Deadline Extended for National Anthem Tryouts

 

DAYTON, OHIO – A traditional sign that baseball season is just around the corner in the Miami Valley is National Anthem Tryouts, presented by the Dayton Daily News. Auditions for this summer’s national anthem performers are VIRTUAL on the Dragons website.

Audition videos, which are being accepted in lieu of in-person auditions this year, should be uploaded at www.daytondragons.com/nationalanthem.

Finalists will perform the national anthem at Dragons games throughout the season, with the grand prize winner performing on Opening Day 2022 before the Dragons host the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Friday, April 8 at 7:05 PM.

In addition, 25 national anthem finalists will be selected to not only sing to a sold-out crowd at Day Air Ballpark, but also to the entire Miami Valley region! These individuals or groups will perform LIVE on the Dragons television broadcast for 25 games during the 2022 season – games are broadcast on WDTN’s Dayton CW.

Because of the overwhelming interest, the Dragons have extended the deadline to apply. The NEW deadline is Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

The Dayton Dragons reserve the right to change performance details throughout the season to ensure health and safety has been met for all performers, fans, and staff.

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Rattlers Celebrate Black History Month: Ervin Lee Ford: Appleton Pro Baseball Pioneer

 

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers continue Minor League Baseball’s celebration of Black History Month with a look at Ervin Ford, the first African-American to play for the Appleton Papermakers.

It was February 5, 1952. Travis Jackson had just stepped off the train in Appleton less than a week after the Boston Braves had named his as the manager of the Papermakers. One of his first questions for the Papermakers board was about the set-up in this northern city for Black players.

Jackie Robinson had broken the color barrier in Minor League Baseball in 1946 in Montreal and in Major League Baseball in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Papermakers, a team in Class-D, had been affiliated with the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, and St. Louis Browns between 1946 and 1951 and had never had an African-American player assigned to them by their parent club.

The Boston Braves has a different approach. According to Jackson, the Braves had signed as many as 20 Black players heading into 1952 and fans of the Papermakers should expect to see some heading their way.

Ervin Lee Ford, born in 1930 in Whiteville, North Carolina, was a graduate of North Carolina A&T University in 1949. He played baseball and ran track there. His speed was his calling card and that is what caught the eye of baseball scouts.

The first mention of Ford in The Appleton Post-Crescent was on April 23, 1952. It was a dispatch from Boston Braves minor league camp in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

John Roach appears to have nailed down an outfield post while Ervin Ford, the fastest man in camp, looks like he will patrol another field.

The second mention of Ford in The Appleton Post-Crescent was on April 24, 1952, just three days before the team was scheduled to arrive in Appleton after breaking camp.

The Appleton Papermakers suffered their first major injury of the baseball season on the eve of their departure from the Boston Braves’ minor league training camp at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Ervin Ford, fleet outfielder, suffered a fractured ankle sliding into second base at Myrtle Beach Wednesday, manager Travis Jackson told Appleton baseball club officials this morning.

This injury kept Ford from joining the team for Opening Day. He would not reach Appleton until July 13. There were a few days off for the Wisconsin State League All-Star Game and Ford didn’t get his first start until July 16.

Ervin Ford started his first game of ball since his injury in spring training…He got a big round of applause every time he came to bat but managed to get only one hit, an infield knock in front of the plate. He bats right and throws right.

The paper made note of Ford’s speed in an article about a game at Green Bay on July 27, 1952.

Highly touted as a speedster before he fractured his ankle in spring training, he gave the fans a look at what he can run like Saturday night when he singled to right in the ninth inning. The Green Bay outfielder bobbled the ball and the long, loose Ford, running like a foxhound on a fresh scent, went all the way to third.

Unfortunately, Ford’s season ended just a few days later:

Ervin Ford, Appleton Papermaker outfielder, dogged with bad luck all year, is being sent to his home in Whiteville, North Carolina with a broken ankle. Ward re-fractured his right ankle according to Dr. George Hegner, team physician. Hegner believes the break occurred in a game at Green Bay Thursday night. Ford complained of his ankle hurting him and he sat out the exhibition game with the Milwaukee Brewers Friday night. X-rays revealed that the ankle was broken.

The Post-Crescent states that Ford had appeared in thirteen complete games since joining the team, had a hit in all those games, and was the team’s leading hitter during that time.

Baseball-Reference has Ford 19-for-65 (.292) in sixteen games in his brief time with the Papermakers that season.

Ford started 1953 with Eau Claire in the Class C-Northern League and played ten games there with a .308 average before the Braves sent him back to Appleton on May 19 and he had two hits in that game at Fond du Lac. However, Ford wound up on the injured list in early June, would total just eight more hits over his next seventeen games while healthy for a .179 average, and the Braves would release him on June 16, 1953.

Ford would get back into baseball with the El Paso Texans of the Southwestern League in 1956 where he played 130 games, hit .347, knocked ten homers, drove in 73 runs, scored 102 runs, and stole 22 bases. He split time between El Paso and the Mexico City Reds of the Mexican League in 1957. In 1958, Ford finished his professional playing career with Mexico City.

