Lost in the news shuffle with all the new ballparks and team rebrandings has been that an independent league team will be starting up in less than a year in the Milwaukee area, in a brand new ballpark only 20 minutes from where I grew up. A few months ago the 5 finalists for the "Name the Team" contest were announced, and as is par for the course these days, they are all absurd:
- Barn Owls
- Crop Dusters
- Haymakers
- Milk Men
- War Pigs
The names go along not only with what one would associate with this part of the country, but also the ballpark which is supposed to be designed in a "farm aesthetic," whatever that means. Some of the more stereotypically Wisconsin options have thankfully been eliminated, including Bovine, Cheesers, and Cow Tippers. Team Naming Rule of Thumb #1: if your spell check alerts you that something is not a word, it should never have been an option (seriously WTF is a "Cheeser"? That sounds like a fetish). I've found in the past that I tend to be overly dramatic about the name that gets chosen in these sorts of contest. The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and the Akron RubberDucks are two that immediately spring to mind. But as the years pass, I get used to them, and come to appreciate their uniqueness. Now, saying names like the Richmond Flying Squirrels or the Pensacola Blue Wahoos just comes naturally. I expect that to be the same with the Franklin team, but I have to admit I would have a hard time saying "I'm heading to the Crop Dusters game" for a long, long time. Although that name certainly has a ton of mascot and promotional potential.
The new ballpark, currently simply dubbed "Ballpark Commons," is set to open in time for the next American Association season in May 2019, and no matter what name is chosen, I'll be there.
STANDINGS AND UPCOMING SERIES AS OF 08.09:
Brewers 66-51, -1.5, +1.0 WC (3 @ Braves, 2 @ Cubs, 3 @ Cardinals)
Reds 50-65, -16.5, -14.0 WC (3 v. Diamondbacks, 3 v. Indians, 3 v. Giants)
Twins 53-60, -10.0, -14.0 WC (3 @ Tigers, 2 v. Pirates, 4 v. Tigers)
2018 GAMES ATTENDED:
Erik - 11 (+13 worked)
Peter - 20
The new ballpark, currently simply dubbed "Ballpark Commons," is set to open in time for the next American Association season in May 2019, and no matter what name is chosen, I'll be there.
STANDINGS AND UPCOMING SERIES AS OF 08.09:
Brewers 66-51, -1.5, +1.0 WC (3 @ Braves, 2 @ Cubs, 3 @ Cardinals)
Reds 50-65, -16.5, -14.0 WC (3 v. Diamondbacks, 3 v. Indians, 3 v. Giants)
Twins 53-60, -10.0, -14.0 WC (3 @ Tigers, 2 v. Pirates, 4 v. Tigers)
2018 GAMES ATTENDED:
Erik - 11 (+13 worked)
Peter - 20
touch with baseball when his childhood heroes Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, and Jim Gantner retired but the Great Home Run Chase of 1998 reignited his passion. As a student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Erik became involved with the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity. With this group Erik traveled to Portland, OR and Baltimore, MD to work on construction projects and help the group raise $25,000 to partially sponsor a house in Milwaukee. Also at UWM, Erik met Peter Nagel. The two attended their first Brewers game together during Opening Weekend 2003. Despite their failure to ignite the coals at their first tailgate, the two had a blast and were soon making weekly trips to the ballpark. Erik has gone on to several colleges and changed careers several times, and has moved all the way out to New Hampshire, but has always stayed true to his baseball roots by holding part-time stadium usher jobs. To this day he looks back fondly on his incredible cross-country journey.
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