. The shift to the Open classification came just as minor league teams from coast to coast suffered a drop in attendance. The hammer blow to the PCLs major league dreams came in 1958, when the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, as a result, three of the PCLs flagship teams were immediately forced to relocate to smaller markets. Additionally, the PCL lost customers to the league teams which now occupied the same territory. The league never recovered from these blows, the Pacific Coast League reverted to Triple-A classification in 1958, and soon diminished in the public eye to nothing more than another minor league. The Oakland Oaks had moved to Canada two years before the arrival of the Giants, the San Diego Padres and Seattle Rainiers were displaced by Major League teams in 1969, but by this time the PCLs decline was already far advanced. The league now stretches from Western Washington to Middle Tennessee, despite its name, the league now has as many teams east of the Mississippi as it does near the Pacific coast
4.
St. Louis Cardinals
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The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the National League Central division. Busch Stadium has been their home ballpark since 2006, with origins as one of the early professional baseball clubs in St. Upon the discontinuation of the AA, St. Louis joined the NL in 1892, at time, they were called the Browns. One of the most successful franchises in history, the Cardinals have won 11 World Series championships. Their 19 National League pennants rank third in NL history, in addition, St. Louis has won 13 division titles in the East and Central divisions. While still in the AA, St. Louis won four league championships, the Cardinals have won 105 or more games in four different seasons and won 100 or more a total of nine times. Cardinals players have won 20 league MVPs, four batting Triple Crowns, and three Cy Young Awards. Baseball Hall of Fame inductees include Lou Brock, Dizzy Dean, Bob Gibson, Whitey Herzog, Rogers Hornsby, Joe Medwick, Stan Musial, Branch Rickey, Red Schoendienst, Ozzie Smith, and Bruce Sutter. In 2016, Forbes valued the Cardinals at $1.6 billion, making them the 7th-most valuable franchise in MLB, their revenue the year was $300 million. Since their purchase in 1995, owner William DeWitt, Jr. s investment group has seen enormous growth from the $147 million purchase price, John Mozeliak is the general manager and Mike Matheny is the manager. Professional baseball began in St. Louis with the inception of the Brown Stockings in the National Association in 1875, the NA folded following that season, and the next season, St. Louis joined the National League as a charter member, finishing in third place at 45-19. George Bradley hurled the first no-hitter in Major League history, the NL expelled St. Louis from the league after 1877 due to a game-fixing scandal and the team went bankrupt. Without a league, they continued play as a barnstorming team through 1881. For the 1882 season, Chris von der Ahe purchased the team, reorganized it, and made it a member of the American Association. 1882 is generally considered to be the first year existence of the St. Louis Cardinals, the next season, St. Louis shortened their name to the Browns. Soon thereafter they became the dominant team in the AA, as manager Charlie Comiskey guided St. Louis to four pennants in a row from 1885 to 1888. Pitcher and outfielder Bob Caruthers led the league in ERA and wins in 1885 and he also led the AA in OBP and OPS in 1886 and finished fourth in batting average in 1886 and fifth in 1887
5.
AutoZone Park
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AutoZone Park is a Minor League Baseball stadium located in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, and is home to the Memphis Redbirds of the Pacific Coast League. The Redbirds are the AAA affiliate of Major League Baseballs St. Louis Cardinals, in 2009, the stadium was named Minor League Ballpark of the Year by Baseball America. Designed by Looney Ricks Kiss Architects of Memphis with Kansas City-based HOK Sport and this is by far the most money ever spent on a structure dedicated to a minor league baseball team. It opened in 2000, replacing Tim McCarver Stadium, the stadium also hosts some games for the University of Memphis baseball team, and most notably, the annual game with Ole Miss. However, the Foundation defaulted on its bond payment in 2010, in October 2004 and 2005 AutoZone park was home to the Greater Mid-South Jaycees Field of Screams Haunted House. In October 2005, AutoZone Park became the first venue outside of New Orleans to host the Voodoo Music Experience, one day of this music festival was moved to Memphis due to Hurricane Katrina. The game featured the Cardinals and the Cleveland Indians, with the Cardinals winning 5-1, the second game was played on March 29,2008, between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Mets. The Mets defeated the White Sox 3-2, on August 31,2008, the ballparks largest crowd to date witnessed the Redbirds lose to the Oklahoma RedHawks, 10-7 in front of 18,620 fans. AutoZone Park has a capacity of 10,000, and has been aptly described as one-third of a major league baseball park. For its construction 17,586 cubic yards of concrete were used, there are 125,738 square feet of brick walls surrounding it, utilizing 380,000 specially manufactured bricks. It holds 3,400 tons of steel and 227 miles of electrical wiring, to build the playing field,350 tons of clay and 5,000 tons of sand were needed. The outfield contains 100,000 square feet of sod, the infield is capable of draining 1 inch of rain per hour. While remaining playable, which means that the field only rarely has to be covered during games, AutoZone Park also has one of the largest video screens in minor league baseball. It is located 127 feet above the field, giving a view of the board to many areas of downtown Memphis. On January 10,2012 the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported that the Redbirds will install a 60 by 60 feet full HD video display, the new video board will be the largest in Minor League Baseball. AutoZone Park contains several special seating sections designed to give patrons a variety of viewing options, the Family Leisure Picnic Pavilion is located on the east of the park, and contains several picnic tables and space for vending food. It is commonly used for special event hosting, and can seat up to 500 people, the Bluffs, located in each corner of the park has grass covered lawn seating, and tickets to this area are sold cheaply, but in limited numbers. It is a spot for many fans because of the picnic atmosphere
6.
Minor League Baseball
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All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses. Most are members of the organization known as Minor League Baseball. Several leagues, known as independent baseball leagues, do not have any links to Major League Baseball. Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball teams may enter into a PDC for a two- or four-year term. At the expiration of a PDC term, teams may renew their affiliation, or sign new PDCs with different clubs, though many relationships are renewed and endure for extended time periods. Minor League teams that are owned directly by the major league club do not have PDCs with each other and are not part of the reaffiliation shuffles that occur every other year, several more independent leagues operate in the United States and Canada. The earliest professional baseball association, the National Association of 1871 to 1875 and this system proved unworkable, however, as there was no way to ensure competitive balance, and financially unsound clubs often failed in midseason. This problem was solved in 1876 with the formation of the National League, with a membership which excluded less competitive. Professional clubs outside the National League responded by forming regional associations of their own, there was a series of ad hoc groupings, such as the New England Association of 1877 and the Eastern Championship Association of 1881. These were loose groups of independent clubs which agreed to play a series of games for a championship pennant, the first minor league is traditionally considered to be the Northwestern League of 1883 to 1884. Unlike the earlier minor associations, it was conceived as a permanent organization and it also, along with the National League and the American Association, was a party to the National Agreement of 1883. Included in this was the agreement to respect the reserve lists of clubs in each league, teams in the National League and the American Association could only reserve players who had been paid at least $1000. Northwest League teams could reserve players paid merely $750, implicitly establishing the division into major and minor leagues, over the next two decades, more minor leagues signed various versions of the National Agreement. Eventually, the minor leagues joined together to negotiate jointly, in the late 1890s, the Western League run by the fiery Ban Johnson decided to challenge the National Leagues position. Representatives of the different minor leagues met at the Leland Hotel in Chicago on September 5,1901, in response to the National–American battle, they agreed to form the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, called the NAPBL, or NA for short. The purpose of the NA at the time was to maintain the independence of the leagues involved, several did not sign the agreement and continued to work independently. Powers was made the first president of the NAPBL, whose offices were established in Auburn, in 1903, the conflict between the American and National Leagues ended in the National Agreement of 1903. The NAPBL became involved in the stages of the negotiations to develop rules for the acquisition of players from their leagues by the National
7.
