The team plays at Appalachian Power Park which is a beautiful setting. I visited the park last winter but have never attended a game there, partly because I'm still bitter that Watt-Powell Park, the place where I attended so many games as a kid, was mercilessly leveled for use as a parking lot. Watt-Powell was also the site where Dave Parker once crushed a homerun ball into a passing coal train.
I think this is a great move for both the Power and the Pirates. It will allow fans in the area to reconnect with one of the regional MLB teams. Charleston is in an interesting location because it is about equal distance from Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Cincinnati so there is not one team that carries the majority of the area fans (the Reds might have a slight advantage). I know that south of Charleston, where my parents live, the Reds have the local radio affiliate but they get Pirates games via FSN Pittsburgh on the television.
This comes from the WV Power official website:
"Our move to affiliate with the Pirates will allow fans to follow former West Virginia Power players in person at PNC Park or via local cable television on Fox Sports Pittsburgh. Charleston is a National League City and we think it’s important that our fans have the opportunity to follow our players after they reach the big leagues. We have enjoyed working with the Brewers and wish them well. They’re a good organization that has built a successful player development system”, continued [Andy] Milovich*.
"We are very pleased to move our affiliation to Charleston, WV and re-establish Pirates’ roots in a great community,” said Neal Huntington. “It is an opportunity for the Pittsburgh Pirates to have another of our affiliates close to Pittsburgh, be associated with a quality ownership group, a quality front office group, and to develop players in a beautiful facility. We are very pleased with this new affiliation”
*Milovich is the Executive VP of WV Power baseball.
In other Pirates news... Hyzdu Headquarters has a great post entitled, "The Legend of Doug Mientkiewicz." Check it out!
6 comments:
who should throw out the first pitch ? I vote for Jesco White...that would set the tone for one scrappy and raucous team.
Good call Floyd!
For those readers who that aren't familiar with the legend of Jesco White:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesco_White
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M35r1Q4c88I
i still have a bit of a sandy vajayjay over the demolition of watt powell park, but maybe that is because i had a lot of fun there as a kid.
the affiliation w/ the pirates is a great step forward for charleston baseball...now if we could come up with a better name for the club (or revert back to the charlies or wheelers) we'd really be rockin'
good post, deaner.
Torgo,
You're right the 'Power' nickname is horrible. I could go on a rant about corporate greed and the coal industry but I guess I won't... actually I guess I just did...
I remember that Charleston residents wanted the team name to revert back to the Charlies or Wheelers but I guess the support of Appalachian Power was more important to ownership than connecting with the identity and heritage of area residents.
maybe we should just be happy they're not the alley cats anymore.
Anon,
You're right... or an affiliate of the Blue Jays and/or Royals... none of that made sense!
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