Join the River Bandits family at Modern Woodmen Park for the 2022 season!
We are hiring for several part time positions within food and beverage, production, promotions, the box office and more! Join our team and enjoy a ticket, team store discount, employee meal, and a full summer of baseball!
To learn more about joining our game day staff, call 563-324-3000!
Kernels to hold Job Fair
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Jessica Fergesen (319) 896-7608
Cedar Rapids, IA – The Cedar Rapids Kernels are hosting a two-day job fair to hire part-time employees for the 2022 season. Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 24th from 3-7pm and Saturday, February 26th from 8-11am at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Candidates will complete the application and interview at the job fair in the Kernels conference room and suites. The Kernels are looking for people who are reliable, hard-working, and passionate about pleasing our fans. All employees must be at least 16 years of age or older to work at the Kernels. The Kernels are an equal opportunity employer.
Applications will be available at the job fair or apply online! Visit www.kernels.com to learn more about the positions we are hiring.
The Kernels Opening Night for 2022 is Friday, April 8th at 6:35 PM vs. Beloit. Single-game tickets will go on sale Monday, March 14th. Our full promotional schedule with theme nights and daily specials will be released on March 1st.
To keep up to date on information regarding the Kernels 2022 season please visit www.kernels.com or follow our Facebook and Twitter feeds and subscribe to our Kernels email newsletter.
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.”
Here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players in Quad Cities baseball history.
Garrett Anderson (1991)
Anderson spent the 1991 season with the Quad City Angels on his way to an accolade-filled 17-year Major League career.
Despite putting up pedestrian numbers in the Midwest League, the former 1990 fourth-round pick made his Major League debut in 1994 and won Sporting News Rookie of the Year in 1995. Over 2,228 Big League games with the Angles, Braves, and Dodgers, Anderson batted .293/.324/.461 with 2529 hits, 522 doubles, 287 home runs, and 1365 runs batted it.
In addition to holding multiple club records, the three-time All-Star (2002, 2003, 2005) and two-time Silver Slugger (2002, 2003) helped lead Anaheim to a World Series Championship in 2002 and won the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game MVP in 2003.
Thad Bosley (1975)
After being selected in the fourth-round of the 1974 draft, Bosley—at just 18 years old—played his second professional season with the Quad Cities Angles and was named a Midwest League Postseason All-Star in 1975 after slashing .298/.410/.354, with 50 runs batted in and 37 stolen bases.
Bosley debuted in the Major Leagues with California in 1977 and spent parts of 14 seasons with the Angles, White Sox, Brewers, Mariners, Cubs, Royals, and Rangers. During the 1985 season, the outfielder hit .328 with seven home runs and was voted the best pinch hitter in baseball.
Shawon Dunston (1983)
Taken as the first overall pick in the 1982 draft, Dunston played in 117 games with the Quad Cities Cubs in 1983 and became Quad Cities’ first Midwest League “Star of Stars” (MVP) and Prospect of the Year, while also being named a Postseason All-Star. The shortstop batted .310/.332/.409 and remains eighth on the Quad Cities all-time singles list (112) and tied for fifth on the all-time stolen bases list (58).
Making his debut with the Cubs in 1985, Dunston spent 12 of his 18-year Major League career with Chicago before also seeing time in San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, St. Louis, and New York (Mets).
Dunston was a two-time Major League All-Star (1988, 1990) and holds a .269 career batting average with 150 home runs and 212 stolen bases.
Damion Easley (1990)
As the lowest drafted player in our top five, Easley turned a 30th round selection in the 1988 draft into a 17-year Major League career and spent the 1990 season with the Midwest League Champion Quad Cities Angels. The New York native hit .274/.358/.425 with 10 home runs and 56 runs batted in en route to a Postseason All-Star selection as part of the title winning squad.
After beginning his career with the California Angles, Easley was traded to the Detroit Tigers in 1996 where he’d spend the majority of his career and earn an appearance in the Home Run Derby and All-Star/Silver Slugger honors during the 1998 season.
In 2001, Easley hit for the cycle and notched an inside-the-park home run. He also tied Ty Cobb and Kid Nance for the Tigers’ single-game hits record with six against the Texas Rangers on August 8 of that season.
The utility infielder also played with Tampa Bay, Florida, Arizona, and New York (Mets).
Ron Jackson (1972)
A second-round pick by the California Angles in 1971, Jackson batted .274/.336/.436 with 12 home runs and 73 runs batted in with the Quad Cities Angels in 1972.