WHBQ (AM)
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WHBQ is an AM radio station in Memphis, Tennessee, in the United States of America. Although today it broadcasts sports news exclusively, the station became famous in the 1950s for playing rhythm, owned by Flinn Broadcasting, the stations studios are located in Southeast Memphis, and the transmitter site is in North Memphis. WHBQ was once owned by RKO General and its reputation was developed by Dewey Phillips, a disc jockey who played rhythm and blues music on his night-time show, Red, Hot and Blue. In 1954, Phillips played a recording of Thats Alright Mama by Elvis Presley, for many years, WHBQ was considered a farm club for RKO. In the 1960s, under the guidance of Bill Drake, WHBQ became Boss Radio, by the early eighties, the once-mighty music station could no longer compete with the increasing popularity of FM-band musical stations. They tried an oldies oriented format from 1981 to 1983 before switching to News/Talk, in 1988, RKO sold WHBQ to Flinn Broadcasting, a local media company, who tried oldies again, country and even heavy metal late at night. It supplements its national coverage with Yahoo, sports 56 WHBQ-AMs Weekly Show Hosts include, Peter Edmiston, David Basham, Dave Woloshin, Greg Gaston, Eli Savoie, Rob Fischer, Brett Norsworthy, Keith Parker, Elliot Wender and John Hardin
8.
Tennessee
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Tennessee is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th largest and the 17th most populous of the 50 United States, Tennessee is bordered by Kentucky and Virginia to the north, North Carolina to the east, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi to the south, and Arkansas and Missouri to the west. The Appalachian Mountains dominate the eastern part of the state, Tennessees capital and second largest city is Nashville, which has a population of 654,610. Memphis is the states largest city, with a population of 655,770, the state of Tennessee is rooted in the Watauga Association, a 1772 frontier pact generally regarded as the first constitutional government west of the Appalachians. What is now Tennessee was initially part of North Carolina, Tennessee was admitted to the Union as the 16th state on June 1,1796. Tennessee was the last state to leave the Union and join the Confederacy at the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, occupied by Union forces from 1862, it was the first state to be readmitted to the Union at the end of the war. Tennessee furnished more soldiers for the Confederate Army than any other state besides Virginia and this sharply reduced competition in politics in the state until after passage of civil rights legislation in the mid-20th century. This city was established to house the Manhattan Projects uranium enrichment facilities, helping to build the worlds first atomic bomb, Tennessees major industries include agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. Poultry, soybeans, and cattle are the primary agricultural products, and major manufacturing exports include chemicals, transportation equipment. In the early 18th century, British traders encountered a Cherokee town named Tanasi in present-day Monroe County, the town was located on a river of the same name, and appears on maps as early as 1725. The meaning and origin of the word are uncertain, some accounts suggest it is a Cherokee modification of an earlier Yuchi word. It has been said to mean meeting place, winding river, according to ethnographer James Mooney, the name can not be analyzed and its meaning is lost. The modern spelling, Tennessee, is attributed to James Glen, the governor of South Carolina, the spelling was popularized by the publication of Henry Timberlakes Draught of the Cherokee Country in 1765. In 1788, North Carolina created Tennessee County, the county to be established in what is now Middle Tennessee. When a constitutional convention met in 1796 to organize a new out of the Southwest Territory. Other sources differ on the origin of the nickname, according to the Columbia Encyclopedia. Tennessee ties Missouri as the state bordering the most other states, the state is trisected by the Tennessee River. The highest point in the state is Clingmans Dome at 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome, which lies on Tennessees eastern border, is the highest point on the Appalachian Trail, and is the third highest peak in the United States east of the Mississippi River
9.
Manager (baseball)
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In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized. A manager is essentially equivalent to the coach in other North American professional sports leagues. How much control a manager takes in a games strategy varies from manager to manager and from game to game. Some managers control pitch selection, defensive positioning, decisions to bunt, steal, pitch out, managers are typically assisted by two or more coaches. Typically, the title of manager is used in professional baseball. In many cases, a manager is a professional, semi-professional or college player. Many current and former managers are former catchers which include Mike Matheny, John Gibbons, Brad Ausmus, Joe Torre, Mike Scioscia, Bruce Bochy, the managers responsibilities normally are limited to in-game decisions, with off-the-field and roster management decisions falling to the teams general manager. The term manager used without qualification almost always refers to the field manager, some owners carried out both GM and field managerial duties themselves. Major League Baseball managers differ from the coaches of most other professional sports in that they dress in the same uniform as the players and are assigned a jersey number. The wearing of a uniform is frequently practiced at other levels of play. The manager may be called skipper or skip informally by his players
10.
Double-A (baseball)
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Double-A is the second highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States after Triple-A. There are thirty Double-A teams in three leagues at this classification, Eastern League, Southern League, and the Texas League, the Double-A classification usually hosts developing players that have been part of professional baseball for only a couple of years. These players can get to the Double-A level by earning a promotion from any of the Single-A or Rookie leagues, players often advance directly to the majors from this level, as the level of competition is higher. A small handful of players might be placed in Double-A to start, the step up to the Double-A level can be one of the hardest promotions for such players because it is the level at which pitchers need to have a good off-speed pitch in their repertoire. In addition, it is the level where fastball-only hitters need to learn how to hit off-speed pitches, Major League teams sometimes send players to play at the Double-A level to rehabilitate from injuries. Because players are not moving back and forth from the Major Leagues at this level, fans of Double-A teams have a longer amount of time to get acquainted with the players, which helps create a better relationship between the team and its fans. Unlike the major league and the Triple-A level, two of the three Double-A leagues have their season divided into two parts, the Eastern League being the exception, one team may clinch a spot in the playoffs by winning the division in first half of the season. The teams records are then cleared and another team will also clinch a playoff slot during the second half, wild cards are used to fill out the remaining teams. Usually, four teams qualify for the league playoffs and this system is used at the Class A level as well. On January 15,2015, Major League Baseball announced it will use a 20-second pitch clock during the 2015 Double-A season, Eastern League official website Southern League official website Texas League official website
11.
Southern League (baseball)
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The Southern League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the Southern United States. Classified a Double-A league, it is headquartered in the Atlanta suburb of Marietta, the league acquired its name in 1964, after the South Atlantic League, which had started in 1936, renamed itself to Southern League. The original Southern League existed from 1885 to 1899, a new league, the Southern Association, was formed in 1901, consisting of twelve teams. The association shut down after the 1961 season, in 1964, the original South Atlantic League changed its name to the Southern League. The original South Atlantic League was a mid- to higher-classification circuit that played from 1904 to 1917,1919 to 1930,1936 to 1942, the old South Atlantic League grew from Class C status to Class B and then Class A. In its final season, it was elevated to Double-A, the Southern League is divided into two divisions, North and South. Before 2005, the divisions were East and West, however, in 2012, the Carolina Mudcats relocated to Pensacola, Florida to become the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. In 2015, the Huntsville Stars relocated to Biloxi, Mississippi to become the Biloxi Shuckers, League members Other Current League Other Defunct League In 1971, the Southern League and Texas League were both down to 7 teams so they formed the Dixie Association for one season. They played interlocking schedules but held their own separate playoffs
12.
