The term Hall of Fame resonates really strongly with sports fans. It represents the absolute pinnacle of an individual’s career, no matter the sport. Debates amongst fans on who belongs and who doesn’t are endless, and fuel fun barbershop-style conversations. The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown opened in 1939, and despite its rich history […]
Author: Jason Takefman
What A Former GM Would Change About MiLB: Part 3 — Affiliation Duration
As we’ve discussed in previous posts, a minor league team’s relationship with their major league affiliate is incredibly important for civic and league credibility, financial efficiency, and an overall piece of mind. This relationship is only growing in importance, as minor league teams have found ways to highlight and monetize their affiliations, and major league teams have found it useful to […]
What A Former GM Would Change About MiLB: Part 2 – The Name
Making people happy at an affordable rate is timeless. It is one of the reasons Minor League Baseball has stuck around since its inception in the fall of 1901. Despite its quirky schedule, MiLB is currently as popular as it’s ever been, with a total of 41.8 million fans attending MiLB games in 2017 — the fifth-highest attendance in […]
What A Former GM Would Change About MiLB: Part 1 – Season Length
I tell anyone that will listen that minor league baseball is the greatest sport and business model out there. It is about making people smile, giving citizens a reason to be proud of the people that proudly wear their city’s name across their chest, all while doing so at an affordable price. It doesn’t get much […]
The Unsung Heroes of Minor League Baseball
As we have extensively covered, MiLB teams insulate themselves against the variable quality of the product on the field with fun, affordability, customer service, and unique promotions and giveaways. And if your team wins, hey, that’s an added bonus. Given this focus on fan experience over on-field success, there are many subtle roles in a minor league […]
When Nightmares Become Reality for a Minor League Team
I have put off writing about this because there are rare, scary, and traumatic moments in sports. Look no further then the recent Humboldt tragedy. I don’t want to piggyback on that, or take light away from the many, many, many impactful fundraising initiatives that have brought Canadians together. Sadly, I mentioned a tragedy like this […]
How Rain Hurts a Minor League Club
Rain really is a four-letter word for baseball teams, no matter the league or level. Whereas soccer and football almost thrive playing in the rain, baseball has no problem calling off or delaying games. Rain can impede players’ vision and grips on the ball, cause injury due to slippery surfaces, and generally compromise the integrity of the […]
What It’s Like Going Through an MiLB Affiliation Change
As the dog days of winter pass by and the Hot Stove has never really heated cooled, let’s touch upon a question I receive quite often. No, not the usual ones, but one that fans pay attention to nonetheless. “Can you describe what occurs during an affiliation change between MLB and MiLB teams?” Both of my MiLB […]
The Importance of a Strong Relationship with MiLB Affiliates
As the business of baseball grows and fans become more educated, a facet that is growing in importance is the working relationship between the MLB & MiLB affiliates. As we have mentioned, traditionally, most minor league teams work hard to insulate their business should that relationship not be very sturdy or should they not receive much help from […]
Why It’s Important to Have a Great Team Mascot
When I detail the value and importance of a team mascot, I typically receive one of two reactions. Those who think it is silly and irrelevant smile condescendingly, and those who get it, who understand how important the mascot is to the development of the team’s brand, and how rigorous the actual job is for the […]