N.Y. Yankees Rookie Ball To Make Move To Joplin

New York, New York (AP)- The New York Yankees announced today that they will be moving their Gulf Coast League Rookie Ball affiliate to Joplin, MO. They are currently in negotiation with the City of Joplin to take over ownership of the Historic Joe Becker Stadium. Yankee great Mickey Mantle made Joe Becker his home in 1950 with the Joplin Miners, a Yankees minor league affiliate. The Yankees head office cited Mantles ties to the Joplin area as well as the cities recent renovations of the stadium as the driving factor to bringing Yankee baseball back to Joplin.
Joe Becker Stadium went through an extensive overhaul in late 2014 and 2015 and became home to the now defunct Joplin Blasters.
“The city did a wonderful job with their renovation and created a real showcase, we look forward to bringing professional baseball back to Joplin”, said Yankee G.M. Brian Cashman. “The Midwest will get to see the future stars of Major League Baseball”.
Other plans by the Yankees include building a sports plaza to west of the Stadium highlighting the Joplin areas rich baseball history, along with a small restaurant district.