The Fort Worth Cats will play four spring training exhibition games, including two against the new Grand Prairie AirHogs, it was announced today.
The exhibition schedule will begin on Thursday, May 1 at the Parks at Texas Star in Euless with a game against Grand Prairie at 7:05 p.m. It will continue on Saturday, May 3 with a spring training contest versus Texas Wesleyan University.
The Cats take on Shreveport on May 4 at Historic Driller Park in Kilgore and round out the spring training schedule on May 5 with a game against Grand Prairie at LaGrave Field in Fort Worth.
The regular season begins for the Cats on May 8 at 7:05 against the Sioux Falls Canaries at LaGrave Field.
Last September, the Cats became the first team in modern independent baseball to win three straight titles, winning in the Central League in 2005 and in the American Association in 2006 and 2007.
Historic sighting spawns new image for Great Falls ball club
In the summer of 1805, Lewis and Clark forever left their mark on the city of Great Falls, Montana. But nearly 150 years later, Great Falls received some very different visitors-ones who traveled a considerably greater distance than the Corps of Discovery-who also left an indelible stamp on the city.
On an August morning in 1950, a bright flash in the sky caught the eye of Nick Mariana, the general manager of the Great Falls baseball club, while he stood in empty Legion Stadium prior to that day's game. Looking up, he was startled to see two rotating, silvery objects approaching at what seemed to be hundreds of miles an hour. He sprinted to his car, grabbed his 16mm movie camera and was able to record 16 seconds of color footage of the flying objects.
Media from across the nation reported on the sighting, and over the next two decades the film was examined and studied by UFO buffs, prominent scientists and engineers, the Air Force and even the CIA. Often disputed but never refuted, the "Mariana Incident" remains to this day one of the strongest cases supporting the existence of UFOs ever captured on film, and Great Falls, Montana maintains its place as one of the most active locations for UFO sightings in North America.
In 2008, those from both near and far who visit Centene Stadium at Legion Park will witness something they too have not seen before: a new age in Great Falls baseball. Though still a proud affiliate of the 2005 World Series champion Chicago White Sox, the team will sport its own fresh, original identity aimed at capturing the fun of Minor League Baseball and celebrating this unique piece of Electric City history.
New team identity belongs to Great Falls
"The community owns this team-and it has for the past 60 years," said the president of the baseball club board, Vinney Purpura. "But it's been hard to capture that feeling of ownership rooting for the Dodgers, Giants, or White Sox. Now the team will continue to be the Great Falls Voyagers even if our major league affiliation happens to change." He added that use of a proprietary name is popular: "Over 80 percent of minor league teams use their own identity." Purpura announced the name change at a media event hosted in the corporate hanger of Davidson Companies, where players in new uniforms were escorted through backlit fog by Men In Black. The new team logos, however, are predominantly red and green. One version features a flying saucer and a perky little space alien shaped suspiciously like a baseball.
"We can get creative with activities tied to the new theme," said Purpura. "The team now has a new personality, and we hope Great Falls will have fun with it."
The name change was undertaken almost two years ago, but the Voyager name was kept under wraps until this week. "It was a long process, but the change will be great for Great Falls," said Jim Keough, manager of the now Great Falls Voyagers. "We must have looked at a thousand possible names, but this is the one that really makes contact."
The Voyagers plan to introduce a new mascot soon. On June 14, a public event at the stadium will launch the baseball season under the new team name when the players are welcomed back. "The Voyagers will be introduced to the community at a fun-filled family day at the ball park," said Keough. "Everyone will be welcome, and we hope all our fans, supporters and sponsors will be involved."
The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced the coaching staffs for each of their minor league affiliates for the 2008 season. For the third consecutive year, a new face will lead the State College Spikes.
