Eastern League planning to take Richmond by storm

SPECIAL REPORT: Baseball in Richmond

Professional baseball won't return to Richmond until next year, but its presence apparently will be noticeable starting next month.

Minor League Baseball and the Eastern League plan to assign a Class AA franchise to Richmond before Aug. 1. When that happens, "somebody is going to go in there and somebody is going to take Richmond by storm," Joe McEacharn, the Eastern League president, said yesterday.

He projects a public-awareness campaign, including a name-the-team contest, and the start of work in excess of $1 million that will upgrade The Diamond for at least the next couple of years of use by the new team. McEacharn added that he expects the new franchise will have representatives in town conducting business soon after Minor League Baseball approves a relocation application.

McEacharn said no relocation application had been filed and the league has not formally determined which of its 12 franchises will move to Richmond next season. The most likely candidate remains Connecticut, contractually bound to be the San Francisco Giants' Class AA affiliate through next season.

McEacharn said it is possible, though demanding, for the franchise to continue business in its current locale through the remainder of this season and also activate in Richmond. The regular season closes in early September.

"It's difficult and it's expensive. This is a long-term venture. We are not thinking short-term. I'd like to think that the Eastern League is making a big commitment, and [the franchise] is making an even bigger commitment," he said.

"We're already six months behind schedule. I think we've got about nine months to opening day. If you delay things another month, that's more than 10 percent, and when you're already behind schedule, every day counts."

Contact John O'Connor at (804) 649-6233 or .