Curve To Celebrate Tenth Anniversary Season In 2008
ALTOONA- Ten years have passed since Altoona, Blair County and the entire Central and Western Pennsylvania region unexpectedly landed a Double-A Eastern League expansion franchise, built one of the finest minor league ballparks in the country and began a lasting love affair with minor league baseball that helped the club earn admiration in its own backyard and national acclaim throughout the industry. Now, in preparation for the upcoming 2008 baseball season, the Altoona Curve are planning a season-long celebration to honor the accomplishments and great moments from the franchise's first decade and to pay tribute the proudest and most loyal fans in minor league baseball.
Curve President and Managing Partner Chuck Greenberg and General Manager Todd Parnell today announced several season-long promotions tied to the franchise's Tenth Anniversary in 2008.
Among the highlight promotions set for the 2008 season will be the unveiling of an Official Curve Tenth Anniversary team, which will celebrate the top players over the first decade of the franchise. The process for selecting the members of the club's Tenth Anniversary team will rely heavily on fan balloting at Blair County Ballpark and on-line at AltoonaCurve.com, and in conjunction with media partners and participating sponsors. Specific details about the selection process and announcement of the Curve's Tenth Anniversary Team will be revealed at a later date.
The Curve will also celebrate their anniversary by turning back the clock and reliving the first nine seasons in franchise history with specific theme nights dedicated to each year in team history. For example, "1999 Night" will include highlights and special moments from the club's inaugural season, special video features on the 1999 team, team facts and other special team-related content dealing with that year. In addition, the ballpark atmosphere will return to that particular season in Curve history, featuring video clips, music, fashion and other pop culture references from that specific year.
Another key part of the Tenth Anniversary celebration which is certain to be a hit with fans will be the franchise's effort to bring back and honor popular players from the first nine seasons of Curve Baseball who are no longer playing the game. Throughout the off-season, the Curve will reach out to former players in an attempt to bring them back to meet and greet fans and to honor their accomplishments in Altoona and in the game of baseball. The club will announce specific former player appearances as they are confirmed.
"Over the past 10 years, our ownership group, front office staff and loyal fans have all sunk so much time, energy and devotion into shaping the 'Curve Experience' into what we have all come to know and love that we probably haven't spent enough time properly reflecting on what an amazing period it has been," said Greenberg. "All of the great promotions and celebrations that we have planned for the 2008 season are designed to give anyone who has enjoyed even just one night at Blair County Ballpark an opportunity to look back and think about what the Curve has meant to them and about all of the great memories that they have shared with us at the ballpark."
In addition to the promotional tie-ins to the Curve's Tenth Anniversary season, the franchise also today announced the creation of a special Tenth Anniversary Logo, which will appear on the club's home and away jerseys and in team promotional materials, and a brand-new Sunday home throwback uniform, which is based on the style used by Major League Baseball teams in the late 1920's. Additional details and pictures are available at AltoonaCurve.com.
The 2008 season will also give Curve fans more diverse options when it comes to buying tickets. The club has announced several new single-game ticket packages, which will be geared toward individual ticket buyers and families. Those new offerings include:
-FAMILY FOUR PACK MONDAY
Families of four will receive four (4) Grandstand (300 Level) or UPMC Health Plan Home Run Junction (OF Bleachers) tickets, four (4) regular hot dogs and four (4) small sodas for $40 - only $10 per person
-WEDNESDAY GIANT EAGLE ADVANTAGE CARD NIGHT
Fans who present their Giant Eagle Advantage Card in person at the Curve Ticket Office will receive a "buy one, get one free" ticket in the UPMC Health Plan Home Run Junction (OF Bleachers) section for any Wednesday Curve home game at Blair County Ballpark
-THIRSTY THURSDAYS
Specials on beer and soda for all Thursday Curve home games at Blair County Ballpark
-MONTHLY CURVE BURGER BLOWOUTS AND DOLLAR DOG NIGHTS
Two games each month during the Curve's 2008 home schedule will be designated as either a "Curve Burger Blowout Night" or "Dollar Dog" Night
-APRIL STUDENT SPIRIT NIGHTS
Throughout the month of April, students 18 and under will be eligible to receive a $3 Grandstand (300 Level) ticket when they wear apparel with their school's logo ($4 savings off the regular price of the ticket)
-APRIL "SEASON'S HEATING UP" NIGHTS
During the month of April, fans can be whisked away in their minds to their favorite warm weather destination with this $10 package, which includes one (1) Grandstand (300 Level) ticket in the "Tropical Zone", a HOT dog, a HOT chocolate and a Hawaiian Lei
Single-game tickets and special packages for the Curve's 2008 season will go on sale to the general public in March, but the best seats to all 71 Altoona Curve home games at Blair County Ballpark can be reserved now by purchasing Curve Season Tickets. Season tickets can be reserved by calling the Curve Ticketing Department at (814) 943-5400 or toll-free at (877) 99-CURVE. In addition to Season Tickets, fans can also now reserve Mini-Plan Packages, Flex Books, Luxury Suite Rentals, Group Outings (groups of 25 or more), Birthday and Team Parties, and Picnics for the Curve's 2008 season. Information on each of those offerings is also available at AltoonaCurve.com.