Veteran Brad Fischer will assume the managerial duties for the Spikes in 2008 after spending the previous 29 seasons in the Oakland organization, including the last 12 at the major league level as both a bullpen coach and first base coach. Joining Fischer on the Spikes bench will be returning pitching coach Wilson Alvarez and new hitting coach Sid Bream. Bream is well-known for his 12 seasons as a major league player, including six with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1985-90.
Fischer, 56, brings a bevy of minor league managerial experience with him to the Happy Valley. Fischer began an 11-year managerial career starting with Single-A Medford in 1980. The following year, he captured the Northwest League championship and Manager-of-the-Year honors after guiding Medford to a 42-28 regular-season record in 1981. Fischer experienced similar success a year later after he skippered Madison to a Midwest League title in 1982 and a playoff appearance in 1984. He then managed at Double-A Huntsville for three years (1985-87) and took his team to the playoffs each season, winning the Southern League championship in 1985 before finishing his managerial career in the Oakland system with Triple-A Tacoma (1988-1990), where he reached the post-season his final year. Overall, Fischer posted a 743-670 record and nine winning seasons in his 11 years as a minor league manager.
Fischer also served as a minor league instructor for the Athletics following his managerial career (1991-93) and spent two seasons as the assistant director of player development.
A non-drafted free agent signed by the Athletics prior to the 1978 season from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Fischer played his only season in the minors that year with Bend of the Northwest League.
Bream, 47, begins his first professional coaching assignment after an outstanding major league playing career that spanned over a decade. Remembered most by Pittsburgh fans for scoring the series winning run against the Pirates in game seven of the 1992 National League Championship Series as a member of the Atlanta Braves, Bream's best years came as a member of the black and gold, playing six years with the Pirates.
A native of Carlisle, PA, Bream was originally drafted in the second round of the 1981 draft by the Los Angeles out of Liberty University in Virginia. After playing parts of three seasons with the Dodgers, Bream was traded along with Cecil Espy and R.J. Reynolds to the Pirates midway through the 1985 season in exchange for third baseman Bill Madlock.
Bream was an important part of the resurgence of the Pirates in the late 1980's and was with the Buccos in 1990 when they won their first of three straight National League Eastern Division crowns.
In a Pirates uniform, Bream hit 57 career home runs with 293 RBIs in 643 games. Bream still holds the club record for most assists in one season by a first baseman (166) which he set during the 1986 campaign.
After the 1990 season, Bream signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves before hooking on with the Houston Astros in 1994, which was his last season in the big leagues.
Alvarez, 37 returns for his second season as Spikes pitching coach after his 2006 pitchers posted a 3.81 ERA and were second in the New York-Penn Leage in saves recorded with 24.
Alvarez was originally signed by the Texas Rangers as a 16-year old out of Venezuela. After breaking in to the big leagues with the Rangers in 1989, he was traded along with Sammy Sosa, to the Chicago White Sox, where he would have the most successful years of his career. From 1991-1997 as a member of the White Sox, the lefty won 67 games and was named to the 1994 American League All-Star team. The highlight of the Venezuelan's career came in 1991, during his second big league start, and first start with the White Sox. The southpaw tossed a complete game, no-hitter to beat the Orioles, 7-0. Alvarez walked five during the game, and became the first rookie since Dave Righetti in 1983 to pitch a no-hitter.
Alvarez was later traded to the San Francisco Giants during their playoff push in 1997, before signing with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as their marquee free-agent prior to their inaugural season in 1998. He struggled with injuries in Tampa Bay appearing in only 76 games over his five years there, posting a 17-26 record. The lefty closed out his career with three seasons as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers and retired with a record of 102-92, while posting a 3.96 ERA.
"We're thrilled to welcome Brad and Sid to State College, and we're excited to see that Wilson is returning" said General Manager Rick Janac. "They're an extremely decorated staff and we're very fortunate to have coaches with the type of major league experience they bring to the table."
