BASEBALLPARKS.COM News & Notes

100th anniversary

On Tuesday, Pittsburgh celebrated the 100th anniversary of the opening of Forbes Field. Commemorating the event is an exhibit called "Forbes Field: A Century of Memories" at the Heinz History Center. The Pirates also marked the occasion, playing the same team as in 1909.

Honoring vets

At all MLB parks during the 4th of July weekend, players and teams will be honoring returning American veterans. Also, there will be programs on the 4th to increase awareness of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, on the 70th anniversary of Gehrig's famous farewell speech at Yankee Stadium.

Big League Ballpark Notes

Un-bee-lievable! A swarm of bees delayed a game at Petco Park by 52 minutes ... Populous, the architecture firm formerly known as HOK, is the lead designer for the new spring-training complex and stadium that will be built for the Red Sox in Ft. Myers (site shown to the left). The site plan and ballpark design are coming together bit by bit. The complex will be ready for occupancy in 2012 ... Three days after the Rockies and Diamondbacks announced that 2010 will be the last year that they will conduct spring training in Tucson, Arizona's House of Representatives passed a law calling for an election to raise taxes in Tucson for new spring-training facilities. Talk about too little, too late! ... The soonest an election will be held in San Jose regarding a new park for the A's is 2010.