Curve Unveil Tenth Anniversary Logo And New Sunday Throwback Look
ALTOONA- In celebration of the Altoona Curve's Tenth Anniversary 2008 Season, the club today unveiled a special Tenth Anniversary Logo as well as a unique, new Sunday throwback uniform, which will take fans back to the early part of 20th Century. The unveilings were made by Curve President and Managing Partner Chuck Greenberg and General Manager Todd Parnell at a Wednesday afternoon press conference at the Logan Valley Mall in Altoona.
The special Tenth Anniversary logo incorporates an updated version of the Curve's alternate "Spike logo", which appears on the sleeves of the club's home and road jerseys and on the team's batting practice jerseys and caps, and the familiar "A" logo. The logo is accompanied by a special Tenth Anniversary ribbon which includes the years "1999" and "2008". Fans will notice the Tenth Anniversary logo on the sleeve of both the Curve's home and road jersey tops throughout the 2008 season, as well as on team promotional materials, advertising and select merchandise.
An exciting addition to the Curve's current uniform collection is the creative new throwback look, which the club will wear during all Sunday home games played at Blair County Ballpark. The uniform is based on the style used in Major League Baseball during the late 1920s, featuring baggy pants worn just below the knees, knee-high stirrups, a buttoned jersey top surrounded by a long thin stripe (also known as a "braid"), which continues up to the collar, and a short-billed hat adorned with a spider-like white trim.
The vintage lettering styles used on the jersey and cap also represent those used in the early 20th Century. The uniform top has the word "Altoona" spelled out, while the hat features the letters "A" and "C" intertwined. That same logo can be found on the left sleeve of the jersey. Interestingly, the Sunday throwback represents the first home jersey in club history that has the name "Altoona" across the chest.
The uniform color is "natural" or "ecru" and not white since bleaching wasn't used in the washing process during that era. The hat color is Cardinal, which is one of the Curve's existing primary colors. Cardinal is also used for the color of all lettering and trim on the uniform.
"What's unique about our new Sunday throwback look is that we didn't just try to come up with a cool new uniform, but instead decided to think outside the box and trace the history of baseball uniforms to create a style that the Altoona Curve would have worn had we been around in the late 1920s," said Greenberg. "We're always brainstorming for fun, creative ideas that aren't necessarily the industry standard and in this case we were able to accomplish that by coming up with an idea that we think our fans will absolutely love while at the same time paying tribute to the great history of the game of baseball."
The uniforms were researched and designed by Plan B Branding of San Diego, California. Plan B specializes in storytelling and branding ideas and have created fresh looks for the Cincinnati Reds, the World Series and several prestigious Minor League Baseball clubs. Plan B partners Casey White and Jason Klein have previously worked closely on design projects with the Curve and their sister franchises, the State College Spikes and Myrtle Beach (SC) Pelicans, including the creation of the nickname and overall look for the Spikes prior to their inaugural 2006 season, the re-design of the Pelicans' logo and uniforms for the 2007 season, and the creation of the logo for the 2008 California League/Carolina League All-Star Game, which will be hosted by Myrtle Beach next June. More of their work in the baseball industry can be viewed at Plan B. Branding.