The Pirates' minor league managerial and coaching assignments, which were announced today by Director of Player Development Kyle Stark, are listed below:
Indianapolis (AAA)- Trent Jewett (Manager), Hensley Muelens (Hitting), Ray Searage (Pitching), Jose Ministral (Trainer)
Altoona (AA)- Tim Leiper (Manager), Brandon Moore (Hitting), Brad Holman (Pitching), Thomas Pribyl (Trainer)
Lynchburg (A)- Jeff Branson (Manager), Chris Truby (Hitting), Bob Milacki (Pitching), Bryan Housand (Trainer)
Hickory (A)- Gary Green (Manager), Rudy Pena (Hitting), Jeff Johnson (Pitching), Jared Destro (Trainer)
Bradenton (Rookie)- Tom Prince (Manager), Edgar Varela (Coach), Woody Huyke (Coach), Miguel Bonilla (Pitching), Keito Homma (Trainer)
The Spikes 2008 season opens June 17 at Jamestown, with the first pitch at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park slated for June 19 against Jamestown. For season ticket package information, call the Spikes front office toll-free at 1-877-99-SPIKES or visit statecollegespikes.com: Home.
NOTES - Last year's manager Turner Ward left the Pirates organization and will be the hitting instructor with the Mobile BayBears (AA - Arizona Diamondbacks).
Six Former RiverDogs Invited to Spring Training With Yankees
The New York Yankees announced Tuesday that they have invited 26 non-roster players to Spring Training in Tampa, Fla. The list includes nine pitchers, five catchers, five infielders and seven outfielders. The total number of players now scheduled to report is 66.
Of the 26 players, six are former Charleston RiverDogs and another, Brett Gardner, played collegiately at the College of Charleston. The former RiverDogs include catcher Kyle Anson, outfielder Justin Christian, outfielder Austin Jackson, pitcher Daniel McCutchen, outfielder Jose Tabata and infielder Marcos Vechionacci.
The 26 non-roster invitees are listed below with asterisks indicating former RiverDogs:
*C Kyle Anson, 24, batted .272 (91-for-334) with four home runs and 44 RBI in 98 games with Single-A Charleston in 2007, and ranked second in the South Atlantic League with a 40.4 percent caught-stealing rate (42-for-104) in his first season as a catcher. Anson was originally selected by the Yankees in the 10th round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft as a third baseman.
C Jason Brown, 33, batted .208 (10-for-48) with one home run and three RBI with Double-A Trenton in 2007 after being limited to 15 games due to a left shoulder separation. Brown was originally signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent on May 26, 1997, and was signed by the Yankees as a free agent on November 19, 2004.
INF Bernie Castro, 28, played with Triple-A Columbus in the Washington organization, ranking fourth among all Nationals minor leaguers with 34 stolen bases and hitting .280 (120-for-428) with one home run and 32 RBI in 118 games in 2007. Castro has spent parts of two seasons in the Majors (Baltimore in 2005 and Washington in 2006), batting .253 (118-for-466) with 17 RBI in 66 games. He returns to the Yankees organization that originally signed him as a non-drafted free agent on September 25, 1997.
*OF Justin Christian, 27, split time between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2007, batting .271 (115-for-424) with four home runs and 48 RBI in 105 games. Christian attended Auburn University and was originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on July 1, 2004. He appeared in 29 games for the RiverDogs in 2005 hitting five doubles, three homer runs, and driving in 10 runs.
OF Colin Curtis, 22, played in 65 games with Single-A Tampa where he batted .298 (73-for-245) with five home runs and 26 RBI. He was promoted to Double-A Trenton on June 22 and hit .242 (58-for-240) with three home runs and 15 RBI in 61 games in his Double-A debut. Curtis was originally selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of Arizona State University.
INF Eric Duncan, 23, hit .241 (99-for-411) with 26 doubles, 11 home runs and 61 RBI in 113 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2007, setting a career high in doubles and tying a career best in RBI. Duncan was selected by the Yankees in the first round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft.
