It has been some time since I’ve “blogged” about the internal workings of Cats’ baseball and LaGrave Field.Now, with our departure in the near future, I feel I have two or three blogs left in me while I’m still fully involved.   I say “fully involved” because I feel I will always be a part of the Cats.  I was the emcee at the groundbreaking for the new LaGrave Field on December 3, 2001 and I’ve been pretty much immersed in “everything Cat” since then.  In fact, my relationship as a friend and consultant to Carl Bell began when Bobby Bragan introduced us on opening night at Goldstien Field in June of that year.  Although we had not met before, we did share the common bond of working for the Rangers at old Arlington Stadium in the early years.  Carl was a gate supervisor and I was a member of the grounds crew back in the early ‘70’s when the team first arrived from Washington.  (I would later work in the Rangers’ front office for four years in the ‘80’s.)

But that is another “blog”, for another day……

This is a bittersweet time of year for most minor league baseball people.  The season has come to an end and for all but a few, the hopes and dreams of a championship have been officially dashed.  Only two teams in the American Association remain in the running for that ultimate thrill while the other eight of us have said our goodbyes and players and coaches are scattering to return to their “other lives”.   One of the most frequent questions we get in the business of minor league baseball is “what do the players do during the off-season?” or….(since it is well known that minor league salaries are not lavish) “how do they make a living?”Well, the answer to those questions is not a simple answer.  The “other lives” that minor league players return to consist of a wide range of activities.  

Some, having been drafted by major league teams out of high school, junior college or even before they completed their academic career at a four-year school, will return to college classes for fall semester.  Others will go to another league which has yet to complete its’ season and make a few more dollars playing baseball, while others may play in one of the winter leagues in the tropical climates.  Many will return to their home area to teach, coach or provide instruction at one of the many baseball schools or training centers that have become popular with young ballplayers on the “select” or “travel” teams these days.But most players are involved in non-baseball related jobs during the off-season, such as sales of all sorts (everything from security systems to multi-level marketing), construction, banking, mortgage brokers, retail sales, and we’ve even had a minister or two in the mix over the years!  

A few players are fortunate enough to have support from family, spouse, etc. which allows them to relax and unwind from what is always a grueling season for body and mind.  Still others have enjoyed the luxury provided by a hefty signing bonus when they were drafted and just take a few weeks, or months, to “lay low” and work out in the hopes of yet another opportunity to prove that they belong with a big league club.

Whatever the case may be, as we said, it is a bittersweet time.  These guys have spent every single day together for the last five months…. And I mean TOGETHER!  Virtually every waking minute of every day is spent with teammates.  Many of them share apartments in Fort Worth, and of course ALL of them live in the hotel together on the road.  They eat and sleep together, dress in the locker room together and practice every afternoon together…. Of course, we can’t forget the bus…. Hours and hours of road time sleeping, talking, reading, listening to music, watching movies on the bus’ video system and sharing that tiny little bathroom in the back!

Do they get SICK of each other?  Sure, sometimes.  But for the most part…. they “bond”.  And trust me… this kind of “male bonding” lasts a lifetime.   All you have to see to realize this is look at guys like Carroll Beringer, Mike Napoli, Joe Macko, Maury Wills and Jack Lindsey.  Those men know exactly what I am talking about.   They have been friends for over half a century and their friendship started in a minor league clubhouse like ours.

And now, today, with e-mail, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter they can keep in touch literally minute-by-minute.  And they will… Some more than others.  But they will all know what the others are up to and what is going on in their lives.

So… Today… the day after the season ended…. They said their good-byes, packed their bags, got in their cars or on a plane and headed into another off-season.  Some will be back next year, others will surface on other teams in our league or around the country and yet others will move on with their “life after baseball”.  They will keep in touch in various degrees, some closer than others. But none will forget that they were a part of the Cats in 2009.  None will forget the guys who dressed in the locker room with them.  They will remember many moments, good and bad, from the just completed season.  They will remember umpires, coaches, announcers, bus drivers, clubbies, front office personnel, and…. They will remember the fans.

Because for one more summer, maybe the last, maybe not…they were still “living the dream”   They were professional baseball players.So, we say, good luck to the Cats of 2009.  Have a good winter…  we will look forward to seeing many of them again next season at LaGrave Field and we wish them well in all that life may have in store for them!

JPD

We’ve had several e-mails about the news that one of our best pitchers, Lee Gwaltney has gone to the Mexican League.  Some fans seem to think that we “sold” Lee to the Mexican League for money.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  We do not receive a penny for Lee’s contract from the Mexican League.

Lee went to the Mexican League because they offered him nearly three times what he can make in our league due to our salary cap. Mexican clubs are not bound by American laws and/or contractual agreements so there is nothing we can do to stop them from raiding our rosters and offering much larger salaries. The Mexican League teams play in mostly large cities and in larger ballparks so they have a much higher salary structure than all American independent leagues. They are also much more impatient. They have roster limits for American players and if an American pitcher has two or three bad outings in a row, or a hitter has a bad stretch of games, they will bring in another guy immediately. They are constantly scanning the independent league teams’ statistics and offering contracts to players who are racking up great numbers, such as Lee. It happened to us last year with Pedro Flores. They offered Pedro several thousand more than we were paying and he left in mid season. He had a couple of rough outings down there and he was back with us pretty quickly. There are other factors which enter into the player’s experience and length of tenure, such as the language barrier (which was NOT a problem for Pedro) with regard to not understanding what the other guys in the clubhouse are talking about all day and what the manager or coaches may be saying in team meetings, etc, some rugged bus rides, spotty playing field conditions, and unruly fans who deride players, especially Americans when their performance is the least bit shaky. It all adds up to make the big bucks WELL EARNED. So… We have to let him go, wish him well, and let him know that we will welcome him back when the Mexican League season ends (which can be in time to rejoin us if his team is not involved in playoffs), or sooner if he wishes to return to the comfortable surroundings in good old Fort Worth USA.

In the meantime, the Cats’ players, coaches and staff will press on with the mission of presenting the best possible effort we can put forth on the field and off, every day.

JPD

The days and weeks immediately following our season are always a time of change in our business.  People move on to new opportunities, most often by choice but sometimes not.  Teams and leagues make many changes at this time of year.   Everything from relocations to changing the colors or logos even sometimes changing leagues!  Minor league baseball has always presented an ever-changing landscape.  I don’t know that there will be many changes in the makeup of the American Association this off-season.  We had a year of great changes last year with the addition of Grand Prairie and Wichita to the league.  Both teams have proven to be very good additions to our league in their inaugural seasons in the American Association.   

As we enter into yet another off-season, it is a time for recognition and reflection in the baseball business.   We recognize the accomplishments of players, coaches, teams and executives who have performed well over the just completed season and we pause to reflect upon the season.  In doing so, we also have a tendency to reflect upon seasons past.

