Segra Stadium Earns Sensory Inclusive Certification

The Fayetteville Woodpeckers will offer a sensory friendly environment at Segra Stadium beginning this season. The stadium earned sensory inclusive certification in February with 50% of the Woodpeckers front office completing a training through KultureCity, a national nonprofit that advocates for sensory needs. This new initiative will promote an accommodating experience for all guests and fans with a sensory condition.

The Woodpeckers Foundation supplied $1,000 to the initiative, which included the purchase of certification, five sensory bags and one weighted lap pad. Segra Stadium will have sensory bags available for check out at the guest services table behind section 125. Included in every sensory bag are headphones, fidget tools and verbal cue cards. Fans will also be able to check out a weighted lap pad for use.

Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with autism, dementia, PTSD, and other similar conditions. One of the major barriers for these individuals is sensitivity to over simulation and noise. With its new certification, Segra Stadium is now better prepared to assist guests with sensory sensitivities in having the most comfortable and accommodating experience possible.

For more information on the Fayetteville Woodpeckers or the Woodpeckers Foundation, please visit www.fayettevillewoodpeckers.com. The Woodpeckers open their third season of play in Kannapolis on April 8th and return for their home opener on April 12th against the Salem Red Sox.

Hooks & Reliant Launch All-Star Educators Program to Recognize Outstanding Coastal Bend Teachers

The Corpus Christi Hooks Baseball Club and Reliant have teamed up to reward outstanding local public-school teachers with a $1,000 grant for school supplies through the new All-Star Educators Program.

A panel of judges will award 15 educators based on STEAM curriculum, student impact and teaching style, as well as any unique challenges the educator has overcome. STEAM instructors develop strategies and techniques to educate students in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math.

School administrators can submit nominees for this program at cchooks.com/educators. The deadline for submissions is May 15.

“Teachers play an incredibly important role in building up the next generation, and Reliant is honored to help them achieve this noble goal,” said Elizabeth Killinger, president, Reliant. “We can’t wait to see how this new program benefits both educators and students in the Coastal Bend community.”

Each winner will receive $1,000 toward the purchase of school supplies and special on-field recognition at a Hooks game this summer.

“We want to thank Reliant for joining our Community Leaders Program and helping to make All-Star Educators possible,” said Brady Ballard, Hooks General Manager. “We know local teachers work hard to advance our community and continue to endure challenges, often including buying basic school supplies out of their own pocket. In partnership with Reliant, we hope to recognize some of the best educators in the Coastal Bend and help them make an even greater impact.”

Hooks Accepting 2022 Anthem Auditions



The Corpus Christi Hooks Baseball Club is on the search for singers and musicians to perform the Star-Spangled Banner during the 2022 Texas League season.

National anthem auditions are virtual for the first time. Participants are required to submit their performances here. Video files should be saved in the format of first name, last name and phone number (Rusty_Hook_1234567890).

All participants are asked to sing or play the full anthem without a backing track.

Contact Travis Pettis ([email protected]) with any questions.

Woodpeckers Fund Sponsors ASYMCA’s Deployment Story Time

The Fayetteville Woodpeckers will sponsor the launch of ASYMCA’s new Deployment Story Time Program. The goal of the program is to provide support to children and military spouses due to the recent deployment of soldiers stationed at Fort Bragg. Included in the program is a read-along story, a free book and a snack and craft related to the theme of the month. The program will run once a month until the end of 2022 and is set to begin in March.

The Woodpeckers Foundation donated $3,300 to the initiative, which includes the funding of snacks, crafts and a take-home copy of each month’s book. Deployment and patriotism will be the main themes for the program while service members are overseas. The Woodpeckers Foundation will also support ASYMCA’s Month of the Military Child Fair at the end of April.

The Woodpeckers Foundation strives to support youth sports and military initiatives. For more information on the Fayetteville Woodpeckers or the Woodpeckers Foundation, please visit www.fayettevillewoodpeckers.com. The Woodpeckers open their third season of play in Kannapolis on April 8th and return for their home opener on April 12th against the Salem Red Sox.