OF Brett Gardner, 24, split time between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2007, batting .281 (108-for-384) with one home run, 26 RBI and 39 stolen bases in 99 games. Over the last two seasons, he has successfully stolen a base in 83.6 percent of his tries (97-for-116). After the season, Gardner played in 26 games for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .343 (37-for-108) with 10 RBI and ranked among league leaders in stolen bases (16), runs scored (27), hits (37), walks (17), on-base percentage (.433) and batting average while being named to the AFL Top Prospects Team. Following the 2007 season, he was ranked by Baseball America as the eighth-best prospect in the organization as well as the fastest baserunner and the player with the best strike-zone discipline among all Yankees minor leaguers. Gardner was originally selected by the Yankees in the third round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft out of the College of Charleston in South Carolina.
RHP Daniel Giese, 30, made his Major League debut with the Giants as a September call-up, going 0-2 with a 4.82 ERA in eight relief appearances. He began the season with Triple-A Fresno (San Francisco) where he went 3-1 with two saves and a 2.82 ERA in 47 relief appearances. Originally selected by Boston in the 34th round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Giese owns a 43-26 record with a 2.97 ERA in 374 career minor league appearances.
INF Nick Green, 29, spent time with Seattle, Triple-A Tacoma and Triple-A Indianapolis in 2007. With Indianapolis, he hit .245 (25-for-102) with five home runs and 20 RBI in 26 games before being traded to Seattle. In 66 games with Tacoma, hit .337 (96-for-285) with 16 home runs and 46 RBI and was promoted on September 4 to Seattle, where he did not record a hit in six games (seven at-bats). Green is a career .240 (169-for-703) hitter with 10 home runs and 59 RBI in 275 games over four Major League seasons with Atlanta, Tampa Bay, New York (AL) and Seattle. In 2006 with the Yankees, he batted .240 (21-for-114) with two home runs and four RBI in 46 games. Green was originally selected by Atlanta in the 32nd round of the 1998 First-Year Player Draft.
RHP Alan Horne, 25, was 12-4 with a 3.11 ERA in 27 starts with Double-A Trenton in 2007, earning Eastern League "Pitcher of the Year" honors. He led the league in ERA, strikeouts (165) and winning percentage (.750), while ranking fourth in innings pitched (153.1). Following the 2007 season, he was named to the Eastern League midseason All-Star team and was selected as the EL's top right-handed starter on the postseason All-Star team. Horne was selected by the Yankees in the 11th round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.
*OF Austin Jackson, 20, spent time at four different levels in 2007 (Single-A Charleston, Single-A Tampa, Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre), combining to hit .304 (151-for-496) with 88 runs scored, 21 doubles, 13 home runs, 59 RBI and 33 stolen bases in 128 games. He was ranked by Baseball America as the organization's No. 2 prospect and was selected as the "Best Athlete" and "Best Defensive Outfielder" in the Yankees' minor league system. Jackson was originally selected by the Yankees in the eighth round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.
RHP Steven Jackson, 25, split the 2007 season between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, combining to go 4-9 with one save and a 5.40 ERA in 28 appearances (11 starts). Jackson was originally selected by the Diamondbacks in the 10th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft and was acquired by the Yankees from Arizona along with right-handed pitchers Ross Ohlendorf and Luis Vizcaino and infielder Alberto Gonzalez in exchange for Randy Johnson on January 9, 2007.
OF Jason Lane, 31, split time between Houston and Triple-A Round Rock in 2007 before being traded to San Diego on September 24. Over two stints with the Astros, batted .178 (30-for-169) with eight home runs and 27 RBI in 68 games and hit .319 (59-for-185) with nine home runs and 41 RBI in 50 games with Round Rock. In three games with the Padres, he did not record a hit in two at-bats. Originally selected by the Astros in the sixth round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Lane is a career .241 (291-for-1,208) hitter with 61 home runs and 189 RBI in 497 games with Houston and San Diego. He batted .267 (138-for-517) in 145 games with Houston in 2005, establishing career highs in home runs (26) and runs batted in (78).
