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Dear American Association Baseball Fans,
Welcome to the ballpark and thank you for taking in an American Association baseball game. As the premier MLB Partner League, we are proud of our product and are humbled that you have chosen to join us. Our fans are the lifeblood of our league so please sit back, buckle in, and enjoy the show because you are in for a great time.
The 2023 season was a memorable one and culminated with the Kansas City Monarchs winning their third American Association championship in five years. The regular season was marked with fantastic play on the field and top-notch entertainment from our clubs. The Milwaukee Milkmen hosted the league at Franklin Field in Ballpark Commons in Franklin, WI, in July for the All-Star Game and the league’s Hall of Fame was formed with the induction of Reggie Abercrombie, Ed Nottle, Mike Veeck, and Doug Simunic.
The American Association continued to grow the digital footprint via improved streaming of our games on www.AABaseball.tv and other initiatives that have raised the profile of our players and clubs in the greater professional baseball landscape. In addition, over 1.7 million fans took in American Association baseball in one of our beautiful stadiums and over 2 million fans attended our venues for entertainment events, truly showing the power of our stadiums as cultural platforms.
In 2023 the league also participated in international play, with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks winning the inaugural Baseball Champions League in Merida, Mexico. With key victories over the Mexican League and Colombian Winter League champions. The American Association cemented its status in the baseball world as the best in the MLB Partner Leagues and also the best professional league outside of MLB.
The 2024 season will see more additions as the American Association strives to evolve and improve our on and off-field products. The league will deploy Trackman technologies for the first time ever which will give fans greater insights into our players’ performances. Most importantly, and what is the first of its kind for any MLB Partner League or MLB Affiliated League, is that all American Association live games can be viewed for free at AABaseball TV (www.aabaseball.tv).
This season, the American Association will gather at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas, as the Monarchs will host the American Association All-Star Game. Festivities will kick off on July 22 with an expanded Fan Fest and Home Run Derby, with the Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Mid-Summer Classic on July 23rd.
I hope you enjoy yourself today and take in all the ballpark has to offer and I am proud you are here to enjoy everything that makes the American Association a great community experience.
Yours in baseball,
Joshua E. Schaub
Commissioner
Photo Credit: Cameron Stephens/Kane County Cougars
By Jason Young
GENEVA, IL – A bloop single to right field in the bottom of the fourth inning drove in the game’s only run as the Kane County Cougars (6-0) defeated the Winnipeg Goldeyes 1-0 in game two of the Miles Wolff Cup Final at Northwestern Medicine Field Sunday afternoon.
With two out in the inning, left fielder Cornelius Randolph singled, stole second, and scored on designated hitter Todd Lott’s base hit. Kane County now leads the best-of-five series two games to none.
Winnipeg (4-4) did not record a hit until the ninth inning but managed to load the bases before right fielder Miles Simington grounded into a 1-2-3 double play to end the ballgame.
Landen Bourassa (L, 0-1) started for the Goldeyes and worked 7.2 innings, allowing just the one run on eight hits. Sunday’s loss marked the third time this season Bourassa has lost a 1-0 decision.
Cougars’ starter Jack Fox, making his first appearance of the postseason, exited after seven innings. He struck out three and walked one. Tyler Beardsley (S, 3) pitched the ninth and gave up two hits.
The remainder of the series will be played at Blue Cross Park in Winnipeg, with game three scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. CDT. The Goldeyes have not announced their starter, while lefty Tommy Sommer (0-0, 0.00) will take the mount for Kane County.
Trevor Curl will have the pregame show on CJNU 93.7 FM and cjnu.ca at 6:00 p.m. The video stream of all post-season games will be available free of charge at AABaseball.TV.
If necessary, games four and five would take place Wednesday and Thursday, also at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at Goldeyes.com/Tickets.
By Neely Hammerberg
Blue Cross Park has been the heartbeat of baseball in Winnipeg for a quarter of a century. It has witnessed thrilling victories, three league championships, welcomed new players and coaches, and served fans those classic baseball food and beverage options.
Opening in 1999, Blue Cross Park, then known as CanWest Global Park, was the place for local baseball fans. Located in the heart of Winnipeg and within walking distance from The Forks and St. Boniface, the park has always treated attendees to a baseball game and a view. While the logos may have changed, the familiar sights, smells, and sounds have remained unchanged for 25 years. The Goldeyes have always been a fan-first experience.