As I reflect upon the seasons, I have much to be thankful for.  We’ve crossed paths with many wonderful people over the years.  We recently received some very nice news about one of those people, Josh Buchholz, General Manager of the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.  Josh was named Northern League Executive of the Year for 2008.   We hired Josh as a clubbie for the 1996 season when we were starting up the Fargo franchise.  He came into my office at the end of the 1997 season and reminded me that I had promised him an opportunity in the front office if he did a good job in the clubhouse.  So, we made good on the promise and Josh joined us in the RedHawks’ front office.  He served two seasons as the clubbie and has been climbing the ranks in the RedHawks’ front office ever since.  He was named GM three years ago….. and he is a good one!

I sent a message of congratulations to Josh on the aabfan / nlfan website and he responded by sending me the e-mail below, which, of course makes me very proud……    

Hi John,

Thanks for the kind words on nlfan.com.  I will always appreciate the opportunities you gave me, and still remember and implement a lot of the lessons you taught me.Also…you actually had me in the clubhouse for 2 summers…into the front office in Oct., 1997 (after I “reminded” you about our discussion)…hahaha.

The Fort Worth operation has also seen three people move on to the Texas Rangers, one to the Sacramento Kings and another to the Dallas Cowboys….   these folks were hired by our organization…. and we are proud of them too!

But not everyone who comes to work at the ballpark stays in the sports world.  There are so many other folks that move into “real life” in such a positive way.   One point of pride came to me in a message just a couple of days ago when one of our former employees (she started with us as an intern in Columbus, GA), Kristen Turner, was invited to the White House by President Bush in recognition of a program she started called “Operation Remembrance” (Memory Boxes for families of fallen soldiers).  She worked very hard fund raising, processing, sending the boxes. The boxes are a comfort to the families.  Kristen now lives in El Paso.  Her husband has done a couple of tours in Iraq and they are stationed at Fort Bliss.   Her brother-in-law was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan and I was privileged to attend his burial at Arlington National Cemetery last year.

There are many more stories about many more people who are out there contributing both in the sports world and in other walks of life.   So many fine people have passed through our ballparks over the last 35 years.  Sometimes I feel like a dad with literally dozens of children.

JPD

Before I go too far into this particular blog, I want to let you know that while the playoffs and our run for a fourth straight championship is very important to everyone in the Cats’ organization, we have to admit to being a little distracted by “real life” priorities right now.

Our “First Lady”, Linda Bell is at the top of everyone’s prayer list these days.  I don’t want to intrude on her (and Carl’s) privacy but I don’t think it is a secret around the ballpark that Linda is dealing with some very serious health issues at this time.  Many people have asked “where is Carl?”.  He is right where he should be…. at Linda’s bedside.  I am confident that she will be well again soon and Carl will be back at his familiar spot behind section J….   He told me he might try to make it over next week!  I hope he will have to do that!

We are also thinking about our own Dick Smith, who fell ill last night at the ballgame.  Dick was taken to Harris Hospital and is receiving excellent treatment there.  Again, in the interest of Dick’s privacy I will ask you all to pray for him and that he will be back at the ballpark again soon. 

On a more cheerfuI note, we want to thank several members of our Knothole Gang booster club for meeting the team bus early Sunday morning as the boys pulled in after an overnight ride from El Paso.  They had clinched the second half title out there and itmeant a lot to the team for fans to get up early on a Sunday morning and greet them with coffee, juice, fruit, donuts, kolaches, cookies and other snacks.  I don’t want to leave anyone out, so I won’t name names, but let me give you a hint on a couple of the people….  there was a big blue Cats’ flag being waved and cowbells were ringing!   There were a couple of other “props” that didn’t work quite as well as planned, but you’ll have to ask someone in the group to explain that incident!  Anyway…. thank you all… you know who you are and I hope you know how much our team appreciated it.  I heard many of the players express their thanks to those who were handing out the fo od and generally providing a warm “welcome home”.  This year’s team is a good group…. both ON and OFF the field.

Today is a tough day.  You would think it would get easier as we get older, more experienced and (supposedly) wiser.  But it doesn’t.

Looking back, a quick count tells me that this is the 17th time in our 35 pro seasons that we’ve been in the post-season derby.  Seems by this time, I should be able to shrug off some pressure….. WRONG!

When a team makes it into the post season everyone involved with the team from the owner, to the coaches and players, to the staff and, of course the most important people…. the FANS….  can feel how close we have come to the BIG PRIZE.  Once we get that close, we start thinking…… wow…. we’re just two or three wins away from winning everything!   Then, there is a tension and pressure that we all feel to get it done.  But, we have to remember, the guys in the other dugout, the players, coaches, trainers, staff and FANS of the other team have the same feeling, including the pressure and tension.

What we all need to understand is the fact that this IS a rivalry and that we want to win just as badly as they do.  Rivalries can be a good thing.  I think it is great that their fans came over in pretty good numbers to root them on.  I didn’t hear anything negative about the cheering… I think they kept the cheers and calls from the stands positive.

We have some fans who take delight in “insulting” the other team’s players.  I don’t agree with this, and we have actually asked some of them not to return after getting complaints from several season ticket holders and other fans in the vicinity of heckling fans.   In my opinion, heckling and insulting the other team only serves to motivate them to want to try harder to beat us and also makes for a very uncomfortable and non-family atmosphere.   We do receive e-mails about these kind of fans from time to time, and they are NOT positive emails.  I’ve never gotten an e-mail saying “the heckler sitting near me and my family was hilarious and made our experience more enjoyable”….   but fans do write to say that they were feeling very uncomfortable due to this kind of thing.

Another reason I do not like insulting or heckling is the fact that it is always possible that we will acquire a player from another team.  On our current team, Brian Fryer, Ed Montague, Paul Bartolucci, Jon Hunton, Pedro Flores, Aaron Sisk and Tim Haines have all played against the Cats at LaGrave Field.  It is hard to imagine how uncomfortable they probably feel when they first come out in a Cats’ uniform and hear some ugly remarks being directed at the other teams and remember when it was directed at them.