*RHP Daniel McCutchen, 25, combined to go 14-4 with a 2.47 ERA, 33 walks and 103 strikeouts in 24 games (23 starts) with Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton in 2007. His wins were tied for second most in the organization while his ERA ranked third among Yankees farmhands. The Florida State League All-Star was rated by Baseball America as having the FSL's best control. The right-hander was selected by the Yankees in the 13th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.
RHP Mark Melancon, 22, missed the 2007 season while recovering from "Tommy John" surgery. Originally selected by the Yankees in the ninth round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, he was 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA in seven relief appearances with short-season Single-A Staten Island in 2006, his first professional season.
C Jesus Montero, 18, made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Yankees in 2007, batting .280 (30-for-107) with six doubles, three home runs and 19 RBI in 33 games. He committed just one error in 182 total chances behind the plate and was rated as the Yankees' top catching prospect (sixth overall) and the organization's best power hitter by Baseball America. The Venezuelan native signed with the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in October 2006 and will be the youngest player in the Yankees spring training camp.
LHP Heath Phillips, 25, split time with the White Sox and Triple-A Charlotte and made his Major League debut as a September call-up, going 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA in six relief appearances with Chicago. With Charlotte, he tied for the International League lead in wins, going 13-7 with a 4.30 ERA in 28 starts. He led all Chicago minor leaguers and the International League in innings pitched and went 8-0 with a 2.44 ERA over his final 11 starts. His eight-game winning streak tied for the second-longest in the IL in 2007. Phillips was originally signed by the White Sox in the 10th round of the 2000 First-Year Player Draft.
C P.J. Pilittere, 26, will make his second straight appearance in spring camp after receiving a non-roster invitation in 2006. He batted .261 (91-for-348) with 16 doubles, two home runs and 34 RBI in 100 games with Double-A Trenton in 2007 and led all Eastern League catchers with a .995 fielding percentage, committing only four errors in 844 total chances. He was originally selected by the Yankees in the 13th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.
OF Greg Porter, 27, combined to hit .316 (149-for-472) with 11 home runs and 78 RBI in 129 games with Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Salt Lake. He was named the June "Player of the Month" among all Angels minor league players, hitting .368 (42-for-114) with 25 runs scored, 12 doubles and 28RBI in 31 games. Porter was originally selected by the Angels in the 45th round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft and was signed by the Yankees on December 1, 2007.
INF Cody Ransom, 31, appeared in 19 games with Houston in 2007, batting .229 (8-for-35) with two doubles, one home run and three RBI. He opened the year with Triple-A Round Rock and won team MVP honors, batting .260 with 35 doubles, a team-high 28 home runs and a team-high 90 RBI. A former ninth round pick of the San Francisco Giants in the 1998 First-Year Player Draft, Ransom owns a .236 career Major League batting average (33-for-140) with nine doubles, three home runs and 16 RBI in 133 games with the Giants and Astros.
RHP Darrell Rasner, 27, made his first Opening Day roster in 2007 and went 1-3 with a 4.01 ERA over two stints with the Yankees. He had his season cut short on May 19 when he was hit in the right hand by a come-back ground ball. He underwent surgery the next day to repair a fractured right index finger. After missing three months, he made two rehab starts with short-season Single-A Staten Island (0-0, 5.14 ERA) to close out the year. A second round pick of the Montreal Expos in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, he was claimed off waivers by the Yankees from the Washington Nationals on February 10, 2006.
C Austin Romine, 19, was selected by the Yankees in the second round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of El Toro High School in California. He appeared in one game with the Gulf Coast League Yankees, going 1-for-2 with one double, one RBI and one walk. Baseball America rated the catcher's arm strength the third-best among the nation's high school players in the draft.