After four seasons with the Angles, Jackson played for the Minnesota Twins in 1979 and recorded a career-high 158 hits, 40 doubles, and 14 home runs over 153 games. The first baseman also posted a .9943 fielding percentage, breaking Rod Carew’s Twins’ record.
Following his 10-year playing career, which also saw stops in Baltimore and Detroit, Jackson spent 21 years as a coach/manager, including a stint as hitting coach for the Boston Red Sox.
In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at six 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.”
Here is a look at six of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Cedar Rapids Ball Club.
Drafted in the 8th round of the 1980 MLB draft by the Cincinnati Reds. Eric Davis played in 111 games for the Cedar Rapids Reds in 1982. Eric hit .277 with 15 home runs, 56 RBIs, and stealing 53 bases.
Eric debuted with the Cincinnati Reds in 1984. Eric became a member of the 30/30 club in 1987, hitting 37 home runs and stealing 50 bases. Eric was a key member of the Reds 1990 World Series Championship team. Over his 17-year career Eric was a .269 hitter with 282 home runs and 349 stolen bases. The two-time All-Star also won three Gold Gloves.
The Cincinnati Reds used their 7th round pick in the 1987 draft on Outfielder, Reggie Sanders. Reggie played for Cedar Rapids in 1990, playing in 127 games. Reggie hit .285 with 17 home runs, 63 RBIs and 40 stolen bases.
Reggie debuted with the Reds in the 1991 season playing in just 9 games. In the 1992 season Reggie finished 4th in the Rookie of the Year voting. Reggie was part of the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks team that would win the World Series. In total Reggie played for 8 big league teams over 17 seasons. A career .267 hitter with 305 home runs and 983 RBI’s. Reggie has 1666 career hits and 304 Stolen Bases.
The Anaheim Angels drafted Howie Kendrick in the 10th round in 2002. Howie played 75 games for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2004 and he did not disappoint. Howie hit an incredible .367 over those 75 games.
Howie would make his MLB debut in 2006 and would enjoy a 15-year career. His only All-Star appearance came in 2011, but his best season was in 2019 when he helped lead the Nationals to the Franchises first World Series title. The NLCS MVP hit a career high .344 in 121 games with 17 home runs during the regular season. Howie recently retired after the 2020 season, as a career .294 hitter with 1747 career hits to his name.
Reggie Jefferson was a first baseman out of Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Florida. The Reds would draft him in the 3rd round in 1986, he would play 15 games in Cedar Rapids in 1987 and would return for a full season in 1988. Reggie blasted 18 home runs and drove in 90 runs during the ’88 season.
Reggie Debuted with the Reds in 1991 but would only play in five games before being traded to Cleveland. Over his 9-year big league career Reggie would average 17 home runs 71 RBIs. He finished his career with a batting average of exactly .300. Reggie would also spend some time playing in Japan, as well as coaching in the Minor Leagues and College level.
Born in Jamacia, Chili Davis was drafted in the 11th round by the Giants out of High School in 1977. He would play in 124 games for the Cedar Rapids Giants in 1978. That year Chili hit .281 with 16 home runs, 73 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. He was a Midwest League All-star and named the team MVP.
In 1981 Chili made history, being the first Jamaican born player to reach the big leagues. He would finish 4th in the Rookie of the Year votes in 1982 and would spend 19 years as a player in the big leagues playing for 5 teams. Chili would be on three World Series Championship teams (Minnesota 1991, New York Yankees 1998-99). A .274 career hitter with 2380 hits and 350 home runs. After retiring as a player Chili would go on to be a coach making stops in Oakland, Boston, Chicago (Cubs), and New York (Mets).
John played for the Cedar Rapids Raiders (Brooklyn Dodgers) in 1955 where he played in 55 games. John hit .235 that year but was better known for his defense.
He would make his MLB debut in 1957, playing in 35 games. The next season he would take over full time catching duties for the Dodgers after Roy Campanella was seriously injured in a car accident. John made his first of six All-Star teams that year. John was known as one of the best defensive catchers in baseball during his 14-year career. He would win two Gold Gloves and win 3 World Series titles. Following his retirement John would coach for the Senators, Angels, and Dodgers in both the Major and Minor Leagues. John passed away in 2002 at the age of 69.
In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at some of the best Black players to suit up for their club.