Best African-American Tourists Baseball Players of All Time

ASHEVILLE- In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

Here is a look at the top five African-American baseball players to suit up in Asheville, along with a few honorable mentions; criteria ranges from MLB performance, numbers put up in Asheville, and significance in both the baseball world as well as the Asheville community:

#5 Clarence Moore

Originally a member of the Asheville Black Tourists, Clarence Moore founded the Asheville Blues in the 1940s and recruited a number of his teammates to his new club; one of the most talented Negro baseball teams in the region.

Moore was born in El Dorado, Arkansas in 1908 and was drawn to baseball at an early age. During his teenage years and into his twenties, Moore faced off against some of the best African-American ballplayers including “Cool Papa” Bell and Satchel Paige. In 1934, Moore became a teacher and Athletic Director at Stevens-Lee High School in Asheville. Leading up to the 1944 season, Moore purchased the Asheville Blues. For the first two years of its existence, the Blues were Asheville’s only professional baseball team.

Moore led the Blues to back-to-back Negro Southern League championships in 1946 and 1947. He was then named the president of the newly formed Negro American Association, a league which was based in North Carolina that Moore and the Blues joined in 1948. Despite losing a lot of talent throughout the season, Moore led the Blues to a 38-9 record in the first half of the season and ultimately a runner-up finish in the championship.

1946 Asheville Blues, Negro Southern League Champions. C.L Moore is in the front row all the way on the left.

Clarence Moore retired in 1973. He was inducted into Shaw University’s Athletic Hall of Fame, the Western North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, and the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame (Mitchem, 2012). Moore’s contribution to the city of Asheville goes well beyond baseball; however, his Asheville Blues were one of the most successful and historically significant baseball teams in the city’s history.

*The information and photographs used to highlight Clarence Moore are from the article “Wonder Team of the Carolinas” C.L. Moore, the Asheville Blues, and Minor League Blackball in the South by Pamela Mitchem.

Player Number 4 – Tuesday

Player Number 3 – Wednesday

Player Number 2 – Thursday

Player Number 1 and Honorable Mentions – Friday

Top 5 Black Players in Sugar Land History 

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

As we gear up for the first season in Sugar Land Space Cowboys history, here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up in Sugar Land.

Jeremy Barfield

Jeremy Barfield became the first Sugar Land player to be awarded the Atlantic League Player of the Year, blasting a team-record 27 home runs in 2016. Sugar Land also went on to win its first Atlantic League Championship that season. The son of former Major League All-Star, Jesse Barfield, Jeremy ranks top-10 in the franchise’s independent history in batting average, hits, doubles, home runs and RBI.

Marty Costes

Costes was a fixture in the Sugar Land lineup during the second half of the 2021 season. Costes hit .262 with four home runs and 19 RBIs in 40 games with Sugar Land, following a promotion from Double A Corpus Christi. One of those four home runs left his bat at 115 mph, making it the hardest-hit home run in terms of exit velocity hit at Constellation Field in ‘20. Including his time with Corpus Christi, Costes ranked fifth of all MiLB players last season (min. 400 plate appearances) with a .427 on-base percentage.

Ronnie Dawson

Ronnie Dawson was a consistent presence in the Sugar Land lineup during their first season as the Houston Astros Triple A affiliate in 2021. Dawson was tied for fourth on the team with 90 games played and hit .249 with seven home runs and 43 RBI. Dawson quickly emerged as a fan-favorite at Constellation Field for his upbeat style of play and ability to engage with fans. Dawson hit the first-ever Triple A grand slam at Constellation Field on May 30. Dawson also made his Major League debut with the Astros in ‘20 prior to debuting in Sugar Land.

Deacon Jones

While Deacon Jones never donned a Skeeters or Space Cowboys uniform as a player, he’s undoubtedly one of the most influential in the organization’s history. Jones was an instrumental figure in bringing professional baseball to Sugar Land in 2012. He worked with City of Sugar Land officials and leaders of the community to bring a quality baseball product to Constellation Field. Since 2012, he’s served as a Special Advisor in the Sugar Land front office. His No. 4, which he wore as a player, was retired in 2019. He became the first person to have their number retired in the organization’s history. Jones played for the Chicago White Sox from 1962-63, ‘66. He proceeded to have a decades-long coaching and scouting career, which included stints as the hitting coach for the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres.