Jackson, Tennessee
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Jackson is the county seat of Madison County, Tennessee. Located 70 miles east of Memphis, it has long associated with the large city in trade. Its total population was 65,211 at the 2010 census and 67,265 in the 2012 Census estimate, Jackson is the primary city of the Jackson, Tennessee metropolitan area, which is included in the Jackson-Humboldt, Tennessee Combined Statistical Area. Jackson is Madison Countys largest city, and the second-largest city in West Tennessee next to Memphis and it is home to the Tennessee Supreme Courts courthouse for West Tennessee, as Jackson was the major city in the west when the court was established in 1834. In the antebellum era, Jackson was the city for an agricultural area based on cultivation of cotton. Beginning in 1851, the city became a hub of railroad systems ultimately connecting to major markets in the north and south, as well as east and west. This was key to its development, attracting trade and many workers on the railroads in the late 19th century with the construction of railroads after the American Civil War. Through the 1960s, the city was served by 15 passenger trains daily, the economy has adjusted to new businesses, with major manufacturing in the area. Based on the 2012 estimate, Jackson is the seventh-largest city in Tennessee, Jackson is located at 35°37′59″N 88°49′15″W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 49.5 square miles. Jacksons executive Mayor is elected every four years. In 2007, Jerry Gist was elected to succeed Charles Farmer, since 1989, the city charter provides for election of a representative legislative body of nine members, each elected by single-member districts. Jacksons city court judge serves a term with a fixed salary during each term. Its current judge is Blake Anderson, the court may dispose of misdemeanors and hold a preliminary hearing for felonies. If the judge holds that probable cause is established for felonies, then the decision is sent to the jury for indictment. Jackson has been home to the Tennessee Supreme Courts courthouse for West Tennessee since 1834, when the court was established, Jackson was the major city in the western part of the state, as Memphis had not been developed at that point. This area was occupied by the historic Chickasaw people at the time of European encounter and they were pushed out by European-American settlers under various treaties. European-American settlement of Jackson began along the Forked Deer River before 1820, primarily by migrants arriving from eastern areas of the Upper South, such as Virginia and Kentucky
13.
Jackson Generals
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The Jackson Generals are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The team is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and plays their games at The Ballpark at Jackson, opened in 1998. From their inaugural season until 2010, the Generals were known as the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, the new name is reflective of the Jackson Generals minor league team based in Jackson during the first half of the 20th century. Before moving to Jackson and becoming the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, the Chicks played at Tim McCarver Stadium from 1978 to 1997, winning the Southern League Championship in 1990 over the Orlando Sun Rays three games to two. The Generals began play as the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx in Jackson, in the following season,1999, manager Dave Trembley led the team to win the West Division title. They went on to play in the Southern League Championship series where they were defeated by the Orlando Rays, the Diamond Jaxx also hosted the SL All-Star Game that season. The 2000 team was managed by Dave Bialas and featured future major league stars as Carlos Zambrano. The team also won its first, and only, SL Championship and they defeated the Birmingham Barons to win the West Division title, and then beat the Jacksonville Suns to take the league title. The Diamond Jaxxs worst season came in 2001 when the team won only 59 games and lost 80, finishing with a.424 average, in 2002, the team lost the West Division Championship to the Birmingham Barons, two games to three. In 2004, Sammy Sosa appeared in two games for the club, in 2005, Nomar Garciaparra played in four games for the Diamond Jaxx. The team, managed by Bobby Dickerson, returned to action for the first time since 2002. They won the North Division Championship versus the Carolina Mudcats before losing the championship to the Jacksonville Suns. After the 2005 season, the team considered a move to South Carolina, citing financial problems and they later signed a three-year lease to play at The Ballpark at Jackson through the 2008 season. Following the 2006 season, the Diamond Jaxx ended their affiliation with the Cubs, the Diamond Jaxx began their affiliation with the Seattle Mariners in 2007. They finished the season with a.432 winning percentage, on October 2,2007, The Tennessean, reported that the teams owners entered into an agreement to sell the team to a group of Nashville-based investors. Low attendance and financial problems were cited as reasons for the sale, one of the new owners is Reese Smith III, who was also a minority partner in the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. The new owners planned to keep the team in Jackson for the 2008 season in an attempt to increase attendance, the sale was approved by the Southern League during the 2007 Baseball Winter Meetings. The majority owner is David Freeman, who is also the majority owner of the Nashville Predators, on September 6,2010, the team announced that they were retiring the Diamond Jaxx nickname after the 2010 SL playoffs, rebranding as the Jackson Generals for 2011 and beyond
14.
Comcast Spectacor
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Comcast Sports Ventures, doing business as Comcast Spectacor, is a Philadelphia-based American sports and entertainment company. It owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League and formerly owned the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association, the company was formed in 1974 by Flyers founder and chairman Ed Snider as Spectacor, the parent company of both the Flyers and the Spectrum. Snider had been instrumental in getting the Spectrum built in 1967 and he sold a 63% stake in Spectacor to Comcast in 1996, but remained as chairman of the renamed Comcast Spectacor. Shortly afterward, Comcast Spectacor bought the 76ers, as the Spectrums owner, Snider had been the Sixers landlord since 1971, Comcast Spectacor sold the 76ers to Joshua Harris in 2011. In April 2016 Ed Snider died at his home in California, on September 22,2016, Comcast announced that it will buy out the remaining 24% it does not own. Comcast Spectacor is the owner of Spectra. Watsco Center at the University of Miami in Miami, Florida Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario, the Wells Fargo Centers predecessor, The Spectrum, is the namesake of the company. XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut Spectra is composed of three divisions, Venue Management, Food Services & Hospitality, and Ticketing & Fan Engagement. Comcast Spectacor owns Ovations Food Services, which food and beverage services to arenas, stadiums, amphitheaters, fairgrounds
15.
Comcast
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Comcast Corporation is an American global telecommunications conglomerate that is the largest broadcasting and cable television company in the world by revenue. Comcast services U. S. residential and commercial customers in 40 states, the companys headquarters are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first Universal theme park outside of the U. S, Universal Studios Japan, opened in 2001, followed by Universal Studios Singapore in 2011. Few new locations are being planned or developed for future operation, Comcast also has significant holdings in digital distribution. In February 2014 the company agreed to merge with Time Warner Cable in an equity swap deal worth $45.2 billion, under the terms of the agreement Comcast was to acquire 100% of Time Warner Cable. However, on April 24,2015, Comcast terminated the agreement, Comcast has been criticized for multiple reasons, the companys customer satisfaction often ranks among the lowest in the cable industry. Critics also point out a lack of competition in the vast majority of Comcasts service area, furthermore, given Comcasts negotiating power as a large ISP, some suspect that Comcast could leverage paid peering agreements to unfairly influence end-user connection speeds. And its ownership of content production and content distribution has raised antitrust concerns. These issues, in addition to others, led to Comcast being dubbed The Worst Company in America by The Consumerist in 2010 and 2014. Despite being publicly-traded, Comcast is a business, with the Ralph J Roberts family owning 33% controlling stake. Comcast is sometimes described as a family business, Brian L. Roberts, Chairman, President, and CEO of Comcast, is the son of co-founder Ralph Roberts. Roberts owns or controls just over 1% of all Comcast shares but all of the Class B supervoting shares, legal expert Susan P. Crawford has said this gives him effective control over every step. In 2010, he was one of the highest paid executives in the United States, Comcast is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and also has corporate offices in Atlanta, Detroit, Denver, and Manchester, New Hampshire. On January 3,2005, Comcast announced that it would become the tenant in the new Comcast Center in downtown Philadelphia. The 975 ft skyscraper is the tallest building in Pennsylvania, Comcast has begun construction on a second 1,121 ft skyscraper directly adjacent to the original Comcast headquarters in the summer of 2014. The company is criticized by both the media and its own staff for its less upstanding policies regarding employee relations. A2012 Reddit post written by an anonymous Comcast call center employee eager to share their experiences with the public received attention from publications including The Huffington Post. A2014 investigative series published by The Verge involved interviews with 150 of Comcasts employees and it sought to examine why the company has become so widely criticized by its customers, the media and even members of its own staff
16.
