Men can move mountains. Ballparks, too.
Sixty years ago, the Danville Leafs, a team in the Appalachian League ceased to exist. Burlington, North Carolina needed a ballpark. Not a team. A ballpark. So they purchased Danville’s ballpark for $5,000, disassembled the structure and piece by piece moved the ballpark by train from Virginia to Burlington. The ballpark was reconstructed.
It is the only ballpark in the country that was not built in its original location.
That ballpark is still with us today in Burlington with upgrades. Change happens.
The Appalachian League as a league affiliated with major league teams is no longer around. With the restructuring of Minor League Baseball this pro league, which has been around in some shape or form since 1911, is undergoing a complete change. It will become a college summer league, featuring freshmen and sophomores, under the umbrella of MLB and USA Baseball.
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Imagine what kind of undertaking it is to make such a significant change. Minor League Baseball is a way of life in the USA. It’s tradition, and the fans’ love for their local team is pure.
Now, that life has undergone drastic changes with MLB’s new structure.
Here is a look at what life is like for one franchise undergoing such a significant change, and the challenges ahead.
Ryan Keur, 31, is the owner and president of Burlington Baseball, Inc. The franchise had been associated the last 35 years with the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals. The working relationship with the Indians lasted through the 2006 season. The Royals had been the affiliate the last 14 years, even though there were no games this last season due to Covid.
In 2017, Keur was named Minor League Baseball’s executive of the year by Baseball America. At the time, he was president of the Daytona Tortugas of the Florida State League and had such fun nights at the ballpark like Bob Ross Night. Ross was born in Daytona Beach in 1942.
Bob Ross, who died in 1995, was the landscape painter that instructed people how to paint on TV in The Joy of Painting and received a cult following for his efforts and soothing voice. On this night, certified Bob Ross artists came to Jackie Robinson Ballpark and ended up teaching a Bob Ross certified painting class to fans on the field before the game. Bob Ross bobbleheads were also handed out.
Now that’s one creative night.
Keur in his new role is painting a new picture of success for Burlington and the Appalachian League. He knows it will be quite the challenge, but is not afraid of change.
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