Latest news with #Ballers
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Ballers outfielder Lou Helmig represents deep baseball history in Germany
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — In the quiet dugout hours before first pitch, as a few teammates begin their pregame routines on the nearby grass, Lou Helmig pauses and ponders his baseball lineage. He holds a bat in his hand. It always seems he has a bat in hand, ready. Helmig also carries a deep family history with every swing and every catch, with every sprint around the basepaths. He has carried it at every level, in every new place he plays, on whatever continent it happens to be in a given moment. The larger-than-life right fielder for the independent Oakland Ballers is a third-generation German professional player trying to leave his own mark, just like his grandfather Claus, great-uncle Jurgen, and Helmig's own dad, Martin, before him. 'I come from a baseball family, third-generation professional baseball player and I've got to make a name for myself first,' he said. 'I've got to follow up the name. I love playing baseball, I love everything about it and I think it's the best job in the world that you can have being out here in the sunshine having an amazing day.' And people love to root for him. Like many of the Ballers, Helmig needed a fresh start, someone to believe in him again — and Oakland is thrilled he landed here to find it. He represented Germany in this year's World Baseball Classic qualifiers and played for the Phillies' Florida Coast League rookie-level club in 2022 and '23. At 6-foot-5, the slugging outfielder is already a beloved face inside Raimondi Park, a huge hit with fans starved for a star to grab onto after the Oakland Athletics' heartbreaking departure this year for West Sacramento. Some have been sporting lederhosen as a thoughtful nod to Helmig's native Bavaria in Germany. The 22-year-old Helmig loves seeing German flags waving in the stands. What many might not know is that his baseball pedigree dates back to pre-World War II-era Germany. Helmig's grandfather and great-uncle became the first German-born players to sign with a major league club when they joined the Orioles in 1955. But that meant playing in the Negro Leagues when Germans weren't always warmly welcomed in the U.S. 'After his playing career was over, he started bringing the game to Germany and to a lot of places. He was working with the Army bases which were still in Germany at that time,' Helmig shared. 'He was also a distributor of baseball equipment and American sports equipment during that time to spread the game all over Germany.' Father Martin played baseball, too, and still likes to chat with his son regularly about the games from across the world. 'I don't know anything else besides baseball,' the youngest Helmig said. 'My grandpa and my dad, you can change the subject on them but after five minutes it will come to baseball somehow.' With a name inspired by Lou Gehrig, he has played on five continents and speaks three languages. Baseball has taken him all over Europe, to the Netherlands, Spain, Czech Republic, Italy, and also to Asia, Mexico, Panama, Dominican Republic, Colombia, South Africa, Australia. 'Quite a lot of places already,' he said, easily listing off all of the stops. This one has already been memorable. Just last week Helmig helped the second-year franchise clinch a Pioneer League playoff spot with the tying and go-ahead singles in the sixth and eighth innings of a 6-5 win over the Rocky Mountain Vibes on July 10. 'Lou's brought a great addition to the Ballers, just the personality, everything about him. He brings great energy to the field every day,' catcher Dillon Tatum said. 'I love his personality, that's what I love most about him. Same dude every day. Love him to death and glad to have him. It's amazing, Helmig family.' They hope to keep him all season. While players affiliated with major league clubs and in those teams' farm systems have processes in place with customs and immigration to secure work visas for athletes, the Pioneer League doesn't. But Helmig, Oakland's second-youngest player who was released by the Phillies in April 2024, still had an active visa from his recent stint with the Fargo, North Dakota, RedHawks team. Ballers assistant general manager Tyler Petersen is a German-American and loves the energy in the ballpark and support surrounding Helmig. 'It's a little bit of fun for me personally of course,' Petersen said. 'He has the tools, he's got the makeup. It's the same question we ask with all our athletes, can they put it together, can they show off to scouts to say either I deserve my next chance or my first chance? For him what was it that the Phillies gave up on him for? What can he show in this league? So what is the next step for him to make the jump back to the affiliate level, because he can play at the affiliate level. We love having him.' Just as the fans learn about Helmig, he has been educated on Oakland's sports history, too, like how the city lost its three major sports teams — the NFL's Raiders, the Golden State Warriors moving to San Francisco and then the A's, who plan to move to Las Vegas in 2028. So he quickly understood how much the Ballers fill a void for this baseball-crazed city. 