"Our partners at Plan B Branding did a fantastic job of researching the many uniform styles from throughout baseball history and created a design that carefully followed the style of the era that it represents," Greenberg added.
Fans will be able to see the Curve in their brand-new throwback look for the first time at Blair County Ballpark on Sunday, April 6 against the Reading Phillies. The April 6 contest will be the finale of a season-opening four-game series between the Curve and R-Phils. The Curve's 2008 Home Opener will take place on Thursday, April 3.
Single-game tickets and special packages for the Curve's 2008 season will go on sale to the general public in March, but the best seats to all 71 Altoona Curve home games at Blair County Ballpark can be reserved now by purchasing Curve Season Tickets. Season tickets can be reserved by calling the Curve Ticketing Department at (814) 943-5400 or toll-free at (877) 99-CURVE. In addition to Season Tickets, fans can also now reserve Mini-Plan Packages, Flex Books, Luxury Suite Rentals, Group Outings (groups of 25 or more), Birthday and Team Parties, and Picnics for the Curve's 2008 season. Information on each of those offerings is also available at AltoonaCurve.com.
Mark Reynolds Making Fall Classic Appearances in Mobile
MOBILE, AL - There are two annual events at Hank Aaron Stadium in the next week, and the Mobile BayBears have announced Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Mark Reynolds will be attending both.
The former BayBears third baseman will be greeting fans and signing autographs at the following two events:
The Fall Classic Wine Tasting
Thursday, October 25th at 7:00 PM
Harbor Communications Center, Hank Aaron Stadium
BayBears World Series Party
Sunday, October 28th at 6:00 PM
Harbor Communications Center, Hank Aaron Stadium
There are limited tickets still available to the Fall Classic Wine Tasting. Tickets are $70 per couple, or $35 per individual and can be ordered by calling 251-479-2327. There will be a silent auction at the Wine Tasting to benefit Victory Health Partners.
The annual BayBears World Series party coincides with game four of the World Series between Boston and Colorado. Fans can watch the World Series game on the big screen in the Harbor Communications Center, eat hot dogs from Naman's Catering, and try and win raffle prizes between innings. The World Series party is free to all sponsors and season ticket holders, and costs just $10 per person otherwise.
While both are both currently injured, each World Series team features a former BayBears pitcher, in Boston right-hander Matt Clement (1997 BayBear) and Colorado starter Rodrigo Lopez (1998 and 1999 BayBear).
Mark Reynolds became the first BayBear called to the Major Leagues in the BayBears tenure as an Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate on May 15th, 2007. In 111 games for the National League West Champion Diamondbacks this season, Reynolds hit .279 with 17 home runs and 62 RBI's in 366 at bats.
HOOVER, AL - The Birmingham Barons today unveiled new team logos and uniforms in preparation for the 2008 Southern League season at Regions Park. The changes mark the first significant alterations to the team's logos and on-field uniforms since 1993.
Since moving to Hoover prior to the 1988 season, the Birmingham Barons have been associated with a traditional script logo. The club featured red accents in their uniforms until 1992, since then the Barons have been identified by their black, white, and silver color scheme.
In anticipation of the team's 21st season in Hoover in 2008, and following a series of extensive improvements to Regions Park, the organization commissioned an overhaul of the logo and uniforms that had been a staple of one of the most celebrated and historic franchises in all of Minor League Baseball.
"We have made every effort to honor our past, while modernizing and energizing the Barons brand as we move into the future," said General Manager Jonathan Nelson. "The addition of red in our color scheme is a nod to the Barons' uniforms of the 1980's and early 1990's, while our new, gray, road uniforms are strikingly similar to those of the Birmingham Black Barons, a uniform we also wore at the Rickwood Classic in 1999."
This marks the first new uniform for the Barons since 1993, and the first adjustment to the club's primary logo since 1988. The new, red, alternate jersey marks the first time since 1992 that the Barons have used a color other than black, white, or silver as a primary jersey color.