The last mention that I could find of Ford is this story from Greenboro.com on September 26, 1998 about the North Carolina A&T University Sports Hall of Fame.

Ervin Ford, who graduated in 1949, who graduated in 1949, played baseball and ran track at A&T. he later played with the Negro League’s Indianapolis clowns, [the Appleton Papermakers and the Eau Claire Bears in the Boston Braves’ minor league system, and with the El Paso Texans and Mexico City Reds].

Ford and his wife of 47 years, Mary George Ford, have eight children, seventeen grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Ford has supported three children through A&T undergraduate program and currently is supporting his granddaughter, who is attending Graduate School at A&T

Appleton was a small part of Ervin Lee Ford’s life. However, he was an important part of Appleton’s baseball history and of Appleton’s overall story.

Top Black Players in Cedar Rapids Kernels History

 

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.

Eric Davis:

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.

Reggie Sanders:

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.

Howie Kendrick:

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:

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.

Chili Davis:

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 Roseboro:

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.

Black History Month: The Top 5 Black Players in South Bend History

 

South Bend has a long history of getting players to the big leagues and in honor of Black History Month and Minor League Baseball’s “The Nine” initiative (which is a Black-community focused outreach platform designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact of Black baseball pioneers made on the sport) here’s our look at the top five Black players in our franchise history to make it to the MLB.

1) Mike Cameron

The former centerfielder from La Grange, Ga. was drafted in the 18th round of the 1991 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox. Cameron played a whopping 17 years in the MLB and took the field with eight MLB franchises, ultimately playing his final game with the Marlins in 2011. He spent the entirety of the 1993 season in South Bend with the then Silver Hawks, playing in 122 games and batting .238.

1997 was his first full season in the big leagues and he blew past expectations, finishing sixth in AL Rookie of the Year voting (an award won by Nomar Garciaparrra). Four years later as a member of the Seattle Mariners, Cameron put up the best numbers of any season in his career. His .353 OBP, .480 SLG, 25 homers, 110 RBIs and his stellar glove in centerfield were rewarded with a trip to the All-Star Game, a gold glove and a 16th place finish for AL MVP. Cammy was a human highlight reel over four years with the Mariners, providing fans with jaw-dropping highway robberies in center like this…

Or this…

But don’t discount his hitting prowess. Cameron launched 278 career homers and had one of the best offensive performances in MLB history when he homered in four-straight at-bats on May 2, 2002 vs the White Sox.

Incredibly three of those homers came with two strikes and all of them traveled over 405 feet.

When his career was all said and done Cameron had won three gold gloves, appeared in an All-Star Game, accumulated 24 or more homers in five seasons, finished with a .444 career slugging percentage and tallied a .338 on-base percentage. Baseball Reference ranks him 35th all-time among centerfielders in WAR.

2) Justin Upton

Upton was named the USA Today Player of the Year and the National Gatorade Player of the Year during his senior year at Great Bridge High School in Virginia. After his senior year he was drafted with the first overall pick in the 2005 draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, signing for $6.1 million.

The 18-year-old, drafted as a shortstop, spent his entire first pro season with the South Bend Silver Hawks. He picked up 115 hits in 113 games and finished the year with a slash line of .263/.343/.413, plus 12 homers and 66 RBIs. At the end of the regular season he led the team in doubles (28) and finished second on the team in homers, walks (52) and stolen bases (15). South Bend is where Upton first played competitively and consistently in the outfield, logging 105 games in centerfield and the other eight at DH.

Upton made his MLB debut in 2007 and 2022 will mark his 16th season in the bigs. Even with all the pressure of being a number one pick, Upton achieved tremendous success: four All-Star appearances, three Silver Slugger awards and a top five in MVP in 2011. He’s currently on his fifth team and this will be his sixth year in Los Angeles with the Angels, as he enters the final year of his five year/$106 million contract.

Justin’s older brother B.J. played 12 years in the MLB and was selected with the number two overall pick three years prior to Justin going first in the draft.

Justin sits 59th all time in career WAR among left fielders.

3) Scott Hairston

Hairston comes from quite the baseball pedigree. His brother Jerry played 16 years in the MLB, his father (also Jerry) spent 14 years in the MLB, his uncle John played three games with the Chicago Cubs in 1969 and his grandfather Sam played five years in the Negro leagues and one in the MLB. In fact when John debuted with the Cubs that marked the first ever father-son duo to appear in the majors. Three generations of Hairstons graced MLB diamonds, but none had the historical impact as Scott’s grandpa.

Sam Hairston was a two-time All-Star in the Negro American League with the Cincinnati-Indianapolis Clowns. In 1950 Sam won the triple crown with the Clowns, batting .424 with17 long balls and 71 RBIs (in 70 games no less). The White Sox signed him with one month left in the NAL season and those triple crown numbers held out. On July 21, 1951 nearly two months after Minnie Miñoso (a native of Havana, Cuba) broke the White Sox color barrier, Sam became the first African-American to ever play for the White Sox.

Scott’s career wasn’t historic like Sam’s but it did span 11 seasons in the MLB. He was selected in the third round in 2001 by the Diamondbacks and would go on to produce respectable numbers: seven seasons with double digit home runs, a lifetime .442 slugging percentage and a career on-base plus slugging of .738. He also became the 10th Met to ever hit for the cycle.