'When I came here they told me everything about it. They gave me some history lessons in that,' he said of the loyal fan group called Last Dive Bar. 'I love this place, I love this setup. People here take really good care of me.' Always with him is the reminder of a family responsibility, and Helmig embraces it. 'It means a lot to me. I've still got to make a name for myself. I've got to be humble, keep going and keep working hard,' he said. 'I think about my grandpa a lot, too, obviously because he played the game I love, so it's always in the back of my head.' ___ AP MLB:
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ballers outfielder Lou Helmig represents deep baseball history in Germany
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — In the quiet dugout hours before first pitch, as a few teammates begin their pregame routines on the nearby grass, Lou Helmig pauses and ponders his baseball lineage. He holds a bat in his hand. It always seems he has a bat in hand, ready. Helmig also carries a deep family history with every swing and every catch, with every sprint around the basepaths. He has carried it at every level, in every new place he plays, on whatever continent it happens to be in a given moment. The larger-than-life right fielder for the independent Oakland Ballers is a third-generation German professional player trying to leave his own mark, just like his grandfather Claus, great-uncle Jurgen, and Helmig's own dad, Martin, before him. 'I come from a baseball family, third-generation professional baseball player and I've got to make a name for myself first,' he said. 'I've got to follow up the name. I love playing baseball, I love everything about it and I think it's the best job in the world that you can have being out here in the sunshine having an amazing day.' And people love to root for him. Like many of the Ballers, Helmig needed a fresh start, someone to believe in him again — and Oakland is thrilled he landed here to find it. He represented Germany in this year's World Baseball Classic qualifiers and played for the Phillies' Florida Coast League rookie-level club in 2022 and '23. At 6-foot-5, the slugging outfielder is already a beloved face inside Raimondi Park, a huge hit with fans starved for a star to grab onto after the Oakland Athletics' heartbreaking departure this year for West Sacramento. Some have been sporting lederhosen as a thoughtful nod to Helmig's native Bavaria in Germany. The 22-year-old Helmig loves seeing German flags waving in the stands. What many might not know is that his baseball pedigree dates back to pre-World War II-era Germany. Helmig's grandfather and great-uncle became the first German-born players to sign with a major league club when they joined the Orioles in 1955. But that meant playing in the Negro Leagues when Germans weren't always warmly welcomed in the U.S. 'After his playing career was over, he started bringing the game to Germany and to a lot of places. He was working with the Army bases which were still in Germany at that time,' Helmig shared. 'He was also a distributor of baseball equipment and American sports equipment during that time to spread the game all over Germany.' Father Martin played baseball, too, and still likes to chat with his son regularly about the games from across the world. 'I don't know anything else besides baseball,' the youngest Helmig said. 'My grandpa and my dad, you can change the subject on them but after five minutes it will come to baseball somehow.' With a name inspired by Lou Gehrig, he has played on five continents and speaks three languages. Baseball has taken him all over Europe, to the Netherlands, Spain, Czech Republic, Italy, and also to Asia, Mexico, Panama, Dominican Republic, Colombia, South Africa, Australia. 'Quite a lot of places already,' he said, easily listing off all of the stops. This one has already been memorable. Just last week Helmig helped the second-year franchise clinch a Pioneer League playoff spot with the tying and go-ahead singles in the sixth and eighth innings of a 6-5 win over the Rocky Mountain Vibes on July 10. 'Lou's brought a great addition to the Ballers, just the personality, everything about him. He brings great energy to the field every day,' catcher Dillon Tatum said. 