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.

Top 5 Black Players in Nashville Sounds 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.”

Here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Nashville Sounds.

Skeeter Barnes

William Henry “Skeeter” Barnes III ranks as one of the all-time fan favorites at old Greer Stadium and currently stands as the Nashville Sounds all-time leader in hits (517), at-bats (1,898) and games played (514) and ranks second in doubles (94) and runs scored (237), and third in RBI (232).

He played two stints with the Sounds, in 1979 (Double-A, Cincinnati Reds) and again from 1988-90 (Triple-A, Cincinnati Reds).

Barnes enjoyed success during both stints as a member of the Sounds. He was a member of Nashville’s first Southern League championship-winning squad in 1979, pacing the club with 145 games played in his second year as a pro.

He excelled at the plate during his second go-round in Music City as he led the Triple-A American Association with 39 doubles in 1989 and earned a spot on the league’s postseason All-Star team. In 1990, he led the circuit with 156 hits and also ranked among league leaders with 83 runs scored and 34 stolen bases. He helped guide the Sounds to a berth in the American Association Championship Series in which they fell in the best-of-five series, 3-2.

The 16-year veteran spent time in the Cincinnati, Montreal, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Detroit organizations during his career after being selected by the Reds in the first round (16th overall selection) of the 1978 June Draft.

Barnes’ versatility as a utility player earned him a spot on several big league teams. He spent parts of nine major league seasons with the Reds, Expos, Cardinals and Tigers, and hit .259 over 353 games. He played seven different positions at the major-league level.

Skeeter Barnes’ #00 was retired by the Nashville Sounds in the early 1990s.

Prince Fielder

One of the most feared hitters during his prime, Prince Fielder’s final stop in the minor leagues before Major League stardom was with the Nashville Sounds during the 2005 season. Fielder was part of a loaded Nashville squad that included other Brewers’ top prospects such as Rickie Weeks, Nelson Cruz, Corey Hart, Dave Krynzel and Brad Nelson. The 2005 Nashville team is the franchise’s last to win a League Championship.

Fielder was drafted by Milwaukee with the 7th overall pick of the 2002 June Draft and quickly climbed the minor league ranks. At just 20 years old, Fielder took the Pacific Coast League by storm and hit .291 with 21 doubles, 28 home runs and 86 RBI before getting called up by the Brewers for the final time in mid-August.

In his first full big-league season in 2006, Fielder clubbed 28 home runs and 35 doubles to go with 81 RBI. He finished 7th in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. It was a sign of things to come for the young slugger.

He hit an NL-leading 50 home runs in 2007, scored 109 runs and drove in 119 on his way to his first Major League All-Star Game. He finished 3rd in the NL MVP voting, one of three times he finished in the top-5 (2009, 2011).

Fielder played seven seasons for the Milwaukee Brewers before signing with the Detroit Tigers prior to the 2012 season. In two seasons with Detroit, Fielder didn’t miss a single regular season game and knocked in 214 runs.

He was traded to the Texas Rangers prior to the 2014 season and went on to play in parts of three seasons with Texas before injuries cut his career short at just 32 years old.

Fielder was a six-time MLB All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger winner and a two-time Home Run Derby Champion. He played in over 1,600 big league games and drove in 1,028 runs. He finished his career with 321 doubles and 319 home runs.

Otis Nixon

17-year Major League veteran Otis Nixon spent parts of two seasons with the Sounds in 1981 and 1982. Nixon is the Sounds’ all-time leader in stolen bases with 133 after swiping a franchise record 72 bags in 1981 and 61 in 1982.

Nixon and the 1982 Sounds club went on to win the Southern League Championship as the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees.

Following his 199-game career with Nashville, Nixon saw big league action for the first time in 1983 when he played in 13 games with the Yankees.

The speedy center fielder went on to play in 1,709 Major League games. In addition to New York-AL, he logged big league action with Cleveland, Montreal, Atlanta, Boston, Texas, Toronto, Los Angeles-NL and Minnesota. Nixon notched 620 stolen bases in his Major League career – the 16th-most in baseball history. He recorded 50 or more stolen bases five times in his career (1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997).