The Barons will don their new uniforms for the first time when they open the 2008 Southern League schedule on April 3rd, 2008. Birmingham will welcome the Tennessee Smokies, Class AA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, to Regions Park in a battle between the Southern League affiliates of Chicago's two Major League franchises.
For schedule and ticket information, please call 205-988-3200, or visit 2008 Birmingham Barons.
The official World Series Watch Party schedule has been released by the Tulsa Drillers. Cowboy Sharkies at 58th and Memorial will host official Watch Parties for Games 1, 3, 5 & 7, while The Bruhouse, located at 34th and Peoria in Brookside, will host Watch Parties for Games 2, 4 & 6.
Each Watch Party will feature the World Series games between the Colorado Rockies, the Drillers Major League affiliate, and the Boston Red Sox. The games will be shown on the main television screens at each location.
There will be giveaways of Drillers memorabilia throughout the night at all Watch Parties with items from current Colorado Rockies players that played for the Drillers being featured. At least 13 players on the Rockies 25-man roster played for the Drillers.
At each Watch Party, the grand prize drawing will be a Matt Holliday Drillers Jersey. Other items to be raffled off include autographed baseballs by Jeff Francis, Troy Tulowitzki, Ubaldo Jimenez & Ryan Spilborghs, plus Drillers caps autographed by Brad Hawpe. There will be three prize giveaways per watch party.
Also, there will be great drink specials all week long and other in house promotions tied to the game action.
The Watch Party schedule is as follows:
Game 1 - 7PM Wednesday at Cowboy Sharkies (58th & Memorial)
Game 2 - 7PM Thursday at the Bruhouse (34th & Peoria)
Game 3 - 7PM at Cowboy Sharkies
Game 4 - 7PM at the Bruhouse
Game 5 - If necessary, time TBD at Cowboy Sharkies
Game 6 - If necessary, time TBD at the Bruhouse
Game 7 - If necessary, time TBD at Cowboy Sharkies
CORPUS CHRISTI - In a report released by Minor League Baseball, the Corpus Christi Hooks drew 479,289 fans in 2007, second among the 30 Double-A clubs.
Only fellow Texas League member Frisco outdrew the Hooks. The RoughRiders totaled 545,421 over 66 dates. Corpus Christi had 68.
The Hooks battled torrential rains much of the summer - particularly in July. Eighteen inches fell during the month in a region where the average annual rainfall is 34.
"Our fans - local, regional and state-wide - were awesome in 2007," Hooks president J.J. Gottsch said. "It was very gratifying to see the support at the ballpark night after night.
"Philosophically, we focus on three groups: fans, sponsors and players. We do what we can to make Hooks Baseball a great value for our fans and sponsors. What we hear time and again from our players is how the atmosphere at Whataburger Field exceeds their expectations. When they come up from A-ball, they've heard about how special Corpus Christi is from older, more experienced players who've progressed through the Astros system."
Corpus Christi's per date average was 7,048. The Hooks were 25th among all minor league clubs in attendance, 22nd among domestic teams. There are 241 minor league markets in all, 225 with affiliated teams in the United States.
The Round Rock Express, Triple-A affiliate of the Astros and sister club of the Hooks under Ryan-Sanders Baseball ownership, was second in its classification with 662,595 over 70 dates. The Express were fourth overall and second domestically.
In three seasons, the Hooks have drawn a total of 1,490,876.
WORLD CLASS - Former Hook and 2005 Texas League Pitcher of the Year Jason Hirsh is making Hooks history tonight, becoming the first Corpus Christi alum to attend a World Series in uniform. Hirsh, currently on the Colorado Rockies' 60-day disabled list, went 5-7 with a complete game in 19 starts this season and has watched his Rockies win 21 of their last 22 games.
Traded to Colorado, along with Willy Taveras and Taylor Buchholz, last September in the deal that sent Jason Jennings and Miguel Asencio to Houston, Hirsh was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year in 2006 after posting a 13-2 record for the Round Rock Express.
