Pittsburgh Pirates

Get Your Pink On!

August 1, 2013

Friday, August 9 Game to Include a Cancer Survivor Walk, Pink Jersey Auction, Pink Bra Contest, Happy Hour Specials, and a Balloon Pop With Great Prizes

Bradenton, Fla. – The Bradenton Marauders will host the fourth annual Get Your Pink On! breast cancer awareness night at McKechnie Field on Friday, August 9. Get Your Pink On! is presented by Florida Cancer Specialists and Research Institute with media partner ABC 7. The Marauders face the St. Lucie Mets at 6:30 p.m., with gates opening at 5:30 p.m.

The entire night will be dedicated to raising money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. Before the game, cancer survivors will have the opportunity to be recognized on field. A Survivors Walk around the warning track will be held at 6:00 p.m.

The Marauders will wear pink jerseys which will be available for auction during the game. Winning bidders will be invited to receive the jersey directly from the player wearing it after the game. Players will autograph the jersey and pose for pictures with winning bidders. In addition to the jerseys, autographed pink bats will also be up for bid.

Fans can participate in a “pay to pop” balloon pop with great prizes available, with all prizes valued at a minimum of $10 each. Fans are encouraged to come dressed in pink and to bring their uniquely decorated pink bra to the ballpark. Prizes for the best-decorated pink bra will be awarded via fan vote during the game. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society. Other opportunities to help the Marauders raise funds for the American Cancer Society will be available throughout the game.

Every Friday home game is a Happy Hour Friday presented by Pier 22 Restaurant. From 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., 500 free hot dogs will be given away at the outfield concessions stand and $1 sodas and $1 domestic draft beers will be sold at the Kona Bar Built by NDC Construction and the Yuengling Plaza Bar thanks to Kayem and Cheney Brothers.

The McKechnie Field ticket office is open on non-game days from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday-Friday and closed on weekend non-game days. On Monday-Saturday game days, the ticket office opens at 1:00 p.m. and closes at the conclusion of the game. On Sunday game days and special games with 10 a.m. start times, the ticket office opens two hours prior to the game.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Bradenton Marauders. Click here to view the original story.

Jamestown Jammers to Hold Can Food Drive

July 12, 2013

Team up with Area Credit Unions & Harley-Davidson of Jamestown

Jamestown, NY- For the fourth straight year, the Jamestown Jammers will team up with the Jamestown Chapter of the Credit Union Association of New York for a canned food drive. New this year, Harley-Davidson of Jamestown has joined the event to bring extra support to the Community. This drive will benefit the St. Susan Center in Jamestown and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Youth Organization in Dunkirk.

The food drive will take place at a Jammers game on July 18^th against the Connecticut Tigers at 7:05 p.m. Items will start being collected at the gates when they open at 6:00pm. A Harley-Davidson trailer will be on site at Diethrick Park to collect non-perishable food items. All fans who donate will have a chance to win a wide array of prizes; the more items fans donate the more chances they will have to WIN! The prizes include amongst other items, $250 worth of Harley-Davidson items, autographed balls, and team signed bats.

Last year, the Jammers and the local credit unions combined to collect 500 pounds of food to benefit the St. Susan Center, which provides hot, nutritious meals to those in need and the CYO which also helps feed the hungry through its food closet program. In the past three years, over 1,250 pounds of food have been donated.

This year, the participating Credit Unions from the Jamestown Chapter are; Affinity One FCU, Cattaraugus County EFCU, Greater Chautauqua FCU, Inner Lakes FCU, Jamestown Area Community FCU, Jamestown Post Office ECU, Southern Chautauqua FCU, and SUNY Fredonia FCU to collect food for both food banks.

Tickets are available for next Thursday’s game at all of the Credit Union locations listed above, plus at Harley-Davidson of Jamestown’s store front. Fans need to bring their tickets to the park along with at least one non-perishable food item for admission to the game and a chance at the prizes being given out.

The Jamestown Jammers are a short-season Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The team is owned by Rich Products Corporation, which also owns two other minor league teams. For more information about the Jammers or a complete schedule of games and promotions, visit www.jamestownjammers.com.

Jamestown Jammers Baseball…”The BUCS Start Here!”

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Jamestown Jammers. Click here to view the original story.

New York-Penn League Announces 2013 Scholarship Competition

May 22, 2013

Graduating high school seniors from each of the league’s 14 markets competing for over $10,000

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – The Class-A Short-Season New York-Penn League and its member clubs are proud to announce that the league’s philanthropic arm, the NYPL Charitable Foundation, will once again award over $10,000 in scholarships this summer to deserving high school graduates from the league’s 14 markets.