RHP Scott Strickland, 31, was 4-1 with a 4.58 ERA in 15 relief appearances with Triple-A Portland (San Diego) in 2007. He owns a 21-17 record in 193 career Major League games (27 starts) with a 3.26 ERA, pitching with the Expos and Astros. Originally selected by the Montreal Expos in the 10th round of the 1997 First-Year Player Draft, Strickland was signed by the Yankees as a free agent on December 20, 2007.
*OF Jose Tabata, 19, batted a team-high .307 (126-for-411) with Single-A Tampa in 2007, along with 16 doubles, five home runs, 54 RBI and 15 stolen bases. He earned a spot on the Florida State League's postseason All-Star team after ranking fifth in average and never going more than two games without recording a hit. He was ranked by Baseball America as the Yankees' third-best prospect and tabbed as being the best hitter for average in the organization. This will be the second straight spring training invitation for Tabata who signed with the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on August 12, 2004.
LHP Billy Traber, 27, appeared in 28 games (two starts) with the Washington Nationals in 2007, going 2-2 with a 4.76 ERA. The left-hander opened the year with Triple-A Columbus where he was 2-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 14 games (four starts), striking out 29 batters with only seven walks. Signed by the Yankees as a minor league free agent on January 4, 2008, Traber has appeared in 76 Major League games (28 starts) with the Cleveland Indians and Nationals, posting a 12-14 record and a 5.41 ERA.
*INF Marcos Vechionacci, 21, spent most of the 2007 season with Single-A Tampa, batting .266 (104-for-391) with 44 runs scored, 23 doubles and 39 RBI in 108 games at third base. He also appeared with Double-A Trenton in the final two games of the regular season and batted .288 in the postseason, helping the Thunder win the Eastern League title. Following the season, he joined Magallanes in the Venezuelan Winter League where he hit .286 (30-for-105) in 41 games. He was rated by Baseball America as having the best infield arm in the organization for the second straight season. Vechionacci was originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on August 26, 2002.
Ryno Pack Highlights New Mini-Plan Ticket Packages
The Quad Cities River Bandits revealed their 2008 season ticket packages on Monday, announcing a series of new options designed to better fit the interests of their fans, including two packages for fans of Hall of Famer and Peoria Chiefs manager Ryne Sandberg.
In order to accommodate 11 scheduled visits from Peoria to Modern Woodmen Park in 2008, the River Bandits have created a pair of mini-plan ticket packages for fans who want to see the 1984 National League MVP up close and personal. The Ryno Grand Slam (six games at $54) and the Ryno Gold Glove (five games at $45) packages include Lower Box Seat tickets behind the visiting dugout, giving fans of the 10-time all-star and nine-time gold glove winner the best seats in the house.
"There are a lot of Ryne Sandberg fans in the Quad Cities and it is not often that people can come and witness a Hall-of-Famer in person," said team owner Dave Heller. "We want to make it as easy as possible for our fans to see Ryne Sandberg while he is still in the Midwest League. This might be his last year here."
In addition to a standard full-season package, the River Bandits also introduced three new mini-plans to accommodate fans interested in weekend games, fireworks, or drink specials. The Weekender Plan includes all Friday and Saturday games as well as Opening Night and July 3. Also available is the Fireworks Plan that comes with all Friday games and July 3. Meanwhile, the Thirsty Thursday Plan includes tickets for all Thursday games when draft beer, wine, and fountain drinks are half price. These three plans can be purchased for Club Seats, Lower Box Seats, Upper Box Seats, and General Admission Seats.
"A lot of fans come to the ballpark for certain promotions, and we want to offer plans that accommodate the needs of as many people as possible," said Vice President Kirk Goodman. "If you love breathtaking fireworks displays, then the Fireworks Plan is going to be perfect for you. If you like to spend your weekends at the park but don't have much time during the week, then maybe the Weekender Plan is more up your alley. However you enjoy visiting Modern Woodmen Park, the River Bandits have developed something that works for any budget and anyone's schedule."