Scott played in 109 games with South Bend in 2002 and amassed a slash line of .333/.426/.564 in 109 games, with 16 homers, 72 RBIs and 131 hits.

4) James Baldwin (No not the famous writer)

Just like Hairston, Baldwin played 11 seasons in the MLB. A fourth rounder in the 1990 draft by the White Sox, he debuted with the “South Siders” in 1995 and spent his first seven big league seasons with the team that drafted him. In 1995 during a spring training intrasquad game Baldwin became the first pitcher to face Michael Jordan. In 1996 the right-hander went 11-6 with a 4.42 ERA in 169 innings and finished second behind Derek Jeter for Rookie of the Year. Four years later his 14-7 record helped him garner his first and lone All-Star Game appearance. His final season was split between the Orioles and Rangers in 2005 at the age of 33. He finished with a career mark of 79-74 and a 5.01 ERA.

In 1994 Baseball America ranked Baldwin as the number eight prospect in baseball, two years prior was the lone season you could’ve seen him trotting around the ballpark in South Bend. That season as a 20 year old he tore up the Midwest League to the tune of a 2.42 ERA in 137.2 IP. Across 21 starts he only allowed 37 earned runs and had 137 Ks compared to 45 walks.

5) Keon Broxton

Broxton made a massive leap in seemingly no time, going from a 29th round pick by the Phillies out of high school in 2008 to a third rounder the following year by the Dbacks. He didn’t make his big league debut until 2015 with the Pirates and from 2009-2013 he spent each season in the Arizona farm system. In Broxton’s second MiLB season he played 133 games with South Bend, picking up 121 hits (5 HR) and tying the Midwest League record with 19 triples. The following year he started the year with South Bend and appeared in 20 games before his promotion to high-A Visalia to replace the injured Adam Eaton.

Broxton has played 5 years in the MLB with his best season coming as a rookie in 2016 with Milwaukee where he played 75 games and slashed .242/.354/.430, went 23-for-27 stealing bases and cranked nine homers. The following season he played a career-high 143 games and clobbered a career-high 20 homers. He is currently on a minor league deal with the Brewers and finished last season in AAA Nashville.

If you haven’t gotten to see him play let me just tell you he had a proclivity for robbing home runs with Milwaukee (especially in the ninth). But don’t just take my word for it…

https://youtube.com/watch?v=cx9xQCEf10s&feature=oembed

Honorable mention to Rodney McCray who made the most ridiculous, preposterous, unbelievable…ah just watch with your own eyeballs…

South Bend Cubs Hiring for the 2022 Season 

 

SOUTH BEND, IN – Four Winds Field is more than a destination, it’s an experience and the South Bend Cubs are looking for detail oriented and guest service minded individuals to help create that experience. Applications are now being accepted to fill open gameday positions for the 2022 season. Those interested can visit SouthBendCubs.com and complete the online application or fill out an application at the South Bend Cubs main office.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND APPLY TO ALL OPEN POSITIONS

Two open job fairs will also be held on Tuesday, February 15 and Thursday, February 17 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. inside the Pepsi Stadium Club at Four Winds Field. When arriving please enter through the double glass doors located next to the box office, just off South Street. Applicants can park in Lots A or B off of Taylor Street.

Like last year, the online application has been designed with mobile devices in mind, making it accessible and easy to complete. All applications will be reviewed by the South Bend staff and those whose qualifications match the desired needs will be contacted to set up an interview. Those attending the job fair can fill out a paper application on-site.

Some of the available positions for the 2022 season include box office attendant, stadium support services, fun zone attendant, promotions team member, parking lot attendant, and hospitality host (usher). Professional Sports Catering, the food & beverage supplier for the South Bend Cubs, are also looking to fill positions for 2022 including bartender, concessions stand supervisor, venue server, and server. Most positions require a person to walk and stand for extended periods of time and may occasionally be asked to lift or move up to 25 pounds. Please see each job description for a list of duties and requirements.

The 2022 season kicks off at Four Winds Field on Friday, April 8 as the South Bend Cubs host the Quad Cities River Bandits for a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

About the South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs are the High-A minor league affiliate of the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. Over the past 34 years, the team has won four Midwest League titles, most recently in 2019, and has captured eight division titles. In 2019, the South Bend Cubs hosted the Midwest League All-Star Game. In June 2017, Four Winds Field, home of the South Bend Cubs, was voted Best Class A ballpark in the country by Ballpark Digest. In 2015 the team was named Ballpark Digest’s Team of the Year and received the John H. Johnson President’s Award, the highest award in minor league baseball. The team is owned and operated by Swing-Batter-Swing, LLC whose principal shareholder is Andrew T. Berlin of Chicago, Ill. More information is available at www.SouthBendCubs.com.

Rattlers Celebrate Black History Month: Top Five Players

 

In celebration of Black History Month, teams across Minor League Baseball are looking at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers history includes the Appleton Papermakers and the Fox Cities/Appleton Foxes. Here are five of the best Black players to ever suit

In celebration of Black History Month, teams across Minor League Baseball are looking at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers history includes the Appleton Papermakers and the Fox Cities/Appleton Foxes. Here are five of the best Black players to ever suit up for Appleton Professional Baseball.