Willie McGee

Before he was the 1985 National League MVP, Willie McGee was a Nashville Sound. The long-time St. Louis Cardinals outfielder began his Sounds career in 1980 when he was just 21 years old. McGee played 78 games for Nashville in 1980 and another 100 games in 1981. During the two years, McGee was with the Sounds, the club racked up 178 wins as the New York Yankees’ Southern League Double-A affiliate.

McGee broke into the big leagues in 1982 and never looked back on his way to an 18-year big league career. He finished 3rd in National League Rookie of the Year voting and helped the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series Championship. His second year in the big leagues included a Gold Glove award and his first All-Star Game selection.

The 1985 season brought a whole new level of success for the 26-year-old McGee. In his fourth big league season, McGee led the National League with a .353 average, 216 hits and 18 triples while swiping 56 bases. Not only did he earn NL MVP honors, but he also garnered his second All-Star nod, his second Gold Glove award and his first Silver Slugger award.

McGee added All-Star Game appearances in 1987 and 1988. In the second half of his career, McGee briefly played for Oakland before spending four years in San Francisco and a season in Boston before returning to St. Louis for the final four years of his career.

The California native played in 2,201 games and amassed 2,254 hits, 1,010 runs scored, 350 doubles, 856 RBI and 352 stolen bases.

James Baldwin

One of the best pitchers in Nashville Sounds history is none other than James Baldwin. The right-hander spent parts of four seasons (1993-96) with the club and is among career leaders in several pitching categories.

Baldwin ranks among career leaders in strikeouts (4th, 321), starts (6th, 56) and wins (10th, 23). The North Carolina native went 5-4 with a 2.74 ERA in 10 starts in 1993 and followed it in 1994 by going 12-6 with a 3.72 ERA in 26 starts. Baldwin’s success was a major factor in both of those Sounds teams winning 80+ games.

The former top prospect in the White Sox organization made his Major League debut in 1995 and went on to pitch in parts of 11 seasons in the big leagues. In 266 career Major League games, Baldwin went 79-74 with a 5.01 ERA. In 1996, Baldwin finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting after he went 11-6 with a 4.42 ERA. In 2000, he won 14 games and was an American League All-Star.

Baldwin pitched for Chicago-AL, Los Angeles-NL, Seattle, Minnesota, New York-NL, Baltimore and Texas.

Spectra To Host Hiring Event At MGM Park on February 2

 

Spectra Food Services, the official concessionaire of MGM Park, will host a hiring event at MGM Park on Wednesday, February 2 from 5 to 7 pm.

Available jobs for the 2022 season include cooks, suite attendants, food runners, bartenders, dishwashers, warehouse workers and help with food preparation. Interested applicants can enter the ballpark through the commissary area, located behind home plate at the ballpark. Applicants can park in the lot on the northeast side of the stadium, located off the corner of Caillavet and Howard Avenue.

Applications are also available online through Spectra’s website here.

The Biloxi Shuckers open their seventh season on the road against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Friday, April 8. Biloxi then returns to MGM Park for their home opener against the Mississippi Braves on Tuesday, April 12. Shuck Nation Memberships, Flex Plans and group outings are now available for the 2022 season and individual tickets will go on sale at a later date. Event spaces at MGM Park can be booked for private events during the offseason by calling (228) 233-3465.

Prior to the start of the Shuckers’ season, MGM Park will host a Top 25 college baseball matchup on March 8 and 9 as the defending national champion Mississippi State Bulldogs, ranked the #3 team in Baseball America’s preseason poll, take on the #23 ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders. Suites are sold out for both games, but individual tickets are available for both games at biloxishuckers.com.

ABOUT THE BILOXI SHUCKERS:

The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Shuckers play at MGM Park in Biloxi, Mississippi and are members of the Double-A South. For more information, please visit biloxishuckers.comand follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.

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.

Timber Rattlers Give Back Announces End-of-Year Funds Raised

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI – Timber Rattlers Give Back, the official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, raised more than $185,000 through the Foundation’s events, programs, donations, and fundraising initiatives in 2021.

“The Timber Rattlers are fortunate to live in a supportive community and the team works hard to develop and implement programs and events to give back to the community,” said Dayna Baitinger, Director of Community Relations for the team.