While some of these standout performers went on to have long, illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers. In some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”
Over the month, we will highlight some of the best Black baseball players to ever come through Iowa in franchise history.
Vida Blue (1970)
Vida Blue was one of the top left-handers in baseball in the 1970’s with Oakland as he helped the Athletics to three straight World Championships from 1972-74. He went straight from Double-A Birmingham to Oakland in 1969, where he went 1-1 with a 6.64 ERA in 12 games (four starts). His 1970 season that began in Des Moines was the season that put him on the path to stardom.
At just 20 years old, Blue started 17 games for Iowa in 1970, going 12-3 with a 2.17 ERA. He struck out 165 batters and allowed just 88 hits in 133.0 innings before a promotion to Oakland, where he went 2-0 with a 2.09 ERA in six starts. On September 21, 1970, in Oakland, Blue threw a no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins.
The following season, at the age of 21, Blue was named the 1971 American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award winner after going 24-8 with a 1.82 ERA in 39 starts. He pitched 312 innings and threw eight shutouts in 1971.
Blue went on to be a six-time All-Star and received MVP votes four times and Cy Young Award votes five times. Despite playing until 1986 when he was 36 years old, Blue never stepped foot on another Minor League field after leaving Des Moines during that 1970 season.
DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Cubs will host their 13th Annual Naturalization Ceremony on the field at Principal Park on Tuesday, July 6. The ceremony will take place prior to first pitch between Iowa and the St. Paul Saints, scheduled for 6:38 pm.
Traditionally, the ceremony has been done on the Fourth of July before the start of an Iowa Cubs game. This year, Iowa is on the road on Independence Day, but will treat their Tuesday, July 6 game as their typical July 4 event.
Iowa Cubs Principal Owner and Chairman Michael Gartner will open the ceremony with welcome remarks before court is called into session by senior federal judge Robert Pratt. 25 candidates from 15 different countries will be individually honored before taking an oath of allegiance to the United States of America.
The first on-field citizenship ceremony at Principal Park was held on September 4, 2009. Since then, the Iowa Cubs have been a part of the naturalization of 396 citizens of the United States through the last 12 years.
Following the ceremony, the Iowa Cubs and St. Paul Saints will play the first game of a six-game series, with post-game fireworks set to complete the celebration.
BURLINGTON, IA – The Burlington Bees are currently seeking multiple intern candidates to fill multiple seasonal positions at Community Field during the team’s inaugural Prospect League campaign beginning in late-May.
Interns are an integral part of team operations during the season as candidates learn and develop skills in varying areas beneficial to future careers in the sports industry. Preferred candidates will be self-motivated individuals who are open-minded, conscientious team players possessing a positive attitude and a willingness to do what it takes to get the job done. All must have excellent writing, computer skills and a willingness to work long hours on gamedays and weekends.
Specialized areas of learning for interns are: Marketing/Stadium Operations, Ticket/Group Sales/Marketing Sales, Food and Beverage, Multimedia/Videography Operations and Groundskeeping. While interns may serve in the aforementioned specialized roles, all will also serve in necessary overall operational capacities to foster and progress the Bees’ team priority of superior fan service and affordable, family friendly entertainment.
For full descriptions of each internship and where apply, visit the “Internships” tab on the navigation bar at gobees.com or visit this link.
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The application deadline for the ninth annual Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship, administered by the Kernels Foundation, is Friday, April 9th.
Nick Adenhart was a bright young pitcher who played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2006, and he was a rising star in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization. Only hours after Nick’s 2009 season debut on the mound for the Angels, Nick was tragically killed by a drunk driver on April 9, 2009 at age 22.
Nick’s family would like to honor him by awarding two $1,000 scholarships in his memory. The Kernels Foundation is privileged to administer the scholarships on behalf of Nick’s family.
Applicants must be a graduating high school senior from an area high school and attend a two or four-year accredited college or university and take 12 or more hours per semester. The applicant must have played an organized sport in the last two years, must be a great teammate, must demonstrate hard work and determination, and must have a clear vision of their career goal.
With the closure of Veterans Memorial Stadium due to the COVID-19 pandemic scholarships can are being accepted one of two ways:
ATTN: Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship
Cedar Rapids Kernels
PO Box 2001
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406-2001
OR
Via email to [email protected]
For questions, please contact:
Doug Nelson, Chief Executive Officer Cedar Rapids Kernels
319-896-7614 [email protected]
Scholarship applications may be downloaded online, just click here.