Harold Baines: The Chicago White Sox drafted Harold Baines with the #1 overall selection of the 1977 draft on June 7, 1977. Baines arrived in the Goodland Field clubhouse on June 14 and started his professional career with the Appleton Foxes with a 1-for-4 performance as the designated hitter against the Waterloo Indians with 1,482 fans in attendance.

Baines played 69 games and hit five homers with 29 RBI with the Foxes. Those numbers might not sound impressive, but take into account that he was just eighteen, more than three years younger than the Midwest League average that season, and those numbers look a little better.

He was in the Major Leagues with the White Sox by Opening Day of the 1980 season to start a 22-year career in MLB that included six All-Star appearances, 2,866 hits, a career WAR of 38.7, and an eventual induction to Cooperstown in 2019.

Khris Davis: The Milwaukee Brewers picked Davis with their seventh round selection in the 2009 draft out of Cal State-Fullerton. He joined the Timber Rattlers at the start of the 2010 season on his way to a Major League career that has seen him “khrush” 221 homers in nine seasons with the Brewers, Oakland A’s, and Texas Rangers. He hit his first home run for Wisconsin on April 22 off future big leaguer David Carpenter.

It wasn’t known at the time, but that home run was the first one of what turned out to be a record-setting amount. Juan Silvestre set the Timber Rattlers record for homer in a season when he cracked 21 in 1999. Davis steadily made a run at the record with four homers in May and six more in June that earned him a spot in the Midwest League All-Star Game.

He also got a chance to participate in the 2010 MWL Home Run Derby and won it with an amazing display of power that won the Fort Wayne fans over to his side in the finals.

Five homers in July and five homers in August left Davis tied with Silvestre at 21 home runs. Davis was homerless in the first four games of September and that left him with just two games in Kane County to break the record before the end of the season.

In his second at bat of the game on September 5, the final Sunday of the season, Davis cracked a long, two-run home run to set the Timber Rattlers record.

Lamar Johnson: “Pizza! Sport shirt! Dry cleaning!” was a popular chant at Goodland Field in 1971 and 1972. It had something to do with the wall signs in left field and the frequency with which Lamar Johnson would hit baseballs over that wall. An event that happened so much, Johnson was given the nickname “Pizza King” by the Foxes faithful.

Johnson, who would go on to a nine-year MLB career with the White Sox and Rangers, played seven games with the Foxes in 1970 and returned to the Midwest League in 1971 and hit 18 homers with 97 RBI in 119 games. The White Sox sent Johnson back to Appleton in 1972 and he shattered the Foxes record for homers in a season.

Sam Bowens held the old Foxes record with 20 during the 1960 season. Johnson hit his 21st homer of the 1972 season on August 17 at Wisconsin Rapids. Then, Johnson added five more homers over the final weeks of the season to end the year with 26.

No Appleton Pro Baseball player has come close to the “Pizza King” in the last 50 years.

Adam Jones: The Seattle Mariners used the 37th overall pick in the 2003 draft to select Jones, a high school player out of San Diego. He was 18 when he came to Appleton as the everyday shortstop. He was almost four years younger than the average age of a Midwest League player.

Jones had a solid season with the Rattlers (eleven homers, 72 RBI, and a .267 average) that helped to set him on his course to make an MLB debut with the Mariners in 2006 and blossom into stardom with the Baltimore Orioles after a trade heading into the 2008 season.

As an Oriole, Jones was a five-time All-Star, won three Gold Gloves as a centerfielder, and hit 303 home runs. He has also played for Arizona, Orix in Japan, and represented the United States in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Deacon Jones: Grover “Deacon” Jones had already made his Major League debut by the time he reached the Foxes in 1966. Jones had even faced the Foxes when he played for Lincoln in the old Three-I League in 1959.

Jones was briefly with the White Sox in 1962 and 1963 playing a total of 35 games in those two seasons. While the White Sox couldn’t find room for Jones in their MLB lineup, they saw something more in him. He would become a player/coach in the system.

His impact on baseball in the Fox Cities is summed up nicely in an article about Jones in the 1973 Appleton Foxes program:

Appleton became a Sox farm club in 1966 and Deacon was named player-coach under Stan Wasiak and led the league in hitting with a .353 batting average, 36 two-baggers, and 23 intentional walks. He was instrumental in bringing the Foxes the Midwest Pennant in 1966 and was also a very busy man off the field – appearing throughout the valley as a speaker and holding batting clinics for interested youth. He was again called up to the Sox at the conclusion of the ’66 season and returned as Foxes player-coach again in 1967 under Alex Cosmidis and helped bring another pennant to Goodland Field.

Back and arm problems caused Deacon to retire from the active list in 1968 and he was named minor league batting coach and assigned to scout the New York area. His travels the past five years have brought him to Appleton at least once each year to work with troubled hitters and his efforts paid off as the Foxes won a pennant in 1969 and division championships in 1971 and 1972.