Major League Baseball
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Major League Baseball is a professional baseball organization, the oldest of the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. A total of 30 teams now play in the National League and American League, the NL and AL operated as separate legal entities from 1876 and 1901 respectively. After cooperating but remaining legally separate entities since 1903, the merged into a single organization led by the Commissioner of Baseball in 2000. The organization also oversees Minor League Baseball, which comprises about 240 teams affiliated with the Major League clubs, with the World Baseball Softball Confederation, MLB manages the international World Baseball Classic tournament. Baseballs first professional team was founded in Cincinnati in 1869,30 years after Abner Doubleday supposedly invented the game of baseball, the first few decades of professional baseball were characterized by rivalries between leagues and by players who often jumped from one team or league to another. The period before 1920 in baseball was known as the dead-ball era, Baseball survived a conspiracy to fix the 1919 World Series, which came to be known as the Black Sox Scandal. The sport rose in popularity in the 1920s, and survived potential downturns during the Great Depression, shortly after the war, baseballs color barrier was broken by Jackie Robinson. The 1950s and 1960s were a time of expansion for the AL and NL, then new stadiums, Home runs dominated the game during the 1990s, and media reports began to discuss the use of anabolic steroids among Major League players in the mid-2000s. In 2006, an investigation produced the Mitchell Report, which implicated many players in the use of performance-enhancing substances, today, MLB is composed of thirty teams, twenty-nine in the United States and one in Canada. Baseball broadcasts are aired on television, radio, and the Internet throughout North America, MLB has the highest season attendance of any sports league in the world with more than 73 million spectators in 2015. MLB is governed by the Major League Baseball Constitution and this document has undergone several incarnations since 1875, with the most recent revisions being made in 2012. Under the direction of the Commissioner of Baseball, MLB hires and maintains the sports umpiring crews, and negotiates marketing, labor, MLB maintains a unique, controlling relationship over the sport, including most aspects of Minor League Baseball. This ruling has been weakened only slightly in subsequent years, the weakened ruling granted more stability to the owners of teams and has resulted in values increasing at double-digit rates. There were several challenges to MLBs primacy in the sport between the 1870s and the Federal League in 1916, the last attempt at a new league was the aborted Continental League in 1960. The chief executive of MLB is the commissioner, Rob Manfred, the chief operating officer is Tony Petitti. There are five other executives, president, chief officer, chief legal officer, chief financial officer. The multimedia branch of MLB, which is based in Manhattan, is MLB Advanced Media and this branch oversees MLB. com and each of the 30 teams websites. Its charter states that MLB Advanced Media holds editorial independence from the league, MLB Productions is a similarly structured wing of the league, focusing on video and traditional broadcast media
17.
Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium
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Rosenblatt Stadium was the largest minor league baseball stadium in the United States. The final College World Series game at Rosenblatt Stadium was played on June 29,2010, the final game for the Royals in the stadium, and under the Royals name, was played on September 2,2010, with the Royals defeating the Round Rock Express. The Omaha Nighthawks played their 2010 season at Rosenblatt, Creighton Prep played a game there as well. Following those events, Rosenblatt was replaced by TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, Rosenblatt Stadium began demolition in late July. The pressbox girders were imploded on the morning of August 22,2012, the site is currently owned by the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. Omaha Municipal Stadium was built in 1947, ready to host the single-A Omaha Cardinals for the 1948 season, the St. Louis Cardinals farm team was the first professional baseball team to call Omaha its home. Over the next few years Rosenblatt hosted several different teams, in 1969, the Kansas City Royals moved their triple-A franchise here, which played at Rosenblatt through the 2010 season. In 1964, the stadium was renamed to honor former Omaha mayor Johnny Rosenblatt, team moved into Pacific Coast League in 1998, after the AA folded. Team was named Omaha Golden Spikes during 1998–2001, from 1950 to 2010 Rosenblatt Stadium was home to the College World Series. After the initial contract between the NCAA and the City of Omaha expired, the parties agreed to renew. Currently, the NCAA and the city of Omaha have agreed to continue hosting the Mens College World Series in Omaha through the 2035 season, due to growth in the event, the City of Omaha devoted resources to the stadium to accommodate teams and fans. In 2001, for example, more than $7 million was spent on the stadium, one of the major additions was 10,000 new seats, bringing the total capacity to 23,145. The record for most consecutive sellouts at Rosenblatt stands at 82 consecutive games, in 2002, the College World Series surpassed the 5,000,000 spectator mark in all-time attendance. In 1999, the event organizers, College World Series of Omaha. Created by local artist John Lajba, the shows three players celebrating by lifting one of their teammates in the air. One of the players whose likeness was used to create the statue is the current University of Virginia head coach Brian OConnor. OConnor is a native of Council Bluffs, Iowa and was a CWS participant as a pitcher for Creighton in 91, as an assistant with Notre Dame in 02, and with Virginia in 2009 and 2011. With the anticipated opening of TD Ameritrade Park Omaha in 2011, the College World Series moved to new stadium
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Omaha, Nebraska
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Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, Omaha is the anchor of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, which includes Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the Missouri River from Omaha. According to the 2010 census, Omahas population was 408,958, according to the 2014 Population Estimates, Omahas population was 446,599. Including its suburbs, Omaha formed the 60th-largest metropolitan area in the United States in 2013, the Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, Nebraska-IA Combined Statistical Area is 931,667, according to the U. S. Census Bureaus 2013 estimate. There are nearly 1.3 million residents within the Greater Omaha area, comprising a 50-mile radius of Downtown Omaha, Omahas pioneer period began in 1854, when the city was founded by speculators from neighboring Council Bluffs, Iowa. The city was founded along the Missouri River, and a crossing called Lone Tree Ferry earned the city its nickname, Omaha introduced this new West to the world in 1898, when it played host to the Worlds Fair, dubbed the Trans-Mississippi Exposition. During the 19th century, Omahas central location in the United States spurred the city to become an important national transportation hub, throughout the rest of the 19th century, the transportation and jobbing sectors were important in the city, along with its railroads and breweries. In the 20th century, the Omaha Stockyards, once the worlds largest, Omaha is also the home to five Fortune 1000 headquarters, Green Plains Renewable Energy, TD Ameritrade, Valmont Industries, Werner Enterprises, and West Corporation. And Leo A Daly, the Gallup Organization, of Gallup Poll fame, Enron began in Omaha as Northern Natural Gas in 1930, before taking over a smaller Houston company in 1985 to form InterNorth, which Kenneth Lay moved permanently to Houston, in 1987. The modern economy of Omaha is diverse and built on skilled knowledge jobs, in 2009, Forbes identified Omaha as the nations number one Best Bang-For-The Buck City and ranked it number one on Americas Fastest-Recovering Cities list. Also, Omaha hosted the U. S. Olympic swim trials in 2008,2012 and 2016, the word Omaha means Dwellers on the bluff. In 1804 the Lewis and Clark Expedition passed by the riverbanks where the city of Omaha would be built, there was fierce competition among fur traders until John Jacob Astor created the monopoly of the American Fur Company. The Mormons built a town called Cutlers Park in the area in 1846, while it was temporary, the settlement provided the basis for further development in the future. Through 26 separate treaties with the United States federal government, Native American tribes in Nebraska gradually ceded the lands comprising the state. The treaty and cession involving the Omaha area occurred in 1854 when the Omaha Tribe ceded most of east-central Nebraska, Logan Fontenelle, an interpreter for the Omaha and signatory to the 1854 treaty, played an essential role in those proceedings. Before it was legal to claim land in Indian Country, William D. Brown was operating the Lone Tree Ferry to bring settlers from Council Bluffs, Brown is generally credited as having the first vision for a city where Omaha now sits. The passage of the Kansas–Nebraska Act in 1854 was presaged by the out of claims around the area to become Omaha by residents from neighboring Council Bluffs. On July 4,1854, the city was established at a picnic on Capital Hill
