GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Grand Junction Jackalopes minor league baseball club announced Wednesday that film and television producer/director Mike Tollin has acquired the club.
Tollin is a four-time Emmy Award winner and served as an executive producer on "The Last Dance," a 10-part documentary series on Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. He also was a producer on movies such as "Coach Carter," "Radio," "Big Fat Liar," and "Wild Hogs."
"I'm so excited to be a part of the Grand Junction community and look forward to reinventing the Jackalopes baseball club to better serve the community by providing fun, affordable, family-friendly entertainment all summer long," Tollin said. "I'm looking forward to connecting the Jackalopes to the fans and local businesses in a new way, and we're determined to make attending Jackalopes games this season a completely different experience."
The Jackalopes play in the Pioneer Baseball League, an MLB Partner League, at Grand Junction's Suplizio Field.
The Jackalopes said Wednesday that Tollin has rehired the front-office staff led by team President Mick Ritter and General Manager Harrison Shapiro.
"On behalf of the Pioneer League, I couldn't be happier to have my dear friend Mike Tollin assume ownership of the Jackalopes," said Pioneer Baseball League President Mike Shapiro. "I know Mike will passionately and creatively revamp the club not only as the treasured community asset it should be but also bring a unique perspective to operating the team as a sports and entertainment property."
The Jackalopes were previously called the Grand Junction Rockies before changing the name in November 2022.
Future Legends, owners of division rival Northern Colorado Owlz and the Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC soccer team, purchased the Grand Junction Rockies in August 2022.
The baseball team moved to Grand Junction in 2012 from Casper, Wyoming, where its name was the Casper Ghosts. The team was renamed the Grand Junction Rockies as an affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, an affiliation that ended in 2019 when Major League Baseball reduced its minor league system.
What is a jackalope?
For those unfamiliar, a jackalope is a mythical animal of American West folklore described as a jackrabbit with antelope horns.
According to the team, its logo has nods to a lucky rabbits foot, Colorado's Grand Mesa, a baseball diamond, the "Old Western way of finding," and the legend that Jackalopes only mate during lightning strikes.
The Jackalopes will continue as a member of the 12-team Pioneer Baseball League in 2024.
Pioneer Baseball League
- Billings Mustangs
- Boise Hawks
- Glacier Range Riders
- Grand Junction Jackaloupes
- Great Falls Voyagers
- Idaho Falls Chukars
- Missoula PaddleHeads
- Northern Colorado Owlz
- Oakland Ballers
- Ogden Raptors
- Rocky Mountain Vibes
- Yolo High Wheelers
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