Latest news with #BattleoftheBay2.0
CBS News
02-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
San Jose Giants, Oakland Ballers will face-off in "Battle of the Bay 2.0"
SAN JOSE — A new chapter in Bay Area baseball kicks off Wednesday Baseball has been a big part of Bay Area history, but the A's leaving Oakland brought an end to the long-standing Battle of the Bay, at least that's what people thought. Then, president of the San Jose Giants Ben Taylor had what felt like a far-fetched proposal. "It was one of those late-night ideas," said Taylor. "There's a void that has to be filled." Taylor grew up in the Bay Area and played baseball through high school. He looked forward to seeing the Giants and the A's face off each year and was disappointed it was over, so he reached out to the owners of the Oakland Ballers to propose a new "Battle of the Bay 2.0." This time it will be between San Jose and Oakland. "We're taking a piece of the Bay Area history that has meant so much to this area and this region of fan and bringing it back," said Taylor. Co-founder of the Ballers, Paul Freedman, jumped at the opportunity. "We just want to make sure that the excitement of baseball stays around," said Freedman. "To our knowledge the first time in the history of baseball that an independent minor league team is playing an affiliated minor league team." The Giants are single-A affiliate for the San Francisco Giants; the Ballers play in the independent Pioneer League. "It's a big opportunity for them to show up in the spotlight, televised game, and see what they can do," said Freedman about his team. The Ballers haven't started spring training yet, but they're going to try to be ready for their first appearance at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, potentially in front of 3,200 fans. "You get an intimate entertainment experience that you just don't have much of anywhere else in the Silicon Valley," said Taylor. Taylor said people will be traveling from across the Bay Area to see the Battle of the Bay 2.0. "We've got folks driving down from areas of Northern California that we don't generally see tickets purchased from, certainly folks are going to be purchasing hotel rooms, staying the night enjoying everything San Jose has to offer in addition to the game," said Taylor about the economic impact of the game. Both teams hope this will be just the first meeting in a long, friendly rivalry. "This is the inaugural season but will be far from the last time that this game takes place," said Taylor. They'll be creating new traditions for a new era of Bay Area sports.
CBS News
02-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Battle of the Bay 2.0 to pit the Oakland Ballers against the San Jose Giants
A new chapter in Bay Area baseball kicks off on Wednesday when the a couple of local minor league teams face off in an extension of a long-standing traditional rivalry. Baseball has been a big part of Bay Area History, but the A's leaving Oakland brought an end to the long standing Battle of the Bay. At least that's what people thought. Then Ben Taylor -- the president of the San Jose Giants, the Minor League affiliate of the San Francisco Giants -- had what some initially thought was a far-fetched proposal. "It was one of those late-night ideas," said Taylor. "There's a void that has to be filled." Taylor grew up in the Bay Area and played baseball through high school. He looked forward to seeing the Giants and the A's face off each year and was disappointed it was over. So he reached out to the owners of the Oakland Ballers to propose a new "Battle of the Bay 2.0" that would be between the teams in San Jose and Oakland. "We're taking a piece of the Bay Area history that has meant so much to this area and this region of fans and bringing it back," said Taylor. Oakland Ballers co-founder Paul Freedman jumped at the opportunity. "We just want to make sure that the excitement of baseball stays around," said Freedman. "To our knowledge the first time in the history of baseball that an independent minor league team is playing an affiliated minor league team." The Ballers play in the independent Pioneer League. "It's a big opportunity for them to show up in the spotlight, a televised game, and see what they can do," said Freedman about his team. The Ballers haven't started spring training yet, but they're going to try to be ready for their first appearance at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, potentially in front of 3,200 fans. "You get an intimate entertainment experience that you just don't have much of anywhere else in the Silicon Valley," said Taylor. Taylor says people will be traveling from across the region to see the Battle of the Bay 2.0. "We've got folks driving down from areas of Northern California that we don't generally see tickets purchased from. Certainly folks are going to be purchasing hotel rooms, staying the night, enjoying everything San Jose has to offer in addition to the game," said Taylor about the economic impact of the game. Both teams hope this will be just the first meeting in a long, friendly rivalry. "This is the inaugural season, but will be far from the last time that this game takes place," said Taylor. The leadership of the two teams are aiming to create a new tradition for a new era of Bay Area sports. Those unable to attend the game in person can catch all the action on PIX+. First pitch is Wednesday night at 6 p.m.
CBS News
11-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Oakland Ballers announce "Battle of the Bay 2.0" against San Jose Giants
The Oakland Ballers on Tuesday announced that the Pioneer League team would face off against the San Jose Giants next month in what is being billed as "a new chapter in the storied history of Bay Area baseball matchups." The East Bay baseball club will play the Single-A minor league San Jose Giants in an exhibition game at San Jose's Excite Ballpark on April 2. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. "The Battle of the Bay 2.0 at its core is a celebration of the Bay Area baseball fan and the history of baseball in this region," San Jose Giants President Ben Taylor was quoted as saying in the press release announcing the game. "Providing fans the opportunity to enjoy this first-of-its-kind matchup, while giving young developing players the chance to play in front of an energized Excite Ballpark crowd is going to be an unforgettable experience. It is my sincere hope that alongside the Ballers this is the beginning of a new, annual baseball tradition for our region." The game will mark the first time an affiliated franchise like the San Jose Giants plays against an independent MLB partner league team in the Oakland Ballers. "This history-making Battle of the Bay 2.0 exhibition will help grow the game in our region and shine a light on the up-and-coming players in our respective organizations," said Ballers EVP of Baseball Operations Don Wakamatsu. "The Ballers are committed to developing homegrown talent and cultivating baseball excellence in Oakland and the greater Bay Area and we appreciate Major League Baseball and the Pioneer Baseball League for coming together to make this happen." Tickets are now on sale at with broadcast details to be announced in the next few weeks.