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Omaha Storm Chasers
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The Omaha Storm Chasers are a minor league baseball team, based in Papillion, Nebraska, a suburb southwest of Omaha. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998, from 1969 to 1997, Omaha played in the now-dissolved American Association. Omaha has been the only Triple-A affiliate of Kansas City since their inception as a team in 1969. The team played in Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium, home to the College World Series for over 60 years, the Royals moved to their new home, Werner Park in Sarpy County, and changed their name from Royals to Storm Chasers in 2011. After having been known as the Royals from their inaugural 1969 season through 1998, the name change was a reference to the Golden Spike driven at Promontory Summit, Utah, to celebrate the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. It was intended to celebrate the rich tradition in Omaha. Following the 2010 season, the Omaha Royals began the process of changing their nickname, fans had the opportunity to submit their choice of nicknames, as well as vote on the finalists. The list of 24 fan-submitted names was whittled down to nine finalists through voting at the website. The first game under the Storm Chasers name was played on April 7,2011, in Albuquerque, the first win for the team came two days later when they took the third game of the series against the Isotopes, 10–4. Pitcher Kevin Pucetas got the win, the home opener at Werner Park was to be on April 15, but was postponed due to rain. As such, the first Storm Chasers home game was on April 16 against the Nashville Sounds, david Lough recorded the first Chasers home hit and Mike Moustakas doubled in Eric Hosmer for the first RBI. The Storm Chasers won their debut, 2–1. Danny Duffy started the game, but the win went to reliever Jesse Chavez, the first homerun at Werner wasnt hit until April 20, a two run shot by Mike Moustakas that again brought Eric Hosmer around to score. In July 2015, the Storm Chasers hosted the Triple-A All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, the International League defeated the PCL 4–3 and Norfolks Dariel Álvarez won the Home Run Derby. Another Omaha All-Star in 2015, outfielder José Martínez, led the league in percentage that year. The Storm Chasers have four uniform tops and three hats that they wear during the season, the uniforms are manufactured by Russell Athletic and the hats are made by New Era. Blue or black socks are worn high with all uniforms, per team policy, Player names are worn on the backs of the home white jerseys only. The home white has Storm Chasers across the chest with Royal blue piping around the neck, down the center of the jersey, the players number appears on the left in split blue/gold written in Storm Chaser font
20.
Iowa Cubs
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The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park, Triple-A baseball came to Iowas capital city in 1969, as the Iowa Oaks of the American Association began play. The Oaks were affiliates of the Oakland Athletics, the Chicago White Sox, the team became part of the Pacific Coast League in 1998 after the dissolution of the American Association. The current Player Development Contract with the Chicago Cubs runs through 2016, the Iowa Cubs are one of only four Triple-A clubs who bear the name of their parent club. Most minor league teams have moved towards a nickname representative of their community in order to provide consistent marketing regardless of what major league club their PDC is with. Their home ballpark is Principal Park, located at the confluence of the Des Moines, the franchise attendance record of 576,310 was set in 2007. As of 2008, the I-Cubs are owned by Raccoon Baseball, sam Bernabe serves as the teams president and general manager. The mascot of the Iowa Cubs is Cubbie Bear, a brown bear, many future Cubs stars have played in Des Moines before they were called up to Wrigley Field. Even today many Cubs stars such as Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Anthony Rizzo, the Iowa Oaks hosted many future Major League Baseball stars such as sluggers Bill McNulty, Harold Baines, Pat Tabler, and 1971 Cy Young and MVP Award winning left-handed pitcher Vida Blue. Rod Beck gained national attention while pitching for Iowa during his comeback for living in a mobile home behind the teams Sec Taylor Stadium in Des Moines, Beck warmly welcomed fans to drop by and visit, use his restroom, and have some Coors Light from his refrigerator. In 1993, Tuffy Rhodes hit a home run to win the American Association championship for the Iowa Cubs. In addition to players, Mike Quade, a former manager of the Chicago Cubs. Another former Chicago Cubs manager Bruce Kimm is an Iowa native who managed the Iowa Cubs from 2001 to 2002, in 2010, the I-Cubs had one of their best seasons ever with manager Ryne Sandberg named Pacific Coast League 2010 Manager of the Year. Former St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa managed the Iowa Oaks in 1979 prior to becoming manager for the Chicago White Sox, in May 2014, Manny Ramirez signed a contract as a part-time player/coach for the I-Cubs. net
21.
Oklahoma City Dodgers
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The Oklahoma City Dodgers are a Minor League Baseball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers and they play at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, located in the Bricktown Entertainment District in downtown Oklahoma City. The team was known as the Oklahoma City 89ers from 1962 to 1997 when the team played at All Sports Stadium at the state fairgrounds. It first competed in the American Association in 1962, moved to the PCL from 1963 to 1968, in 1998, the team rejoined the PCL and became known as the Oklahoma RedHawks. In 1999, a name change resulted in the Oklahoma City RedHawks. Since the Los Angeles Dodgers purchased a share of the prior to 2015. Oklahoma City won the PCL championship in 1963 and 1965 as the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Colt. 45s/Astros, Oklahoma City has been home to professional baseball for all but a few years since 1904, when the Metropolitans were established as the citys first team. Oklahoma Citys teams and names have changed numerous times since, the team became known as the Indians in 1909 before returning to the original Mets name in 1910 and reverting again to the Indians name in 1911. Oklahoma City was home to the Senators in 1912, after one year without a baseball team, Oklahoma Citys squad became the Boosters in 1914. The Senators name returned from 1915 to 1916, but the Boosters name came back in 1917, the Oklahoma City Indians name returned in 1918 and the team name stuck until 1957. Oklahoma Citys current baseball franchise began competing in 1962 as the Oklahoma City 89ers following a period without professional baseball in the area. The franchises original name made reference to the Land Run of 1889, in July 1961, Spec Richardson, who was then general manager of the Houston Buffs, met with Oklahoma City officials and boosters, and agreed to move the team. After a unanimous approval from the American Associations board of directors, eventually, the Astros sold the team to Tulsa businessman, P. C. In 1973, a connection with the Cleveland Indians was established. A later affiliation with the Philadelphia Phillies lasted from 1976 until 1982, in 1983, the Texas Rangers became the parent club, a relationship that would continue as the 89ers adopted new colors and uniforms along with the nickname RedHawks in 1998. The team was renamed the RedHawks after the hawk, a bird of prey commonly seen throughout Oklahoma. When announcing the new name, team officials noted the raptors four-foot wingspan and migration patterns, a hawk is also part of the states official song. Prior to the 2009 season, the once again named itself after its home city
22.
