Railcats Take Extra Time to Finish Off Wingnuts

Rusty doesn't know what happened in the ninth either

Last year I attended both kids day games at the Steel Yard. This time of the year day games are the way to go as the temperature drops quickly at night. I actually attended the first kids day game a year to the date. The next day the Railcats played fourteen innings. Today they needed twelve, but took care of the Wichita Wingnuts. Continue reading

Railcats Start the Season Off With a Bang

Fireworks over the Steel Yard after the game last night

Last night I attended Opening Night at the Steelyard. For some reason I was in no rush to get to the park. After seeing an exhibition game with around ten people earlier in the year I did not think I had to worry about a crowd. I arrived at the park about 20 minutes before the start of the game, and was shocked at the crowd. My normal parking lot was full as well as one of the first overflow lots. They were actually parking us down the street. A two block walk in most cities isn’t bad, but you could tell the fans did not like it in Gary. At the ticket window I was greeting with more long lines. I missed the pregame introductions as well as the first half inning. I found my seat on the first base line just as Gary was coming to bat. Continue reading

Homer Drew Will Step Down and Hand Over the Reigns To Son Bryce

The present and future coaches of Valpo

It has been known that in the near future that Homer Drew would step down as head coach of Valparaiso. It has also been known that his son Bryce would be the one to take over. It just was not known that it would be so soon. This morning I got on the computer after breakfast and saw that Homer was stepping down as the Valpo coach. That was a huge surprise to me. I had not heard any rumblings that his retirement was imminent. He meant a lot to the school, and will be a hard act to follow. Continue reading

This Week’s Promotions (5/16-5/22)

A very good week gets even better as the weekend approaches. Get out and enjoy some baseball this week!

Monday 5/16:

Charlotte Knights – 50’s night

Detroit Tigers – Canadian Tigers fan night

Tuesday 5/17:

Charlotte Knights – 60’s night and ballpark bingo

Peoria Chiefs – As seen on TV night

Wednesday 5/18:

Akron Aeros – Richard Simmons Short Shorts Night

Bowling Green Hot Rods – Facebook fan night

Charlotte Knights – 70’s night

Peoria Chiefs – Around the world night

Thursday 5/19:

Charlotte Knights – 80’s night

Iowa Cubs – hat giveaway and mug club night

Friday 5/20:

Charlotte Knights 90’s night

Lansing Lugnuts – Pirates of the Caribbean night

Peoria Chiefs – 50’s night

West Michigan Whitecaps – Cody Ross bobblehead

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers – Player magnet giveaway 1 of 4

Gary Railcats – Opening night, Ted “the burning man” Batchelor, Rally towel giveaway, and schedule magnet

Chicago White Sox – Mullet night with fireworks set to 80’s mullet music

Cleveland Indians – Sinatra fireworks

Saturday 5/21:

Beloit Snappers – Team photo givaway

Dayton Dragons – Hometown heroes celebration nigh

Iowa Cubs – Team photo giveaway and autographs

Lansing Lugnuts – Mystery bobblehead giveaway

Peoria Chiefs – Glee night (run quickly!)

Quad City River Bandits – Stan Musial bobblehead giveaway

Gary Railcats – Fleece blanket giveaway

Chicago White Sox – White Sox welcome mat giveaway

Cleveland Indians – Choo replica jersey giveaway

Milwaukee Brewers – Kids Police team card set

Sunday 5/22:

Iowa Cubs – Celebration of the 30th anniversary of the team

Peoria Chiefs – Disney Day and post game player autographs

Toledo Mud Hens – team autographs

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers – Brewers Sunday and player poster giveaway 4 of 10

Gary Railcats – James “big Cat” Williams appearance

Milwaukee Brewers – Casey McGehee bobblehead giveaway

Milwaukee Sweeps Valpo in Soggy Doubleheader

Milwaukee starter Chad Pierce pitches in the fog during game one

I have tried to get to Emory Bauer Field a couple of times this season to see Valpo play, but weather always stepped in and stopped the game. Today was the last chance that I had to see Valpo play. Looking at the forecast I thought weather would win once again. When I left my house the temperature was in the high 40’s, windy, foggy, and even raining. Who would want to watch one game in this let alone two? That would be me. The good thing about watching a game at Valpo (besides the fact it is free) is that you can watch the game from your car if you want to. I had to take advantage of that a couple of times as the rain was just too much. With warmer temps it would not have been a problem, but as cold as it was it would have been foolish to sit out in a downpour. Besides that I learned late last year during the Purdue – Michigan football game that it would behoove me to keep my camera as dry as possible. Continue reading

This Week’s Promotions (5/9-5/15)

Once again a very slow start to the week, but things pick up as the week goes on.

Monday 5/9:

Send me a promotion

Tuesday 5/10:

Great Lakes Loons – Dodgers route of champions night

Memphis Redbirds – 30th anniversary of Charlie Lea’s no-hitter

Peoria Chiefs – Salute to Pawn shops night

Wednesday 5/11:

Chicago Cubs – cereal bowl giveaway

Thursday 5/12:

Birmingham Barons – 70’s night

Memphis Redbirds – Flyswatter giveaway

Friday 5/13:

Charlotte Knights – Rally towel giveaway

Fort Wayne Tincaps – Halfway to Halloween

Kane County Cougars – Halfway to Halloween

Lake County Captains – Superstition night

Lansing Lugnuts – Myron Noodleman

Lexington Legends – The Last American Cowboy appearance

Saturday 5/14:

Birmingham Barons – Glee night. Just like last year I thought I would post this so that you can be far away.

Bowling Green Hot Rods – Fireworks

Charlotte Knights – Pink baseball giveaway

Clinton LumberKings – team photo giveaway

Kane County Cougars – Halfway to Halloween

Lake County Captains – Star Wars night and reusable logo sticker giveaway

Lansing Lugnuts – Detroit Red Wings night

Memphis Redbirds – Salute to the Negro Leagues

Minnesota Twins – Twins cap

Cincinnati Reds – Sparky Anderson statue giveaway

Sunday 5/15:

Bowling Green Hot Rods – Axle’s birthday party

Fort Wayne Tincaps – post game autographs

Louisville Bats – “blue” from Blues Clues appearance

Detroit Tigers – Magglio Ordonez kids mini bat