Also available for the 2008 season is a Box Seat Voucher Book. Similar to the Flex Plan that was offered in 2007, the voucher book comes with 10 undated ticket vouchers for just $75 that provides fans with busy schedules the ultimate in flexibility. These 10 vouchers can be redeemed in any quantity for any game with 24 hours notice, based on availability.
Already on sale at Modern Woodmen Park are the You Pick 10 Plan, in which fans can pick the 10 games they would like to attend with a money-back guarantee if the River Bandits win all 10 of the chosen games, and the Merchandise & Ticket Combo, in which fans can purchase one t-shirt, one hat, and four tickets to an April or May ballgame for just $49.99.
To purchase a ticket plan or receive more information about 2008 Quad Cities River Bandits season ticket packages, fans can call the River Bandits front offices at (563) 324-3000 or stop by Modern Woodmen Park during regular business hours, weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The ticket packages will also soon be available for purchase online, at Quad Cities River Bandits: Home.
ABOUT THE RIVER BANDITS: After an off-season full of upgrades, the Quad Cities River Bandits will open the 2008 campaign at Modern Woodmen Park on April 3! Merchandise featuring the new team name and logo is currently available by visiting the Modern Woodmen Park team store, and season ticket packages, mini-packages, and the all-new "You Pick 10" pack are on sale at the park or by calling (563) 324-3000!
PEORIA, IL- The Chicago Cubs and Peoria Chiefs have announced that former Chiefs first baseman and hitting coach Ricardo Media will return to the Chiefs as hitting coach in 2008. Carmelo Martinez was originally announced as the Chiefs hitting coach but he will move into the role of Cubs Latin American Field Coordinator. Also, the Chiefs have announced they will raffle and silent auction memorabilia items at this Thursday's Cubs Caravan to raise money for the Donnie and Devin Veal Trust Fund.
Ricardo played first base for the Chiefs from 1991-1993 hitting .263 in 125 games in 1992 with five homers, 27 doubles and 67 RBI. He played in the Cubs organization through 1994 before becoming a scout for the Boston Red Sox in 1997. He joined the Cubs as a scout in Latin America and a coach with the Dominican (Rookie) club before moving up to Mesa in 2000 as a Rookie ball coach. Medina served as the hitting coach in Boise in 2004 and with the Chiefs in 2005. He returned to Boise in 2006 and served as a coach in Mesa last season. The Panama native worked as a coach for the Panama National Team in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006 and was the Manager of the National Team in November's Baseball World Cup held in Taiwan.
Martinez, a former Cub and Padres outfielder moves to the role of Latin American Field Coordinator for the Cubs. Former Chiefs Manager and Hitting Coach Julio Garcia had filled that role in the organization but recently took another position with the Cincinnati Reds organization.
Donnie and Devin Veal Trust Fund Auction & Raffle
The Chiefs have also announced plans to raise money at Thursday's Cubs Caravan for the Donnie and Devin Veal Trust Fund. On November 10, 2007, nearly three years to the day when his mother died of cancer, Veal's father was killed during a scuba diving trip. Without life insurance to help Donnie and his younger brother Devin, a trust fund has been set up. The Chiefs will have memorabilia for silent auction during the Caravan and will also be raffling tickets for $5 each or 5 for $20 for a signed Kerry Wood home Cubs jersey. The items up for silent auction include: Signed Derrek Lee Cubs home jersey, Ernie Banks signed base, Ryne Sandberg signed Cubs hat, a Ron Santo signed baseball, a Rocky Roquet signed game worn #35 Chiefs home jersey and a Chiefs 2007 game worn road jersey signed by all Caravan attendees.. The silent auction items will be posted at the Chiefs Boosters table and at the Chiefs Ticket Table. All proceeds will go to the Donnie and Devin Veal Trust Fund. Tickets to the Caravan are still available with the doors opening at the Riverplex at 4:15 pm. Autographs begin at 5:45 pm with Ted Lilly, Geovany Soto, Tyler Colvin, Rocky Roquet, Alan Trammell, Larry Rothschild, Randy Bush, Oneri Fleita and Cory Provus as guests.