Albuquerque Isotopes
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The Albuquerque Isotopes are a Minor League Baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, the team was affiliated with the Florida Marlins from 2003–2008 and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2009–2014. The Isotopes began play in 2003 when the Calgary Cannons relocated to New Mexico, in 2016, Forbes listed the Isotopes as the 14th-most valuable Minor League Baseball team with a value of $34 million. The Isotopes mascot is Orbit, a yellow, orange, home games are played at Isotopes Park. The teams name recalls the fictional Springfield Isotopes from the long running TV series The Simpsons. In the episode Hungry, Hungry Homer, which first aired on March 4,2001, subsequently, when the Albuquerque Tribune asked its online readers to help choose a new name for the Cannons, Isotopes received 67% of the 120,000 votes cast. The team said they were able to tell when episodes featuring the Springfield Isotopes would air in different markets based on clusters of orders from different viewing areas, the team has no working agreements with the Fox Broadcasting Company or The Simpsons. However, statues of Homer, Bart, Lisa, and Marge Simpson can be seen at Isotopes Park and he was also selected to Baseball Americas 2014 Minor League All-Star team. In the USA Network series In Plain Sight, the character Raphael Ramirez plays for the Isotopes, in the AMC series Breaking Bad, which is set in Albuquerque, Walter White can be seen wearing an Isotopes hat. In the NBC series The Voice, music producer Adam Blackstone wore an Albuquerque Isotopes hat during Season One Battle Rounds preparations. In the FOX series The Simpsons, Homer Simpson protests against machinations of the owner of the baseball team to secretly relocate his franchise. Official Albuquerque Isotopes website Albuquerque Isotopes fan website
23.
Salt Lake Bees
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The Salt Lake Bees are a minor league baseball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Bees play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple A affiliate of Major League Baseballs Los Angeles Angels, home games are played at Smiths Ballpark, in Salt Lake City. Known to fans as the Apiary, it opened in 1994 and seats 15,411 fans, steve Klauke is the current play-by-play commentator for the Bees. The current franchise dates from 1994, when Joe Buzas, a major league player. Known as the Salt Lake Buzz from 1994 to 2000, the changed its name to the Salt Lake Stingers in 2001. The change was forced by a trademark lawsuit filed by Georgia Tech. The name change coincided with a change of league clubs. The following year, the Angels won the 2002 World Series, called up from the Stingers earlier in the year, he became the first rookie to win a World Series game 7 in nearly a century. Buzas owned the team until his death in 2003, the team was purchased by the late Larry H. Miller, who also owned the NBAs Utah Jazz. Miller died in February 2009 and the team is owned by his widow. On October 27,2005, the announced the Stingers would henceforth be known as the Salt Lake Bees. The official press release read, in part, Owner, Larry H. Miller, the new logo, colors and uniforms were also unveiled. The change brings Salt Lake baseball back to its franchise name. During the 2014 season, the Bees celebrated their 20th season as a franchise since the 1994 season, Bees have long been a symbol of Utah. The Sacramento Solons, though a member of the PCL, suffered on the field and at the gate, being exiled at times to Tacoma, Fresno. After the 1914 season, the team was sold to Salt Lake City businessman Bill Hardpan Lane. On March 31,1915, the first PCL game was played in the state of Utah, though the original Bees never won a PCL pennant, the team drew attendees well, especially considering the small market size. Other team owners, though, resented the cost of travel to Salt Lake City, when the Vernon Tigers abandoned Los Angeles after the 1925 season, it was suggested to Lane that he would do well to transfer his team to southern California
24.
Indianapolis Indians
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The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team in Indianapolis, Indiana, which plays in the International League. The Triple-A affiliate of the Major League Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates, the Indians play at Victory Field in downtown Indianapolis, the teams mascot is Rowdie the Bear. Founded in 1902, the Indianapolis Indians are the second-oldest minor league franchise in American professional baseball, professional baseball was first played in Indianapolis in 1887. After 15 years of various franchises competing in leagues, the current Indianapolis Indians franchise was founded as an original member of the American Association in 1902. That years team won 95 games and the first of 21 pennants and he named the park Perry Stadium in honor of his brother James who had been killed in a plane crash. That ballpark, which was renamed Victory Field in 1942 and Bush Stadium in 1967, norm Perry sold the team to Frank E. McKinney and Donie Bush in December 1941. Those two men ran the club for 10 seasons, the Cleveland Indians purchased the team in 1952, but after losing $500,000 on the operation over four seasons, looked to move the team. The Indianapolis community rallied to save the Indians, funeral director Robert E. Kirby, Chairman of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce Athletic Committee, obtained an option to purchase the franchise from Cleveland. A broad-based sale of stock in the team was organized, stock was priced at $10 per share with a 100-share limit on individual purchases. Media promotion of the sale was intense. The Indianapolis Star, The Indianapolis News, and the Indianapolis Times ran complete lists of stock purchasers, eventually the new corporation stopped accepting investments in February after a total of 20,488 shares had been purchased by 6,672 investors. Former Indians player, manager, and owner Donie Bush was named the first President of Indians and he held that position until January 1969. In 1956, the Indianapolis Indians were 92–62, on May 18, they defeated the Louisville Colonels 24–0. The Indians went on to win the 1956 Junior World Series by defeating the Rochester Red Wings, in Game 2 of the Junior World Series, Roger Maris set a record by getting seven RBIs. Max Schumacher joined the Indians front office as manager in 1957. He added the duties of publicity director in 1959, and became the general manager in 1961—a post he held through 1997. Max was also named the teams President in 1969 following Bushs retirement, to this day, he continues as President and Chairman of the Board of Indians, Inc. Under his direction, the corporation has turned a profit for 35 straight years, the team captured three straight pennants from 1961–63, including the International League championship in 1963
25.