A lot of hecklers think that the “banter” they dish out is humorous… and sometimes, it can be a little funny.  They delight in getting a reaction from the player they are heckling and they seem to think that the players think it fun or funny.  Most of the time the players try to laugh as a means of sending a message that it is not bothering them, even though it is.  Fortunately, most players refrain from getting personal with fans and usually handle it quite well.  We did have an incident a couple of seasons ago when a Pensacola player became quite enraged at some of the things that were being said and he reacted very poorly and inappropriately.  Naturally, that is a nightmare of a situation.  On one hand, we have to get the player, who is NOT EVEN ON OUR OWN TEAM and thus, not completely under our control, to calm down…. and on the other hand, we have to get the people who are now cranked up and yelling some pretty ugly things to STOP.& nbsp; When this kind of thing gets fueled up… it can turn pretty vulgar and even sometimes threatening.  Last season, several fans asked me to deal with a fan who had made a very ugly sign with a very negative and borderline vulgar message.  I took his sign away (admittedy I could have been a little more tactful) and he told me he was going to be waiting for me in the parking lot!   I don’t think a civil discussion of the merits of his sign was what he had in mind.  Ironically, most of the people I know who are prone to this type of behavior are completely different when they are not sitting in stadium seats. �

That’s why we are saying that a rivalry like the Cats and AirHogs can be a good thing, as long as it is kept in the proper perspective.  And, with the tension involved in playoff baseball between two rivals, ugly chants, insults, foul language and generally unprofessional behavior creates a ripe opportunity for things to get out of hand.  We (the Cats) have had some incidents of unproffesional behavior in our history, and we have taken direct and immediate action to correct those situations.  I hope this type of behavior on the part of the Cats never occurs again.  If it were to happen again, we promise to deal with it swiftly and correctly as we have in the past.

There are two descriptions that ballplayers often use to describe the actions and other circumstances that surround them during the season…. “Big League” is one, meaning “classy” or “first class”…. and “Bush League”, meaning “second rate” or “undesirable” is the other.  Many of the managers and coaches in our league have been in the big leagues.  In our dugout, we have Wayne Terwilliger in that category.  He exemplifies the class and dignity that a true “major leaguer” in the best sense of being a “major leaguer”.  Our manager, Chad Tredaway is a true professional.  He did not play in the big leagues (his did play AAA and was traded for a big league manager!).  But he carries himself like a big leaguer.

We want to win.  Our players and coaches are putting a lot of pressure on themselves to repeat as champions for the fourth time.  Chad Tredaway is acutely aware that he was hired to continue a tradition of winning.  We also know that everyone outside of the city limits of Fort Worth wants someone other than the Fort Worth Cats to be champions of the American Association.   We are the only repeating team in the American Association playoffs this season.  Our players and coaches have high standards for themselves.  They don’t have to be told that there is pressure to repeat, because they are winners and they play to win.

Each team reflects the character and professionalism of the leadership….. they can act like major leaguers or they can act like bush leaguers….. 

 The four teams in our American Association playoffs are all excellent ballclubs.  The management, staff, coaches and players of all four teams are all to be commended for their excellent seasons.  We salute them….  we congratulate them….. we’re proud to be their “partners” in the American Association….. at the same time, from the first pitch to the last pitch of every game, we will try to beat them…. when it’s over…. we hope that the winners, be it Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Sioux City or Sioux Falls, will handle it in “major league” style.

It is time for me to “pay some bills”.  I owe a lot… to a lot of folks.  I don’t have a lot of money, but I am a wealthy man.  Because I have been fortunate to accumulate many friends and loved ones.    I have some people to talk to you about.   These are not all of the people I should acknowledge, but they are all important people… so don’t put too much stock in the order of the list… just a little…. because these are all special people……  here’s a short list:

Our “Knothole Gang” booster club.  These people are incredible.  They do so many nice things for the team… most noteworthy are the “feeds” that they have put on after various games.  They cook and prepare food for the players from BOTH teams several times each year.  The idea is to do it one time for each visiting team….. and of course, the home team gets in on the action also… so we get fed several times a year.  Now, the Cats clubhouse manager, Corey Troxell, puts a meal out in the clubhouse for our players after every game, but the booster club “feeds” are more than just a meal…. it is a full course “feed” and in includes some warm and friendly smiles, conversation and just plain good feelings.  The tradition has been carried on each year since we’ve come back to LaGrave.  There are too many people to name, but you know who you are.  It is one of the reasons that players say Fort Worth is where they want to play.  So if you think the fans don’t have something to do with the fact that we are in the playoffs for the sixth time in our eight seasons… you’re wrong.  It is much appreciated by the ownership, staff, and players.  We love our booster club…. the “Knothole Gang”

Our team and staff.   I know that a lot of fans are wondering why we “overhauled” the team this year.  Just this morning, I was asked about why “T-Dog” was not around and who were we supposed to root for since we were so used to T-Dog, Mirizzi, Adolfo, etc.   Let me tell you…. minor league baseball is a game of change.  If you were a fan of the Frisco RoughRiders, you would NEVER get to see anyone more than 2 years.  If those guys in affiliated ball are there 2 years, they are OUT!  Even with our changes this season, we have several players who have been here for one or more of our previous championship seasons…. think about Joel Kirsten (what a pitcher!), John Allen (what a hitter!), Charles Carter, Ken Lup, Bryan Fryer, Dan Grybash, and Lee Gwaltney.   Meanwhile, who can argue that Jake Gautreau, Ed Montague, Nelson Teilon, Pedro Flores and Jon Hunton haven’t been FANTASTIC for us this season ! 

But here is the reason that I like this team as well as any we have had before….    These are genuinely GOOD YOUNG MEN.   This morning… after a very exciting game last night…. the ENTIRE TEAM got up early and went to Veterans Administration Hospital to visit with sick, recovering and disabled veterans.  I mean the ENTIRE TEAM…. from 83 year-old Wayne Terwilliger (a WWII hero himself) to the youngest and newest members of our team.  Trust me when I tell you that this is a good group.  Good guys who want to do good things.  They deserve our support.

Chad Tredaway assembles the team.  He has proven that he is a great young manager.  He is a four time manager of the year, and for my money, he should be the manager of the year again this season in the American Association.

Our front office staff is just as impressive.  They work hard every day.  They do it under great stress and often in less than ideal conditions.   They seek no recognition and just want to be a part of a successful organization.

The hours are long and the rewards are few for those who work on our staff.  Some of them will move on to other careers and some will stay in baseball, either with the Cats or with other organizations.  Either way, in the long run, they will look back on their experience with the Cats as a special time in their lives and even though they may not realize it right now, they will have learned a great deal.   

We (Lois and John) have many alumni who have gone on to a variety of successful careers.  Do we accept credit for their success?  YES.  Maybe it was because we taught them what NOT to do…. maybe it was because they learned something good… either way, they learned something and they move forward and it is a good thing.

Wayne Terwilliger.  This is, indeed, a special man.  It is hard to find words to describe Wayne Terwilliger.  Not only is he a solid, knowledgeable and passionate baseball man, he is an even better human being.  He sets an example for living that inspires everyone who comes in contact with him.  It is not surprising that we won our first of these consecutive championships with Twig as our manager.  He is the kind of man who brings out the best in everyone who works for him or with him.  I was not surprised that we won the pennant with Twig at the helm in 2005.  There was not a player on our team who wanted to let him down.  If you have not had a chance to know Wayne Terwilliger, that is too bad.  I consider the opportunity to work with him to be one of the greatest thrills and privileges of my baseball career.