Donnie Veal was the Chiefs ace pitcher during the first half of the 2006 season going 5-3 with a 2.63 ERA in 14 starts while leading the Chiefs to a first place finish. He spent the rest of 2006 in Daytona and all of 2007 with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies. Devin is currently a freshman at the University of Arizona
Fans wishing to join the Chiefs and the Cubs in donating to the trust fund may do so by sending checks payable to the Donnie and Devin Veal Trust Fund, Smith Barney/Citigroup, 701 Market Street, Suite 1500, St. Louis, MO. 63101, Attn: Brad Rippelmeyer.
Ticket Information
Season ticket packages for the 2008 season are currently on sale. Ticket packages include 70-game package, 35-game package, 17-game package, and a Build Your Own package (minimum 12 games). Group tickets are also on sale for all O'Brien Field party areas and the seating bowl for all 70 home games. Individual game tickets will go on sale in March 2008. For more information or to purchase season or group packages, call the Chiefs account executives at (309)-680-4000. The entire 2008 promotional schedule will be released at a later date. For more information check the official team website at Peoria Chiefs.
66ers fans now have ticket package option that allows them to see the Dodgers play the Red Sox at the Coliseum
San Bernardino, CA - Centuries ago it was Rome, which was known as "The Empire" and housed The Colosseum. Now, in the year 2008, it is southern California that is home to the Inland Empire and is known for the great battles that take place inside of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
As the Dodgers celebrate their 50th anniversary of playing in Los Angeles they have decided to pay a return visit to the friendly confines of the original stadium in which they played, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Dodgers will battle the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox for a three-game exhibition series from March 28-30.
The 66ers and Dodgers have collaborated for a once-in-a-lifetime ticket package. Any fan that purchases a ticket plan of six games or more with Inland Empire has the option of purchasing one March 29th ticket for the "Coliseum Series". For those who already have a ticket plan with the 66ers the cost will be $40. That includes your Dodger/Red Sox ticket, bus ride to and from the game and a boxed meal. For those who do not have a ticket plan the cost is $70. You will receive a Dodgers/Red Sox ticket, bus ride, boxed meal and six games of your choice during the 66ers 2008 season.
It is first come, first serve for these exclusive tickets. Only 100 tickets are available. Be there when the Inland Empire invades the Coliseum! The time of the March 29th game has not been announced. Reservations must be made, and ticket plans paid for, by February 1st to ensure your ticket for the game and seat on the bus.
The 66ers get back into the swing of things on April 3rd as the Visalia Oaks come to town. To order this or any other 66ers ticket plan call the front office at (909) 888-9922 or log onto ie66ers.com: Home for more information.
The Springfield Cardinals are excited to announce that individual tickets for the 2008 season will go on sale Wednesday, March 5th at 9am. Tickets for all 70 regular season games at Hammons Field will be available, in addition to both exhibition games against the St. Louis Cardinals, as well as the 2008 Texas League All-Star Game presented by Great Southern.
To make the purchasing process convenient and fan-friendly to all Cardinals' fans, tickets can be purchased one of two ways; by calling (417) 863-2143 or by logging on to Springfield Cardinals.
A limited amount of chair-back tickets, along with general admission tickets (grass and standing-room) will be available for the exhibition games on March 28th and 29th, as the St. Louis Cardinals make their first visit to Hammons Field since the Inaugural Season of 2005.
Don't wait for individual tickets to go on sale and risk not getting to see Albert Pujols and the gang...become a Springfield Cardinals Season Ticket Holder! Season Ticket Packages begin at just $99 for a Quarter Season Ticket Package. To become a Springfield Cardinals Season Ticket Holder, call (417) 863-2143 or for more information, log on to Springfield Cardinals. We hope to see you at Hammons Field very soon. Go Cards and Get Your RED On!
Northern League
American Association