International League
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The International League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the eastern United States and is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level and it was so named because it had teams in both the United States and Canada. However, since the relocation of the Ottawa Lynx to Allentown, Pennsylvania, to become the Lehigh Valley IronPigs for the 2008 season, all of the leagues teams are now based in the U. S. The New York State and Ontario leagues merged in 1886 to form the International League, the league collapsed soon afterwards, when the Northern teams claimed that it was too onerous to travel to the South and formed the International Association. Teams and league names came and went over the years, the League was also affected by the effort to establish the Federal League as a new third major league in 1914-1915, with franchises being added and dropped and new stadiums/ball parks built. In 1954, a franchise was awarded to Havana, Cuba, another foray into the Caribbean failed when the newly created team in San Juan, Puerto Rico, added in 1961, had to be moved to Charleston, West Virginia, in mid-season. In 1971, an International League all-star team beat the New York Yankees in a game in Rochester, New York. In 1984, the all-stars lost to the Cleveland Indians in 11 innings before 11,032 fans in Columbus, Ohio, the International League and the American Association, another Triple-A league that operated in the Midwest, voted in 1988 to play inter-league games. The league also split into two divisions that year, the inter-league concept ended in 1992, but the two league divisions remained. In further inter-league play, in 1988, the three Triple-A leagues, the other being the Pacific Coast League, met to play the first Triple-A All-Star Game, one team was made up of All-Stars from American League affiliates and the other of National League affiliates. Beginning in 1998, a team of IL All-Stars faced off against a team of PCL All-Stars and this game was the first of its kind. It was played in the Buffalo Bisons new stadium, Pilot Field, since 2006, the league champion has met to play the PCL champion in the Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game, a single Triple-A Championship game. Previous class championship series included the Junior World Series, the Triple-A Classic, List of Governors Cup champions In 1933, the International League introduced a new playoff system, awarding the winner the Governors Cup. This has become the recognized International League champion, italics indicate team is now defunct. International League baseball awards List of sports attendance figures Harry Simmons International League official website Triple-A Baseball official website
26.
Triple-A World Series
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The first Series was held in 1983 as a round-robin tournament. It was revived as a series from 1998 to 2000. The first Triple-A World Series was held in 1983 as a round robin tournament featuring the champions of each of the International League, the American Association, the Tidewater Tides won the 1983 series, 3-1, against the PCLs Portland Beavers and the AAs Denver Bears. A revived Triple-A World Series was held from 1998 to 2000 between the International League and the Pacific Coast League, after the realignment of Triple-A from three leagues to two and it matched Triple-A Baseballs two league champions in a best-of-five series to determine an overall Triple-A Champion. The Series, was played at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada during the week of September and was televised live, worldwide. Additional hospitality events, such as dinner cruises, Las Vegas shows, cocktail parties, and golf outings, made the event memorable for sponsors, fans, players, and executives alike. Just a few months after apparently sealing the deal on a version of the Triple-A World Series for 2001. Sparse attendance was a problem, games were held on weekdays, the final series in 2000 even included two games played at noon in 100-degree heat. Fans of the teams had insufficient time to arrange plans to attend the event. During the 2000 event, average attendance hit a three-year low of 2,311. At the end of the original deal, a new plan was hastily hammered out to buy the event time to work out a better situation for 2002. It was decided that the event would be cut from a five-day midweek event to a series to be played Friday through Sunday. It was hoped that this arrangement would allow baseball fans from all over to make plans for a brief, meanwhile, plans also were in the works to try to move the event to a new site in 2002. Options initially included Cooperstown, New York, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and that proposal was supported by the IL owners, but shot down by those of the PCL. Despite the attraction of baseball history and charm, Doubleday Field was small, old, had no lights, and fell well below Triple-A standards. Other ideas included allowing venues to bid on the event on a year-by-year basis, the latter idea was the one that has been most ardently embraced by players, fans, and the PCL. But it also posed the most logistical problems because of the lack of preparation time, after the final Triple-A World Series in 2000, the International League and the Pacific Coast League returned to ending their seasons after the crowning of their champions. The two leagues contested a new, single game, Triple-A interleague championship in 2006, the Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game is an on-going success, with three wins by the International Leagues champion, and six wins by the Pacific Coast Leagues champion, since 2006
27.
Nick Stavinoha
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Nicholas Lee Nick Stavinoha is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played football and baseball at Jersey Village High School before attending the University of Houston for football and he later transferred to San Jacinto College and played there for two seasons as a catcher. While at San Jacinto, Stavinoha hit 49 Home Runs and is a member of the Golden Anniversary all 50 Greatest JUCO World Series Participants, Stavinoha went on to attend Louisiana State University. He is one of the few players in baseball to participate in both the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado and also at the NCAA D1 World Series in Omaha. Stavinoha was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2002, but did not sign and he was drafted again by the Cardinals in 2005 and signed. He hit for a.337 average with 16 home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals Triple-A affiliate and he hit.261 with 13 home runs in 2007 while stealing seven bases, also at Memphis. He hit.297 with 12 home runs at Double A-Springfield in 2006 and that batting average ranked fourth among all Cardinal minor league players that played a full season. In 2005, he hit.344 with 14 home runs in 65 games at Single A-Quad Cities in 2005 as a 23-year-old and he has 55 career minor league home runs. He also has an average of.304 in the minors. Stavinoha made his debut on June 22,2008, as a designated hitter. Stavinoha is to be placed in the Rule 5 draft at the end of the 2010 season, Stavinoha was designated to the Cardinals once again on January 14,2011. He became an agent after the 2011 season. On November 9,2011, he signed a league contract with the Houston Astros. He also received an invitation to spring training, however, he was released on December 14, in order to sign with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Japan. Stavinoha resides in Cypress, Texas with his wife, Casey, and daughters, Kate Elaine and Gracyn Lee
28.
Outfielder
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An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the fielder. An outfielders duty is to try to catch fly balls before they hit the ground or to quickly catch or retrieve. Outfielders normally play behind the six members of the defense who play in or near the infield. By convention, each of the nine positions in baseball is numbered. The outfield positions are 7,8 and 9 and these numbers are shorthand designations useful in baseball scorekeeping and are not necessarily the same as the squad numbers worn on player uniforms. Outfielders named to the MLB All-Century Team are Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Stan Musial, Pete Rose, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, players can be characterized as either corner outfielders or a center fielder. Corner outfielders are often slower and have less value than the center fielder. However, there are important differences between right fielders and left fielders. Right fielders tend to have the best throwing arms of the outfield so they can make the throw to third base. For example, Babe Ruth was moved from pitcher to the outfield, left fielders and right fielders are more often slow power hitters, and center fielders are usually fast base-runners and good defensive players. Center field is considered the most difficult outfield position, requiring both a good throwing arm and speed. Center fielders on many teams often bat lead off, players who do not routinely start games, but often substitute as a pinch hitter or defensive replacement in the outfield are referred to as fourth outfielders or even fifth outfielders. These players can play any of the three outfield positions. Corner outfielders are outfielders who play the positions of right field. Corner outfielders often have less speed than center fielders, but make up for this deficiency with their offensive play, many left fielders have had the speed to play center field, but have lacked the throwing ability required. Gorman Thomas is an example of the reverse theory and he was a centerfielder his entire career, but was not nearly in shape as the typical player for this position. He compensated for it with sheer hustle and determination, often, when an outfield prospect arrives in the majors, he plays both corner positions before settling at one or another
29.
