On Aug. 31, 2020, right-hander Miguel Yajure made his Major League debut as a member of the New York Yankees. He took the mound wearing No. 89, the only number remaining (between 0 and 99) that had never previously been worn by a Major League player in a regular-season game. This, the 89th edition of the Ben’s Biz Beat newsletter is, also dedicated to breaking new ground in subtle ways. You just have to pay attention. Let’s talk about Minor League Baseball.
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NET GAIN: CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS HOST OUTDOOR AHL GAME
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The month of January typically does not see many premier events staged at Minor League ballparks, which is why I wanted to start this newsletter by highlighting last week’s frozen festivities in Charlotte, N.C. |
(Photo: Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights) |
The start of the Minor League Baseball season is more than two months away, but the Charlotte Knights have already hosted their first sellout crowd. This past Saturday, the Triple-A Chicago White Sox affiliate drew over 11,000 fans to Truist Field for an American Hockey League game.
In the inaugural Queen City Outdoor Classic, the hometown Charlotte Checkers defeated the Rochester Americans, 5-2. This marked the third time an AHL Outdoor Classic had taken place in a Minor League ballpark, following 2015 (Sacramento’s Raley Field) and 2013 (Rochester’s Frontier Field, now called Innovative Field).
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(Photo: Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights) |
Dan Rajkowski, the Knights’ chief operating officer, said that hosting a hockey game at Truist Field was a long time coming. The seed was first planted during the 2014 Baseball Winter Meetings in San Diego, when he attended a winter-themed gala at Petco Park and, during the same trip, noticed that Coronado Island had its own ice rink.
“I said, if they can make ice in San Diego, we can sure make it in Charlotte,” he recalled. “It spurred that [idea], and then I let that thing sit for a while.”
In 2020, looking to generate revenue following a season lost to COVID, the Knights hosted their first “Light the Knights” holiday festival at Truist Field. It was a success and became an ever-expanding annual event, with an ice rink added to the attractions in 2022.
“That’s when we really began the discussions [with the Checkers],” said Rajkowski. “We’ve had a great relationship with them. You know, we’re in a Major League sports city, so sometimes us Minor League teams get overlooked a bit.”
So that fans could get a better view, the ice rink was moved in toward the infield for Jan. 13’s game between the Checkers and the Americans. The Knights were already planning to redo the infield prior to Opening Day, which was another factor regarding this being the right time for the club to host professional hockey.
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(Photo: Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights) |
“We did the outfield drainage last year -- irrigation -- and now we're just doing the infield,” said Rajkowski. “With the expense of it and the revenue opportunities it all just had to line up perfectly. And it really did. We drew 164,000 for Light the Knights and another 11,000 for the hockey game. 175,000 people for an offseason event.”
Charlotte was blessed with beautiful hockey weather for Saturday’s game, with temperatures for the contest dropping into the 40s. Checkers players arrived at the ballpark wearing Knights uniforms, an aesthetic mash-up that summed up the evening’s unique nature.
“The electricity was incredible in a way you don’t get in a baseball game. The crowd was very into it,” said Rajkowski. “Fireworks before the game, fireworks after the game, a 5-2 win. It was just a different feel, you know?
“Charlotte just works. Its people move here from all over the country. [The Checkers] were playing a [Buffalo] Sabres affiliate, Rochester, and I was amazed at the number of Americans jerseys I saw at the [pregame] Fan Fest. Charlotte is a hotbed for people who moved from the Northeast.”
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The Charlotte Knights’ front office, and mascot Homer, pose on the ice. (Photo: Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights) |
The Queen City Outdoor Classic involves too many moving parts -- and outsized costs -- to become an annual event. But as is the case with most successful ventures, a sequel is possible.
“You don't want it to get old. I think the uniqueness of it was very special,” said Rajkowski. “We still plan on putting a rink in the outfield and doing that portion of it [for Light the Nights]. Whether hockey is involved in that, professional hockey, probably not. But I'm not going to say no at this point. It was so successful.”
Now it’s on to baseball season. The Knights play their home opener on April 2, taking on the Norfolk Tides.
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LEAVING MISSISSIPPI: M-BRAVES ANNOUNCE 2025 RELOCATION
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In last week’s newsletter, I mentioned the upcoming relocation of two Minor League Baseball teams: The Down East Wood Ducks are moving from Kinston, N.C., to Spartanburg, S.C., in 2025, and the Carolina Mudcats are moving from Zebulon, N.C., to Wilson, N.C., in 2026.
Add the Mississippi Braves to the “imminent relocation” list, as the Southern League squad announced on Jan. 10 that 2024 will be their final season at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss. In 2025, Atlanta’s Double-A affiliate will begin a new era in Columbus, Ga.
The M-Braves’ departure will leave Mississippi with just one Minor League franchise. The state is losing a team in Pearl, but it still has its oyster (the Biloxi Shuckers).
READ ABOUT THE M-BRAVES RELOCATION TO COLUMBUS HERE
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This is Josh Jackson, pressing the brakes on this frenetic-paced news of teams in motion. You know me as host of Ghost of the Minors, the segment on The Show Before the Show podcast that challenges you to identify the historical Minor League Baseball team or player hidden among a pair of fakes.
Last time, we dug in with Edward Wurm. This week, I ask you which of these teams put stars in our eyes in the Minors of yesteryear:
A. The Houston Constellations
B. The Cape Canaveral Moonshooters
C. The Roswell Sunshiners
For the answer, check out the next Ghosts of the Minors on The Show Before the Show!
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SPRING TIME IN WINTER: READERS SHARE FAVORITE BOBBLEHEADS |
In last week’s newsletter I asked you, the presumably loyal reader, to send me photos and information pertaining to a most important topic: Your favorite bobblehead. Three responses follow forthwith: |
I have two favorite MiLB bobbleheads, both from my hometown Peoria Chiefs. The first, from 2003, commemorates the Peoria Red Wings women's team that played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) featured in the movie "A League of Their Own." When the movie came out my grandparents told us that their first date was at a Peoria Red Wings game, so we took them to see the movie. My grandparents have since both passed away, but every time I see the bobblehead, I am reminded of them.
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The second is of former Peoria Chiefs owner Pete Vonachen. His bobblehead was given out in 2002 at the last game played at the Chiefs’ former home, Pete Vonachen Stadium at Meinen Field. This is where I saw my first-ever live baseball game as a kid, and I went on to attend many more games throughout the years. It has been gone for over 20 years now, and I have now visited over 100 ballparks, but Vonachen Stadium will always hold a special place in my heart as my first ballpark. -- Josh Ebbert
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My two favorite Minor League bobbleheads both have our old mascot on them. Oily the Oiler is from when Tulsa had the Oilers team, before they were the Drillers. -- Marcus Messimore
Marcus submitted pictures of both his Oily bobbleheads. The one seen above, from 2005, features Oily alongside current Drillers mascot Hornsby.
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The next, and last, response is courtesy of Michael Palko. He sent a video of his favorite bobblehead, but since I cannot embed video in the newsletter, the below picture (posted on the Carolina Mudcats’ X account) will have to suffice. |
Several times a season the Mudcats, as part of Copa de la Diversiòn, play as the Pescados de Carolina.
This bobblehead is my favorite because it’s a good reminder to take advantage of my time here and (among other things) see as many parks and as much baseball as I can before the final out.
Praying that there’s baseball in the afterlife! -- Michael Palko
Is there baseball in the afterlife? If you have facts or opinions to share about this, or any other topic at least a tiny bit relevant to the world of Minor League Baseball, then get in touch. I enjoy and appreciate the correspondence: benjamin.hill@mlb.com
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