Baseball
Features
MiLB standing at front lines of uncertainty, potential business peril from Covid-19 outbreak
With the vast majority of revenues for Minor League Baseball teams deriving from gate revenues and no games happening due to the Covid-19 outbreak, economic worries are growing. US Editor Eric Fisher reports.
Even amid game cancellations, MLB still has keen eye on Mexico
The United States' neighbor to the south is being increasingly viewed by Major League Baseball as a viable location for both regular-season games and perhaps an expansion franchise
Diamondbacks’ Hall seeks to forge new future for Chase Field
After gaining the legal right to look around Maricopa County for a new stadium, MLB club now focusing more of their efforts on current facility
SF Giants’ Scottsdale renovation marks latest step in Cactus League facility boom
Barry M. Bloom looks at the latest developments being made toward MLB's Spring Training facilities in the Greater Phoenix area. The area is the Spring Training home for half of MLB's 30 teams, with many playing in new or renovated facilities.
MLB’s new NYC headquarters reflects Manfred’s ‘One Baseball’ vision
Major League Baseball has its first official day at its new central headquarters on the Avenue of the Americas in New York on 6 January. Eric Fisher visits the new offices.
MLB, MLBPA strike deal for pandemic-related issues
League, union reach agreement on key issues for this year including player salaries, service time accrual
Fanatics shifts uniform factory to produce medical gear
Material for official MLB uniforms to be used for protective masks and gowns
Manfred: MLB will be a key part of healing from virus outbreak
MLB commissioner says "nothing's off the table" in terms of recalibrating schedule once play resumes
MLB creates “Opening Day At Home” amid pandemic
Set of 30 archival games to be shown across various media partners will feature each club
Miller’s Hall of Fame election has complex path both before and ahead
Barry M. Bloom looks at the story of how Marvin Miller, the late former executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, has finally been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
MiLB president O’Conner elected to fourth term amid fractious MLB talks
Longtime executive and industry lifer to remain leading the affiliated minors. But with MLB looking to overhaul the very notion of Minor League Baseball, the job has never been more complex
Mariners seek to forge new ticketing ground with Flex Membership plan
Major League Baseball’s Seattle Mariners are examining the future of the season ticket, and seeing how they can offer fans more flexible options to watch their team.
Guarded optimism within MLB free agent market after two slow years
After two historically slow offseasons for MLB player movement that heightened tensions between the league and MLB Players Association, this fall and winter are expected to see more activity.
Astros look to move past World Series disappointment with several 2020 projects
The Houston Astros MLB team has big plans for its future, in spite of recent disappointment in the 2019 World Series and recent issues with a executive who was fired. Eric Fisher takes a look at the projects the team have in store.
MLB-MiLB negotiations look to redefine entire notion of minor leagues
Ongoing talks potentially present some of the largest organizational changes ever in baseball player development
Las Vegas’s minor league teams confirm city’s place as major league sports town
The city of Las Vegas is not immediately recognizable for its reputation as a sports hub. Bob Williams looks at how it is transitioning "from the entertainment capital of the world to the sports and entertainment capital of the world".
Rights to beloved Phillie Phanatic mascot in dispute after more than 40 years
Legal battle revives tension that previously existed between the MLB club and the design firm that helped create iconic character.
‘Brown as a bear’: Shock, awe and despair as prized autographs ruined by defective baseballs
Browning has marred thousands of once-valuable autographed baseballs, with the precise cause of the damage still unknown. Dennis Tuttle examines the impact on the baseball collectibles market
Mickey Mantle: In death, still king of the collectors’ world
Dead since 1995, the revered Hall of Famer still commands a lofty position among baseball memorabilia collectors
MLB aims to ‘democratize’ esports with inclusive push around Home Run Derby VR game
Major League Baseball's developing esports strategy, much more inclusive and based on a game title much simpler to play, veers heavily from other major US sports properties
Minor League Baseball seeks to move national sales to “biggest levels in the market”
After more than three years of steady growth building a national sales operation, the affiliated minor leagues of baseball has growing ambitions
Mark Lev – President Fenway Sports Management at SDMS Miami
Mark Lev, President Fenway Sports Management, a group marketing iconic brands such as Liverpool FC and the Boston Red Sox speaking at the Sports Decision Makers Summit in Miami about incentivised sponsorship …
Two-site ballpark plan gives Oakland A’s new hope in long-running facility search
The MLB club's bold plan to solve its nearly generation-long search for a new facility not only has unusual architectural choices, but also involves redeveloping two separate parcels. Barry M. Bloom reports.
Philadelphia Phillies see large bump in business fortunes with Harper signing
Fan excitement over the acquisition of the star free agent has fueled the MLB club to what is by far the league's largest per-game attendance increase. But Paul Hagen examines how the organization is already thinking long-term and looking to sustain fan engagement over Harper's entire 13-year deal.
New York Yankees celebrate a decade of community impact with influential HOPE Week
MLB club's annual initiative forges a new model for community outreach within the sports industry. Eric Fisher examines the impact both in and out of the organization.
San Francisco Giants pursue aggressive real estate play at Mission Rock
Three-times World Series winners the San Francisco Giants are turning property developers with the Mission Rock mixed-use development across the way from their Oracle Park home. Barry M. Bloom examines a project 15 years in the making.
MLB begins “long-term journey” in Europe with London games
Baseball starts push into the continent with its biggest and most historic rivalry: the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Story by Eric Fisher.
Fast fashion comes to Asia | Q&A Masanori Kawana, managing director, Fanatics Japan
Masanori Kawana, managing director, Fanatics Japan, came to prominence in October when he signed the company’s first vertical merchandising deal in Asia with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Here he speaks to Ben Cronin about the prospects for the company's fast fashion model in Asia.