![]() More information: Indpendent Baseball in San Rafael, Santa Cruz, Martinez and Monterey More information: Stockton Ports Baseballįor those willing to travel a little farther, the Stockton Ports are the Oakland A's Low-A affiliate, with their own range of fun specials, including $1 beer night for those with a willing designated driver. The ballpark is famous for its churros and garlic fries, among extensive other food and drink options, and runs popular fireworks nights, giveaways, and other promotions. Still, some former players for the team make it to the majors every year, and various stars make rehab appearances in San Jose as well, like Madison Bumgarner, who played with the team while recuperating in 2017. On the other end of the spectrum, the San Jose Giants are the Giant's Low-A affiliate, which is the lowest level of Minor League play. More information: Fireworks explode over the San Jose Giants' stadium. Look out for games featuring giveaways, too (tip: arrive early to make sure you get your schwag). Tickets are highly affordable, and the River Cats run all kinds of fun special days and promotions, including fireworks nights, Thirsty Thursdays (featuring, you guessed it, craft beer) and Family Value Tuesdays with $1 hot dogs and ice cream. More information: Sacramento River Cats BaseballĪ Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, the River Cats are the highest level of official Minor League Baseball. The games deliver plenty of fun and local pride with a block-party vibe. The team was admitted this year to the USL Championship, a Division II (basically minor league) professional men's soccer league. They've just been around a couple of years, but the Oakland Roots are already building a loyal fan base, thanks in part to awesome merchandise and a major community aspect to the club. So if you're looking for a fun outing with a sports angle, Hoodline's Bay Area Day Trips series has you covered with a rundown of some of the area's smaller-league teams with a winning ambiance.įans order from food trucks ahead of the Oakland Roots' homecoming game at Laney College in Oakland. The franchises also tend to sweeten the deal with loads of special occasions and extra entertainment, like fireworks nights, live music acts, and all kinds of sponsored giveaways. You get the fun of game day, complete with food and beverage sales, cheering crowds, booming speakers, and the chance (in the case of baseball, anyway) to snag a fly ball. Plus, major-leaguers sometimes play with minor-league teams during rehabilitation from injuries and the like, so you may see some current stars, too.īut the real secret of minor-league and independent sports games is that they're all about the experience. A certain number of the players also go on to make it in the big leagues, so you always have a chance at seeing a new star in their early days. These teams are made up of elite athletes playing at a range of lower levels, from rookie to near-majors-level, but what the games may lack in world-class competitiveness they more than make up in atmosphere and access.Īt minor-league and independent-league sports games, fans sit close to the players, so you really feel you're in on the action. But the Bay is also home to a number of minor-league and independent sports teams that offer the experience of a day out the ballpark on a more laid-back scale. Fans willing to shell out the cash and navigate crowded parking and mega-stadiums can watch our awesome pro teams vie for major titles. Masks will be required except when actively eating and drinking.Denizens of the Bay Area are spoiled for choice when it comes to watching sports live. Stadiums will have standard social distancing protocols in place at the start of the season. Monday will be a universal off day in minor league baseball.Games will be played in six-game series.Games will begin tonight and run through mid-September. The traditional early April to Labor Day schedule was pushed back due to the coronavirus.The shakeup in minor league baseball means the five remaining teams will be in new leagues beginning with the 2021 season. The Scrappers will begin participating in the MLB Draft League, which begins Memorial Day weekend. One of those teams, the Mahoney Valley Scrappers, was eliminated from the minor league system. Additionally, MLB, which provides players and coaches for the minor league system, ended agreements with teams across the country. The ballparks were empty last season as coronavirus concerns forced the cancellation of the entire minor league baseball season. The season begins tonight throughout minor league baseball. OHIO - Ohio’s five remaining minor league baseball teams are set to return after a 20-month hiatus. ![]()
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