THAT'S A WRAP - 2007 was a good year for J.R. Towles, albeit a long one. After advancing through Houston's top three minor-league levels, the 23-year old catcher received a September call-up and played in 14 games for the Astros, hitting .375 with a home run and 12 RBIs, including a franchise-record eight RBIs on September 20. Rest was still not in the forecast for Towles, who began play in the Arizona Fall League earlier this month. The Crosby native collected three hits in seven at-bats with the Mesa Solar Sox before Houston general manager Ed Wade, who spent last week in Arizona getting to know his new system, felt it was time to give Towles a break.
"We talked about the workload, and at the time we put him on the list to come out here, he certainly didn't have the amount of playing time he ended up with," Wade told the Houston Chronicle. "He had some at-bats, got a little bit more experience, and this will give him a chance to go home and get rested up."
A front runner to be the Astros' opening day catcher next season, Towles played in 61 games for the Hooks and hit .324 with 11 homers, 49 RBIs and nine stolen bases. He was batting .364 with runners in scoring position, and had produced 39 RBIs in his last 33 games at Corpus Christi. AFL UPDATE - Outfielder Josh Flores knocked a home run in the ninth inning of Mesa's 9-3 loss to the Peoria Saguaros yesterday in Arizona Fall League action. Flores is now hitting .303 with seven runs scored, two doubles and four RBIs for the Solar Sox who finished last week 5-1. Mesa, managed by Hooks skipper Dave Clark, is 7-5 overall, good enough for second place in the East Division. Infielder Tommy Manzella is 8-for-25 with five runs scored, two doubles and three RBIs. Outfielder Mitch Einertson has four hits, to go along with a homer, two doubles and three RBIs.
Josh Muecke, the '07 Hooks leader in wins with 11, has allowed only one earned run through eight innings. The 25-year old southpaw has walked three and struck out six. Brad James is 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in two starts, while Jimmy Barthmaier has struggled, giving up six runs over 6.1 innings. ISLAND HOPPING - Catcher Lou Santangelo leads all Winter League Astros with eight runs scored, 13 hits and five doubles for the North Shore Honu of Hawaii Winter Baseball. Infielder Chris Johnson, who split time this season between Class A Lexington and High-A Salem, is 4-for-13 with two runs, two doubles and an RBI for North Shore. Right-hander Bud Norris,1-0 with 3.68 ERA over four starts, has fanned 24 in 14.2 innings.
SUPER SAVINGS AT HOOK, LINE & SINKER - Hook, Line & Sinker now features 25 percent off all caps, normally priced from $15 to $22. Patrons can add this discount to fitted caps, already marked down 25 percent and selected head gear which is 25-50 percent off. Hook, Line & Sinker, located next to the Right Field gate at Whataburger Field, is open 10-6 weekdays and 11-4 on Saturday. For more information, call (361) 561-4700 or shop online at cchooks.com.
CORPUS CHRISTI, THANK YOU - The 2007 Hooks ranked second among Double-A clubs in attendance as nearly 480,000 fans passed through the turnstiles at Whataburger Field this season. Click here to read more.
YOU'VE GOT MAIL - 2008 Hooks season-ticket invoices are at your door step and with the same-seat renewal deadline set for Friday, November 9, time is running short. Contact the Hooks Ticket Office at 561-HOOK, ext. 1, with any questions.
MATT IN THE MORNING - Be sure to catch "Lago in the Morning" on News Radio 1360 KKTX-AM every Thursday as Hooks broadcaster Matt Hicks pontificates on all things baseball from 8:30-8:40. Tomorrow, Jim and Matt discuss winter ball on a world-wide scale.
THE REST OF THE STORY - The Hooks' Garrett Reddehase is asked about the life and times of a field superintendent in this week's website feature.
WEBSITE POLL - They were champions for a reason. Thirty-seven percent of the 145 who voted in last week's poll picked the 2005 Astros, who claimed the franchise's only National League title, as Houston's all-time best team. The 1986 club that dropped four games to New York in the NLCS after racking up a then-club record 96 wins placed second with 28 percent of the vote. This week, it's all about the Series...To log your entry, go to cchooks.com and scroll down the home page.
Minor League News 10/25
Eastern League