'I love his personality, that's what I love most about him. Same dude every day. Love him to death and glad to have him. It's amazing, Helmig family.' They hope to keep him all season. While players affiliated with major league clubs and in those teams' farm systems have processes in place with customs and immigration to secure work visas for athletes, the Pioneer League doesn't. But Helmig, Oakland's second-youngest player who was released by the Phillies in April 2024, still had an active visa from his recent stint with the Fargo, North Dakota, RedHawks team. Ballers assistant general manager Tyler Petersen is a German-American and loves the energy in the ballpark and support surrounding Helmig. 'It's a little bit of fun for me personally of course,' Petersen said. 'He has the tools, he's got the makeup. It's the same question we ask with all our athletes, can they put it together, can they show off to scouts to say either I deserve my next chance or my first chance? For him what was it that the Phillies gave up on him for? What can he show in this league? So what is the next step for him to make the jump back to the affiliate level, because he can play at the affiliate level. We love having him.' Just as the fans learn about Helmig, he has been educated on Oakland's sports history, too, like how the city lost its three major sports teams — the NFL's Raiders, the Golden State Warriors moving to San Francisco and then the A's, who plan to move to Las Vegas in 2028. So he quickly understood how much the Ballers fill a void for this baseball-crazed city. 'When I came here they told me everything about it. They gave me some history lessons in that,' he said of the loyal fan group called Last Dive Bar. 'I love this place, I love this setup. People here take really good care of me.' Always with him is the reminder of a family responsibility, and Helmig embraces it. 'It means a lot to me. I've still got to make a name for myself. I've got to be humble, keep going and keep working hard,' he said. 'I think about my grandpa a lot, too, obviously because he played the game I love, so it's always in the back of my head.' ___ AP MLB:
San Francisco Chronicle
10-07-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Oakland enthralled with Ballers for giving them another chance to love the game
The Oakland Ballers are more than a baseball team. More accurately, the Ballers have become ingrained in the fabric of Oakland itself. For Dennis Reichert, he's psyched that his friend's kid designed the team's logo. For Toni Rubart, she's thrilled to know that one of the ballboys is her friend's grandson. And despite a 12-game win streak being snapped as the Ballers fell to the Rocky Mountain Vibes on Wednesday afternoon, the team tops the Pioneer League, proving that teams don't need huge stadiums to involve the community in good old-fashioned baseball. 'What I think is special about the team isn't that it's a sports team,' Vice President of Communications and Fan Entertainment Casey Pratt told the Chronicle. 'It came in the wake of a pretty hardcore time where Oakland lost, you know, the Raiders, and they were losing the A's. It's a sports team, but I don't think it's a sports story. In a lot of ways, it's a community story first.' Brian Mulhern and Gary Bargman became friends 25 years ago when they worked as ushers at the Coliseum for the Oakland Athletics. Bargman was thrilled to share his memory of escorting Reggie Jackson to the owner's box at the Coliseum. For both men, good baseball is all that matters. Mulhern was diagnosed with ALS in January 2020. After losing much of his mobility, it was Oakland baseball — video of his pandemic cutout being hit by a foul ball was shown on SportsCenter — that brought him back to the ballpark. And while that picturesque moment was at the Coliseum with the A's, his disappointment with their departure hasn't soured his love for the sport. 'I'm Ballers all the way. And I'm here now, which means a lot to me because, you know, they pretty much diagnosed that I had three to five years here,' said Mulhern. 'Just being able to go out again and do stuff, I just think has invigorated me. The fact that I'm still here and able to go to a ball game. It just means a lot to me.' Nate Carroll-Browne, a fan owner via the team's unique crowdfunding program, was enjoying food and drinks at an intimate tailgate in the parking lot before Wednesday's game. Carroll-Browne volunteers with the Alameda County Homeless Action Center, and after the Athletics joined the fleet of pro sports teams departing Oakland, Raimondi Park became a pastime favorite for the nonprofit. The center brings out both volunteers and folks benefiting from the program to home games, and Carroll-Browne is the resident Ballers expert. 'I've been here since last year, going to home games, and like, it's great for the community, it's been great for the neighborhood. It's great to have a space for shared joy,' he said. 'For us just to be here together, and, you know, spend some time together, it means a lot.' The shared joy at Raimondi Park was felt throughout Wednesday's game. When Darryl Buggs hit a home run in the second inning to narrow the Ballers' deficit to 4-3, the stands roared beneath the rumbling feet of fans. Even when the Ballers gave up three runs and were down 7-3 in the bottom of the third, the 2,644 fans didn't budge from their sun-soaked seats. And as the hot dog vendor started an 'Oakland Ballers' call and response, many voices contributed to the choir. The support doesn't come as a shock to most fans. 