Dave Bohner, grandfather of honorary Spikes bench coach Josiah Viera, was one of the people to speak at a press conference Jan. 16, 2020, to kick off the "Save Our Spikes" effort. Major League Baseball has proposed ending affiliations with 42 minor league teams. Viera, who had a rare genetic condition, died in December 2018. Bohner spoke about the importance of baseball and the Spikes to Viera.
Anne Danahy / WPSU
Anne Danahy / WPSU
Dave Bohner, grandfather of honorary Spikes bench coach Josiah Viera, was one of the people to speak at a press conference Jan. 16, 2020, to kick off the "Save Our Spikes" effort. Major League Baseball has proposed ending affiliations with 42 minor league teams. Viera, who had a rare genetic condition, died in December 2018. Bohner spoke about the importance of baseball and the Spikes to Viera.
(State College) — Playing ball is what the State College Spikes and their fans hope they’ll still be doing in 2021.
But, that’s in doubt.
Major League Baseball has proposed ending affiliations with 42 minor league teams, including the State College Spikes. But, Pennsylvania politicians and community leaders are pushing back, kicking off a campaign Thursday to save the Spikes.
“It would be very tough to operate as a not-affiliated franchise,” said Scott Walker, general manager of the State College Spikes. He and others launched “Save Our Spikes,” hoping to show the importance of the team to the region’s economy, families and community.
Gary Hoover, head of the Bellefonte Intervalley Area Chamber of Commerce, said Major League Baseball’s proposal has “stirred up a hornet’s nest.”
“This should not be a bean-counter decision,” Hoover said.
The proposal is already getting pushback from politicians. Representatives for Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and U.S. Representatives Glenn Thompson and Fred Keller came out to show support.
State Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman said it’s important to show Major League Baseball the community wants to keep the team.
“We want to make this as difficult for them as absolutely possible,” Corman said. “Not just for the State College perspective, but all the communities that are on that list.”
Two other Pennsylvania teams on the list are the Williamsport Crosscutters and the Erie SeaWolves.
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