The 2020 season was supposed to be a celebration for the Fredericksburg Nationals. After 35 years, the team had moved from Woodbridge, Virginia.
They built a new ballpark, but unlike in “Field of Dreams,” no one came. The minor league baseball season was canceled.
“We鈥檝e been trying to build a new ballpark for more than a decade, and we鈥檝e built a new ballpark,” said Seth Silber, whose family has owned the P-Nats, now FredNats, since 1990. “It is beyond a dream for our family. We just need to be a little bit more patient to have affiliated baseball played on our field.鈥�
The Fredericksburg Nationals are the Nats’ Single-A affiliate.
The Bowie Baysox have been the Orioles’ Double-A affiliate since 1989. Brian Shallcross has been their general manager since 2003.
Even though he knew that news the minor league season was going to be canceled was coming, Shallcross said it still hit him hard.
鈥淭his is my life鈥檚 work as far as my career. So, on a personal level, when your life鈥檚 work is ripped from you, it has to hurt, and it certainly does,” he said.
Shallcross said he gets emotional because he had to lay off staff, and he thinks about all the families that have enjoyed experiences at Prince George鈥檚 Stadium.
鈥淚 often say that I work for smiles,” he said. “When you don鈥檛 see those smiles and all you see is an empty stadium, you really feel a little bit lost, like you鈥檙e not playing a role in the community that you鈥檙e supposed to play.鈥�
Most minor league teams are locally owned, and Silber said the bond goes both ways.听
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC: Minor League Baseball under threat of contraction
鈥淲e鈥檝e been reaching out to all our season ticket holders and sponsors, and the support has been overwhelming,” Silber said. “They鈥檙e just excited to show up next year and they鈥檒l all be here.鈥�
Silber said the Fredericksburg Nationals are a long-term family business with every generation from father to grandkids involved.
鈥淭his is a lifelong dream,” he said. “We take a long view of it. We feel so beyond fortunate to be in Fredericksburg. They鈥檝e welcomed us, they supported us.鈥�
He added emotionally, 鈥淲e鈥檒l get by a pandemic, we鈥檒l move on and we鈥檒l have a blast here for decades to come.鈥�
First, they have to survive this year.
Minor League President Pat O鈥機onner said minor league teams generate up to 90% of their revenue through game-day ticket sales, concessions and advertising.
Silber agreed.
鈥淭here isn鈥檛 big TV or radio rights in minor league baseball,” Silber said. “So, we rely on the fans and the local businesses to support us and the support here has been tremendous. We鈥檙e selling for 2021.鈥�
Shallcross added that there鈥檚 no way 鈥� from a business perspective 鈥� that they could have played without fans in the stands.
鈥淲e receive almost nothing from TV rights, and everything is about the experience at the ballpark,” Shallcross said.
Looking optimistically ahead, Silber said sponsorship and ticket sales, for the most part, will roll into next year.听
鈥淚n some ways, coming to this community at this time was the greatest thing to happen for us, to be in a place where the support really is that strong,” Silber said.
The Baysox have a similar bond with their fans.听 听
Shallcross said he is encouraged that people have reached out to him.
When he asks them to roll over their ticket plan, he said the response is often, 鈥溾�楤rian, we鈥檒l see you in 2021. Keep our money.鈥�听 听
Shallcross said that tells him that they鈥檝e been a good partner. 鈥�
“We鈥檙e a local business,” Shallcross said. “When you talk about the clich茅 of shopping local, there is nothing 鈥� I mean nothing 鈥� more local than shopping at a minor league baseball team.鈥�
After all, Bowie and Baltimore are just 27 miles apart.
鈥淲e look at ourselves as the breeding ground for Orioles fans,” Shallcross said. “Just like we take the young players to be up with the Orioles, we feel the same way about the fans. We鈥檙e cultivating the fan base.鈥�
While the minors provide family fun at an affordable price, they also prepare players for the Majors, and Silber takes great pride in that.
鈥淔or the current Nats, 11 guys on the World Series roster played for us,” Silber said. “Seeing [Juan] Soto and [Ryan] Zimmerman and all these guys succeed, we take tremendous pride in that.鈥�
Shallcross said the Baysox also feel proud the first day one of their players gets called up.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e built the relationship not only with the player, but the family,” Shallcross said. “To be any part of that pure joy of making the Major Leagues, that鈥檚 what separates, I believe, baseball from other sports.
It鈥檚 that grind. Almost no player goes directly from college or high school to the Major Leagues. That鈥檚 why minor league baseball is so important in our sport.鈥�
However, losing a year of development may eventually end that dream for many.
鈥淚t certainly is going to be a setback,” Silber said. “Baseball is the hardest game to play and develop and get up to the Big Leagues and most people don鈥檛 realize how many years these guys spend in the minors. It鈥檚 two to five years for a lot of guys, and those are the guys who make it.鈥�
Even though there won鈥檛 be any baseball, the ballparks won鈥檛 remain idle. Owners are coming up with ideas on how to generate money.
Silber said the team is allowed to have 1,000 people inside the facility. So, they鈥檙e planning to hold movies and concerts. Stripes on the artificial turf will allow for social distancing.
鈥淲e can have people sit on the field,” Silber said.
The FredNats are also planning to have an ice-skating rink during the winter months.
The Baysox are going to rent out their field in one hour increments for a group of friends or family to participate in socially-distant batting practice.
They also want to host a drive-in movie theater and a drive-in fireworks show.
Still, the fields are made for baseball.
Shallcross became emotional when asked what he misses most.
鈥淚 miss the people,” he said. “I miss the families. A lot of these families have seen my family grow up. So, it鈥檚 been difficult.鈥�
In 2020, there is no joy in Mudville.