(Clinton, IA) – The Clinton LumberKings have partnered with the American Red Cross to put on a blood drive at NelsonCorp Field. The drive will take place Monday, November 30th beginning at noon until 5 pm inside the home clubhouse next to the stadium on 6th Avenue North. Donors may park in the lot across the street from NelsonCorp Field.
All presenting donors will receive a coupon for 20% off your total purchase in the LumberKings’ team store. Donors age 16-24 will receive a $10 e-gift card by email.
Donors can book their appointment in advance by clicking the link here. Booking your donation appointment in advance saves time at registration. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. All donations are tested for COVID-19 antibodies. Plasma from antibody-positive donations may help current coronavirus patients in need.
(Clinton, IA) – Monday, November 23rd the LumberKings will be assisting the Victory Center in a Thanksgiving meal drive-thru for the the hungry and needy families. In a similar fashion to the Curbside Concessions, families who have ordered meals through the Victory Center will drive up by the home clubhouse on 6th Avenue North for pick up.
We are excited to partner with the Victory Center and be able to help provide meals to those less fortunate, especially during these unprecedented times. To view the official statement from the Victory Center, please click here.
On Thursday, September 17 — Constitution Day — the United States Citizenship and Immigration services, Des Moines Field Office, will hold a naturalization ceremony with the Southern District of Iowa, Des Moines Federal court, on the field at Principal Park.
The ceremony for 75 candidates — representing 32 different countries — will begin at 11 a.m.
The public is invited to attend the free event — which replaces the traditional July 4 pre-game ceremony as the Iowa Cubs 2020 season was canceled. Per the City of Des Moines guidelines, masks will be required for attendees.The Iowa Cubs first hosted a citizenship ceremony in 2009. It is now an annual event, with 327 new citizens welcomed during the first 11 years. [Earlier this summer, Principal Park hosted an informal Citizenship Week, June 22-26, when 487 new citizens were naturalized in a drive-thru process outside the stadium.]
The nation observes Constitution Day and Citizenship Day as part of Constitution Week. The commemoration honors the signing of the Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. Iowa schools were the first to recognize Constitution Day, in 1911. Nationwide observance began in 1940 as “I Am an American Day.” Citizenship Day began in 1952, based on a law signed by President Harry Truman, and in 1955, President Dwight Eisenhower proclaimed the first Constitution Week.
The LumberKings and the entire Clinton community lost a good friend in March with the sudden passing of LumberKings President Paul Davis. To honor his memory, friends and family have established a scholarship at Clinton Community College to honor him and his commitment to education and the community. Paul Davis
The LumberKings and the entire Clinton community lost a good friend in March with the sudden passing of LumberKings President Paul Davis. To honor his memory, friends and family have established a scholarship at Clinton Community College to honor him and his commitment to education and the community.
Paul Davis grew up in Des Moines, Iowa and attended Clinton Community College. An agent with the Iowa Bankers Association in Des Moines, he placed great value in education. He was a dedicated volunteer and champion for many causes in the community. His love of sports grew from being an athlete as a young kid, to coaching at all levels, especially the 20-plus seasons of coaching his children’s teams. He loved attending events with wife Kris, and supporting his family by cheering on any team they are part of.
Camanche High School Basketball Coach Josh Davis said this about his father, “Dad was a great example on how to serve others. It was great to have him involved with our basketball program in Camanche. Most of the things I do as a coach, I learned from watching him when I was a kid. This scholarship will be a great way to honor his memory.”
Paul was an official with the Iowa High School Boys and Girls Athletic Associations, as well as the NAIA and NCAA college associations. He served on a variety of foundations including Riverboat Days, Clinton Junior Baseball, local volleyball organizations, and was Past President of the Clinton LumberKings Baseball Club.
Clinton LumberKings General Manager Ted Tornow commented, “Paul valued education and learning. He was always looking for ways to improve not only himself, but others. He touched many lives in this community and this scholarship is a testament to a life well-lived. Many future students will benefit from this and I know that Paul would be very happy to know that.”
The Paul Davis Memorial Scholarship, an annual $500 scholarship through the Paul B. Sharar Foundation for Clinton Community College, will be awarded to a CCC student who makes a difference. The student must demonstrate a commitment to their education and to the community through hard work and active volunteerism. Paul Davis believed that everyone in the community could come together to make this a great place. He valued hard work, and also appreciated the lessons that extracurricular activities could provide.