Carl and Linda Bell.   I don’t think anyone really realizes how much these people have done for those of us who have benefitted from return of the Fort Worth Cats.  There is no way that the new LaGrave Field was going to be built by any government entity in Fort Worth.  Local leaders and baseball enthusiasts in our town had tried to generate interest in this project for several years.  It was clear that the ballpark was going to have to be built with private funds.  No local resident was willing to step forward and take the risk.  Carl and Linda Bell did it.  As the President of the Cats, not only do I owe them my moral support and loyalty, I owe them everything I can give… as do all Cats’ fans.  Carl and Linda are truly the finest people in every sense of the word.  They have no “ulterior motives” and they are all about doing good. &nbs p;Carl has often been described as a man who is “generous to a fault” and truthfully, he is that.  He has never taken ONE DOLLAR out of the Cats.  He has only PUT IN money.  Only a handful of the most wealthy and powerful residents of Fort Worth can honestly be said to have done more for the town than Carl and Linda Bell.

Bobby Bragan.  This marvelous man has done much for baseball, for Fort Worth, and for me personally.  His is a life most well lived. It is an incredible fact that Bobby, who will soon celebrate his 91st birthday takes virtually NO medication.  I know why he has lived so long and maintained such good health.  It is because he goes to sleep every night knowing that he has done his very best to be a good man and that he has been totally and completely honest in his dealings with everyone he has encountered each day.  Even if that honesty is blunt, and unpopular, he will not compromise his standards and beliefs.  He is able to admit that he has made mistakes and he fears no man.  There is a motto which is mounted on the wall of one of our favorite places in Fort Worth… Del Frisco’s Steak House.  It says “DO RIGHT AND FEAR NO MAN”  Bobby Bragan epitomizes this motto.

When I consider what incredible luck I encountered when he took me “under wing” almost 36 years ago, at the age of 23 I am moved to tears!

Lois Dittrich.   Most of our fans and even our staff would not have any idea how much Lois contributes to our organization.   She is a rock of stability and common sense.  She has provided me with over 40 years of love and support (we started “going steady” on December 4, 1966) and she has been the “baseball mom” for numerous MAJOR LEAGUE players, broadcasters and executives.   I get e-mails almost daily from people across the complete spectrum of the baseball world…. Tim Flannery, one of our former players and now a coach with the San Francisco Giants…..  Rick Rizzs, the radio voice of the Seattle Mariners…. Bob Licht, the TV voice of the New Orleans Hornets(NBA)… Ken Schnacke, the GM of the Columbus Clippers….  Vince Nauss, the Executive Director of Baseball Chapel….  Mark Shapiro, the General Manager of th e Cleveland Indians….   Steve Stewart, broadcaster with the Kansas City Royals….    I have heard from all of these “Dittrich alumni” recently and their e-mails always begin with “Please give my regards to Lois” or something even more intimate than that!

These guys have seen my act on a day-in and day-out basis, and they realize that I would be NOTHING without Lois… and SOME OF THEM would not have made it without her either…..   she made them meals, washed their laundry, served up motherly advice and inspired them to be successful simply by setting an example for them in many, many ways….  What they know above all is that she has always been there to help and support me.  They have seen it first hand… not talk or lip service… but real, true actions.

In the middle of all this, she raised three fine people who have made us proud in so many ways.

She continues to do these things every day…..    without her all of these baseball dreams I have lived would have never come true.

To sum it up….. it is important to all of us to have a great support network if we are going to enjoy any measure of success.  It is not possible to be successful alone in this world.  I pray that each of you will be as fortunate as I have been.  That you will encounter just as many people to help you along the way…….   and that you will be as “wealthy” as me.

JPD

OK…OK… I have had a few e-mails asking where I’ve been!  Frankly, I have been pre-occupied with our season finale homestand and preparations for the playoffs…

Another request I’ve had from some readers is for more “inside” stories.  The following items do NOT qualify as “inside” stories on the Cats, but they do constitute an inside look at a pretty good portion of a baseball life, and I hope you, dear readers, find it of interest.

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by an old friend, Kathy Gierer, in Columbus, GA.  Kathy is a teacher / journalist and she served as the official scorer for the affiliated minor league teams in Columbus for about 20 years.

Columbus is losing its’ minor league team at the end of this season.  The owner has decided to move the franchise to a new stadium in Bowling Green, KY and Kathy has been commissioned to write a feature for the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer focusing on the memories of those who have been involved in professional baseball in Columbus.

Kathy contacted me to ask if I could take a few minutes to send her some of my memories.  We spent 5 very enjoyable years as General Manager of the Columbus RedStixx (1991-1995).  We were the Cleveland Indians class A affiliate in the South Atlantic League.  There are enough memories from those five years to fill a book.  I narrowed it down to a “David Letterman” list of eleven…  No, I couldn’t whittle it any further… I actually combined a couple of the personality memories into one item to get it down to eleven.  It might be a little self-indulgent of me to send these to you, but it is my hope that you will find these items an interesting “slice” of a baseball life.  Here are some Columbus, GA “memorable moments” in a countdown to number one style:

#11 -  Charlie Morrow purchases the RedStixx from Henry Gilbertie in late 1994…..   Both of these men were good guys, but I knew the handwriting was on the wall for our departure when Charlie bought the team.  He wanted to run it himself and he had his own ideas about how to do it.  I could tell he didn’t really want the old GM to hang around.  We spent the next season (1995) familiarizing Charlie with the community and the baseball world, then we left for a new challenge in Fargo, ND.  Charlie did a lot of good in Columbus and it was a loss to the community when he died in March of 1998 at the young age of 42.

#10 - David Bell and Pete Rose, Jr.   In our first two seasons in Columbus (1991 & 1992), we had two young third basemen with a pedigree… David Bell, son of Buddy Bell, grandson of Gus Bell, and Pete Rose, Jr.

I remember that David, just 19 years old in 1991, struggled in the first half of the season, hitting something shy of .200 with no homers…. but by the end of the year, he had something like 5 home runs and about 60 RBI.  He went on to a pretty good major league career.  David was a class act.  Very mature for his age and a real pleasure to have around.

Both Buddy and Gus Bell came to Golden Park more than once to watch David play ball.  It was a thrill to get to know them as well.  I still have a framed item with all three of their baseball cards, signed.

Pete Rose, Jr.  “Petey”…  was with us the next year, in 1992.  He actually did get to the majors briefly many years later with the Reds.  For us, he was solid at third and he too was very professional in all his dealings with us.   I remember his car being vandalized and he handled it with class…..  and my son didn’t mind that after the incident, Pete asked him to drive his fancy Mercedes to our house during road trips and to feel free to use the car if he wanted to!

Although Pete Rose, Sr. never showed up at Golden Park (at least that we know about, because he was banned from baseball), Pete Jr.’s mom, Karolyn was there several times.   Lois got to know her pretty well… I recall she like to be called “Kettle”… and she was shaped like one by that time!