Nine jersey auctions held during the season were the main fundraisers for the Timber Rattlers this year. The auctions included team-worn jerseys based on promotions for the Udder Tuggers, Los Cascabeles, Military Appreciation, Milwaukee Brewers, and Video Game.

The team is finalizing their jersey designs for the 2022 season and will unveil those designs early next year.

The annual Charity Golf Outing which was held on Tuesday, September 21 was another significant fundraiser. Nearly 100 area golfers and front office personnel collected $15,000 through the golf and raffles that were held after the outing.

An almost daily driver of donations to Give Back was the 50/50 Raffle that was held during every home game during the 2021 season. Fifty percent of all money raised during each night’s raffle went to the person with the winning ticket and the other fifty percent went to the foundation. There was over $65,000 raised for charity through the raffle during the year. The largest fund-raising night of the 50/50 raffle during the 2021 season was on Saturday, August 14 with the winner collecting $2,304 and the same amount going to Give Back.

Whiffer’s Fitness Program and Fang’s Reading Club were popular program run by the team for area youth through the mascots. The reading club is an incentive-based program that allows schools in Northeastern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula to get children from Kindergarten through fifth grade involved in reading. The fitness program helped to get kids in the Fox Cities to get and stay active.

Wisconsin front office members tended to their on-site vegetable garden to grow and harvest over 400 pounds of food in the Greenstone Farm Credit Services Ballpark Garden at Neuroscience Group Field. The harvest was taken to St. Joe’s Food Pantry. Fang celebrated his birthday in August with his annual Cans for Cake food drive and over 500 pounds of non-perishable food items were collected and donated to St. Joe’s.

Some of the charities helped by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2021 included Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Fox Valley Veterans Council, Children’s Cancer Family Foundation of Northeast Wisconsin, St. Joe’s Food Pantry, Harvest of Hope Fund, Hunger Task Force, Community Christmas, Fond du Lac Salvation Army, The Salvation Army-Fox Cities, Treffert Center, and Miracle League of the Fox Valley.

Additionally, 2,000 hats were presented to area Little League programs. Numerous other charities received over 10,000 ticket vouchers to be used in their own fundraisers by the Rattlers.

Timber Rattlers Give Back was established in 2019 and is dedicated to making a positive difference in our community. We aim to provide financial support and help raise awareness of charitable causes in the Fox Valley community in the areas of education, youth sports, and basic needs by using the platform made possible by Minor League Baseball and stadium ownership.

Thank you to everyone who assisted in our charitable works in 2021. We could not have accomplished this without the support of the players, coaches, and community. We look forward to growing Give Back even more in 2022.

Timber Rattlers Give Back Announces Donation Match for Salvation Army Kettle Campaign This Friday

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI – Timber Rattlers Give Back will participate in the Salvation Army’s Donation Match Program on Friday, December 17. The official charitable foundation of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will match up to $2,500 of donations to Salvation Army kettles in the Fox Cities Region this Friday.

Timber Rattlers staff members will be ringing bells for the Salvation Army Fox Cities at the Festival Foods located at 1200 West Northland Avenue from 8:00am to 4:00pm on December 17 with appearances from Fang and Whiffer during the day.

Give Back is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2019 and dedicated to making a positive difference in our community. It aims to provide financial support and help raise awareness of charitable causes in the Fox Valley community in the areas of education, youth sports, and basic needs.

Fang Hosting Breakfast with Santa Presented by EatStreet on December 4 

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI – Fang T. Rattler had to take a year off from hosting one of his favorite events and he is excited to announce the return of Breakfast with Santa presented by EatStreet in the Fox Communities Credit Union Fox Club at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium from 9:00am to 11:00am on Saturday, December 4. Make reservations by Wednesday, November 24 because there is limited space for this event.

The event is $10 for adults and $5 for children between the ages of three and twelve. Children aged two and under may attend for free. Breakfast includes eggs, pancakes, sausage, donut holes, coffee, and juice.

Santa will be the guest of honor and Fang will have a place for attendees to decorate Christmas cookies, too.

You may make a reservation for Breakfast with Santa in person at the ticket office, by calling (920) 733-4152, or online through the Timber Rattlers website.