For more information about the Paul Davis Memorial Scholarship, contact the Paul B. Sharar Foundation at 563-244-7040. Donations can be made to the Paul Davis Memorial Scholarship at Clinton Community College Sharar Foundation, 1000 Lincoln Blvd., Clinton, Iowa or at https://www.eicc.edu/alumni-and-giving/sharar-foundation/.
Cedar Rapids, IA – The Cedar Rapids Kernels in collaboration with the Kernels Foundation and the Adenhart Family recently awarded to two Eastern Iowa high school graduates with a $1,000 scholarship. On Sunday, June 7th, Ella Popenhagen from Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School and Logan Schmitt from Independence High School were recognized during a special check presentation on Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium in front of their families and members of the Kernels Foundation.
Ella Popenhagen participated in track and field, cross country and swimming. She was named Captain and to the Metro Team for both swimming and track and field for the Cougars. Popenhagen served as a member of Student Government at Kennedy High School and was a member of National Honor Society. Her other school and community activities include Best Buddies Club, Show Choir, St. Luke’s Hospital Volunteer and Special Olympics. Popenhagen plans to attend The University of Northern Iowa and pursue a degree in Movement and Exercise Science.
Logan Schmitt participated in football, basketball, track and field and baseball all four years of high school for the Mustangs. Schmitt was named Captain of the baseball team his junior and senior seasons. Schmitt was a member of National Honor Society, a school mentor and participated in numerous community activities in Independence. Schmitt plans to attend Kirkwood Community College this fall and eventually earn a degree in medicine. Congratulations to these two outstanding youths in Eastern Iowa. Photos of the check presentations attached.
Read More: Cedar Rapids Kernels
Read more about the Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship
DES MOINES, IA — The Iowa Cubs today announced they are joining MiLB CommUNITY First, a new national initiative developed by Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) in conjunction with Feeding America®, to raise funds for local food banks and to honor individuals risking their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I-Cubs fans are encouraged to visit MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst through May 31 to donate. Once on the site, fans can choose their donation amount and the Iowa Cubs as the recipient of their donation to direct funds to the Des Moines community. For every $10 donated, the I-Cubs will donate one ticket to a future home game this season or in 2021 to a local hero of the pandemic.
“Through these unprecedented times, we want to give back to the community that has supported us for over 50 years,” said Iowa Cubs President and General Manager, Sam Bernabe. “This program is a way to make an immediate impact at our local food banks, while also saying ‘thank you’ to those on the front lines.”
School closures, rising unemployment and rising poverty due to quarantine and extended stay-at-home orders have disproportionately impacted people already at risk of hunger and could result in an estimated additional 17.1 million people experiencing food insecurity in the next six months, according to Feeding America. As the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a network of more than 200 affiliates, Feeding America has projected a $1.4 billion shortfall in the next six months alone.
In response, contributions from I-Cubs fans and Minor League Baseball will help ensure families and individuals across the country most impacted by the pandemic are fed and cared for during these uncertain times. Join the national campaign by donating and selecting Iowa Cubs at MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst and use #MiLBCommUNITYFirst on social media to show your support.
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About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Cedar Rapids, IA – The application deadline for the eighth annual Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship, administered by the Kernels Foundation, is Friday, April 10th.
Nick Adenhart was a bright young pitcher who played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2006, and he was a rising star in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization. Only hours after Nick’s 2009 season debut on the mound for the Angels, Nick was tragically killed by a drunk driver on April 9, 2009 at age 22.
Nick’s family would like to honor him by awarding two $1,000 scholarships in his memory. The Kernels Foundation is privileged to administer the scholarships on behalf of Nick’s family.
Applicants must be a graduating high school senior from an area high school and attend a two or four-year accredited college or university and take 12 or more hours per semester. The applicant must have played an organized sport in the last two years, must be a great teammate, must demonstrate hard work and determination, and must have a clear vision of their career goal.
With the recent closure of Veterans Memorial Stadium and area high schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic scholarships can are being accepted one of two ways:
Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship
C/O Cedar Rapids Kernels
PO Box 2001
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406
Scholarship applications may be downloaded from the Kernels website at www.kernels.com under the ‘COMMUNITY’ tab.
For more information, please contact Doug Nelson at 319-363-3887 or email at [email protected].