Now in its fifth year, the 2013 NYPL Scholarship Contest is open to any graduating senior from a public or private high school within the league’s footprint. Any student who has been accepted at a two or four-year college or university, vocational school, or technical education institution is eligble. Applicants will be judged based on academic performance, volunteer and extracurricular activities, and the impact their local NYPL club and Minor League Baseball have had on their lives.

The scholarship contest will consist of two stages – a local round and a divisional round. In the local stage, students will apply directly to their local NYPL team, with one applicant chosen by each of the 14 teams to advance to the divisional/final round. The 14 finalists will be separated by the division of the team they represent. The winning application from each of the NYPL’s three divisions (McNamara, Pinckney and Stedler) will receive the top prize of a $2,500 scholarship. All other finalists will receive a $250 book award.

“The New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation and our 14 member clubs are committed to giving back to our local communities and our annual scholarship competition has become one of the anchors of our community outreach program over the past five years,” said Ben J. Hayes, President of the New York-Penn League. “In addition to selecting those students who meet and exceed traditional scholarship criteria, we enjoy being able to assist those who have enjoyed many special memories with their hometown team over the years.”

The New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation initiated the scholarship program in 2009 as a way to assist high school seniors from within our league’s footprint who not only meet and exceed traditional scholarship criteria, but have also demonstrated the positive benefits their local NYPL club has had on their life,” said Ben J. Hayes, President of the New York-Penn League. “The Foundation is pleased to have this scholarship program in place and to support our 14 member clubs in their year-round community outreach efforts.”

High school seniors interested in entering the 2013 Scholarship Contest can obtain the official application from the Jamestown Jammers front office located at Diethrick Park, by clicking here or by visiting the league’s official website, New York-Penn League.com.

The deadline to submit applications to the Jammers front office is June 28, 2013. Each club’s winner, including the three $2,500 scholarship recipients, will be selected in late July and honored at a game in August.

The New York-Penn League and its 14 member clubs created the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, in 2003. The mission of the Foundation is to provide focus and support for the collective and individual charitable and community efforts of the New York-Penn League, its Clubs, and their staff.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Jamestown Jammers. Click here to view the original story.

Circuit Of Fun Scout Night

May 2, 2013

Circuit Festivities Include Food, Games & Player Appearances

The Circuit of Fun Scout Night will officially kick off the 2013 slate of Boy and Girl Scout events.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Indians will officially kick off their 2013 slate of Boy and Girl Scout events with the Tribe’s first ever Circuit of Fun Scout Night. This year’s new event is set for Saturday, May 11 and will include an exciting pre-game Scout party before the Tribe’s 7:05 p.m. contest against Toledo.

Scout groups participating in the first annual Circuit of Fun Scout Night will be treated to free games in the PNC Plaza located in center field, and have the option of purchasing a discounted food and drink package during the pre-game party, scheduled from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Tribe’s award-winning mascot Rowdie will also be on hand to sign autographs and entertain patrons, as well as several players from the first-place Indianapolis Indians squad. Tickets to the Circuit of Fun Scout Night include admission to the regularly scheduled Indians game, a special patch to commemorate the event and the opportunity to stick around after the evening’s contest to run the bases.

The Tribe’s Circuit of Fun Night is only the first of four fantastic scouting events scheduled this year at Victory Field. The Indians will also be hosting overnight Boy Scout Campouts on Friday, June 7 and Friday, June 28, as well as a Girl Scout Campout on Friday, June 21.

Reservations for the first annual Circuit of Fun Night and the Boy and Girl Scout Campouts, which historically sell out, can be made by visiting IndyIndians.com or calling the Victory Field Box Office at (317) 269-3545.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Indianapolis Indians. Click here to view the original story.

Scout Events At Victory Field

April 11, 2013

Schedule Includes Three Campouts and Circuit of Fun Night

Victory Field will host several exciting Scout Events during the 2013 season.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Indians are proud to announce the 2013 schedule of the annual Boy and Girl Scout events at Victory Field. This year’s slate will include three overnight campouts, as well as the Tribe’s first ever Circuit of Fun Scout Night on Saturday, May 11, which will include pre-game festivities and a post-game bases run.

