Angels and BayBears extend PDC
The Los Angeles Angels and the Mobile BayBears have extended their Player Development Contract. The contract will now run through the 2022 season. A notable detail is that the BayBears will not exist by then anymore.
The usual pleasantries were exchanged when Ralph Nelson, the Managing Partner & CEO of BallCorps stated that the owning group of the Baybears looks forward to continuing their affiliation with the Los Angeles Angels over the next four years, with the final season at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile and their future home in North Alabama. “The Angels ownership, front office, coaches, medical staff, and players are all quality individuals who have made this partnership successful over the past two years. We have seen continued success from the Angels organization, which will bring a high quality of baseball to North Alabama beginning in 2020.”
Apparently, the Angels are very happy with this cooperation. The Angles and BayBears only joined forces in 2017. In those two years, eleven players who made it to the Majors, called Mobile their home for a longer or shorter period.
“We are very excited to continue our relationship with the BayBears franchise, as well as with the fans all throughout the state of Alabama,” said Angels General Manager Billy Eppler. “We would like to thank Ralph Nelson, Roger Wexelberg, and their staff for their efforts throughout this process. The community and front office in Mobile have been great assets for our organization’s player development process over the last two years, and we look forward to continuing our partnership for many years to come in the great community of North Alabama.”
The history of the Mobile BayBears dates back to 1976 when the team played in Charlotte, NC as Charlotte Orioles. In 1989 the team changed its name to Charlotte Knights before it moved to Nashville in 1993 as Charlotte was awarded an AAA franchise. In Nashville, TN, the team was called the Nashville Xpress. But the stay in Nashville was short lived as the team moved to Wilmington, NC in 1995, where it played as Port City Roosters. Also, that stay did not last long. After 1996, the team finally touched ground in Mobile as the BayBears. But even after 25 seasons, the team will be on the move again as the BayBears will head to Madison, near Huntsville, to play in a brand new stadium over there.