Memberships for the 2022 Fang’s Kids’ Crew presented by Jack’s Pizza and Badger Sports Park will be available for purchase in early December. Membership is $30 and includes the following:

Official Kids’ Crew T-Shirt
Official Kids’ Crew Autograph Book
Official Kids’ Crew Drawstring Backpack
A 15% Discount in the Snake Pit Team Store
Twelve Reserved Seat Ticket Vouchers for free admission to all Sunday home games in the 2022 regular season
And more!

The Snake Pit Team Store will be open from 10:00am to 3:00pm on December 4 to allow attendees to get some early Christmas shopping done. There will be more information on extended holiday store hours, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday later this month.

Rattlers & Scheels Host Trick-or-Treat at the Ballpark on October 31

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI – Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium is the place to be for Halloween! The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and Scheels will host a free Trick-or-Treat event for kids at the ballpark on Sunday, October 31 from noon to 3:00pm. Make sure to attend in costume.

There will be food trucks outside the stadium to provide refreshments during the event and participating sponsors will be set up on the concourse with treats for the children. There will be Halloween-themed games to play, too.

Make the stadium your first stop for the day and you will still have time to make it out in time for Trick-or-Treat in your town.

Fang’s Reading Club Returns

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI – School is back in session and so is Fang’s Reading Club! Teachers may begin enrolling their schools in the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers program that encourages reading development in children from grades K through 5! This year’s program is presented by Fox Communities Credit Union, Badger Sports Park, Myndology, and EatStreet. Teachers and reading coordinators have until December 31 to get involved in this program.

Registration can be done through the website set up at FangsReadingClub.com. You may also check out other details on the program at that link.

Personnel at participating schools have the flexibility to design the program to meet the needs of their students. Students who meet all their goals for the program are rewarded with a FREE ticket as part of their school’s Family Night at a Timber Rattlers game in 2022. Sponsors and the Timber Rattlers will have a special prize waiting for those who complete the program at the ballpark when they attend their game!

The Timber Rattlers and the sponsors of Fang’s Reading Club will provide:

  • An introductory letter to be sent to parents at the start of the program.
  • Baseball related verification aids to help parents and teachers track the progress of participants.
  • A FREE ticket to a 2022 Timber Rattlers home game with a hot dog & soda voucher for students who complete the program.
  • Home Run Prize to be redeemed by students on their School’s Family Night at the Ballpark.
  • An easy, online ticket ordering option.
  • Information to aid schools in setting up their Family Night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

You may also download this year’s Reading Club brochure here.

The club had 125 schools and over 25,000 students participate in the program last year. Fang wants to make this year’s club even bigger and he needs you!

Contact Dayna Baitinger at [email protected] or (920) 733-4152 if you have any questions or would like to register your school for Fang’s Reading Club.

Sounds Partner with Nashville RBI for Triple-A Final Stretch

Minor League Baseball has announced the creation of a charitable component to the 10-game Triple-A Final Stretch of games that will benefit 501(c)3 charities in each Triple-A city. The Nashville Sounds are proud to partner with Nashville RBI for the “Homers That Help” campaign.

For each home run hit by the Sounds during the Triple-A Final Stretch, Minor League Baseball will donate $50 per home run to Nashville RBI, the charity selected by the Sounds. The team that hits the most home runs over the 10-game span will generate an extra $5,000 donation for their charity.

“Minor League Baseball teams have long been great community partners, and we are pleased to make a donation to each of these local charities on behalf of our Triple-A teams for their performance during the Triple-A Final Stretch,” said Major League Baseball’s Vice President, Minor League Operations and Development, Peter Woodfork. “These charities provide a variety of valuable services to their community, and it is our honor to recognize their efforts.”

Nashville RBI’s (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) mission is to provide the youth of Nashville the opportunity to play baseball and softball from the age of 5 to 18. Nashville RBI believes all youth should have an opportunity to participate in structured athletic programs that are both affordable and conveniently located in the communities in which they live.

The Nashville Sounds are the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers and play at First Horizon Park. Single-game tickets are on sale now for all remaining 2021 home games. For more information call 615-690-4487 or e-mail [email protected].

Shuckers Donate Equipment To Stone County High School

 

Following the conclusion of the 2021 season, the Biloxi Shuckers players collected baseball equipment and apparel that was donated to Stone County High School on Tuesday.