Tracy McGrady

Yes, you read the name correctly. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall-of-Famer had a brief stint in Sugar Land as a pitcher while the club was still playing in the independent Atlantic League. McGrady, who spent six seasons with the Houston Rockets, made four starts for Sugar Land in 2014. He also started the 2014 Atlantic League All-Star Game at Constellation Field. The organization honored McGrady with his own bobblehead night in 2018, as he returned to Constellation Field that night to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Although McGrady’s stint in Sugar Land was brief, he’s positively one of the most iconic players in franchise history.

Minor League Baseball Announces “The Nine,” a New Initiative to Celebrate, Engage and Welcome Black Fans

NEW YORK, NY, Feb. 1, 2022 — Minor League Baseball® (MiLB™) today announced the launch of “The Nine,” a new, Black-community focused outreach platform specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball, and embrace millions of passionate fans throughout MiLB’s 120 communities nationwide.

Named for the number Jackie Robinson wore during his only season playing in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946, The Nine will connect MiLB teams’ existing, Black-community focused development efforts with new national programming and future special events in a coordinated and centralized campaign. The new inclusion initiative follows MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión Latino fan engagement platform introduced in 2017 that included 76 MiLB teams in 2021.

The Nine will recognize and honor numerous Black pioneers and trailblazing civil rights leaders in all 120 MiLB communities, ensuring the heroes of the past and their contributions continue to be celebrated through ceremonies and events at MiLB ballparks and in the community. Recent tributes and celebrations have included Negro Leagues commemorative games honoring the Austin Black Senators in Round Rock (TX), the Bradenton (FL) Nine Devils, and Page Fence Giants near Lansing (MI). Additional tribute games are being planned for the 2022 season and beyond.

“The Nine will shine bright spotlights on these successful initiatives and transform them into national campaigns reaching more fans and communities, further showcasing our teams’ commitment to representing, honoring, and welcoming all fans to MiLB’s unique brand of fun,” said Kurt Hunzeker, MLB’s Vice President of Minor League Business Operations. “The Nine is just the latest example of MiLB teams being true community champions.”

In addition to player- and team-related content, The Nine will focus heavily on creating new opportunities for youth participation among young Black boys and girls, particularly in communities where youth baseball and softball programming is either nonexistent or difficult to access.

Central to this youth-focused push is a planned expansion of Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program throughout MiLB’s national footprint. New competitions in MLB’s Pitch, Hit & Run and Junior Home Run Derby event series will also debut in MiLB markets beginning in 2022.

MiLB teams will continue to build relationships with local Black-owned and operated businesses, local artists and entertainers in an effort to embrace Black culture and make MiLB ballparks a hub for culturally relevant concerts, shows, and community events.

With several MiLB teams having a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in their community, opportunities will be provided for those schools to start internship and mentorship programs with their local team, creating opportunities for on-the-job experience for students prior to entering the job market. Additionally, MiLB recently partnered with TeamWork Online to create a more inclusive virtual job fair and ongoing talent pipeline that aims to recruit and position qualified and ready-for-hire candidates from across the country for potential management- and executive-level roles within MiLB team front offices.

Hooks Host Job Fair January 18th & 19th

 

CORPUS CHRISTI – Here’s your chance to work at the ballpark!

The Corpus Christi Hooks are conducting a job fair at Whataburger Field on Tuesday, January 18 and Wednesday, January 19. The outdoor event runs 3 to 7 p.m. each day. Face coverings are encouraged, and proper social-distancing practices will be in place.

All attendees must apply online prior to being interviewed. Click Here to access current openings.

Available gameday positions include retail associate, grounds crew, promotions, production, Box Office associate, parking attendants, greeters and ushers, mascots, clean team members, bat boys and more.

Aramark, Whataburger Field’s concessionaire, is also taking applicants.

The Hooks open their 17th season of play on Friday, April 8 at Whataburger Field with a 7:05 tilt against the San Antonio Missions. Season memberships are available now. Click Here for details.

Hooks Fans Donate Nearly $65,000 in 2021

 

CORPUS CHRISTI – Via the Astros Foundation Share2Care 50/50 Raffle, Whataburger Field patrons donated $64,840 to seven Coastal Bend organizations during Hooks games this past season.

USO South Texas, Amos Rehabilitation Keep, Mosaic Project of South Texas, Je’Sani Smith Foundation, Goodwill Industries of South Texas, Corpus Christi Police Officers Association and Corpus Christi Professional Firefighters Association were beneficiaries of the 2021 50/50 raffle.

