With their $50 million stadium under construction, roughly 2,000 season tickets already sold and various merchandise being bought in bundles at the souvenir shop, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs took another step yesterday in adding to the hoopla surrounding the 2008 debut of the Phillies’ new Triple-A affiliate.

The IronPigs unveiled their uniforms, and as I wrote on Monday, the organization headed by Chuck Dominio disciple Kurt Landes doesn’t seem to do anything on a small scale. The “Uniform Unveiling and Style Show” held at the State Theater in nearby Easton was “a cross between America’s Next Top Model and American Idol” and drew roughly 400 to 500 people, Landes said. Local radio personalities modeled the uniforms before a panel of judges that included Phillies legend Greg Luzinski, with the winner’s selected charity reaping the proceeds from an auction that followed the event (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving received $2,000 from the auction). [...] Continue Reading »

I have to disclose a bias when it comes to Fresno’s upcoming promotion: Johnny Drama vs. Dwight Schrute Night.

It’s no contest. Drama wins. In fact there may not be a better character on television.

So to bring the readers of the Business Blog fair and impartial reporting, I turned to my esteemed colleagues at Baseball America to cast a vote (believe it or not, we do watch television shows other than baseball, except in October). [...] Continue Reading »

A new feature beginning in Baseball America’s upcoming issue will put a “Spotlight on Charity” in the Business Beat, focusing on a team’s or individual’s charitable efforts.

Our first installment gave a brief overview on New York radio personality Ed Randall’s fight against prostate cancer—a crusade to raise awareness and money for the cause that began soon after he was diagnosed with the disease in 2001. I’m going to follow-up on Randall’s very moving effort here in the coming days.

But first I want to share details of a couple of charitable causes that arrived in my inbox today from two minor league teams: the Nashville Sounds and Fresno Grizzlies. [...] Continue Reading »

Remove Randy Mobley’s name from the list of prominent baseball executives rumored to be interested in replacing outgoing Minor League Baseball president Mike Moore this December.

The International League president said yesterday that he is content to remain in the position he has held since 1990, but did not rule out a future presidential bid.

“Life for Randy Mobley is pretty darn good living in Dublin, Ohio, and working with for the current group of International League directors,” Mobley said in an e-mail when asked if he is a candidate. “With a few League projects and matters at
hand, as well as Triple-A Baseball efforts, I find myself plenty busy and challenged. Maybe someday, but not now.” [...] Continue Reading »

The ticker on the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs’ Website points out that the team’s first game is still 234 days away. However the mania that surrounds the team makes their debut seem much more imminent.

The latest event in Ironpigs hype comes on Tuesday when the team will unveil their uniforms at an even the team is billing “Uniform Unveiling and Style Show” at the State Theater in nearby Easton, Pa. Certainly a minor league baseball team couldn’t pack a center for the arts that also hosts such big-ticket performers as Michael Bolton and the Elvis Birthday Bash, right?

Don’t bet on it. [...] Continue Reading »

This news hardly comes as a surprise, but Pat O’Conner has officially joined the race to become the next Minor League Baseball president. O’Conner, who has served as outgoing president Mike Moore’s longtime assistant, recently announced his intentions to the board of trustees.

For more on this, check out our story here, and be sure to come back for updated election coverage.

The election is certain to make December’s Winter Meetings in Nashville memorable—particularly compared to last year’s, when Lee Lander’s unsuccessful attempt to save baseball in Pulaski was the biggest headline. Apparently, realigning the Midwest League will be on the docket as well. League president George Spelius  wants to propose absorbing to two teams in the Midwest League to right its currently imbalanced two-division setup.

• The Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies are calling their shot tonight against Oklahoma. In a news release, the Grizzlies guaranteed victory in tonight’s game and will award fans with free tickets if the team ends up eating their words.