#9 - Columbus hosts the SAL All-Star game in 1993…….    We had a crowd of over 5,000 fans at “old” Golden Park that day.  I remember handing out the all-star watches at the luncheon that day and giving one to Derek Jeter, who was a South Atlantic League all-star with Greensboro that year.  Every time I see Derek Jeter play a game on TV for the Yankees, I wonder if he still has his little ol’ SAL All-Star watch from Columbus, I think about the fact that I still have mine…  how many people have that watch?   Me and Derek Jeter for two!   Also, our field manager, Mike Brown, was married at home plate before the all-star game in front of 5,000 fans!   I don’t know if folks in Columbus, particularly the “powers that be”, appreciated how neat that was to host that game.   If I had more time, I would look up the total list of players who played in that ga me…. Derek Jeter is not the only big name player who played in that game!

#8 - Willie Canate is picked in the MAJOR LEAGUE “rule 5 draft” by the Blue Jays.   This may seem strange… but at the time, Pat Gillick (now GM of the Phillies) was the GM of the Blue Jays.   One day, he called the RedStixx office to speak to me.  I was stunned.  I had met him on a few occasions, but we were hardly pals.  The reason he called is that he was thinking of buying stock in Synovus and he knew it was a Columbus company.  He wanted my take on the company!!!!    I happened to know a couple of people who had pretty good positions with the company so I made a call and got the head of investor relations to call Pat Gillick in Toronto.  Later, he actually travelled to Toronto and made a personal call on Gillick.   At the end of my phone conversation, Gillick asked me if we had any good players on the RedStixx.   I told him that Willie Canate had been very good for us and I thought he had an outside chance of playing in the big leagues.   Later that winter, the Blue Jays selected Willie in the rule 5 draft from the Indians…. they selected him in the MAJOR LEAGUE phase, which meant that they had to keep him in the majors for that next year…. which they did.   It was Willie’s only year in the majors, and I feel that it would never have happened but for that call from Pat Gillick.  Obviously, I am NO scout!

#7 - The 1991 rain-plagued season.   That first season in 1991 was the wettest of the five seasons we spent in Columbus… lots of rainouts and even more “rain affected” games.  We had a small staff and the field wasn’t in the best shape when we got there in the spring since it had been neglected all winter.  I raked a lot of mud and was very frustrated… I remember standing at second base with the umpires, our manager Mike Brown and the visiting manager, I believe it was Lorenzo Bundy, and having what was close to a nervous breakdown… totally frustrated about our inability to get any decent weather.  We must have played “Rainy Night in Georgia” 500 times on the PA system that year! �

#6 - The board of all-time greats.   I was very proud of the board which was mounted above the main concession stand at the “old” Golden Park.  It was my idea to create a very visible board listing the names of the baseball greats who had played on that historic spot.  The list is long and impressive…. something that makes a first time visitor to that park appreciate the historical significance of the place.  If it wasn’t my idea…. I am going to take credit for it anyway!

#5 - Fort Benning and the US Army.  Everyone knows how much Fort Benning means to Columbus, but what I appreciated about it most was the opportunity to meet so many great folks who were in Columbus because of Fort Benning.  Both active service, retired and civilian employees.   People like Rosemary and Linwood Johnson, Dave and Linda Turner, Jim and Judy Walker, Steve and Dot Thiele, and many, many, more good folks who work or have been stationed there.  These folks work or worked at the post and also for the team.  They are solid, dependable, honest, just flat out good people who we consider friends for life.  I was fortunate to be on the board of directors of the local chapter of the A.U.S.A. (Association for the United States Army) and got to meet the Commanding Generals and Bird Colonels who ran Fort Benning… We attended Ranger graduations, change of command ceremonies, and many, many more events that really reinforced my pride in America.

#4 - Dayton Preston.  What a man!  Dayton had been the owner AND general manager of the Columbus Astros for most of the 20 plus years that the previous class AA club had been in town.  I had heard of him before we moved to Columbus, but you have to meet the man to understand his love for Columbus and for the baseball team.   He was so helpful to us in getting started and getting introduced to folks.  I’ve taken the reins of other teams in other cities where the previous management is of little or no help… they may be bitter about things in the past, etc.   But not Dayton… he was helpful, friendly, just an all around good guy.

#3 - The RedStixx staff… both full time and seasonal.  We had so many good, solid, dependable, honest, friendly, helpful, just plain GREAT people who worked for us over those five years….   I will list some of them…. I know I will forget some…. but here are some folks who I place on our list of FRIENDS FOR LIFE….   Rosemary Johnson, Dave and Linda Turner, Jim Walker, Rick Jacobson, Steve Thiele, Kathy Gierer, John Atkinson, Jack Rogers, Carol Dean, Dave Wilson, Kevin McNabb, Mark Littleton, and so many more… like Cecil Darby (our historian).

#2 - The announcement of the team…. in February 1991.   We held a press conference at the Holiday Inn to announce that the old class AA “Mudcats” were going to be replaced by a CLASS A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.   The farm director of the Indians, Dan O’Dowd (now the GM of the Colorado Rockies) was there, as was Dayton Preston, Spec Richardson, Cecil Darby and a good media turnout.  If I recall correctly, it was February 14, 1991 or at least very close to Valentines Day…. and we were going to open the season on April 9!!!  We had the podium in front of a fireplace in the hotel and my back was to the burning fire.  Richard Hyatt of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer wrote the article for the paper the next day.  He referred to having my backside to the fire… getting a new full-season franchise open and operating in less than 60 days!   The ballpark had been neglected all winter and the fiel d was knee high in weeds.  I remember mowing it myself the first time WITH A PUSHMOWER… just to get the weeds down!  But we did it… we were up and running with the INDIANS in less than 60 days.   We did not change to RedStixx until 1992… that’s another good story.

#1 - TIE…..  Willie Bowman and Spec Richardson.   These men are the two GREATEST BASEBALL FIGURES IN COLUMBUS.   Willie Bowman was the peanut vendor at Golden Park since the day it opened in 1950.  His sales pitch was hard to ignore….  “HEY, GOODY, GOODY, GOOODY, GOOOODY PEANUTS!”  and the famous ‘WE HAVE A SPECIAL TODAY…. BUY ONE - GET ONE!”  (Get it?  If you buy one bag…. you get just that…. ONE BAG!)  It wasn’t just his peanut salesmanship, it was the smile that he managed to put on everyone’s face just by walking past them with his famous call and booming voice that could be heard from anywhere in the ballpark.  He was truly a special, vital and unique part of the Golden Park experience.  I know it is hard to imagine calling a peanut vendor the greatest baseball figure in Columbus…. but that is what he is.  Anyone who has ever seen Willie do his thing would have t o agree with me.  He is the only peanut vendor I know who has a bobble-head and knowing Willie Bowman for me was a 100% pure pleasure.  He is in my hall-of-fame for sure.�

The same thing goes for Spec Richardson.  H.B.”Spec” Richardson grew up in Columbus.  He started his baseball career working in the concession stands at Golden Park.  Later, he became the business manager and eventually moved to the Jacksonville, FL ballclub and then on to the class AAA Houston Buffs.  When Houston was awarded a major league expansion team in 1962 Spec had already become the right-hand man of the famous Judge Roy Hofheinz who owned the “Colt .45’s (later changed to Astros).  In his job with the Judge and later as GM of the Astros, Spec oversaw the construction of the EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD…. THE HOUSTON ASTRODOME.   A true local boy “made good”.  He was the general manger of two major league teams and the NATIONAL LEAGUE EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR in 1978 with the San Francisco Giants…. he was, in his heyday, one of the most colorful and well liked executives in the major leagues.  Spec started hi s career in Golden Park…. and made it to the pinnacle of major league baseball as a major league general manager.  When he retired, Spec and his wife Tommye (also a local gal) returned to their roots in Columbus.  Spec made himself available to help me in any way help was needed.  He was not above sitting at a desk and answering the phones, nor getting behind a concession counter to sell popcorn.  Of course, his advice and counsel was the biggest help.

Getting to know Willie Bowman and Spec Richardson… that tops my list!

There it is.  A glimpse into 5 of 35 plus years in a baseball life.  Looking back on it, those were some pretty good years.  Our two oldest kids graduated from Columbus High School (also alma mater of baseball slugger Frank Thomas).  We were in the playoffs at least twice… I have to look it up to remember… it might have been three times… but we never won the league title.   The Fort Worth experience has been the only one in our career that may top Columbus, Georgia.

JPD

July 30, 2008

I guess you could say we are into what is often called the “dog days” of the baseball season.  Those are the days when the summer heat seems to wear both players and fans down a little and the players often find themselves fighting through the mid-season lull that seems to come after the all-star game.  Soon, though, they get their “second wind” and head down the “stretch run” for the playoffs!

It looks like that is happening with the Cats.   We had our lull and now the team is gearing up for the post season.  As most of you know, the Cats won the first half championship.  So… that guarantees our appearance in the playoffs again in 2008.

Now, the league rules for playoff rosters are on the top of the mind of every field manager and player personnel person whose team is in contention for the 2008 American Association post season.  Playoff rosters are frozen on August 13, ten days before the end of the regular season.   So it is important for all contending teams to decide if they are ready to go into the post season with the team “as is” or if they feel they can shore up a weak spot with a late season pickup from a non-contender or a free agent.

The injury situation is also a factor.   It could be that someone is recovering from an injury and may be ready to play in the post season, in which case you may have him on the disabled list.  However, if you plan to re-instate him and you are at the full active limit, you will have to decide who is going to be released.

Trades and acquisitions are not allowed during the last ten days of the season or during the post season.   Our league President Dan Moushon monitors the rosters very closely to be sure that teams do not break this rule and also that we do not sign players who do not fit into our roster rules for experience, salary cap, etc.

I think I’ve explained before that there is a strict formula for the number of experienced players and various levels of experience that each team must adhere to.  In a nutshell, we can only have four veterans (that is players with 5 or more years of professional experience) and only four LS-4 (four years) and we MUST have four rookies.  The remaining players may be from one to three years of experience, however one of them must have just ONE year.  It is a little more complex than this, but I won’t bore you with the details….such as the salary cap that has to fit into this and the fact that we can sign an extra five year guy if we only have three four year guys, but that guy can’t have MORE than five years…. and some other stuff about rookies who have only played in our league, etc. etc.  …… that’s it in a nutshell.

Therefore, when considering roster moves, Chad Tredaway cannot simply “go out and find another pitcher”… for example.   He may have a slot open for a pitcher with one to three years experience so that is exactly what he has to find.

These rules are set forth to maintain competitive balance in the league and to keep teams from loading up on older players.   One of the ideas behind a league like ours is to provide young players with opportunities to showcase their skills.  If the league were filled with 30-35 year old guys who are often, frankly, on the downside of their career, it would truthfully deteriorate into a product on the field which some fans might describe as a bunch of “has beens”. 

As it is, we have a very good product.  Our teams are generally made up of youthful and enthusiastic young men who are enjoying the experience of minor league baseball and trying their best to win for the hometown fans.   One of the most gratifying parts of this business of independent baseball is to be a part of the competitive atmosphere and watch how the players handle the pressure while at the same time enjoying the experience of playing the game they love on a professional level.

I want to share a letter with you.  It was written to Carl Bell from Mr. John C. Molyneux.  Mr. Molyneux is the father of John Molyneux who was just such an addition to our roster late last season.  Young John joined the team for the “stretch run” and the playoffs and was instrumental in helping us to our 2008 league championship.  I am typing the letter word-for-word exactly as Mr. Molyneux penned it.  After you’ve read this letter, you will understand what really motivates someone like Carl Bell… and you will know that it is NOT and has NEVER BEEN about money.

 Dear Mr. Bell,My son, John Molyneux, got his 2007 championship ring about two weeks ago right befor our family bar-b-que.  He was excited to show everyone in the family how beautiful the ring is he received for winning the championship.

We can count on some exciting playoff action again this year at LaGrave Field.  We will host the first two games of the Southern Division playoffs on Monday and Tuesday, August 25 and 26.   If we are successful in the first round, we would then host the first two games of the Championship Series against the Northern Division Champion on Monday and Tuesday, September 1 and 2.  (Monday, September 1 is Labor Day this year.)

For now, keep an eye on the roster as Chad sets the team for the post season…. I think we’re pretty close but we are one under the limit right now, so you could see an addition if the right guy becomes available.  And….. let’s root the Cats through these “dog days” and into the playoffs!

Tickets are on sale now!

More soon.

JPD

The Cats are trailing the Pelicans 8-2 in the eighth inning of tonight’s game as I write.

It is never fun to be trailing in a game and really NOT fun when the score is 8-2.  We have beaten Pensacola 14 out of 15 times this season.  The odds of us winning yet another game against the Pelicans are getting longer every day.   After tonight, we have the three day all-star break and it is much needed by the Cats.   We have a couple of starters with some tired arms and a sore shoulder.  We have relievers who have pitched way too many games in recent days.  Tonight, Tim Haines is coming in to relieve Lee Gwaltney despite the fact that he started a game just two nights ago.   Our pitching staff is tired and depleted.  We need the three day break.

We are going to have to get some things in order before the roster freeze deadling in order to be in top shape for the playoffs.  You can be sure that Chad Tredaway is keely aware of that.

Our core group is solid.  We need one more big hitter to help us break open those big innings and we need some help in middle relief.  Look for moves to be made in those areas.  Rosters are frozen two weeks before the playoffs, so we will need to get our house in order by August 9.