'I've been an Oakland fan since I was born, and the Ballers are Oakland. It's rooted in Oakland,' said Mike Davis-Adams, who provides cigars to the team. 'It's the intimate level of things going on, like I'm high-fiving the players when they come in and out. … This is something I think people will get behind when they realize how this is going to stay and be a permanent fixture in the city of Oakland.' The fans thundered during the sixth inning — relentlessly rooting on Oakland as it scored six times to take an 11-7 lead. And when Rocky Mountain regained its footing in the ninth, scoring four runs to tie the game, fans remained firmly in their seats. Not until after the knockout round — when the Ballers' Cam Bufford came away from the home run derby-like tiebreaker with just one HR to the Vibes' three — did fans begin to exit Raimondi. Even with the loss, fans didn't hesitate to approach players and thank them. Many of the Oakland Town Camp youth welcomed to the park as guests were excited for the chance to meet a 'real life baseball player.' 'It starts with the fans. Every day, they show up. They support us,' Bufford told the Chronicle. 'We've been on a hot streak, but even when we're doing bad, they're behind us, supporting us.' The Ballers are more than just a local team filling the void left by the A's. 'They're a symbol that baseball is alive and well in Oakland, and you don't need a giant effing stadium,' Rubart said.
San Francisco Chronicle
17-06-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Oakland Ballers take their swings in new-look Coliseum, now a cricket stadium?
Oakland Ballers slugger Lou Helmig stepped up to the wickets at the Oakland Coliseum. You read that right. The same day the B's returned before dawn from a 12-game road trip in the Pioneer Baseball League, several of their players braved jet lag for a field trip to the A's former home, currently oriented for an ongoing Major League Cricket tournament. The left-handed Helmig smashed the first short-hop pitch — aka a cricket bowl — he received into the second deck, as if he was the famed face of America's pastime. Google says Babe Ruth could've been a great cricketer. Whether more folktale or fact, Ruth's heavy-handed follow-through translated from baseball home runs to cricket sixes while on a world tour toward the twilight of his MLB career. Among the Ballers in attendance, none sought a career change. Any chance to occupy the Coliseum, while the A's loiter in Sacramento, would be time well spent. 'We brought the Oakland Ballers to the Oakland Coliseum,' Ballers co-founder Bryan Carmel said. 'It was probably under different circumstances than I had originally imagined … but awesome circumstances.' Australian cricket legend Adam Gilchrist, also coincidentally a lefty, treated the Ballers to a lesson on how to swing a cricket bat. Its rectangular shape is wider than any bat barrel in baseball. Even 'torpedo bats,' made infamous for an alternate sweet spot closer to the handle, don't come close. Helmig evidently found enough familiarity with the two-handed follow-through Gilchrist demonstrated to knock a ball into the Coliseum stands for the first time. 'I must say, I'm not sure I would have made it in the major leagues but (the Ballers) were very adaptable today,' Gilchrist said. When it came time for the B's to play ball, the storied Coliseum offered no remaining bats, baseballs or gloves. The A's had apparently left the cupboard bare. Carmel, as a result, rushed over to Raimondi Park, the B's home facility, for reinforcements. 'We had wanted to demonstrate baseball to them and have them demonstrate cricket to us, and we got there and realized we didn't have any baseballs and we didn't have any bats and we didn't have any gloves,' Carmel said. 'It was just funny to be at the Oakland Coliseum and there's no baseball equipment at this point.' The Ballers (16-8) sit in fourth place in the 12-team PBL. They've wanted to play in the Coliseum since their inception. If it's any consolation, Carmel said he hopes to organize a hybrid game called 'basecricket' now that the San Francisco Unicorns have broken ground in the Bay Area with three consecutive wins in the Coliseum. Fellow B's co-founder Paul Freedman joked that Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani, who pitched for the first time in 21 months Monday, would be a natural. 'If that's true, then Shohei Ohtani's got to be pretty good, too,' Freedman said. 'Maybe the rule is if you could pitch and you could bat, then you could also be good at cricket, if you're that good of an athlete. … We'll see if we can get Shohei out there as well.'