Spearheaded by pitcher Noah Zavolas, the Shuckers’ players collected lightly used cleats, turf shoes, apparel and any other equipment that could be utilized by the Stone County baseball team.

“If it helps even one kid or baseball player continue his career or feel better about his career, then this was a win,” said Zavolas. “Minor League Baseball is here to engage with different baseball programs. With COVID it made it difficult for us to interact with programs and players, but this was something we were able to do and give back in a small way.”

“It helps us even if we can’t use every piece of equipment,” said Stone County Athletic Director Adam Stone. “Our kids are excited. Who doesn’t like to get something donated that you didn’t have to pay for, and mom and dad didn’t have to pay for, that makes what you do a little easier?”

Stone County played for the Mississippi 4A South State Championship in the 2020-21 season, and prior to 2020 Spring Training Zavolas stopped in the Biloxi area and worked out at Stone County, getting to know their players and head coach Sean Miller. With a color scheme that matches the Shuckers, Stone County was a natural fit for the teams’ donation.

“As Pros, a lot of this stuff gets sent to us for free, and you can forget that baseball is an expensive sport if you’re buying all of your own gear,” said Zavolas. “If that pair of cleats has 50 games left in them, let’s get those 50 games out of them.”

“Receiving this donation helps what we’re trying to do, which is just get better,” said Stone. “If you can improve every day then you’re going to be on the right path.”

The 2022 Biloxi Shuckers schedule has been announced and Shuck Nation Memberships, Flex Plans and group outings are now available for the 2022 season. Event spaces at MGM Park can be booked for private events during the offseason by calling (228) 271-3486.

ABOUT THE BILOXI SHUCKERS:

The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Shuckers play at MGM Park in Biloxi, Mississippi and are members of the Double-A South. For more information, please visit biloxishuckers.comand follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.

Sounds Donate $10,000 and Supplies to Aid in Flood Recovery Efforts 

 

The Nashville Sounds Baseball Club, on behalf of owners Frank Ward and Masahiro Honzawa, has announced a donation of $10,000 to the Humphreys County Relief Fund to assist in the Humphreys County and Midstate flood recovery efforts.

In addition to the monetary donation made by the Sounds, the Nashville Sounds Foundation is currently accepting donations to via Venmo at @NashvilleSoundsFoundation. All funds raised via Venmo will also be donated to the Humphreys County Relief Fund. The Sounds will also be donating all dog ticket money ($5 per ticket) from the July 27 Tito’s Tail Waggin’ Tuesday game to the Humphreys County Humane Society.

“The loss of life and devastation from the recent flooding is tragic,” said Sounds co-owner Frank Ward. “The Midstate area has been through a great deal of unfortunate events over the last 18 months and the Nashville Sounds Baseball Club will continue to assist in every way possible. Aside from a monetary donation, rest assured our incredible front office will lend helping hands over the coming weeks and months.”

The Sounds are providing multiple ways for fans to donate necessary items to those in need. The team accepted donations throughout the recent homestand and will continue to do so until Friday, September 3. Fans can bring items such as diapers, paper towels, batteries, towels, baby formula, etc. to the Club and Suite entrance at First Horizon Park. All items donated will be dropped off at McEwen High School. Additionally, the Nashville Sounds Foundation has set up an Amazon Wish List here for those unavailable to drop off items at the ballpark.

Over the coming weeks and months, the Nashville Sounds Front Office will volunteer their time and assist in the recovery efforts in Humphreys County and the surrounding areas. Led by award-winning Head Groundskeeper Thomas Trotter, the Sounds’ grounds crew will assist in the rebuilding of numerous baseball fields in the area. Schools/fields in the affected area that need assistance should send an e-mail to [email protected].

The mission of the Nashville Sounds Foundation is to utilize baseball to positively impact communities throughout Middle Tennessee by emphasizing the importance of social responsibility, education, and the power of sports to transform lives.

The Nashville Sounds are the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers and play at First Horizon Park. Single-game tickets are on sale now for all remaining 2021 home games. For more information call 615-690-4487 or e-mail [email protected].

Sounds Announce Online Auction of Camouflage Military Jerseys

 

The Nashville Sounds Baseball Club announced today an online auction of their game-used Military Appreciation Jerseys to benefit the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center at Middle Tennessee State University. The auction begins today and runs until Friday, Aug. 13 at 6:00 p.m.