I do like our team and I think we have a good chance to take it all the way once again, even though the odds are stacked against such an occurrence.  Not to mention, just about everyone else in the league would like to have a different champ.  There is no doubt that the Cats have targets on their backs.

There are several very good ballclubs in the league and when it comes down to a best of five series, anyone can win.  It takes a solid effort combined with a few breaks to win a championship.  That’s just a fact.

One of the most interesting phenomenon is how fickle some fans can be.  When we are going good, many people will compliment the team.  When we are going bad, you can see people shaking their heads and you hear people yelling at the manager, the team and yes… even blaming the umpires.  As I’ve said before… the beauty of the game is that it is an every day game and we have to maintain a balance each day.  It is a game that mirrors life…. like the song says…. “some days are diamonds, some days are coal”…..

But when it comes to blaming the umps…..  we should never blame the umps for any failures by the Cats.  The umpires are just like the players.  They are working hard to do the very best job possible.  If you have ever felt like yelling at the umps, and who hasn’t,  you should think about it.

First, think about the fact that these are young men who are aspiring to be at the top of their profession.  They all want to be major league umpires.  They spend the summer driving all around the country in their own vehicles to get to the various league cities.  They spend EVERY night in a hotel room.  Unlike the players, they do not have homestands, during which they can stay in their own apartments, with their family or friends around them.  They are on the road from the first day of the season to the last.  It is, indeed, a lonely and difficult experience.  

Then, take into consideration that they really don’t have any “fans”.  Every fan in the stands is pretty much ready to jump on them if they feel they missed a call, or a pitch.  I think it is interesting how fans tend to de-humanize the umps.  Not only do the umps find no friends in the grandstand, they aren’t exactly buddies with the guys in the dugouts either….. of course, they have to maintain objectivity and that means keeping their distance from the players and managers.   Each team is required to provide hotel accomodations for the umpires.  We are also asked to provide those accomodations at a hotel which is different from that which houses the visiting team.  This is done to maintain that professional distance from the players

Our American Association umps are a clean-cut group of young men who are just trying to live the American dream of pursuing a very lofty career goal.  That is to achieve something that is very difficult and rare accomplishment…. to become a major league umpire.  Believe it or not, it is far more difficult to become a major league umpire than a major league player.  Major league umps stay on the job a lot longer than players, so the opportunities for those openings are few and far between.  These young men are the sons of proud parents who worry about them every day.  I can only imagine how worried I would be if one of my two sons wanted to spend summer after summer driving around the country working night after night in a hot minor league ballpark.  If I were to sit in the stands and listen to some of things people were saying to my son, I would have to be restrained!

Do they miss calls?  Sure they do.  So do the best umps in the world… in the major leagues.

As you might imagine, I have an intense interest in the outcome of each and every play of our season.  (That is partially why I remain in the press level for most games.  My wife, Lois, would tell you that I am a little too intense.  I know, but I can’t help it.)  …. That said, I sincerely believe that our umpires are excellent.  They are competent, well trained professionals who have proven to be very reliable and capable on a day-in and day-out basis.  We never worry about the umpires.  They are here, looking sharp and ready to go every night… rock solid and dependable.  I tip my hat to our director of officials, Kevin Winn and the entire American Association umpiring staff.

It is an age-old tradition to yell at the umps.  It will never stop.  But when all is said and done….. let us tip our caps to this fine group of young men who come to LaGrave Field every night committed to excellence in their profession and thank them for the role they play in our great game in general and at our beautiful little ballpark in particular.�

JPD  �

July 15, 2008

Tonight is the Major League All-Star Game.   I am watching the pre-game at LaGrave Field as the Cats prepare to take on the Wichita Wingnuts.   What a silly name for a baseball team.  I don’t care for it, and I don’t mind saying so.  Many teams these days continue to try to come up with the most ridiculous name thinking they will be the next big thing with their logo and their merchandise, etc.

Call me old-fashioned, but I don’t care for the crazy nicknames like Wingnuts, WartHogs, AirHogs, Saltdogs, etc.   I also don’t like the names like Wind, Fury, Fire, Sun, and other elemental things. 

I like good old-fashioned names like Cats, Cubs, Yankees, Dodgers, Rangers, etc.   I guess that’s just my age talkiing.  The “Sox” names are also good…. White Sox, Red Sox in the majors…. here are some good “Sox” names from minor league history:   Amarillo Gold Sox, Reno Silver Sox, Utica Blue Sox…. all good names. 

But… I digress….  It is a great night in the baseball world.  The pre-game ceremony at Yankee Stadium tonight was the best I have ever seen.  Pre-game ceremonies are the best part of All-Star Games.  This one was one of the best.  I have to admit that I teared-up when “The Boss” was brought onto the field in a golf cart to deliver the balls for the first pitch ceremony.  I have heard that George Steinbrenner has Alzheimer’s.  I don’t know if this has been confirmed, but obviously, he is not the man he used to be.  It was truly an emotional moment.

What was particularly thrilling to me was the fact that there were several Hall-of-Famers on the field who have been seen at LaGrave Field in recent times.

I saw Dick Williams, who was here in June.  I saw Fergie Jenkins, who was here last year as well as Bob Feller and Harmon Killebrew who were also here recently.  It is just awesome to think that all of these baseball greats and others, like Duke Snider, Sparky Anderson, Maury Wills and Sam McDowell, who have been at our beautiful little ballpark in recent times.

What a great thing we have going here in Fort Worth.  Our special little ballpark has already hosted many great monents in its short modern history.   In addition to the many hall-of-famers we have already had as visitors, we have seen the 2004 Central League All-Star Game as well as three Championships and many, many other exciting games.  A list of the most memorable for me would include the first ever game in 2002, the aforementioned All-Star Game, the championship clinching games of 2005 and 2007, and the most recent 4th of July.  There have been many nights that I have been proud to be a Cat.

We are gearing up for the 2008 playoffs now.  It looks to be a very exciting time as the Cats try to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive championship.  It will be a challenge to accomplish something that has never been done before.  In fact, the Cats already hold the record in independent baseball having won three consecutive championships.

Right now we are fighting through some injuries both on our pitching staff and with our position players.  We will probably have to make a couple of player moves in order to shore up our roster for the playoffs.  Our league rules prohibit roster moves in the final two weeks of the season, so we will have to make some hard decisions in the next couple of weeks in order to be healthy and at full strength for the playoffs.

Tickets for the playoffs will go on sale in the next few days.  I hope you will be out here at the ballpark to root on the Cats.  You don’t want to miss it because we never know when the next great memorable moment will occur.

