Sports Business Journal has ranked the top minor league sports markets in the country and the Providence/Pawtucket area is slotted at #3 out of 240 markets surveyed.

Hershey/Harrisburg, PA came in at #1.  Here is what the magazine had to say about the Providence/Pawtucket market and it’s affinity toward minor league sports.  PawSox fans should be proud!

From PawSox PR:

The PawSox are pleased to unveil Mondor Gardens behind the left field fence near the McCoy Stadium ticket office today. The area is a tribute to late PawSox owner Ben Mondor who passed away last October.

Mondor Gardens features six miniature bronze statues of children playing baseball (purchased by Ben before his death) in a beautifully landscaped area of stamped concrete, paved walkways, granite steps, handicap-accessible ramp, six park benches, anda number of trees, plants, and flowers.

Bradford Associates is the architect while Design Tech Landscaping is the contractor. Among the plants are pear trees, honey locust trees, bird’s nest spruces, inkberry bushes, butterfly bushes, yellow daylilies, junipers, hollies, azaleas, English ivy, and knock out roses.

Mondor Gardens will greet fans as they walk-up to the box office and provide for a scenic area for fans to relax both before and after a PawSox game at McCoy.

“Mondor Gardens adds a park-like setting to the exterior of McCoy where fans both young and old can sit and relax and enjoy thinking of tonight’s game or memories of seasons gone by,” said PawSox president Mike Tamburro.

Every season the PawSox Blog staff closes shop for much needed R&R.

We know it’s less than a week into the season, but now is the time for our break.  We will be away from the site for a little over a week.  We hope you understand and look forward to your continued support!

Despite the weather today, we here at PawSox Blog are excited about the 2011 baseball season.

This is our fourth year covering the team and we value your input on how we can bring you information you can use.  We are not able to attend every game but when we do, we provide pre-game notes and usually post-game audio or video to supplement our game story.  The PawSox are probably the best covered team in all of minor league baseball and our intent is not to duplicate the fine work done buy the local media and the team itself.  We need your help to be unique.

What would you like to see us cover this season? Get in touch with me an give me your ideas.  Happy Baseball Season!

Here is the fifth installment of the PawSox Video Scavenger Hunt: