Blue Ghosts Do Battle May 28-30
CORPUS CHRISTI – The famed and feared USS Lexington CV-16 will again be commemorated on the baseball field when the Hooks play as the Corpus Christi Blue Ghosts during Memorial Day Weekend, May 28-30, presented by Mike Shaw Automotive. “It’s an honor to look across the shipping channel from Whataburger
CORPUS CHRISTI – The famed and feared USS Lexington CV-16 will again be commemorated on the baseball field when the Hooks play as the Corpus Christi Blue Ghosts during Memorial Day Weekend, May 28-30, presented by Mike Shaw Automotive.
“It’s an honor to look across the shipping channel from Whataburger Field and see a monumental piece of our nation’s history that is the USS Lexington,” said Hooks General Manager Brady Ballard. “She personifies strength and determination, which the Hooks try to replicate every time they take the field. We continue the annual tradition of taking the field as the Blue Ghosts during Memorial Day Weekend as we recognize her crew’s sacrifices during WWII, as well as her representation of those past and present servicemen and women who make their home in the Coastal Bend.”
Commissioned by the United States Navy in 1943, the USS Lexington served the Fifth Fleet during World War II. The famed aircraft carrier was engaged in nearly every operation in the Pacific Theater and spent 21 months in combat. The Japanese reported the Lexington sunk no less than four times, earning her the nickname “The Blue Ghost.”
"The LEX crew is excited to once again partner with the Corpus Christi Hooks for Blue Ghosts Weekend," said USS Lexington Museum Executive Director Steve Banta. "We’re proud of our close relationship with the Hooks, we’re happy to see baseball back at Whataburger Field, and we’re honored the Hooks are commemorating this historic ship by taking the field as the Blue Ghosts during Memorial Day weekend for this great community event."
The Blue Ghosts, among the monikers considered for the Corpus Christi Baseball Club prior to its 2005 inaugural season, return their signature sailor tattoo-inspired logos and word marks with a new Dark Graphite and Battleship Gray color scheme to match the vessel and many of the aircraft she carries. The Blue Ghosts have done battle at Whataburger Field since 2018, and this year the weekend is presented by Mike Shaw Automotive.
“Mike Shaw Automotive is privileged to honor the soldiers and sailors everywhere, who bravely bears their country's cause. To be the presenting sponsor of the 2021 Blue Ghost Weekend is special to Mike Shaw Automotive because Mike Shaw is a Vietnam Veteran himself and a baseball fan. Showing appreciation to Veterans like himself in the Coastal Bend area is our top priority at Mike Shaw Automotive.”
As a part of the weekend’s festivities, the Hooks and USO South Texas will host a public Batting Practice Party featuring active-duty military members atop the USS Lexington’s Flight Deck on Saturday, May 29. Approximately 150 baseballs will be swatted off the deck into Corpus Christi Bay beginning at 11 a.m.
Fans are invited to the BP Party for the price of admission to the USS Lexington Museum; for adults at $18.95, seniors at $16.95, military at $14.95 and children at $13.95. Hooks season members and fans who present Hooks ticket stubs from May 25-30 will receive a $3 discount at the LEX. Likewise, those who visit Lexington from May 25-30 may present their ticket stub at the Whataburger Field Box Office to receive a $3 discount to any Hooks game that week (May 25-30).
Memorial Day Weekend against the Amarillo Sod Poodles kicks off with Bud Light Friday Fireworks on May 28. On Saturday the 29th, the first 3,000 fans at Whataburger Field will receive a Craig Biggio 2005 Astros NL Championship Ring. On Sunday, May 30, the first 2,000 fans will get an Astros Alex Bregman “Intentional Walk” Bobblehead, courtesy of Wigington, Rumley, Dunn & Blair. The weekend concludes with a patriotic Memorial Day Weekend Fireworks Display, with the USS Lexington standing tall in the background.
In addition, the Blue Ghosts will host a canned food drive throughout the weekend benefitting USO of South Texas. Proceeds from the 50/50 raffle at each game will benefit the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay and the USO of South Texas.
To order Blue Ghosts merchandise and tickets for the weekend, visit the Blue Ghosts page.
For more information about the USS Lexington, visit usslexington.com.
