As we ring in the New Year, hang up a new wall calendar (hi there, Mr. Winkle!) and replace that smoke detector battery, there's no better time to look ahead at the 2007 slate of Minor League All-Star Games and start planning possible road trips and vacations. If you have such a travelogue in mind, this year's schedule offers a wide array of attractive possibilities, ranging from a July jaunt to San Francisco for the annual MLB Futures Game, to Norwich, Conn., for the Eastern League showdown, as well as eight other cities in between. We here at MiLB.com will be providing you with ample coverage leading up to and through the big events, but if you want to be there to see it all unfold, make sure to bookmark this page now so you can stop dreaming and start planning. The All-Star "season" kicks off on Saturday, June 16, with the Florida State League All-Star Game (Class A Advanced) at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. The game returns to the grand old park for the first time since 1983. For more information, you can call the Daytona Cubs at 386-257-3172. Three nights later you'll have three games to choose from as the Carolina-California League All-Star Game, the Midwest League All-Star Game and the South Atlantic League All-Star Game all vie for your attention on Tuesday, June 19. The now-traditional showdown of the Class A Advanced Carolina and California League All-Stars moves to the West Coast this year as Banner Island Ballpark, home of the Stockton Ports, plays host to the game (888-644-PORTS for tickets and info). The Class A Midwest Leaguers will square off at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva, Ill., home of the Kane County Cougars (630-232-8811), while the Class A South Atlantic League event takes place in Rome, Ga., at the R-Braves' State Mutual Stadium (706-378-5144). The next game takes place on Tuesday, June 26, with the Double-A Texas League All-Star Game at Whataburger Field, home of the defending league champion Corpus Christi Hooks (361-561-HOOK). The All-Star Futures Game will be played on Sunday, July 8, at AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. The game, which features top prospects from every organization in a USA vs. World exhibition format, has become one of the marquee events of All-Star Week. On Monday, July 9, the Double-A Southern League hosts its All-Star Game, which will take place at the Mississippi Braves' Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss. (888-BRAVES4). The two Triple-A leagues square off on Wednesday, July 11, at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as the International and Pacific Coast Leagues battling for bragging rights, at least for one night. The event returns to Albuquerque for the first time since 1993 (505-924-2255). On the same night, the Eastern Leaguers face off on the other side of the country at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, home of the Connecticut Defenders (860-887-7962). The All-Star slate winds up on Tuesday, Aug. 14, when the lone short-season All-Star Game of the year takes place. The New York-Penn League All-Star Game enjoys its third go-round, this year at Dutchess Stadium, home of the Hudson Valley Renegades. Tickets go on sale April 23 at 845-838-0094.
Lisa Winston is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs. |