Deacon’s wife – Virginia – whom he calls Tiki – and daughter Monica come to Appleton this year as a welcome addition to Fox Valley Citizenry and rest assured – he’ll be battling on the field and promoting the great game of baseball in his off time.

WELCOME BACK, DEACON!

By the way, that article from the 1973 program, was written to welcome Jones to town as the manager of the Foxes. That’s right. Jones was the first African-American manager of an Appleton Professional Baseball team.

That is a story that we will save for later this month.

Celebrating Black History Month: Five Former Dragons Stars

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 ever to suit up for the Dayton Dragons.

BILLY HAMILTON

Billy Hamilton produced one of the greatest base stealing seasons in baseball history with the Dayton Dragons in 2011 as he gained national recognition for his speed on the diamond, a quality that would continue to gain attention throughout his career.

Hamilton, a second round draft pick by the Reds in 2009 after a record-setting three-sport high school career (baseball, basketball, and football) in Taylorsville, Mississippi, began his season in Dayton by stealing second base in the first inning of his first game with the Dragons. Before the end of May of that season, Hamilton had already broken the club record for stolen bases in a season, and on September 3, he became the first player in the history of the Reds organization to reach the 100 steal mark. He finished the year with 103 stolen bases. Hamilton became so popular with fans at Day Air Ballpark that every time he reached safely, a growing murmur of excitement would fill the stadium as spectators waited to see when he would try to steal his next base.

In 2012, Hamilton moved up in the Reds system and surpassed his stolen base total from the previous year, swiping 155 bases over the course of a season split between High-A Bakersfield and Double-A Carolina. That total broke the all-time record for all of Minor League Baseball and was 25 more than Rickey Henderson’s Major League record. Hamilton made his Major League debut with the Reds late in the 2013 season and in 2014, still holding rookie status, stole 56 bases for the Reds to break their all-time rookie record.

Hamilton has more than 300 career stolen bases in the Major Leagues and finished second in the National League for five straight seasons from 2014-18. He emerged as one of the greatest defensive center fielders in baseball and was part of the Chicago White Sox division championship team in 2021.

HUNTER GREENE

Hunter Greene was only 18 years old when he opened the 2018 season with the Dragons, firing a 100 mph fastball with his very first pitch of the year at Day Air Ballpark in Dayton. By the time Greene was drafted by the Reds with the second overall selection of the 2017 draft out of Notre Dame High School in suburban Los Angeles, he had already appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Greene was undoubtably the most famous Minor League player in the nation in 2018 with the Dragons, thrilling fans with the tremendous velocity on his pitches and attracting sports media outlets from across the country. In July of that season, he broke the stadium record when his fastball reached 102 mph, topping the mark of MLB all-star Aroldis Chapman four years earlier when he appeared in Dayton on a Major League injury rehab assignment.

Greene, still only 22 years old, reached the Triple-A level in 2021 with Louisville in the Reds organization and is counted upon as future standout on the pitching staff in Cincinnati.

AMIR GARRETT

Amir Garrett spent two seasons with the Dragons in 2013-14 as he made the transition from college basketball star to professional baseball pitcher. Garrett had been drafted by the Reds as a developmental prospect in the 22nd round in 2011 out of Findlay College Prep School in Henderson, Nevada, a school that did not have a baseball program. Garrett was a 6’5” basketball player at St. John’s University in the Big East Conference who was able to spend part of 2013 with the Dragons before returning to college before the end of the baseball season to retain his eligibility on the hardwood.

In 2014, Garrett returned to the Dragons and made tremendous progress as a pitcher, dominating at times, which convinced him to give up his future basketball career to focus on baseball full-time.

Garrett continued to climb through the Reds farm system before earning a spot on the Reds Opening Day roster in 2017. He became a regular contributor out of the Reds bullpen, pitching in at least 60 games in 2018, ’19, and ’21, and in the abbreviated season of 2020, he posted an ERA of 2.45 while striking out 26 batters in 18 innings and allowing just 10 hits.

CHRIS DICKERSON

Chris Dickerson enjoyed an outstanding 2004 season with the Dragons on the way to a successful seven-year Major League career with the Reds, Brewers, Yankees, Orioles, and Indians from 2008-14.

Dickerson batted .303 for the Dragons in 2004, adding 27 stolen bases with a .410 on-base percentage. He represented the Dragons in the Midwest League all-star game and was also selected as an outfielder on the full-season league all-star team as selected by the circuit’s managers.

Dickerson reached the big leagues with the Reds in 2008, batting .304 in 31 games, and hitting .275 in 97 games the following year. Before his retirement, Dickerson played in 355 MLB games and was on the Yankees playoff roster in 2011.

TAYLOR TRAMMELL

Taylor Trammell was a key member of the Dragons playoff team in 2017 as a combination of power, speed, and toughness on the field. Trammell had been a high school football legend at Mount Paran Christian School in Kennesaw, Georgia, where he scored 39 touchdowns in one season as a senior. The Reds drafted Trammell in the supplemental first round in 2016 and he immediately became one of the top prospects in the organization.