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ballers Sports Startup Raises $20M Backed By Andre Agassi, Sloane Stephens And NBA Star Tyrese Maxey, Launches Luxe Athletic Venues Nationwide
Ballers, a U.S.-based startup creating upscale indoor sports and entertainment venues, has raised $20 million in a Series A round from venture firms and a star-studded roster of professional athletes. Investors include tennis legends Andre Agassi, Kim Clijsters, and Sloane Stephens, alongside NBA star Tyrese Maxey and retired NFL safety Malcolm Jenkins, Forbes reports. The company's first 55,000-square-foot facility will open in Philadelphia next month at Battery, a mixed-use development built on the site of a former power plant in the city's Fishtown neighborhood. According to Forbes, the facility will include six pickleball courts, three padel courts, two squash courts, four golf simulators, a turf field, and a putting green with sand bunkers. Don't Miss: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – Guests will also enjoy a full-service restaurant and two bars. Forbes says that the concept is designed for urban professionals, competitive players, and casual athletes seeking elevated recreation. Ballers was co-founded by Daniel Bassichis of Vero Capital and David Gutstadt of Good City Studio, two former Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) colleagues. According to Forbes, their vision connects hospitality, athleticism, and socialization to reflect a broader cultural trend toward lifestyle-driven venues. Bassichis has worked with athletes since 2008 when he partnered with NBA Hall of Famer David Robinson to launch Admiral Capital Group, which later became Vero Capital. His experience helped draw athlete investors including FC Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes, Arizona Cardinals lineman Beachum, and Professional Pickleball Association standout Connor Garnett, Forbes says. Sharp Alpha and RHC Group led the round, offering both capital and strategic backing to help Ballers expand into key U.S. markets. According to Forbes, the funding follows a $7 million raise that supported the construction of the Philadelphia venue. Trending: Invest where it hurts — and help millions heal:. Forbes says that some of Ballers' athlete-investors are taking an active role in shaping the brand's community presence. According to Bassichis, several players are blending philanthropy, lifestyle, and visibility with their capital commitments. "They're not just passive investors. They want to get involved. They want to help. They want to promote it," Bassichis said. "They want to weave in philanthropy and community into the investments." Maxey is set to host an event at the Philadelphia venue to support low-income families and other personal causes. Stephens will host foundation-related events and plans to sell her own beauty care line through Ballers, and Garnett will lead clinics at various future club locations, according to Forbes. Beachum, also an art collector, intends to use Ballers as a platform to display curated pieces from his addition to athlete-led initiatives, Ballers plans to monetize access through a hybrid model. Memberships will be available for those looking to use high-end gym facilities, locker rooms, and other exclusive perks. At the same time, Forbes says that the clubs will remain accessible to the public for individual court bookings, dining, and private event rentals, creating a flexible ecosystem that appeals to both casual guests and serious athletes. Ballers plans to open a second location in Boston's Seaport District in August, with Miami and Los Angeles venues scheduled by the middle of next year. Each site will replicate the flagship format, positioning the company firmly in the emerging 'sportainment' category, Forbes reports. Read Next: Here's what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Many are rushing to Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Ballers Sports Startup Raises $20M Backed By Andre Agassi, Sloane Stephens And NBA Star Tyrese Maxey, Launches Luxe Athletic Venues Nationwide originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