Within the last two decades, new and more advanced minor-league stadiums have opened around North America, featuring the latest in baseball entertainment and technology. The Goldeyes’ stadium, once described as “a living, breathing field of dreams” in Scott Taylor and Dr. Kris Row's Home Run: The History of the Winning Goldeyes and CanWest Global Park, with its once-modern scoreboard, comfy green seats, and open concept, is now outdated compared to these new parks.
Throughout the years, the park has undergone upgrades and changes to keep up with the times, such as name changes, suite renovations, and new food vendors. In 2018, the park built a new bar serving local beers on tap, the Craft Beer Corner.
Yet, one fixture has remained constant over the 25 years: the scoreboard.
While once a reliable companion, the old 464 x 176 scoreboard often demanded attention with frequent repairs, sometimes even during a game. The tiny, pixilated screen with the light-up score underneath was not cutting it for fans, the team, or the park.
After the 2023 season ended, significant changes that accompanied the name change were underway, removing the 25-year-old scoreboard from where it once called home.
A true game-changer emerged in the scoreboard’s place: a 201-square-meter LED video board. With its cutting-edge technology and high-definition display, this new addition promises to redefine the fan experience at Blue Cross Park, bringing a touch of major-league magic to the Goldeyes' home in downtown Winnipeg.
Created by Daktronics Inc., a video board designer and manufacturer, worked with the Goldeyes to provide them with a display built to withstand all weather conditions, a requirement in a city like Winnipeg. The new video board will provide fans with uninterrupted playback, game-time video, and entertainment options that can be viewed seamlessly both day and night.
The new display isn’t where the technological influence stopped. Alongside the impressive video board, Blue Cross Park has added TrackMan, a revolutionary radar technology that tracks the gameplay metrics of baseball players. From pitch speed, exit velocity, spin rates, and projected home run distances, TrackMan provides players with data that helps them improve their game to reach their full potential.
While fans will not have an opportunity to use TrackMan for themselves, they will still get real-time insights into the game, elevating their understanding and appreciation of the players' performances to new heights. And if TrackMan piques their interest, fans can still test their arm at the radar pitch game.
With this year’s technology changes at Blue Cross Park, Goldeyes fans will feel closer to the game than ever, enhancing the experience and the ballpark they have grown to love over the last 25 years.
The game may have differed as the digital age developed, but the green seats and brick outside remain unchanged, a reminder of the classic ballpark feel that began back in 1999.
By Jason Young
WINNIPEG, MB – First-year Winnipeg Goldeyes skipper Logan Watkins was named American Association Manager of the Year Tuesday after piloting the club to a 56-43 record and first place in the West Division.
The Goldeyes, who finished in last place in 2023, secured the 21st playoff appearance in franchise history under Watkins, and ended the season with a winning record for the 25th time in 31 seasons.
“Logan is a very special and unique manager and is definitely deserving of this honour,” said Goldeyes President Sam Katz. “Being as young as he is, he can relate to the players and has their respect since he played in both the Major Leagues and the American Association. He is a very decisive individual who does not procrastinate when it comes time to make a difficult choice. Every decision he makes on and off the field is to give the Goldeyes the best chance to win, and his players know and respect that”
Watkins, a former Chicago Cubs infielder was introduced as the fifth field manager in club history November 1, 2023 after spending the previous two-plus seasons in the same role with the Cleburne Railroaders, where he qualified for the post-season three times. Originally hired as the Railroaders’ hitting coach in 2021, the 35-year-old assumed the title of interim manager in June of that year.
Chosen as the Cubs’ minor league player of the year in 2012, the native of Wichita, Kansas made his Major League debut August 4, 2013 at Wrigley Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Watkins went on to appear in 58 games at the big-league level, recording 24 hits – including one home run – and six runs batted in.
Drafted out of Goddard High School (Goddard, Kansas) by the Cubs in 2008, Watkins played 11 professional seasons, during which he notched 1,034 hits en route to a .276 career batting average.
As a member of the now-defunct Wichita Wingnuts in 2018, Watkins was selected as an American Association Post-Season All-Star, hitting .338 with a league-high 11 triples.
“Logan put in so many hours over the winter in order to assemble the team and coaching staff we have this season,” said General Manager Andrew Collier. “I am thrilled that he has won this award.”
The Goldeyes currently hold a 1-0 lead over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in the West Division Championship Series, which continues at Blue Cross Park Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Right-hander Zac Reininger (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will take the mound for the Goldeyes, with Colten Davis (0-1, 1.42 ERA) expected to start for Fargo-Moorhead.