MiLB podcast breaks down Spring Training storylines
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Leaf Peepers? Thunder Chickens?! Coming to the Minors this year
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Dodgers greats Newcombe and Campanella made history as Minors teammates
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2006. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
15 prospects primed for a bounceback season from injury
A lot of players will be getting a fresh start heading into the 2025 season. Prospects who missed significant time due to injury have had upwards of six months between regular-season games to return to health. Now they'll be looking to re-establish their value and maybe even reach new heights.
Check out the newest Minor League team logos for 2025
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Here are 18 prospects who also starred on the gridiron
The two-time defending-champion Kansas City Chiefs are set to meet the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, and plenty of baseball prospects will be keeping a close eye. After all, many current Minor Leaguers played football at a high level before committing fully to the diamond. No, there aren't any
Did you know the Superdome was once home to a Minor League team?
On Sunday, one of the world’s most-watched sporting events will take place at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Believe it or not, decades before Super Bowl LIX came to town, the same building was home to a Minor League Baseball team for one season. The 1977 Triple-A New Orleans Pelicans
How a Black pitcher's brief PCL stint in 1916 generated a historic card
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2010. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
The Show Before the Show: Episode 489
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minors legend Jones still holds batting record
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2008. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers. Grover "Deacon" Jones spent more than a half-century in baseball, serving the game at almost every level and in
Hooks have a new look -- and more -- on the line for 20th season
In advance of a milestone season at Whataburger Field, the Corpus Christi Hooks are making a change. The Houston Astros' Double-A affiliate unveiled new logos and uniforms on Friday evening, marking the first time they have significantly altered their look since debuting in 2005. According to Hooks general manager Brady
Here's how Jackie Robinson fueled Montreal to a Minor League title in 1946
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2006. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
They're due! MiLB's longest active title droughts
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
These players could earn teams extra Draft picks in 2025
Since the Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI) was implemented under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, four players have earned their clubs extra Draft picks. The PPI rewards teams for promoting their best prospects to the big leagues at the start of the season, enabling them to earn a Draft pick if
Each team's best non-Top 100 prospect
There just isn't enough room to fit all the worthy talents on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list. We unveiled our latest rankings last Friday, and now we're going to spotlight the best prospect in each farm system who couldn't quite make the cut. We undertook the same exercise last
MiLB collaborates with Stand Up To Cancer
Minor League Baseball announced a new collaboration with Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C), an organization that funds the development of new and promising cancer treatments to help patients today. Founded in 2008, SU2C raises awareness and funds research to detect and treat cancers with the aspiration to cure all patients.
These are the best tools on the new Top 100 Prospects list
Players featured on last year’s edition of the best tools among Top 100 prospects should look familiar to even casual baseball fans at this point. Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes (best fastball, slider) took the Major Leagues by storm as the NL Rookie of the Year, thanks to his hard-throwing ways
Answering your Top 100 Prospects list questions
MLB Pipeline released its new Top 100 Prospects list on Friday, and it was met with a bevy of questions and comments about fans' favorite prospects. To help make sense of all the inquiries, Pipeline's Jonathan Mayo took to Reddit and responded to fan questions in a Top 100 Prospect-focused
Here are every organization's Top 100 prospects for 2025
MLB Pipeline’s 2025 Top 100 Prospects list went live on Friday night, led by the newest Dodger, right-hander Roki Sasaki, Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony and Twins outfielder Walker Jenkins. There’s a lot of offensive firepower throughout the list, beyond those two outfielders at the top, but while the bats
Check out MLB Pipeline's 2025 Top 100 Prospects list
He was one of the most sought-after talents this offseason, and he hadn’t even played stateside ball yet. Now, he can add another bullet point to his already lengthy baseball resume. Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki tops MLB Pipeline’s 2025 preseason ranking of the Top 100 prospects, followed by Red Sox
The Show Before the Show: Episode 488
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Get ready to cheer for ... the Bathtub Donkeys?
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to The Baseball Traveler newsletter here.
These are MLB’s No. 1 prospects at each position
MLB Pipeline's 2025 rankings of the Top 10 prospects at each position are official and the 2025 Top 100 Prospects list will be revealed at 7 p.m. ET on Friday on MLB Network and MLB.com.