The Nine: Top-5

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

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 Sacramento River Cats.

Tyson Ross

Former Sacramento River Cats right-hander Tyson Ross has California in his blood. The Berkeley, California native was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of the University of California, Berkeley before becoming an All Star with the San Diego Padres in 2014.

Prior to his move south, Ross spent five years in the Oakland organization, three split between the A’s and Sacramento. In 30 games with the River Cats, Ross was 11-5 with a 4.30 ERA, 128 strikeouts, and a 1.48 WHIP.

He was traded to the Padres in 2012 in exchange for infielder Andy Parrino and left-hander Andrew Werner. Ross excelled with the Padres, posting a sub-3.30 ERA in each of his first three seasons in San Diego.

In 10 MLB seasons, Ross is 44-70 with a 4.04 ERA, 816 strikeouts, and a 1.36 WHIP in 904.2 innings, last pitching in the Majors in 2019 with Detroit.

Ross’ strongest impact now is off the field, inspiring young baseball players in the Bay Area. He is the founder of the Loyal To My Soil program, where he and his big leaguer peers gather to “educate, inspire, and coach the kids of our community to be great on and off the field.”

You can hear Ross talk about his MLB journey, his time in Sacramento, and Loyal To My Soil on episode eight of the River Cats Nine Lives Podcast.

Chris Carter (2012)
River Cats Media

Chris Carter

Former Sacramento first baseman/left fielder Chris Carter is one of the most powerful sluggers in the Oakland A’s era of River Cats history, with his 65 home runs still standing atop the team’s leader board.

He played 285 games for the River Cats from 2009-2012, finishing inside the franchise’s top-10 with 233 RBIs (third), 156 walks (tied for sixth), 68 doubles (seventh), and 202 runs (sixth).

After four years in the minors, Carter broke into the majors in 2010, bashing 158 home runs for four teams across eight MLB seasons. His best season was 2016 with Milwaukee, where he tied for the National League lead with 41 home runs, and also won the Brewers Good Guy Award.

The 2005 15th-round pick by the Chicago White Sox outperformed his draft slot with a prolific minor league career. The three-time top-100 prospect on Baseball America (2009-2011) earned seven Player of the Week awards, 14 All-Star nods (one with Sacramento in 2010), and played in the 2009 Futures Game.

Carter was originally acquired from Chicago by Arizona in 2007 for All-Star outfielder Carlos Quentin. He was quickly traded to Oakland alongside fellow former River Cats Carlos González, Brett Anderson, Aaron Cunningham, Greg Smith, and Dana Eveland for All-Star right-hander Dan Haren. He left the Oakland organization in Feb. of 2013 as part of the package for infielder Jed Lowrie.

Former River Cats infielder Jemile Weeks while with Sacramento.
River Cats Media

Jemile Weeks

Former Sacramento River Cats second baseman Jemile Weeks is one of the fastest players in River Cats history.

The speedy switch-hitter had a standout career at the University of Miami before going 12th overall to the Oakland A’s in the 2008 MLB Draft.

The professional game did not slow Weeks down.

After making the Futures Game in his first full professional season, Weeks impressed in the Arizona Fall League, being named a Player of the Week and Rising Star while earning a spot on the All-Prospect Team.

He arrived in Sacramento in 2011, posting a .417 on-base percentage through his first 45 Triple-A games.

Weeks turned that hot start into an MLB debut, where he had an impressive June, winning American League Rookie of the Month.

He played parts of six MLB seasons with Oakland, Baltimore, Boston, and San Diego, hitting .254 with 121 runs, 45 doubles, 18 triples, 62 RBIs, and 41 stolen bases in 260 games.

In 185 games for Sacramento from 2011-2013, Weeks hit .287 with 131 runs, 29 doubles, seven home runs, 72 RBIs, 28 stolen bases, and is tied for third all time in team history with 14 triples.

Weeks continues to make an impact off the field as the executive director for the nonprofit organization WeFam United, Inc., located in Orlando, Florida. WeFam United aims to “change the narrative of our underserved youth.”