First baseman
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First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that players team. A first baseman is the player on the team playing defense who fields the area nearest first base, in the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the first baseman is assigned the number 3. Also called first sacker or cornerman, the first baseman is ideally a tall player who throws left-handed and possesses good flexibility, flexibility is needed because the first baseman receives throws from the other infielders, the catcher and the pitcher after they have fielded ground balls. In order for the runner to be called out, the first baseman must be able to stretch towards the throw and they often are power hitters who have a substantial number of home runs and extra base hits while maintaining a.270 plus batting average. Good defensive first basemen, according to Bill James, are capable of playing off first base so that they can field ground balls hit to the side of first base. The first baseman then relies upon the pitcher to cover first base to receive the ball to complete the out, indications of a good defensive first baseman include a large number of assists and a low number of throwing errors by other infielders. The nature of play at first base often requires first basemen to stay close to the bag to hold runners or to reach the bag before the batter. First basemen are not typically expected to have the range required of a baseman, shortstop. As a result, first base is not usually perceived to be as physically demanding as other positions, however, it can also be a very hard position to play, a large amount of concentration and timing is required. Though many play at first base their entire career, it is common for players to be moved to first base in order to extend their careers or to accommodate other recently acquired players. Facing a possible trade or a reduction in playing time. Catchers and corner outfielders are often moved to first base due to deteriorating health or if their fielding abilities at their position are detrimental to the team. When first base is not occupied by a baserunner, the first baseman usually stands behind first base, the distance he plays from the base and foul line is dependent on the current hitter and any runners on base. The exact position may depend on the first basemans experience, preference. For a known right-handed pull hitter, the first baseman might position himself further towards the second basemans normal fielding position, for a known left-handed pull hitter, the first baseman will position himself closer to the foul line in order to stop a ball hit down the line. To protect against a bunt on the first base side of the infield, as soon as the pitcher commits to throwing towards home plate, the first basemen will charge towards the hitter to field the bunt. During these plays, it is the responsibility of the second basemen to cover first base, with a base runner present at first base, the first baseman stands with his right foot touching the base to prepare for a pickoff attempt. Once the pitcher commits to throwing towards home plate, the first baseman comes off the bag in front of the runner and gets in a fielding position
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Run batted in
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A run batted in, plural runs batted in, is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored. For example, if the batter bats a base hit, then another player on a base can go home. Prior to the 1920 Major League Baseball season, runs batted in were not a baseball statistic. Nevertheless, the RBI statistic was tabulated—unofficially—from 1907 through 1919 by baseball writer Ernie Lanigan, common nicknames for an RBI include ribby, rib, and ribeye. The plural of RBI is generally RBIs, although some commentators use RBI as both singular and plural, as it can stand for runs batted in. The official scorers judgment must determine whether a run batted in shall be credited for a run that scores when a fielder holds the ball or throws to a wrong base. The perceived significance of the RBI is displayed by the fact that it is one of the three categories that comprise the triple crown, in addition, career RBIs are often cited in debates over who should be elected to the Hall of Fame. This implies that better offensive teams—and therefore, the teams in which the most players get on base—tend to produce hitters with higher RBI totals than equivalent hitters on lesser-hitting teams, totals are current through October 8,2015
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Double (baseball)
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To hit many doubles, one must have decent hitting skill and power, it also helps to run well enough to beat an outfield throw. Doubles typically drive in runs from base, second base. When total bases and slugging percentages are calculated, the two is used for the calculation. The all-time leader in doubles is Tris Speaker, with 792, a two-base hit awarded by an umpire when a batted ball is hit fairly and bounces out of play is referred to as a ground rule double. The batter is awarded second base and any runners advance two bases from the base occupied at the time of the pitch. Prior to 1931, such hits were considered home runs, a two-base hit awarded because the batter hit into a special situation defined in the ground rules is also defined as a ground rule double. An example of this occurs where the rules of Chicagos Wrigley Field award a ground rule if a batted ball is lost in the vines on the outfield bleacher wall. The rules of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis awarded a ground rule if the ball became stuck in its Teflon ceiling
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Hit (baseball)
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If a batter reaches first base because of offensive interference by a preceding runner, he is also credited with a hit. A hit for one base is called a single, for two bases a double, and for three bases a triple, a home run is also scored as a hit. Doubles, triples, and home runs are also called extra base hits, an infield hit is a hit where the ball does not leave the infield. Infield hits are uncommon by nature, and most often earned by speedy runners, a no-hitter is a game in which one of the teams prevented the other from getting a hit. Throwing a no-hitter is rare and considered an accomplishment for a pitcher or pitching staff. In most cases in the game, no-hitters are accomplished by a single pitcher who throws a complete game. A pitcher who throws a no-hitter could still allow runners to reach safely, by way of walks, errors, hit batsmen. If the pitcher allows no runners to reach base, the no-hitter is a perfect game, in 1887, Major League Baseball counted bases on balls as hits. The result was skyrocketing batting averages, including some near.500, Tip ONeill of the St. Louis Browns batted.485 that season, the experiment was abandoned the following season. There is controversy regarding how the records of 1887 should be interpreted, the number of legitimate walks and at-bats are known for all players that year, so computing averages using the same method as in other years is straightforward. In 1968, Major League Baseball formed a Special Baseball Records Committee to resolve this issues, the Committee ruled that walks in 1887 should not be counted as hits. Most current sources list ONeills 1887 average as.435, as calculated by omitting his walks and he would retain his American Association batting championship. However, the variance between methods results in differing recognition for the 1887 National League batting champion, cap Anson would be recognized, with his.421 average, if walks are included, but Sam Thompson would be the champion at.372 if they are not. The official rulebook of Major League Baseball states in Rule 10, Rule 10.05 Comment, In applying Rule 10.05, the official scorer shall always give the batter the benefit of the doubt. Runner is called out for interference with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball, unless in the scorers judgment the batter-runner would have been safe had the interference not occurred
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Home run
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In modern baseball, the feat is typically achieved by hitting the ball over the outfield fence between the foul poles without first touching the ground, resulting in an automatic home run. There is also the home run, increasingly rare in modern baseball. When a home run is scored, the batter is credited with a hit and a run scored. Likewise, the pitcher is recorded as having given up a hit, a batted ball is also a home run if it touches either foul pole or its attached screen before touching the ground, as the foul poles are by definition in fair territory. A batted ball that goes over the wall after touching the ground is not a home run. A fielder is allowed to reach over the wall to attempt to catch the ball as long as his feet are on or over the field during the attempt. If the fielder successfully catches the ball while it is in flight the batter is out, however, since the fielder is not part of the field, a ball that bounces off a fielder and over the wall without touching the ground is still a home run. A home run accomplished in any of the above manners is a home run. This stipulation is in Approved Ruling of Rule 7.10, an inside-the-park home run occurs when a batter hits the ball into play and is able to circle the bases before the fielders can put him out. Unlike with a home run, the batter-runner and all preceding runners are liable to be put out by the defensive team at any time while running the bases. This can only happen if the ball does not leave the ballfield, with outfields much less spacious and more uniformly designed than in the games early days, inside-the-park home runs are now a rarity. They are usually the result of a ball being hit by a very fast runner, either way, this sends the ball into open space in the outfield and thereby allows the batter-runner to circle the bases before the defensive team can put him out. The speed of the runner is crucial as even triples are relatively rare in most modern ballparks, all runs scored on such a play, however, still count. An example of an unexpected bounce occurred during the 2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at AT&T Park in San Francisco on July 10,2007, by the time the ball was relayed, Ichiro had already crossed the plate standing up. This was the first inside-the-park home run in All-Star Game history, Home runs are often characterized by the number of runners on base at the time. A home run hit with the bases empty is seldom called a one-run homer, with one runner on base, two runs are scored and thus the home run is often called a two-run homer or two-run shot. Similarly, a home runs with two runners on base is a three-run homer or three-run shot, the term four-run homer is seldom used, instead, it is nearly always called a grand slam. Hitting a grand slam is the best possible result for the turn at bat