Trammell was only 19 years old when he opened the 2017 season with the Dragons, but he emerged as one of the league’s best players and helped carry the Dayton club to the semi-final round of the post-season playoffs. Trammell was selected as a Baseball America Class-A All-Star and finished second in the league in runs batted in, stolen bases, and walks while ranking third in hits and triples.

In 2018, Trammell moved up in the Reds organization and was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game. In 2021, he made his big league debut with the Seattle Mariners at the age of 23, appearing in 51 games with Seattle and blasting eight home runs.

South Bend Cubs Now Accepting Submissions for 2022 National Anthem Performances

 

SOUTH BEND, IN – The South Bend Cubs are now accepting auditions to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to all home games at Four Winds Field for the 2022 season, presented by Kountry Cabinets & Home Furnishings. Individuals, bands, choirs, and groups and invited to participate.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR NATIONAL ANTHEM AUDITION

Like previous years, all auditions must be submitted in video form. Audio files, tapes, or CDs will not be accepted. Videos can be submitted as a video link such as YouTube or Google Drive or sent via transfer websites like Dropbox, TransferNow or WeTransfer. Auditions recorded via mobile devices or professional performances are acceptable. There will not be any in-person auditions for 2022.

New this season is the digital application, which can be found here. Please include your video link at the bottom of the digital application. Those who cannot complete the digital application may submit a paper copy by clicking here. Paper applications must be submitted with the video audition and emailed to [email protected].

Performances of “The Star-Spangled Banner” are not to exceed two minutes. All vocal auditions must be performed a cappella (no musical accompaniment). Instrumental performances will be accepted. Those who audition in groups must include all members in the audition video.

The deadline to submit National Anthem auditions is Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Once submitted, auditions will go through a careful judging process. National Anthem performance opportunities are extremely limited and not guaranteed. Due to the volume of submissions, the South Bend Cubs do not guarantee a response. All submissions will be reviewed. Should your submission be of interest to the Cubs, you will be contacted via the information provided with your e-mail.

About the South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs are the Class A-Advanced minor league affiliate of the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. Over the past 34 years, the team has won four Midwest League titles, most recently in 2019, and has captured eight division titles. In 2019, the South Bend Cubs hosted the Midwest League All-Star Game. In June 2017, Four Winds Field, home of the South Bend Cubs, was voted Best Class A ballpark in the country by Ballpark Digest. In 2015 the team was named Ballpark Digest’s Team of the Year and received the John H. Johnson President’s Award, the highest award in minor league baseball. The team is owned and operated by Swing-Batter-Swing, LLC whose principal shareholder is Andrew T. Berlin of Chicago, Ill.

Dozer Park to Host Concert for the City on July 2

 

Peoria, IL— The Peoria Chiefs, in conjunction with the Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service, First Baptist Church of Peoria, and Connect Church of Washington, are teaming up to present a Concert for the City on Saturday, July 2.

Peoria native Victor Solomon will be joined by Jordan Feliz, a top-selling Christian pop artist, whose 2015 song “The River,” reached the top spot on Billboard Magazine’s Christian Airplay chart. A fireworks show will follow the concert. Gates open at 6:00 p.m., with Solomon taking the stage at 6:30 p.m. Feliz will perform at approximately 7:30 p.m.

A 2017 graduate of Peoria High School, Solomon burst onto the national scene last year, when he finished fifth on NBC’s “The Voice.” This will mark his second performance at Dozer Park, after he performed the national anthem at a Chiefs game last season.

Feliz plays a folk rock/soul style of Christian pop. He was named the New Artist of the Year at the 2016 GMA Dove Awards. Feliz has released four studio albums, including “Future,” which served as Billboard’s top Christian album the week of April 7, 2018.

General admission tickets start at $25. For larger groups, the concourse party areas will be available. Tickets for the concourse areas are $30 per person, with a capacity limit of 40 people. The first base party deck, which can accommodate up to 75 guests, and the third base party deck, which can welcome 100 patrons, will also be available for purchase. Tickets for both party decks start at $35 per person. Additionally, Dozer Park’s 18 luxury suites are available for rental.

Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service, a local not-for-profit dedicated to empowering families by giving them hope and a path for prosperity.

“Peoria Friendship House is honored to carry out our mission by hosting The Concert for the City, a Christian concert held later this summer,” said Marcellus Sommerville, CEO of the Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service. “Music connects families, cultivates communities and strengthens spiritual connections by bringing people together and promoting unity within.”

Jason Mott, General Manager of the Peoria Chiefs, is excited to team up with the local organization.

“I served on the Friendship House board for the last six years, and I’ve seen their work up close,” Mott said. “They truly provide a ‘hand up’ to the Peoria community. We’re very pleased to host this concert at Dozer Park.”

Tickets for the event will go live Thursday, January 27 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting https://www.milb.com/peoria/events/concerts

Beloit Sky Carp to Host 2022 Job Fair on February 1

 

BELOIT, WI – The Beloit Sky Carp will host their annual Job Fair on Tuesday, February 1st to hire seasonal staff for the 2022 Sky Carp baseball season. The event will take place from 4:00 PM-6:30 PM at ABC Supply Stadium.

Interviews will be held on-site and candidates are encouraged to bring a resume and come prepared to discuss their experience and qualifications.