Scout groups participating in the first annual Circuit of Fun Scout Night will be treated to free games in the PNC Plaza located in center field, and have the option of purchasing a discounted food and drink package during the pre-game party, scheduled from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Tribe’s award-winning mascot Rowdie will also be on hand to sign autographs and entertain patrons, as well as several players from the 2013 Indianapolis Indians squad. Tickets to the Circuit of Fun Scout Night include admission to the regularly scheduled Indians game, a special patch to commemorate the event and the opportunity to stick around after the evening’s contest to run the bases.

Victory Field will turn into an overnight camp ground for troops, dens and packs during the Tribe’s Boy and Girl Scouts Campout events. The fun-filled evening will begin with the regularly scheduled Indians game, followed by a fantastic fireworks show. Campout participants can remain in the ballpark after the game and are treated to popcorn and a movie on the videoboard. Scout groups will also have the opportunity to take to the Tribe’s outfield to set up their tents for the evening, with the grand event being capped off by breakfast on Saturday morning.

Overnight Boy Scout Campouts are set for Friday, June 7 when the Indians take on the Durham Bulls at 7:15 p.m., and Friday, June 28, as the Tribe battles the Rochester Red Wings at 7:15 p.m. The Girl Scout Campout is scheduled Friday, June 21 immediately following the 7:15 p.m. contest between the Tribe and the Charlotte Knights.

Reservations for the Boy and Girl Scout Campouts, which historically sell out, and the first annual Circuit of Fun Night can be made by clicking here or calling the Victory Field Box Office at (317) 269-3545.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Indianapolis Indians. Click here to view the original story.

Pirates Charities Presents Gift to Boys and Girls Clubs

April 8, 2013

$62,000 raised during Spring Training presented at Marauders opener

Pirates Charities, the official Philanthropic arm of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Bradenton Marauders, partnered with Bright House Networks to present a $62,000 donation to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Manatee County. Pirates Senior Director of Florida Operations, Trevor Gooby and Bright House Networks Florida Marketing Manager of Sponsorships, Events and Promotions, Amy Sumerlin presented the donation at the Bradenton Marauders home opener Friday night.

Money for the donation was raised during several Pirates Spring Training fundraising efforts. More than $15,000 was raised from ticket sales during Bright House Networks Night at McKechnie Field on March 8^th. That game was attended by 6,353 fans, the most ever for a night game at McKechnie Field.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Manatee County have been supporting youths ages 5 through 17 that need it most for more than 67 years. The Boys and Girls Clubs have seven locations helping more than 6,000 children develop good character and citizenship and make progress towards graduating high school.

Pirates Charities was founded in 2006. It has contributed more than $3.1 million to the greater Pittsburgh, Bradenton and Manatee County, and Estorga, Dominican Republic communities.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Bradenton Marauders. Click here to view the original story.

Senior and Caregiver Expo at McKechnie Field March 27

March 21, 2013

Expo Coincides With Pirates Spring Training Game Versus Minnesota

Bradenton, Fla. – The Pittsburgh Pirates will host a Senior and Caregiver Expo at McKechnie Field on Wednesday, March 27. The expo will run from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., coinciding with the Pirates Spring Training game against the Minnesota Twins. The game begins at 1:05 p.m.

The expo is open to all fans attending the game at no additional cost. The event is presented by Manatee Memorial Hospital and Humana. Local businesses and non-profits that provide services to senior citizens will have exhibitor tables at the event. The first 2,500 fans will receive a free Pirates eco-friendly bag courtesy of the event sponsors.

CARES Outreach Services of Sarasota will conduct free screenings for blood pressure, glucose/diabetes, and HIV in the roundabout outside the main gate. A TOTAL cholesterol screening will also be offered for $5. These screenings are available to the general public. Participants that opt for all four screenings can get their results in 15 minutes or less. In order to get the most accurate results, participants should fast for at least eight hours before the TOTAL cholesterol and two hours for the glucose/diabetes screenings.

Free Distance Vision and Glaucoma screenings will be available from the Eye Associates Sight Mobile outside of the main gate.

The Pirates are accepting exhibitor booth registration for the expo until Friday, March 22. To register a booth at the expo, call 941-747-3031 ext. 4161. All Pirates Spring Training tabling guidelines apply to expo exhibitors.

Pirates Spring Training season ticket holders can exchange any unused tickets for tickets to the Pirates game on Sunday, March 24 and March 27. Exchanges are subject to availability restrictions and must be made in person at the McKechnie Field ticket office. Unused tickets to the Black and Gold Game and the exhibition against Team Spain are not eligible to be exchanged.

For more information about the Senior and Caregiver Expo, call 941-747-3031 or visit www.BradentonMarauders.com. To purchase tickets to the game call 877-893-2827 or visit the McKechnie Field Ticket Office on weekdays between 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., or Sunday from 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Bradenton Marauders. Click here to view the original story.

