South Bend Cubs honored as top Single-A minor league baseball organization
SOUTH BEND – The South Bend Cubs received another accolade Thursday, being named the top Single-A franchise in minor league baseball by Baseball America.
The 2023 Single-A Bob Freitas Award was given to the Cubs, who were selected from 60 teams that play high-A and low-A minor league baseball. The award recognizes long-term business success, operational excellence and community involvement, among other things.
“Our Freitas Award is one that honors excellence in the entirety of a minor league baseball team's operation,” Baseball America Editor-In-Chief JJ Cooper said in a statement. “From the ticket takers to the general manager, it's an honor we bestow on clubs that have a reputation for going above-and-beyond the expected. I was fortunate enough to see it for myself a few years ago in a visit."
The Cubs have found tremendous success since Andrew Berlin purchased the team in 2011. Upgrades to Four Winds Field have made it one of the top minor league ballparks in the country, being voted the best by Baseball Digest in 2017, 2022 and 2023.
More: South Bend Cubs food and toy drive offers fans free tickets for donations
Of the 66 home games the Cubs had last year, 49 were sellouts, showing strong community support for the team.
“It’s an honor to be recognized as one of the top organizations in Minor League Baseball by Baseball America,” Berlin said in a statement. “We’ve made a number of changes and improvements to enhance the fan experience over the last twelve years with even more on the way. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire staff.”
Within the community, the organization raised $130,000 through its Cubs Concessionaire program. Four Winds Field is also a host site for numerous fundraisers, with more than $2 million being raised for charities at the venue since 2012.
“This award is as much a testament to our community as it is our organization,” said team president Joe Hart in a statement. “We’ve always been more than a baseball team. Our club strives to not only provide a family-friendly experience at the ballpark but to also be good partners in the community. We are incredibly honored to be recognized by Baseball America.”
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend Cubs named top Single-A organization by Baseball America