Trevor Curl will have the pregame show on CJNU 93.7 FM and cjnu.ca at 6:00 p.m. The game will also be broadcast in French on L’Univers de L’Info with Yanick LaRoche handling the play-by-play. The video stream of all post-season games will be available free of charge at AABaseball.TV.
Tickets are on sale now at Goldeyes.com/Tickets and the Goldeyes Ticket Office from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If necessary, game three would also take place in Winnipeg Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
By Brian Finlayson
For many, Craft Beer Corner has become their go-to viewing point for Winnipeg Goldeyes games. After its opening in 2018, the large local beer-inspired area has provided fans with products from some of their favourite breweries from around Winnipeg.
Wanting to support the scene, the Goldeyes decided to create an entirely new patio experience that wasn’t just a space for people to mingle. This was a conscious effort to work with local breweries and allow for something that many teams don’t do: serve exclusively local brews.
Located at the end of the left-field grandstands, Craft Beer Corner provides fans with a great view of the game and of the Winnipeg skyline. It creates an entirely new environment and has proven effective in garnering interest from both baseball fans and beer lovers.
“We are uniquely positioned as the first professional team in Winnipeg to partner with local brewers,” Goldeyes’ General Manager Andrew Collier said. “Craft Beer Corner allows these local breweries to come to Blue Cross Park to interact with Goldeyes’ fans and discuss the only thing that can rival baseball—Beer!”
For many fans, the commitment to the local industry is a huge driving point in supporting Craft Beer Corner. Then, once they arrive and soak in the atmosphere of an ice-cold local beer on a hot summer night at the ballpark, they’ll feel right at home.
It’s meant to express support for the breweries while also listening to the calls from fans to have a more local selection. The Goldeyes were in a unique position to satisfy both of those scenarios while creating just another part of what makes the game experience so unique.
Craft Beer Corner has rotating taps that switch between local breweries every homestand, meaning fans will have the opportunity to return throughout the year and have a different beer experience each time.
It’s hard to imagine a better partnership than local beer and baseball, and the Goldeyes have continuously proven that to be correct.
Visit the Craft Beer Corner at your next game and enjoy an ice-cold brew while enjoying some Goldeyes baseball. Visit Goldeyes.com/tickets to get your spot out in left field at Craft Beer Corner.
By Jason Young
WINNIPEG, MB – Winnipeg Goldeyes General Manager Andrew Collier has been named American Association Executive of the Year, the league announced Monday.
The 2024 season marks Collier’s 23rd as the club’s General Manager. He previously won the award in 2014 in the American Association and 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2009 in the Northern League.
Collier was inducted into the Manitoba Baseball of Fame as a Builder in 2018.
After graduating from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Commerce, Collier joined the Goldeyes’ ticket department during the team’s inaugural season in 1994. Collier gradually climbed the front office ladder before reaching his current position in December 2001.
He is also the Treasurer and an original board member of the Winnipeg Goldeyes Field of Dreams Foundation. Established in 1995, the foundation has donated close than three million dollars to children’s charities in Manitoba since its inception.
Off the field in 2024 the Goldeyes drew an average 3,714 fans to Blue Cross Park, erected a spectacular new high definition video board, and constructed two new hospitality spaces in left field.
Collier was chosen by team Directors, General Managers, and media personnel.
“Andrew has been with the Goldeyes for 31 seasons and during that time he has performed too many tasks in too many departments to mention,” said Goldeyes President and Chief Executive Officer Sam Katz. “Andrew knows that you are only as good as the staff that surrounds you, and he surrounds himself with the best. You will not find a General Manager more deserving of this honour than Andrew. Congratulations and thank you!”
Winnipeg trails the Kane County Cougars in the best-of-five Miles Wolff Cup Final, with game three scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. CDT at Blue Cross Park. Travis Seabrooke (0-0, 3.86 ERA) will start for the Goldeyes while fellow lefty Tommy Sommer (0-0, 0.00) will take the mound for Kane County.
Trevor Curl will have the pregame show on CJNU 93.7 FM and cjnu.ca at 6:00 p.m. The video stream of all post-season games will be available free of charge at AABaseball.TV.
If necessary, games four and five would take place in Winnipeg Wednesday and Thursday, also at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at Goldeyes.com/Tickets.
By Jason Young
In conjunction with the American Association of Professional Baseball, the Winnipeg Goldeyes announced Thursday that team President Sam Katz and longtime field manager Hal Lanier will be inducted into the league’s Hall of Fame during this year’s All-Star Game festivities July 23.
