- Grand Slam - Baseball Newsletter
- Posts
- 🅰️ Oakland Athletics will move to Sacramento
🅰️ Oakland Athletics will move to Sacramento
Jersey Delays, Kansas City tax referendum fails, and more!
Grand Slam Newsletter
April 05, 2024
Today we cover:
🅰️ Athletics will move to Sacramento
🦜 Cardinal’s Fanatics jersey DELAYED
🧢 Kansas City Royals
đź‘• MLB looks to fix sweaty-looking jerseys
And More!
Oakland Athletics will move to Sacramento
The Oakland Athletics will officially move to Sacramento in 2025 for three seasons while they wait their transition to Las Vegas. After failing to reach an agreement to extend their lease at the Oakland Coliseum, the A's announced a temporary relocation to Sacramento's Sutter Health Park. The joint announcement made by Vivek Ranadivé, owner of the NBA's Sacramento Kings, and Athletics owner John Fisher unveiled the relocation of the A's to Sutter Health Park, the current home of the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. It is in an area where new restaurants, bars and apartment complexes have opened up in recent years and is about a mile from the state Capitol and the NBA arena where the Sacramento Kings play. The stadium has 10,624 fixed seats and can currently hold 14,014 fans with lawn seating and standing roowim.
Cardinals uniforms delayed until June
The St. Louis Cardinals will be without their Victory Blue uniforms until at least June of this year due to issues directly tied to Fanatics. Fanatics, who manufacturers the Nike designed jerseys, has been embroiled in a number of different controversies and unwanted attention this year as the 2024 MLB jerseys were revealed to much criticism. Due to production and shipping issues, the team will be without one of their most popular and iconic uniforms. The uniforms were originally made in the 70s but brought back just a few years ago.
Former MLB all-star angers neighborJJ Hardy, carved out a successful 13-year career as a shortstop, earning Gold Glove awards has angered his neighbors in his construction. His Chandler, Arizona neighbors spoke out as he began constructing a miniature baseball field in his backyard. They aren’t happy with much of the project at all, especially with high fences and lighting he has supposedly installed. Complaints to the county relating to permitting has given him just weeks to show his paperwork for the project. | Mom saves son’s lifeWhile playing baseball in Lake Worth, Florida, 6-year-old Oscar Stuebe was hit by a fly ball that sent him into cardiac arrest. Due to quick thinking and CPR from his mother, Sarah Stuebe, Oscar will soon be running the bases again — but this time, he'll be wearing a chest protector. |
Kansas City tax proposal fails
The hopes for a downtown baseball stadium in Kansas City, originally aimed for the 2028 season, faced a significant setback as Jackson County voters rejected Question 1, a proposed 40-year sales tax. The measure, intended to finance construction of a Royals ballpark and renovations to Arrowhead Stadium, failed with a vote of 58% to 42%. Royals majority owner John Sherman expressed disappointment in the outcome but pledged to reflect on next steps, echoing sentiments from supporters like Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Despite uncertainties about the teams' future plans, the defeat prompts consideration of alternative options, with potential implications for both franchises and the community's long-standing desire for downtown baseball.
The rejection of Question 1 reflects a contentious issue, with concerns raised about taxpayer funding, project specifics, and potential impact on downtown businesses. The high-profile campaign, marked by substantial spending from the Royals and Chiefs, garnered significant attention and turnout, yet failed to secure the necessary support. Meanwhile, the longstanding debate over downtown baseball resurfaces, tracing back to discussions in the early 2000s and more recent momentum under Sherman's ownership. Despite the setback, uncertainties persist regarding the teams' future directions and the ongoing pursuit of a downtown ballpark, leaving the community to navigate complex considerations about the city's sporting landscape and its broader urban development.
MLB looks to fix sweaty jerseys
As Major League Baseball's regular season unfolds, ongoing scrutiny surrounds the new uniforms produced by Nike and Fanatics, persisting from criticisms during spring training about nameplate appearances and pant fit. Most recently, attention has shifted to issues with the gray road uniforms, as players' sweat stains alter their color, contrary to Nike's intended breathability for comfort during summer. Despite Nike acknowledging the problem and committing to solutions, including testing various options to minimize moisture-related discoloration, it remains uncertain if substantial changes can be implemented this year due to production timelines. The hope lingers that Nike can address the issue swiftly, redirecting focus from uniform aesthetics back to on-field performances.