“Thank you Hooks fans for joining us at the ballpark and helping out these great causes,” Hooks General Manager Brady Ballard said. “We were excited to bring the Astros Foundation Share2Care Raffle to Whataburger Field, and it’s become a highlight of the gameday experience.

“Our partners, members and fans have stepped up during these challenging times. We are incredibly grateful for their support and, during this week of Thanksgiving, want affirm our commitment of being an active and positive participant in the community.”

USO South Texas serves NAS Corpus Christi and NAS Kingsville, connecting military service members to family, home and country. Amos Rehabilitation Keep, or ARK, rehabilitates marine turtles and marine birds from the coastal zone of Mustang Island and St. Joseph Island. The Mosaic Project of South Texas remembers victims of hate crimes and violence, and advocates for the civil rights of LGBTQ Americans. The mission of the Je’Sani Smith Foundation is to save lives by providing education, awareness, and water skills training on beach safety, rip currents and other coastal hazards.

Goodwill Industries of South Texas provides job training, placement services, and other Coastal Bend-based programs for people who have barriers to their employment. The Corpus Christi Police Officers Association and Corpus Christi Professional Firefighters Association advocate for the safety and well-being of first responders and citizens through community action and support of local non-profit organizations.

Public Invited to Halloween with the Hooks on October 28

 

CORPUS CHRISTI – We’re putting a spell on Whataburger Field as H-E-B presents Halloween with the Hooks on Thursday, October 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission to the event is free.

All activities will take place on the field, including trick-or-treat candy stops around the warning track, carnival games and a pumpkin patch “photo BOOth” at second base. A costume contest will begin near home plate at 6:30 p.m.

“H-E-B has been a long-time supporter of the family-friendly entertainment the Hooks organization brings to Corpus Christi,” said Krystal Houck, H-E-B Director of Marketing & Merchandising. “We are excited to partner with Rusty, Sammy and the rest of the Hooks team to bring this exciting, safe option for local families who want to celebrate Halloween.”

The seventh annual Halloween with the Hooks coincides with CC Movie Nights, presented by Reliant. The Disney classic “Hocus Pocus” will begin playing on the videoboard at 7 p.m.

Attending guests are encouraged to donate a canned food item for the Coastal Bend Food Bank, which has received more than 400 pounds of food in past years.

“We’re excited to bring this special community event onto the field,” said Maggie Freeborn, Hooks Director of Business Development. “The Hooks are thankful for the support of H-E-B and our local businesses who help provide a fun, safe night for trick-or-treating and activities.”

Ballpark food, soda and beer will be available for purchase. Pets are not allowed.

Companies who wish to participate in trick-or-treat for free may contact Maggie Freeborn via email ([email protected]) or by phone at 361-561-4676.

Woodpeckers Alzheimer’s Jersey Auction Raises $8,051.41 For Charity

 

On Saturday, August 7th, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers might have looked unrecognizable, even to the most adoring fans. The Class A affiliate of the Houston Astros traded its signature red, gray and black colors for purple to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease. The event, Alzheimer’s Awareness Night, raised $8,051.41 through both an in-person and online auction of the game-worn purple jerseys seen on-field that evening. Proceeds from the jersey auction directly benefitted the Alzheimer’s Association of Eastern North Carolina. The game’s festivities were presented by long-time partner McKee Homes and drew over 4,000 fans to Segra Stadium.

The Woodpeckers, sporting custom purple jerseys with the Alzheimer’s Association logo, beat the Fredericksburg Nationals 6-4. The first 1,200 fans through the gates also received a purple hat. Historically, the color purple has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease because of the combination of the calm stability of blue and the passionate energy of red.

“The fight to end Alzheimer’s has enlisted so many in our local communities,’ says Lisa Roberts, Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association – Eastern North Carolina Chapter. “Here in Fayetteville, longtime partners like McKee Homes and growing relationships like ours with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers are shining examples of those in the fight. We tip our hats to these local heroes for not only the grand success of this year’s awareness night, but all they do to support our mission.”

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, with over 6 million Americans currently living with the disease. For more information on the Alzheimer’s Association, please visit www.alz.org.

Segra Stadium To Host 3rd Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb

 

The 3rd Annual Fayetteville 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb will be held on the morning of Saturday, September 11th at Segra Stadium. Opening ceremonies will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the climb will start at 8:47 a.m.