Katz returned professional baseball to Winnipeg in 1994 after an absence of more than two decades, with the goal of bringing affordable, family-friendly baseball entertainment to Manitoba. After the team’s incredibly successful early years, he spearheaded the effort to build what is now known as Blue Cross Park, the club’s downtown Winnipeg home which opened in 1999. Under Katz’s leadership, the Goldeyes have evolved into one of the most respected and prestigious franchises in professional baseball.
Lanier, a former Major League player and Manager, joined the Goldeyes prior to the 1996 season and piloted the team to a 472-360 regular season record over ten seasons. During his tenure, dozens of players’ contracts were transferred to Major League organizations, with several making it all the way to “The Show”.
“Congratulations to Hal and Sam! It’s appropriate that two people who have meant so much to the game of baseball in Winnipeg are entering the Hall of Fame at the same time,” said Goldeyes General Manager Andrew Collier.
“Hal came to the Goldeyes in the early years and instantly brought Major League knowledge and experience to the team and showed Manitoba that the Goldeyes were serious about baseball. I’m honoured that I had the opportunity to work with Hal for 10 years. He taught me a tremendous amount about the game of baseball and what’s it like to be a professional in this business”.
“Sam was relentless in bringing baseball back to Winnipeg. From the moment it was announced that the Goldeyes were coming back to Winnipeg, he has done everything he can to provide a great product on the field, and affordable, family, entertainment that everyone can enjoy. His philosophy of making sure people feel like they’ve received their money’s worth after leaving each home game, has resonated with me and every staff member that has had the privilege of working for the Goldeyes.”
Katz and Lanier join team legend Reggie Abercrombie and the club’s inaugural manager Doug Simunic, who were part of the Hall of Fame’s first membership class in 2023.
The Hall of Fame luncheon and induction ceremony will take place in Kansas City, Missouri at the Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center – the historic building where Andrew “Rube” Foster established the Negro Leagues in 1920.
By Neely Hammerberg
The Winnipeg Goldeyes have added a fresh voice to their press box, Trevor Curl, a 23-year-old with a deep-rooted love for baseball and a passion for commentary.
Curl's path to broadcasting began in Newcastle, Washington, where his childhood dreams of playing baseball started.
"I started throwing a little squishy ball in my living room when I was two," says Curl, reflecting on his earliest encounters with the game.
His organized baseball days started soon after his dad changed his birthday to allow him to start at a younger age, setting the stage for a lifelong connection to the sport.
Curl attended a junior college in Yuba, California, in pursuit of playing professional baseball. However, his dreams of a professional baseball career faded during his collegiate years when the pandemic hit.
“I was in my sophomore season; that's the time when you get recruited to go to a four-year school, and it pretty much set the tone that I'm probably not going to play professional baseball, which was totally fine,” he says.
Following his sophomore year, he moved closer to home, attending Eastern Oregon University and playing baseball in their restarted baseball program. While he always wanted to be a sports broadcaster and was currently broadcasting sports for a local school, a concussion in his senior year allowed him to fulfill his goals, receiving opportunities to broadcast games for his baseball team.
For Curl, the transition to broadcasting felt like a natural progression.
"I ultimately fell in love with playing and then talking about the game," he explains, citing childhood memories of listening to Seattle Mariners games on the radio with his father while playing baseball in front of his house.
This early exposure ignited a passion for playing and discussing baseball, laying the foundation for his future career, becoming the Winnipeg Goldeyes fifth broadcaster.
"I'm truly excited to see what these fans are going to be like," he shares, inspired by the Goldeyes legacy and Winnipeg’s passion for sports.
Despite his youth, Curl brings a wealth of experience and insight to the broadcast booth.
"I have an idea of what's going through these guys' minds," he explains, drawing from his playing days to offer unique perspectives on the game.
And his youthful energy and younger age will give the American Association of Professional Baseball a new perspective compared to other teams’ play-by-play voices.
“I think for young broadcasters, it ultimately means that we're a little bit more connected to the players,” he says. “Having a youthful eye and perspective means we're able to flip that switch of getting big at the moment and knowing that the big moment is going to come.
As Curl embarks on this new chapter in his broadcasting career, he remains dedicated in his commitment to the game he loves, referencing a quote from Brockmire.
“Neither one of us can imagine a life without baseball,” he says. “And I think for me I knew that after I was done as a player, those first couple of months after the season was over, working at a golf course and still liking the non-player life, but I did realize that my life really isn't complete without baseball in it.”