If We Build It, Will They Come?
When the Pioneers of Folsom searched
the foothills for gold,
semi-pro baseball teams were playing
in the sandlots nearby. What way to honor a
historic city, then to honor it with a
historic game…
“ In this city of 3,000 [Folsom] two-thirds of the population eat, sleep, drink, think and talk about nothing but baseball during the season.” wrote Jack Montgomery in Baseball Magazine
(1930s)
Can Folsom Support a Minor League Baseball Team?
Supporting a minor league baseball team in Folsom, California is not an unrealistic or impractical idea. According to the 2000 US Census, Folsom, California has a population of a little over 51,000. And if you include the neighboring cities around Folsom...
- Granite Bay (19,388)
- Citrus Heights (85,071)
- Orangevale (26,705)
- Carmichael (49,472)
- Rancho Cordova (56,355)
- Cameron Park (14,459)
- El Dorado Hills (18,016)
The Folsom Pioneers can draw
fans from a population of over 320,000!!!
In comparison, the Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox is summer collegiate baseball team operating in a "Minor League Style" based out of Marysville, California; the population of Marysville is 12,248. Yuba County has a population of over 67,000 and Sutter County has a population of over 78,000.
“Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox attendance in 2006 climbed by 31% from the previous year.
Team officials said attendance during the
2006 season averaged 1,353 based on the number of tickets sold to the
44 home games at All Seasons RV Stadium. The stadium's capacity is about
2,800.
36% of those attending Gold Sox games were 17 years old or younger,
30% were
ages 18 to 35, 22% were 36 to 55 and
12% were over 55.”
Source:
www.Appeal-Democrat.com
| FOLSOM DEMOGRAPHICS | |
| Median Age | 36 Years |
| 18 or Younger | 24.2% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.6% |
| 25 to 44 | 39% |
| 45 to 64 | 21.4% |
| 65 and older | 8.8% |
Source: 2000 US Census |
|
What's summer collegiate baseball (Semi-pro)?
How does this type of baseball compare to Minor League baseball that is affiliated with
the Major Leagues (MLB)?
Semi-professional baseball has been around since the Gold Rush and originated before professional baseball. Semi-Pro teams consist of amateur players that can be paid to play and collegiate players that cannot be paid. Collegiate players will lose their amateur eligibly status if they’re paid to play baseball.
NCAA rules prohibit college players from playing for semi-professional baseball teams. That’s why these types of teams are termed “summer collegiate baseball" teams.
Only difference between a summer collegiate baseball team that operates in a “Minor League Style” and a minor league baseball(MiLB) team is summer collegiate baseball teams are not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB); though some summer collegiate baseball teams and leagues are sponsored by MLB.
Below is a list of summer collegiate teams and leagues that operate in a "Minor League Style."
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| Team Name: | Humboldt Crabs |
| Team Website: | http://www.HumboldtCrabs.com/ |
| Team Located: | Arcata, California |
| City Population: | 16,251 |
| Stadium Name: | Arcata Ballpark |
| Stadium Capacity: | 1500 |
| Misc. Info: | Founded in 1945, the Humboldt Crabs are the longest operated semi pro baseball team in the nation |
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| Team Name: | Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox |
| Team Website: | http://www.GoldSox.com |
| Team Located: | Marysville, California |
| City Population: | 12,268 |
| Stadium Name: | All Seasons RV Stadium |
| Stadium Capacity: | 2,800 |
| Misc. Info: | Broadcasted on local TV and Radio |
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| League Name: | West Coast League (WCL) |
| League Website: | http://www.WestCoastLeague.com |
| League Headquarters: | Portland, Oregon |
| Year Founded: | 2005 |
| # of teams, locations: | (8) across Oregon, Washington and Canada |
| 2008 Attendance: | 176,497 |
| Misc. Info: | MLB Hall of Famer George Brett is part-owner of the WCL’s Bellingham Bells along with his brother Bobby Brett of Brett Brothers Bats. |
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| League Name: | Coastal Plain League (CPL) |
| League Website: | http://www.CoastalPlain.com/ |
| League Headquarters: | Raleigh, North Carolina |
| Year Founded: | 1997 |
| # of teams, locations: | (14) across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia |
| 2008 Attendance: | unknown |
| Misc. Info: | The Original Coastal Plain League was a Class D farm system that operated from 1937-1941 & 1946-1952. Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and Cal Ripken Sr. called ballparks that are still in the Coastal Plain League home early in their careers. |
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| League Name: | Prospect League |
| League Website: | http://www.CICLBaseball.com |
| League Headquarters: | Bloomington, Illinois |
| Year Founded: | 1997 |
| # of teams, locations: | (11) across Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania |
| 2008 Attendance: | unknown |
| Misc. Info: | November 11, 2008 - Central Illinois Collegiate League (CICL) merged with the Prospect League |
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| League Name: | Northwoods League |
| League Website: | http://www.NorthwoodsLeague.com |
| League Headquarters: | Rochester, Minnesota |
| Year Founded: | 1994 |
| # of teams, locations: | (14) across Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Canada |
| 2008 Attendance: | 848,196 |
| Misc. Info: | Madison Mallards are one the most successful summer collegiate teams in the Northwoods League and the country. The Mallards have drawn over 200,000 fans in each of the last two seasons |