Positions available include:

  • Internship and Trainee positions – Box Office and Ticket Sales, Graphic Design, and Merchandise
  • Stadium Operations
  • Grounds Crew
  • Food & Beverage – including cooks, prep staff, and cashiers
  • Box Office Reps and Ticket Takers
  • Ushers
  • Security
  • Team Store Attendants
  • Creative Services staff including in-game entertainment team, camera operators, and control room positions

For more information visit: Employment Opportunities | Sky Carp (milb.com)

The Sky Carp season begins Tuesday, April 12th and continues through September 4th with the possibility of additional playoff games being held in Beloit.

TinCaps Holding Mascot Tryouts

 

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The Fort Wayne TinCaps (Minor League Baseball’s High-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres) are holding tryouts to be the team’s mascot for the upcoming 2022 season.

Auditions will be held at the team’s ballpark, Parkview Field, on Saturday, February 5 and Saturday, February 19 from 12 – 2 p.m. on both days.

The team is looking for friendly and energetic individuals to serve as Johnny TinCap, one of the most recognizable characters in not only the Fort Wayne area, but across all of Minor League Baseball. Previous experience as a mascot or entertainer is preferred, but not required.

This is a paid, seasonal, part-time position. Tryouts must be scheduled in advance by clicking here. TinCaps Community and Fan Engagement Manager Brenda Feasby will be in contact with those who submit the form to confirm the tryout date/time and other details.

Questions can be directed to Brenda by phone (260-407-2809) or email ([email protected]).

“These are big shoes to fill to be Johnny TinCap – figuratively and literally,” Feasby said. “Johnny plays a key role in helping create fun and meaningful experiences for our fans. And anyone who suits up as Johnny will certainly be a very valued and appreciated member of our TinCaps family.”

Click here for the TinCaps’ 2022 schedule, which includes 66 home games from April 12 – September 4. Team members are not expected to work all 66 games, though the more availability the better.

The TinCaps are also hiring for a variety of seasonal, part-time positions at Parkview Field. Those interested can apply at TinCapsJobs.com.

Season tickets and group outings are currently on sale, while tickets to single games will go on sale in mid-February (date to be announced soon).

Thanks in part to Johnny TinCap, Parkview Field has been rated by Stadium Journey as the No. 1 game-day experience for fans out of all 120 Minor League Baseball ballparks, including in 2021.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=IBbMzY9x8V8&feature=oembed

Swoop & Stu’s Reading Club Returns for 2022

 

SOUTH BEND, IN – With winter break over and many schools resuming class, the South Bend Cubs are proud to announce the return of Swoop & Stu’s Reading Club, presented by Indiana 811 and NIPSCO. Teachers and administrators have until February 7 to register.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR CLASS OR SCHOOL

Swoop and Stu’s Reading Club is an incentive-based reading program where teachers set goals for their students to match the reading levels in their classroom. Each goal corresponds with a base on a baseball diamond and intended to last four weeks. The program begins March 2 to coincide with National Read Across America Day established by the National Education Association (NEA).

Students will be rewarded with prizes from the South Bend Cubs and local businesses for each goal completed. After students complete all four bases, they will receive a complimentary ticket to a South Bend Cubs home game, valid for the school’s designated Reading Club Night.

Registration is open until February 7 with packets scheduled to be delivered to participating schools the week of February 21. South Bend Cubs mascots Stu and Swoop will make appearances to selected schools who participate in the program. Due to the number of requests, appearances are limited.

Teachers and administrators can contact South Bend Cubs Account Executive Kyle Vincent at [email protected] with questions or to sign up. Additional information can be found here.

About the South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs are the High-A minor league affiliate of the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. Over the past 34 years, the team has won four Midwest League titles, most recently in 2019, and has captured eight division titles. In 2019, the South Bend Cubs hosted the Midwest League All-Star Game. In June 2017, Four Winds Field, home of the South Bend Cubs, was voted Best Class A ballpark in the country by Ballpark Digest. In 2015 the team was named Ballpark Digest’s Team of the Year and received the John H. Johnson President’s Award, the highest award in minor league baseball. The team is owned and operated by Swing-Batter-Swing, LLC whose principal shareholder is Andrew T. Berlin of Chicago, Ill.

Part-time Positions Available for 2022 Timber Rattlers Season

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI – There are less than 90 days until Opening Night for the 2022 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers season and the team needs your help to provide a fun atmosphere during events at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

Part-time, game day positions are available for energetic and responsible people during the upcoming season. Applications are available at the business office Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm or on the team’s website.

There are openings in all departments, but the team is in special need of ushers, food & beverage workers, parking attendants, and ticket office and Snake Pit Team Store personnel. The Timber Rattlers are particularly interested in people who can begin in April. Applicants must turn 16 years of age on or before April 8, 2022.

Completed forms should be returned to Mary Robinson at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in person or through the mail:

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
ATTN: Mary Robinson
PO Box 7464
Appleton, WI 54912

A Job Fair is planned for Monday, February 21 at the ballpark from 4:00pm to 7:00pm with on-site interviews. More details about this event will be released next month.