Youth Clinic & Scout Campouts

March 14, 2013

Campouts & Clinic Offer Kids Exclusive On-Field Experience

Scout Campouts and the annual Youth Baseball Clinic give kids an exclusive on-field experience.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Indians are proud to announce the return of the annual Youth Baseball Clinic as well as Boy and Girl Scout overnight Campouts for the 2013 season.

Marauders in the Community

September 25, 2012

The off-season is still a busy time for the Marauders when it comes to helping the community

Baseball season may be over, but the Marauders are still busy staying involved in the local community. Players, front office members, and mascot are still busy putting forward a great effort to make a positive contribution in Manatee County.

Marty the Marauder was in attendance on Saturday, September 15 as the Miracle League of Manasota held their opening day for the fall 2012 season. Six teams and more than 90 registered players took part in three games at the new Miracle League fields that opened earlier this year with financial support from the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Baltimore Orioles.

Congratulations are due to 2012 Marauder Casey Sadler and 2010 Marauder Tim Alderson for earning recognition for their tremendous community service during the 2012 season. Sadler was the Marauders’ Pirates Community Commitment Program Award winner this season. Alderson received the award with the Altoona Curve. Both players were recognized at PNC Park last Tuesday before the Pirates game against the Brewers.

Manager of Florida Operations A.J. Grant raised more than $1,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association by participating in the local MDA chapter’s Lock Up event at Pier 22 Restaurant. More than a dozen donors helped A.J. raise that lofty amount for a great cause.

Pirates Visit Everyday Blessings, Inc. in Sarasota

August 12, 2012

Facility is a home to keep foster children together with their siblings

Members of the Gulf Coast League Pirates, who play their games at Pirate City in Bradenton, visited the Everyday Blessings, Inc. residential facility in Sarasota Thursday. Members of the team have visited the facility several times during the last four months as part of the Pirates Community Commitment Program.

EBI provides foster care to sibling groups to keep siblings from being separated while awaiting permanent placement. The Sarasota facility opened in February. The original facility is in Hillsborough County.

When players visit, they eat dinner with the children and live-in caretakers at the residential facility. After dinner, the players take part in outdoor sports activities and games with the children. There are currently 12 children housed in Sarasota with EBI, ranging in age from three to 11 years old. All of the children are part of a sibling group.

Emily Dutton, the Sarasota Residential Manager for EBI, said the children love it when the players come to visit. “I think they enjoy seeing there are other people in the community that understand and support them,” Dutton said.

Many of the children have had to face abuse and neglect in their old homes prior to being placed with EBI. “It’s important for them to see that through hard work you can accomplish your goals and aspirations despite circumstances that aren’t always ideal,” Dutton said. “The young men who come to visit understand that life isn’t always perfect or easy. Some of them have dealt with tough circumstances to get where they are now.”

The Pirates Community Commitment Program was created in 2008 to help players in the Pirates organization give back to the communities they play in. Players are required to do 10 hours of community service during the season, but most do many more.

Marauders Reward Commitment to Reading

July 8, 2012

Enjoy the summer with books, baseball and pizza

The Bradenton Marauders have launched the Marauders Reading Scores Program to get Manatee County children reading this summer. Manatee County elementary school students that read four books and complete a Reading Scores card provided by the Marauders can redeem the card for a free ticket to a Marauders game and a coupon for one free 10-inch small cheese pizza from Papa John’s.

The Marauders Reading Scores Program is presented by Papa John’s Pizza, the Bradenton Herald, the Manatee Education Foundation, and the School District of Manatee County. Reading Scores cards are available at McKechnie Field, the front desk at Pirate City, and Manatee County libraries.

Each time a child reads a book, he or she can color in one base on their Marauders Reading Scores card, write the book’s title in the assigned space under the base, and have a parent or guardian sign the form. After reading their fourth book of the summer, home plate can be colored in and the card is ready to be exchanged. Turn the card in at the McKechnie Field box office for a free Marauders ticket to any non-Wednesday game and a coupon for a free small chesse pizza from Papa John’s.

The Marauders Reading Scores program is part of the Bradenton Marauders’ commitment to making a positive impact in their local community. Helping children learn not only to read, but to enjoy reading, is important to improving educational success. Marty the Marauder and several Marauders players visited the Manatee County Central Library in Bradenton Monday to promote childhood reading.

“Reading is the building block of learning,” Marauders pitcher Jason Townsend said. “Everything starts with reading.”