The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb is a way to honor and remember the FDNY firefighters, police, and EMS who selflessly gave their lives on that tragic day. Each participant will pay tribute to those brave souls by climbing the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center. Your individual tribute not only remembers the sacrifice, but symbolically completes their heroic journey to save others. Through community participation we can ensure that each of the 343 firefighters, 60 police officers, and 10 EMS are never forgotten.

Registration fees are $30 per person and include your entry to the climb and a t-shirt. Anyone interested in climbing MUST REGISTER ONLINE by September 8th. We will accept walk-up registration; however, t-shirts cannot be guaranteed for anyone registering day of. Check-in and registration for the event will begin at 7:00 a.m. All proceeds from the stair climb will benefit programs provided by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to support the families of your local fallen firefighters and the FDNY Counseling Services Unit.

To register, please visit the Fayetteville 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Facebook page or visit firehero.org and select ‘9/11 stair climbs’ under the events drop down tab.

Hooks, Circle K Partner for Tuesday Food Drives

 

CORPUS CHRISTI – The Hooks and Circle K have teamed up to fight hunger in the Coastal Bend.

At each remaining Tuesday home game, fans can donate non-perishable food items that will directly benefit the Coastal Bend Food Bank.

Those who donate to the Circle K Food Drive at the Whataburger Field gates will receive a voucher for $2 off any Reserved or Field Reserved ticket, which can be redeemed at the Box Office for any Sunday through Thursday game during the 2021 season.

The Tuesday dates are July 6, July 13, July 27, August 17 and September 7.

Individual game tickets and season memberships are on sale now at the Whataburger Field Box Office. Purchases can be made online at cchooks.com/tickets, at the Box Office or by phone at 361-561-HOOK (4665).

Segra Stadium To Host Pet Adoption Event April 24

 

The Fayetteville Woodpeckers are partnering with local animal rescues and pet vendors to host an adoption event at Segra Stadium on Saturday, April 24th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. This event is free to the public and will coincide with the first opportunity for fans to purchase tickets for May Woodpeckers home games.

While inside the ballpark, fans can meet available dogs and cats from each rescue and fill out an application if interested in adopting. All patrons entering Segra Stadium must fill out a waiver upon entrance. The Woodpeckers will also be collecting items for attending rescues. Anyone who donates an item ($5 value or greater) from the list below will receive 10% off in The Birds’ Nest Team Store. Items being requested are:

• Cleaning Products (Paper towels, disinfectant spray or wipes, etc.)

• Peanut Butter (JIF)

• Canned or Dry Dog & Cat Food

• Dog or Cat Treats

• Puppy Pads

Participating rescues and vendors are Operation Healing Whiskers, Mutts 2 Majesty Rescue, Caring Hearts for Canines, Lending Paws a Hand, Freedom German Shepherd Rescue, Fayetteville Animal Protection Society, Riverbark Veterinary Hospital and Pet Retreat, and Naturally Unleashed. Any rescues or vendors interested in participating, please contact the Woodpeckers front office at 910-339-1989 or by emailing us at [email protected].

Pets are not allowed at this event except for dogs and cats with each respective rescue. The Birds’ Nest Team Store will be open and concessions will be available for purchase. Masks are required when entering the ballpark.

The Woodpeckers will release their daily promotions and promotional calendar for the month of May prior to tickets going on sale. The home opener is scheduled for Tuesday, May 11th against the visiting Kannapolis Cannon Ballers with first pitch at 6:30 p.m.

Hooks Job Fair is April 7-8

 

CORPUS CHRISTI – The Corpus Christi Hooks Baseball Club is hosting a Job Fair Wednesday, April 7 and Thursday, April 8 at Whataburger Field. Both sessions are from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

All applications must be completed online before attending the Job Fair. Listings can be found here. Paper applications will not be available. Interviews will be completed on the Whataburger Field concourse, and face coverings or masks must be worn at all times.

Openings include retail associate, field crew, sales & marketing associate, Box Office associate, parking attendants, greeters and ushers, clean team members and more.

Aramark, Whataburger Field’s concessionaire, is also taking applicants.

The Hooks open the season on Tuesday, May 4 at 6:35 p.m. against the San Antonio Missions at Whataburger Field.