Yogi Berra Stadium (opened in 1998) is home to the New Jersey Jackals of the independent Can-Am League. Located on the campus of Montclair State University, the ballpark resides at the top of the campus, built into a bowl. Minus large office building protruding from centerfield, the ballpark looks out onto a backdrop of blue romantic sky. The majority of the seats are the traditional individual ballpark folding chairs, which is nice. Inevitably when...
Fun
Mascot Mania hits its final two…please cue Europe
…as you read this article. After Mr. Met was named the best mascot in sports last month, it was only natural to keep celebrating all that is furry, fabulous and most likely 4-fingered in baseball. MiLB.com introduced Mascot Mania. Finally, we, the fans, got the opportunity to determine Minor League Baseball’s top mascot. My little OCD personality has been harping obsessively about this since their “Elite Eight.” If you haven’t been following my other...
Handicapping Mascot Mania on MiLB.com!
Place your bets guys! Tell me I’m wrong! After Mr. Met was named the best mascot in sports last month, it was only natural to keep celebrating all that is furry, fabulous and most likely 4-fingered in baseball. MiLB.com introduced Mascot Mania. Finally, we, the fans, are getting the opportunity to determine Minor League Baseball’s top mascot. I know what you’re thinking. Trish, what are the odds on Ike the Spike? What is the...
The Knicks and the Mets once played in Hoboken…Seriously
New Jersey has a rich minor league baseball history, including playing host to possibly the most important minor league game ever played – the first, June 19, 1846. Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey On that faithful day, the Knickerbocker Club played the New York Nine in what is considered by many to be the first official game between two teams. Elysian Fields (with a capacity of approximately 20,000) was a wide expanse...
Home Runs and Headlocks: Minor League Baseball and Pro Wrestling
Like baseball, pro wrestling is as American as apple pie, Mom tattoos, and the 4th of July. Pro wrestling is part athletic spectacle, part entertainment, and in most cases, inexpensive fun for the whole family. Characteristics shared with Minor League Baseball. Way back in 1999, I attended a Brevard County Manatees game that featured special guest Mick Foley, aka WWE legend Mankind/Dude Love/Cactus Jack. Foley was in town promoting his new book and signing...
The best biographical portrayal of a ballplayer, ever?
So, I’ve been on a movie kick recently. (A pretty obvious statement if you’ve read my past few articles.) This holiday weekend, I decided to revisit what I felt were some of best portrayals of historical ballplayers. If I was going to narrow it down to my top three, I knew a lot of great performances would need to get cut, probably launching a debate. Why I write this article then?! Let the debate begin! Tommy...
MiLB.com’s Ben Hill conquers Florida and finds diamonds
Hundreds of years ago, Ponce de Leon explored and discovered what is now called Florida. Although legend says he was in search of the legendary Fountain of Youth, history (and Wikipedia) says he was looking for “the Isles of Biminy”. According to the almighty wiki, de Leon first landed on the East Coast of Florida, somewhere between present-day Saint Augustine and Melbourne Beach. After a few days, he and his crew went south along...
The Rookie – Best Minor League Movie Ever?
With “rookies” like Jamie Moyer and Andy Pettitte making waves in the majors this year, I was inspired to take another look at Disney’s The Rookie (2002)… that plus the Yankees and Mets both lost today. Wouldn’t you want to pop popcorn and get into some pajamas? Directed by John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side) and written by Mike Rich (Secretariat), The Rookie tells the story of real-life Major League Pitcher, Jim Morris. A...
A Look Back at *61
With Roger Clemens on trial for perjury and Mariano Rivera facing a career ending injury, let’s face it. There haven’t been a lot of warm, fuzzy stories going around the baseball diamond. This kind of inspired me to revisit what should have been a warm fuzzy story, but ultimately wasn’t – the single season home run race of 1961. In other words, I watched the movie *61 … again. Directed by Billy Crystal, produced...
Is anyone out there that wants to defend this film? We Believe
A couple of years ago, I got to run the Q&A at a Music Box Theatre’s screening of “We Believe: A Relationship That Lasts a Lifetime” in Chicago, IL. It was pretty exciting to actually lead a conversation about baseball with a large audience in a true baseball town. The following is a review of that film, a version of which appeared on the Music Box Theatre website last year. Directed by John Scheinfeld,...
Bus Leagues Photos
2012 05 14 Scranton Wilks Barre/ Empire State Yankees vs Pawtucket Red Sox
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