Finding a way to mix Bruce Springsteen with baseball has been a goal of mine for the nearly two years I’ve been at Baseball America. But beyond the occasional lyrical headline ("Eric Young, Born to Run), I’ve come up empty . . . until now.

Thank you, Lakewood.

Tonight the low Class A Lakewood BlueClaws are changing their name to the BruceClaws in honor of Springsteen returning home for a three-show gig at Giants Stadium beginning Sunday (anyone got an extra ticket?).

The team will wear special jerseys with BruceClaws written across the chest in the same font as Springsteen’s Greetings From Asbury Park album cover, with a guitar superimposed over the outline of New Jersey just below. Lakewood will hold a silent auction after the game for the jerseys, with proceeds benefiting the Food Bank of Monmouth County.

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The search for Richmond’s replacement has been narrowed to a handful of teams and Minor League Baseball hopes to announce the winner of the sought-after territory by early August.

The Richmond Braves will not be succeeded by a fellow Triple-A team when they leave their home of 42 years for a new ballpark in the suburban Atlanta region of Gwinnett County, which only recently began construction on a $45 million publicly funded stadium scheduled to open for the Braves affiliate next season. A Double-A or Class A team are among the fewer than five teams interested, and being considered by Minor League Baseball, to relocate to Richmond, MILB chief operating officer Tim Purpura said.

Purpura declined to identify the teams or leagues under consideration, but did state the higher classification teams that meet geographic and financial criteria will get first shot at the territory. Richmond fits well within the footprint of the Double-A Eastern League and high Class A Carolina League. It would be the northernmost team in the Southern League. [...] Continue Reading »

A challenge to Baseball America readers: Find a minor league team at home tomorrow night not launching postgame fireworks. Doesn’t exist, I say. You’d have better luck finding a New York tabloid ignoring A-Rod’s dating life.

Several teams around the minors are going beyond a simple Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza with some creative promotions. Here’s a quick look at what’s happening around the minors this weekend.

TONIGHT

• Triple-A Buffalo will hold its 14th annual Independence Eve Celebration with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra following tonight’s game against Rochester. The event is set to top 250,000 spectators in its history. This year’s program will include a rendition of "O Danny Boy" in honor of the passing of Buffalo mayor Jimmy Griffin and NBC veteran newsman, and Buffalo native, Tim Russert.

"This milestone represents what an amazing event our Independence Eve Celebration is and how it has grown into a must-see summer tradition for the families of Western New York," said Buffalo GM Mike Buczkowski said. "Every year, Paul Ferington and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus put on a world-class show for our fans." [...] Continue Reading »

One of the longest-running relationships in minor league baseball is nearing an end.

The Oneonta Athletic Corp., headed by veteran baseball official Sam Nader, announced today at short-season Oneonta’s Damaschke Field the sale of the Tigers to an ownership group headed by Double-Huntstville and Midland owner Miles Prentice. The deal is pending approval of the New York-Penn League, Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball.

OAC has owned the Oneonta club since 1968, when Nader and nine other investors purchased it for $10,000. Nader’s relationship with minor league baseball in the area dates back to the 1940s, when he served as PA announcer for the Can-Am club.

Nader, who turns 89 on July 8, expressed sorrow in parting with the Tigers.

"I lost part of my life," he said. The team "was an important part of my life. A member of my family." [...] Continue Reading »