OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The demolition of Rosenblatt Stadium, the longtime home of the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., has begun.
A large backhoe began knocking down pillars at the stadium entrance on Wednesday. Rosenblatt was home to college baseball’s premier event from 1950 to 2010, but has stood mostly idle the past two years.
Russ Mapes was among some 50 people who showed up to pay their final respects. The retired police officer watched his first game at the stadium in the early 1960s. He took a few pictures and left before the backhoe showed up. He said he couldn’t bear to watch.
The Omaha Zoo Foundation bought the property to expand the adjacent zoo. The series is now held at a new ballpark downtown.
NEW YORK (AP) – The semifinals and final of next year’s World Baseball Classic will be played at San Francisco’s AT&T Park.
First-round games will be played at Chase Field in Phoenix and Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Ariz., Major League Baseball said Wednesday. Salt River Fields is the home of Spring Training games for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Second-round games will take place at Marlins Park in Miami.
Japan, which won the first two tournaments in 2006 and 2009, has threatened not to participate because its demand for a larger share of revenue hasn’t been met.
NEW YORK (AP) – Hideki Matsui was been cut by the Tampa Bay Rays.
The 38-year-old Japanese star was designated for assignment on Wednesday to clear a roster spot for infielder Ryan Roberts. The Rays have 10 days to trade Matsui, release him or place him on waivers.
He is hitting .147 with two homers and seven RBIs in 95 at-bats.
Baltimore obtained Roberts on Tuesday from Arizona for minor league second baseman Tyler Bortnick.
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