Indians Confidential

The Indians sent out the following about today’s results of the best parks in baseball:

Progressive Field was voted the #1 Ballpark in Major League Baseball by Sports Illustrated in their recent online poll conducted in March on SI.com.

The results were based solely from an online survey of thousands of baseball fans asked to rate their hometown ballpark in 10 categories (Team, Affordability, Food, Team Quality, Tradition, Atmosphere, Fan IQ, Hospitality, Promotions, Traffic, Neighborhood). Nearly 15 percent of the responses came from season-ticket holders, and more than half of all the responses came from fans who attend at least five games per season. All 10 categories were weighed equally.

SI.COM TOP 10 BALLPARKS

1. Progressive Field Cleveland Indians
2. Miller Park Milwaukee Brewers
3. PNC Park Pittsburgh Pirates
4. Comerica Park Detroit Tigers
5. Busch Stadium St. Louis Cardinals
6. Safeco Field Seattle Mariners
7. Coors Field Colorado Rockies
8. U.S. Cellular Field Chicago White Sox
9. Angel Stadium of Anaheim Los Angeles Angels
10. Citizens Bank Park Philadelphia Phillies

The Indians are getting some visits from old friends this week as they continue their homestand against the Champion Red Sox and the Tigers.   Tonight former pitcher Jim “Mudcat” Grant threw out the first pitch, this on the 50th Anniversary of his first AL start.  Former pitchers Al Downing and JR Richard joined him to celebrate the occasion.  Grant was the first African-American pitcher to win 20 games in the AL.

Wednesday vs the Tigers, former Indian Carols Baerga will be throwing out the first pitch prior to the game.  He’ll be in town with ESPN Deportes.  Baerga spent 8 seasons with the Indians, and was one of the most popular players during the teams run in the 90’s.

The ballpark, call it Jacobs Field or now the “Prog” (how stupid does that sound) will Friday become nothing for awhile.  Friday at 9am they are taking the old Jacobs Field sign off the front of the ballpark.  It will stay blank for awhile until they put a new Progressive Field sign on it prior to opening day March 31st.   Ugh, can’t wait.

Today’s Plain Dealer is complete with a  rather long article by columnist Michael K. McIntyre on the Indians agreeing to rename Jacobs Field to Progressive Field.  While it’s going to take a few minutes to get through it, it’s a pretty solid article with good points as to why the new name of the ballpark flat out stinks.  Here is a link to the article:

Striking out on ballpark’s name

Cleveland, Ohio (January 11, 2008)—In March of 1937, Steve O’Neill was managing the Cleveland Indians, the team was at Spring Training in New Orleans and preparing for another season at League Park at Lexington and East 66th Street in Cleveland. At the same time, just a few blocks away on Euclid Avenue, two young Clevelanders, Jack Lewis and Joe Green, were starting a car insurance company known as Progressive.

Now, 70 years later, two Cleveland institutions—the Cleveland Indians and Progressive—are joining forces to bring the excitement of championship baseball to fans everywhere.

Today, what’s currently known as Jacobs Field will become Progressive Field. Progressive, a leading car, motorcycle and commercial auto insurer, has partnered with the Indians on a 16-year deal for the naming rights to the ballpark and will also become the Official Auto Insurer of the Cleveland Indians.

Progressive President and CEO Glenn Renwick said: “This is a story about two Cleveland-based organizations making a long-term commitment to the city, the fans and our people.”

“Progressive is the perfect fit for the Cleveland Indians, a hometown, world-class organization known for putting their customers first with a tradition of innovation and excellence,” said Indians President Paul Dolan. “We look forward to continuing to provide our fans with a championship-caliber team in an atmosphere of superior customer service and entertainment at Progressive Field.”

Progressive’s payments to the Indians over the 16-year term of the agreement will average approximately $3.6 million annually.

For those of you that have pushed for The Jake to never be called anything else, times are a changin. The Indians are announcing today that they are re-naming Jacobs Field today, with the new name being Progressive Field, after Progressive Insurance agency which is located in Mayfield. While this is sad, it’s totally expected, and will give the Indians a little cash since by no means are they renaming the field for free. While the amount has yet to be known, consider that the new ballpark in Pittsburgh which is named PNC Park, has PNC Bank paying the Pirates $2 mil a season through 2020. Hopefully some of this cash will go to CC. Links to stories on the name change below.

Morning Journal  

The Plain Dealer

Canton Rep