The owners of the Columbus Catfish minor league baseball team made it official what many had known for months -- they are relocating their Class A franchise to Bowling Green.
According to a story in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, the deal was approved today by Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, and the South Atlantic League.
The story also said that Catfish owner Art Soloman has already begun a contest to name the new Bowling Green team.
The city broke ground earlier this month on a 5,700-seat stadium and 790-space parking garage (see artist rendition above). Bowling Green approved the sale of $25 million in bonds for the construction project, which should be completed by April of next year.
Soloman said in the story that if the stadium is not completed, the Class A team would play at WKU.
The new Bowling Green team will play in the South Atlantic League, that also includes the Lexington Legends.
While Bowling Green is excited to get a new minor league team, Columbus may be without a minor league baseball team for the first time in three decades.
The Catfish moved to Columbus from Albany, Ga. prior to the 2003 season. Through the years, some of the more notable players to dot the rosters of the various Columbus minor league baseball teams include Bob Gibson, Enos Slaughter, Walter Alston, Luis Gonzalez, Darryl Kile, Richie Sexson, Ken Forsch, and Jaret Wright.
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