Bruce Baldwin, the former Richmond Braves general manager who became the Gwinnett Braves’ general manager when the franchise relocated to Gwinnett, Ga., following the 2008 season, will step down from his position once a replacement is named, the Braves recently announced. Baldwin will remain with the Braves as a special minor-league consultant.

Bruce Baldwin, the former Richmond Braves general manager who became the Gwinnett Braves’ general manager when the franchise relocated to Gwinnett. Ga., folowing the 2008 season, will step down from his position once a replacement is named, the Braves recently announced.

Tony Pelling surprised his audience at Monday’s Richmond Kiwanis Club meeting with the revelation that “the flying squirrel was one of the first exports from the colonies in Virginia.“ Who knew that the name of Richmond’s Double-A baseball team had such deep Virginia roots? King James I, for whom Jamestown is named, sought a flying squirrel for The Royal Menagerie, a collection of unusual animals. The Royal Menagerie operated basically as a private zoo. Historical evidence indicates it opened in 1235. According to the Colonial Williamsburg Journal, the Earl of Southampton reported in December of 1609 “The King is eager to have one of the Virginia Squirrels that are said to fly.“

The nickname was selected by franchise owners and managers in conjunction with their marketing partner. It was submitted in a name-the-team contest that drew approximately 6,000 entries.

The Richmond Baseball franchise has eliminated “Hambones” as a potential team name.

Imagine with me a day in the not so distant future. The ballpark debate has been settled. A gleaming stadium sits overlooking the floodwall and the river in Manchester. It’s April. Opening day. A day of pure promise. Your young son and daughter are ready, have been for hours. “Daddy, can we go now?“ they plead in unison.

Does Richmond have a hankering for Hush Puppies? That was the winner of CNBC’s push Wednesday for a wild-card entry in the Richmond baseball name-theteam contest. Hush Puppies joins Flatheads, Flying Squirrels, Hambones, Rhinos and Rock Hoppers, names previously submitted by the public and chosen as finalists by the Double-A team’s management. Hush Puppies was chosen from more than 9,000 votes during a 12-hour period.

While Todd Parnell was the general manager at Class AA Altoona, Pa., his gall bladder was removed. He wanted to give it away as part of a game-night promotion. The plan was vetoed. “My doctor got serious about Hazmat stuff,“ Parnell said. Instead, at an Altoona game Parnell distributed 500 color pictures of his gall bladder, then autographed them in the stadium concourse. Parnell said that during subsequent months, he was occasionally stopped in the area and told, “Hey, I’ve still got your gall bladder on my refrigerator.“ Parnell, now the vice president and chief operating officer of Richmond’s Class AA franchise, pledges that similarly inventive promotions—though probably not as personal—are coming to The Diamond.

Now that we’ve gotten the bad nicknames out of the way for Richmond’s new baseball team, we can move on to the really good ones. You know, the ones that dazzle you. The ones that make you say, “Wow. Cool. Different. I like it.“ What? Say again? Pardon me? Those were the good nicknames? The Richmond Flathead Screwdrivers? That’s what I think of when I hear flathead. Not catfish.

The call for a wild card entry in the Richmond baseball franchise’s name-the-team contest drew more than 9,000 submissions in fewer than 12 hours yesterday. CNBC and the Class AA club invited interested parties to e-mail suggestions to CNBC from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. About 60 minutes before last night’s deadline, CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell said CNBC had received more than 9,000 entries. On Tuesday, Rovell projected CNBC’s portion of the voting would draw “a couple hundred.“

The possible names for Richmond’s baseball team may not appear to be big hits. But the club’s boss says,  “Richmond will soon learn that we aren’t afraid to stick our necks out there and have some fun.“

The search for Richmond’s new baseball team’s nickname is taking a twist. The process was expanded this afternoon to make room for a sixth entry. Chuck Domino, chief executive manager for the franchise, said CNBC unexpectedly expressed interest in identifying a wild-card candidate. Darren Rovell, CNBC’s sports business reporter, said his company wanted “to get our readers, on cnbc.com, involved in the process.“

After receiving more than 6,000 entries, including duplications, the front office of Richmond’s Double-A baseball franchise has selected five finalists.

Officials say a name for Richmond’s new baseball team will be picked by Oct. 15. A contest to name the AA franchise drew about 6,000 submissions, including duplicates. Voting on the top five starts Monday.

Sons of Pitches
Shad plankers
Rabble-Rousers
Poes
Pros
Rapids
Radicals
Rain
Razmatazz