Fellow pitcher Kenn Kasparek echoed Townsend’s sentiments.

“Read to succeed isn’t just a saying,” Kasparek said. “Reading enhances your hunger for knowledge.”

For more information about the Marauders Reading Scores Program, call 941-747-3031 or email MaraudersInfo@Pirates.com.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Bradenton Marauders. Click here to view the original story.

Indianapolis Indians Lend a Helping Glove

June 11, 2011

The Indianapolis Indians are giving away $10,000 in celebration of 125 consecutive years of professional baseball in Indianapolis. The program entitled “Lend a Helping Glove” has five local charities competing for a $10,000 grand prize.

Given a blank slate on a 5 foot fiberglass baseball glove, charities were asked to decorate their glove and put it on display in Indianapolis. Through a text vote, online vote and a celebrity panel vote, a winner will be decided. Voting began on June 3rd and ends at 11:59 PM EDT on August 19th. The winner will be announced at the Indians game on Friday, September 2nd versus Louisville.

Participating charities include the Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis, Boys Scouts of America, CICOA, Indy Reads and the Salvation Army Indiana.

For more information on the program, visit www.lendahelpingglove.com.

Indianpolis-glove photo-Salvation army — Glove for the Salvation Army of Indiana.

Indianpolis-glove photo-Boys and Girls Club — Glove for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis.

Indianpolis-glove photo-CICOA — Glove for CICOA.

Pirates Extending Spring Training Players Go Bowling For Great Cause!

May 12, 2011

Pirates Extended Spring Training players partnered with The Moyer Foundation at its 1st Annual Celebrity Rock n’ Bowl Charity Bowling Tournament on May 7th, 2011.

Proceeds from the bowling tournament benefit Camp Mariposa, a program designed to help meet the needs of children and teens facing the difficult challenges associated with having an addicted or co-dependent family member. Along with the bowling tournament the celebrities and guests had an opportunity to help the Moyer Foundation through a live auction.

Bradenton 5-12-11 1 — Pirates Extended Spring Training players participated in bowling tournament.

Bradenton Marauders Education Day

May 2, 2011

The Bradenton Marauders, the Class-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, held its annual Education Day on April 25th at 10:00am for the students of Manatee County. Over 920 students participated, enjoying a beautiful day of baseball while having the opportunity to learn at the ball park.

Marauders Education Day was a success, with the help of local vendors including Mixon Fruit Farms, Mote Marine Laboratory, South Florida Museum, Manatee County Substance Abuse Coalition and Manatee County Library, who set up educational stations inside the ball park during the game. Along with the local vendors, the Bradenton Marauders established three interactive education stations; a math, geography and language table, each bringing an educational approach to baseball. The math station taught students how to calculate ERA and batting averages, the geography table displayed a world map pinpointing the hometowns of each of the Marauder players and Marauder language table depicted English words found in baseball and their Spanish translations.

Bradenton-Students in Stands-04-25-11 — Students cheering on the Marauders!

Bradenton-Teachers dancing for their dessert-04-25-11 — Teachers dancing for their dessert!

Indians Give Back

July 25, 2010

What could be better than playing basketball in an air-conditioned gym on a hot summer day? How about playing basketball with a professional baseball player? Jeff Clement, first baseman for the Indianapolis Indians, spent the morning playing and hanging out with the kids at The Salvation Army’s Eagle Creek Community Center. “Today was a great opportunity to come down to The Salvation Army and spend time with these kids. It’s more fun, than anything because I’m just a big kid myself,” said Clement.

The kids are all part of The Salvation Army’s Summer Food Program, which provides nutritional meals for at-risk youth in the Eagle Creek area. “For some of the kids here, this is the only full meal they get during the day,” said Captain Leti Crowell, Corps Officer for The Salvation Army Eagle Creek. The program was started to bridge the gap between school sessions. Nearly all of the children qualifiy for the Federal School Lunch program and many would go without a quality meal this summer without the help of The Salvation Army.

A big part of the day is organized recreation and when Clement heard about the opportunity to go and play with the kids, he jumped at it. “It means so much to these kids that a player like Jeff Clement of the Indians cares about them enough to take time out of his schedule to come and play with them for a few hours. These kids aren’t just hungry for food, they’re hungry for attention. They’re going to go home after this and talk about it for a long time,” said Captain Crowell.

This is the second year that players from the Indianapolis Indians have spent a day with the kids at the Eagle Creek Salvation Army. Last summer, Indians pitchers Eric Hacker and Chris Bootcheck played whiffle ball with kids.