If you want to get a jump on the hiring process and be a part of the team this season, fill out and return an application as soon as possible to help the Rattlers make a great season for everyone.

Registration Underway for National Anthem Tryouts

 

DAYTON, OHIO – A traditional sign that baseball season is just around the corner in the Miami Valley is National Anthem Tryouts, presented by the Dayton Daily News. Auditions for this summer’s national anthem performers will be VIRTUAL on the Dragons website.

Audition videos, which are being accepted in lieu of in-person auditions this year, can be submitted beginning Monday, January 10, and should be uploaded at www.daytondragons.com/nationalanthem.

Finalists will perform the national anthem at Dragons games throughout the season, with the grand prize winner performing on Opening Day 2022 before the Dragons host the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Friday, April 8 at 7:05 p.m.

In addition, 25 national anthem finalists will be selected to not only sing to a sold-out crowd at Day Air Ballpark, but also to the entire Miami Valley region! These individuals or groups will perform LIVE on the Dragons television broadcast for 25 games during the 2022 season – games are broadcast on WDTN’s Dayton CW.

Deadline to apply is Friday, February 11, 2022.

The Dayton Dragons reserve the right to change performance details throughout the season to ensure health and safety has been met for all performers, fans, and staff.

More Information: The Dayton Dragons are the High-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 66-game home schedule at beautiful Day Air Ballpark in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling at (937) 228-2287, emailing at [email protected], or on the web at daytondragons.com.

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Annual West Michigan Whitecaps Fundraiser has a New Look in February

 

Comstock Park, MI – – Tuesday, January 4, 2022 – – The Whitecaps Community Foundation announced a new look for their annual fundraiser in 2022. Past events were featured as a banquet and the Detroit Tigers caravan was the highlight. This year’s event will again support local youth baseball and softball, but with a few changes.

This February, the Whitecaps will celebrate The Golden Age of Baseball, during what is now called the Whitecaps Winter Gala presented by Eastbrook Homes. Proceeds benefit the YMCA Ted Rasberry Youth League and the Detroit Tigers Foundation, an affiliate of Ilitch Charities.

Since its inception, the Ted Rasberry Youth League has given more than 30,000 children a chance to play baseball and softball each summer. The program provides uniform hats and t-shirts, teaches kids baseball skills, provides healthy meals, helps kids make long-lasting friendships and the opportunity for fun during the summer.

“In classic Whitecaps tradition, we’re stepping up our entertainment game this year,” said Whitecaps Community Relations Manager, Jenny Garone. “Not only is the event in downtown Grand Rapids at the Public Museum, but we’ll also have live music, an auction, a strolling dinner, and guests will be dressed in 1920s attire as we’re celebrating the Golden Age of Baseball.”

Former major leaguer Craig Monroe is scheduled to speak at the gala (see attached photos, biography below). Monroe played six seasons with the Detroit Tigers during a career that spanned nine years: 2001– 2009.

“Baseball is what we do” Garone added. ‘We’re thrilled to be joined by former Tiger Craig Monroe who will visit and give a keynote talk. It’s all about raising funds so kids get the opportunity to have fun next summer. It’s a tradition and a party West Michigan won’t want to miss. We expect a sellout.”

The Whitecaps and the venue continue to monitor the community spread of COVID 19 and how current transmission rates may impact masking and vaccination requirements for this event. Further updates on these requirements will be provided in the coming weeks.

The Whitecaps Community Foundation The Golden Age of Baseball Winter Gala presented by Eastbrook Homes is Thursday, February 3rd at 6:00 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

Tickets are available at now at https://WCFgala22.givesmart.com.

About West Michigan Whitecaps: The Whitecaps minor league baseball team was established in 1994. The Whitecaps are the High- A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers and play in the Eastern Division of the High-A Central League. The team’s home games are played in West Michigan’s favorite, largest, outdoor, multi-purpose venue, LMCU Ballpark. For more information on Whitecaps and LMCU Ballpark visit whitecapsbaseball.com or contact Steve VanWagoner at [email protected] or 616.318.8949.

About Craig Monroe: Former Tigers outfielder Craig Monroe returns for his 11th season as a studio analyst for the Detroit Tigers on Bally Sports Detroit. He also occasionally serves as an analyst on game broadcasts.

• Monroe played nine seasons in the majors with the Texas Rangers (2001), Detroit Tigers (2002-07), Chicago Cubs (2007), Minnesota Twins (2008) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2009). He was originally drafted in the eighth round of the 1995 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Rangers.

• The Texarkana, TX, native joined the Detroit Tigers organization on February 1, 2002, when he was selected off waivers from the Rangers. He played his first full season in 2003, hitting 23 home runs.

• On July 19, 2006, Monroe hit a grand slam home run off Javier Vazquez of the Chicago White Sox that was decisive in the Tigers’ 5-2 win. A career .252 hitter, he recorded career highs with 28 homers and 92 RBI with Detroit in 2006. He also hit five home runs in the 2006 postseason, which culminated in a World Series appearance. Monroe tied the Tigers’ career postseason record set by Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg.

• Craig and his wife, Kasey, have three children, Morgan, Cannon and Collin.

• Follow Monroe on Twitter at @CMo_27