See you at the ballpark!      JPD

Some of you may have seen the “guest column” in this week’s Fort Worth Business Press.  I am grateful to the Business Press for accepting my submission.  Due to space limitations, the column is edited and thus some of the detail is lost.  The editors did a great job of keeping the meaning and intent of the piece, but I thought my blog readers might enjoy the subject in more detail.  Below is the detailed and “unedited” version…..    JPD

Minor League Baseball in Major League Markets

by:  John Dittrich, President and C.O.O. - Fort Worth Cats

 The City of Grand Prairie turned more than a few heads when it announced last year that it would build a baseball stadium to house a new independent minor league baseball team.  Among those who took notice was the Texas Rangers Baseball Club.  Rangers management was concerned that the addition of another minor league franchise just six miles from the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington would cut into their fan base. 

 Ironically, when the Rangers made their concerns public and actually made a financial investment in an effort to stop the construction of the Grand Prairie facility, it effectively backfired.  The “David vs. Goliath” sentiment was evoked and Grand Prairie voters reacted by endorsing the construction of the new facility in the entertainment district.  That is the acreage which already contained Lone Star Park and the Nokia Theatre. 

 The new facility is home to the Grand Prairie AirHogs.  The AirHogs are members of the American Association along with our Fort Worth Cats.  They have made a successful debut in 2008 under former Rangers’ star Pete Incaviglia, finishing second to the Cats in the first half of the 2008 season.  The AirHogs have attracted an average attendance of 2,800 per game for the first half of their inaugural season.  This compares to the Cats’ average of over 4,000 per game.  Industry experts would describe the Grand Prairie attendance figures as solid but not specatacular considering the fact that it is their “honeymoon” season and that the stadium in Grand Prairie is a very nice, state-of-the-art facility complete with a dozen luxury suites, a swimming pool and a cigar bar.

 These attendance figures raise a question prompted by a newspaper report that attendance at Texas Rangers games was down by an average number per game which was very close to the 6,800 fans currently being attracted by the Cats and AirHogs.  The obvious assumption is that these two minor league franchises are pulling the fans away from the Rangers. 

 I can say with a high degree of certainty, that nothing could be further from the truth.  You would expect me to take that position given my current position with the Fort Worth Cats, but I assure you, there is evidence to support this.

 It is a fact that minor league baseball has proven to be a “boon” to our major league bretheren in a majority of the current markets in MLB. 

It all began with one minor league team…. the Pawtucket Red Sox.   The “PawSox” have been operating very successfully less than 35 miles from Fenway Park for over 30 years.  They have been the Red Sox class AAA affiliate for decades, packing crowds into historic McCoy Stadium for years.  It is very obvious to any New Englander that the PawSox do not detract from the Red Sox, but rather they CREATE fans for the big league team. 

Then about 15 years ago, the Red Sox added YET ANOTHER affiliate club in the Boston suburb of Lowell, Massachussets.  The Lowell Spinners, in the short class A New York-Penn League, have been SOLD OUT for virtually every game in the history of the franchise!  LeLacheur Park in Lowell has a capacity of 5,000 fans and their average attendance is 5,030! 

Add to that the fact that the Red Sox class AA club is located in nearby Portland, Maine, less than 100 miles from Fenway.  The Portland SeaDogs play in another great minor league facility, Hadlock Field, which has its’ own version of Boston’s famed “Green Monster”.  The SeaDogs are currently averaging  over 5,500 fans per game. 

What have these teams done for the Red Sox?  They have helped, over the last two decades, to create what is known as “Red Sox Nation”.  These three teams are all clearly inside the Red Sox market and between them, attracting almost 20,000 fans per night!  Yet, it is nigh impossible to get a Boston Red Sox ticket at Fenway Park. 

 Now, you could argue that this is a unique phenomenon.  But you would be wrong!

 Over the last 20-25 years, dozens of minor league teams have found a niche in the suburban major league markets.   In virtually every case, these teams have ENHANCED interest in baseball in general and in the major league teams in those markets in particular. 

Take the case of the Kane County Cougars in suburban Chicago.  The Cougars set up shop in 1991 amidst a flood of skeptics who thought it would be impossible to attract fans in Chicago’s strong major league market with not one, but TWO MAJOR LEAGUE TEAMS, the Cubs and the White Sox. 

Not only did the Cougars succeed, but they have set a spectacular standard with average attendance over the last 16 years nearing 7,000 fans per game.   Their fabulous success has spawned not one, but no less than FIVE minor league franchises in suburban Chicago.  Today, in addition to the Cougars, there are new facilites and teams in the suburbs of Schaumburg, Crestwood, and Joliet in Illinois as well as Gary, Indiana.  All of these teams are attracting solid attendance numbers. 

Has this proliferation of minor league baseball in the Chicago suburbs had a negative effect on the Cubs or the White Sox?  Quite the opposite, both major league clubs in Chicago are experiencing record attendance numbers. 

Again, I cite this phenomenon is prevalent in many other major league markets:  

 Philadelphia has minor league teams just minutes from Citizens Bank Ballpark in Camden, Wilmington, Atlantic City and Trenton.

 New York has a proliferation of teams with teams in Newark, Montclair and Somerset on the Jersey side in addition to the Yankees very successful farm club in Staten Island, the Staten Island Yankees and the Mets thriving affiliate in Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Cyclones.

 The Seattle Mariners have established a solid base in the Pacific Northwest.  Their class AAA farm club is in South suburban Tacoma and they have a class A affiliate in the Northern suburb of Everett.

 We have yet dozens of additional situations such as the smashing success of our own St. Paul Saints just five miles from the Metrodome in Minneapolis, the very successful teams in Akron and Lake Coutny, Ohio near Cleveland, and two thriving ballclubs operating in the shadows of the new Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

The fact that Rangers’ President Nolan Ryan’s teams in Round Rock and Corpus Christi are Houston farm clubs cannot be ignored.  Although neither of these cities is an actual suburb of Houston, we cannot escape the fact that Houston is the nearest major league ballclub.

 The San Francisco bay area and greater Los Angeles are also home to many minor league teams.  Even “small market” Kansas City has the “T-Bones” operating very successfully in Kansas City, Kansas opposite the big league Royals on the Missouri side.

Now, the Atlanta Braves have also realized that having a minor league team within their market only serves to build interest in pro baseball and whet the appetite of fans to get out to the ballpark.  They are abandoning their long time affiliation with Richmond, Virginia in favor of a beautiful new facility in suburban Atlanta’s Gwinnet County which will house the Braves’ class AAA affiliate next season.  The Braves already have a class A affiliate playing in nearby Rome, Georgia.

 It has become obvious to many in both major and minor league baseball that the place to be is right in your own back yard!  Not only does it serve to stimulate interest in the game itself, it can also build fan loyalty as folks follow players through the organization on their way to the major league club. 

 The Rangers have done this in Frisco and there is evidence to suggest that it is working.  It will take a little more time for the totality of the fan loyalty effect.  But, the backlash against their opposition in Grand Prairie is good evidence that a good marketing strategy for the Rangers would be to embrace the Cats and the AirHogs…….   or maybe even more than “embrace”.