The Sounds wore the camouflage military jerseys during the 2019 season and twice so far in 2021 – Saturday, May 15 and on Saturday, July 3. The club will wear them for a final time as part of Military Appreciation Night on Sunday, Aug. 8.

Bids for the jerseys are now being accepted at https://bit.ly/SoundsMilitaryJerseyAuction.

The Sounds offer military family ticket discounts for every game at First Horizon Park. A $2 discount on single-game ticket prices is available for any Reserved Section seat – based on availability. The offer is valid for up to four tickets per government-issued military I.D. presented at the Sounds Ticket Office.

The Daniels Center at MTSU is the largest and most comprehensive veterans center on any public higher education campus. It enables the over 1,200 military-connected student population at MTSU to have a one-stop shop to meet a variety of academic needs. It also allows military-connected students to study, gather, and get help from fellow veterans, who will serve as peer advisors and sponsors.

The center is also a resource for veterans and their families without the restriction or requirement to be students, faculty or staff at MTSU. To find out more, go to mtsu.edu/military.

The Nashville Sounds are the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers and play at First Horizon Park. Single-game tickets are on sale now for all remaining 2021 home games. For more information call 615-690-4487 or e-mail [email protected].

Timber Rattlers to Host Scheels Kids’ Camp on July 29

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are announcing the return of the Scheels Baseball Camp for children between the ages of eight and twelve when they host a camp at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Thursday, July 29. This camp is limited to 125 participants.

Register your child by following this link to the registration form on the Timber Rattlers website on July 21 at 10:00 am.

The ballpark will be open for participants to check-in on July 29 starting at 1:15pm. The camp will be held on the field with instruction from players and coaches in fielding, hitting, pitching, and running the bases from 2:00pm to 3:30pm. All registered participants receive a free camp T-shirt from Scheels and a free Timber Rattlers ticket voucher.

Fans with questions about the camp should contact Dayna Baitinger – [email protected].

Remember, space is limited to 125 participants. Make sure your child gets the opportunity to learn from the Timber Rattlers.

Neuroscience Group Field is a NO PEANUT ZONE on July 20 and July 21

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are announcing the return of their Peanut-Free Games at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium when they return home next week. The games on Tuesday, July 20 and Wednesday, July 21 against the South Bend Cubs will be Peanut-Free. This will be the twelfth season in a row for the Rattlers to hold at least one Peanut-Free Game to allow fans with peanut allergies the opportunity to attend games.

The stadium will be cleaned and rinsed this week while the team is away to remove as much peanut residue from the seats, the concourse, and other areas of the ballpark as possible. Even though peanuts and products made with nuts or peanut oil will not be sold, the Timber Rattlers cannot guarantee that all peanut residues will be out of the ballpark. However, every effort will be made for a peanut-free environment.

In addition to being Peanut-Free, there are other promotions scheduled for both games.

The game on Tuesday, July 20 is a 7:05pm start and features an appearance from Pikachu as part of Pokémania Night. The first 1,000 fans to attend this game will receive a Timber Rattlers t-shirt from 5g Benefits. It’s also a Bang for Your Buck Night presented by NEW Manufacturing Alliance with Y100 and all fans may enjoy a Cher-Make hotdog for $1 and a 16-ounce Pepsi product for $1. Fans of legal drinking age may have a 12-ounce domestic beer for $2.

The game on Wednesday, July 21 starts at 12:05pm for a Kids Rock the Ballpark Day with plenty of special surprises for the kids. It’s also a day for the seniors as fans 55 & older may choose the Silver Foxes Deal from Primrose Retirement Community of Appleton with a box seat ticket, a bucket hat or seat cushion, a beverage, and a brat or hotdog for just $17. The Silver Foxes offer is available in advance over the phone or in person on the day of the game. I may not be combined with a ticket that has already been purchased. This is a day for the dogs, too, as fans can bring their pups to the ballpark with a seat on the left field berm waiting for them for a Bark in the Park game presented by Fox Valley Humane Association, Fleet Farm, and WVBO.

Tickets for Peanut-Free Games on July 20 and July 21 are available online, over the phone at (920) 733-4152, or in person. The Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium Box Office is open from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.