Listen to Weeks talk about WeFam United, his time in Sacramento, his MLB draft experience, and more on episode 13 of the River Cats Nine Lives Podcast.

Former Sacramento and Stanford outfielder Michael Taylor while with the River Cats.
River Cats Media

Michael Taylor

Former Sacramento River Cats outfielder Michael Taylor is one of the most successful hitters to don the RC logo.

Drafted out of Stanford University in the fifth round by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2007 MLB Draft, Taylor had a well-decorated MiLB career. His impressive production in the Philadelphia system led to his inclusion in the Phillies’ 2009 trade for Hall-of-Fame right-hander Roy Halladay.

Taylor was a five-time Player of the Week (one with Sacramento in 2012), two-time Mid-Season All-Star, a Post-Season All-Star, a Topps Double-A All-Star, and two-time Organization All-Star while with the River Cats in 2012 and 2013.

The 6’5 outfielder did everything for the River Cats during his five seasons in Sacramento.

He was the River Cats’ Most Improved Player in 2010, Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, and Most Exciting Player in 2013.

He still holds the title of River Cats’ all-time RBIs leader with 325 and also ranks second in games played (511), at-bats (1,900), runs (299), hits (521), doubles (112), walks (266), and steals (60).

Taylor played 37 games in the Majors for the Oakland A’s and Chicago White Sox, hitting his first MLB home run off left-hander Derek Holland on Sept. 20, 2011. He hit his 100th professional home run on April 10, 2014 at Las Vegas.

Former River Cats infielder/outfielder Eric Patterson
River Cats Media

Eric Patterson

Former Sacramento River Cats infielder/outfielder Eric Patterson is one of the best table-setters in franchise history.

The eighth round pick out of Georgia Institute of Technology by the Chicago Cubs in 2004 wracked up plenty of Minor League awards. The highlights include three Player of the Weeks, six Mid-Season All-Star nods, three Post-Season All-Star honors, a 2006 Futures Game selection, and a spot on the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars team.

Patterson broke out in 2009 with Sacramento, winning the River Cats’ MVP and Most Exciting Player awards, and leading the team with a .307 batting average. He currently ranks fourth all-time in River Cats history with 51 steals and is tied for fifth with 13 triples.

The speedster played parts of five seasons in the Majors, making his debut with the Cubs on Aug. 6, 2007. In 226 MLB games, Patterson hit .217, with 65 runs, 20 doubles, seven triples, 10 home runs, 50 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases.

He was acquired by Oakland on July 8, 2008 alongside then-catcher Josh Donaldson, right-hander Sean Gallagher, and outfielder Matt Murton for right-handers Chad Gaudin and Rich Harden. Patterson was the left fielder in former River Cats left-hander Dallas Braden’s 2010 Perfect Game for the Athletics.

The Nine: Eric Patterson

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

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 the final installment of five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Sacramento River Cats.

Former Sacramento River Cats infielder/outfielder Eric Patterson is one of the best table-setters in franchise history.

The eighth round pick out of Georgia Institute of Technology by the Chicago Cubs in 2004 wracked up plenty of Minor League awards. The highlights include three Player of the Weeks, six Mid-Season All-Star nods, three Post-Season All-Star honors, a 2006 Futures Game selection, and a spot on the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars team.

Patterson broke out in 2009 with Sacramento, winning the River Cats’ MVP and Most Exciting Player awards, and leading the team with a .307 batting average. He currently ranks fourth all-time in River Cats history with 51 steals and is tied for fifth with 13 triples.

The speedster played parts of five seasons in the Majors, making his debut with the Cubs on Aug. 6, 2007. In 226 MLB games, Patterson hit .217, with 65 runs, 20 doubles, seven triples, 10 home runs, 50 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases.

He was acquired by Oakland on July 8, 2008 alongside then-catcher Josh Donaldson, right-hander Sean Gallagher, and outfielder Matt Murton for right-handers Chad Gaudin and Rich Harden. Patterson was the left fielder in former River Cats left-hander Dallas Braden’s 2010 Perfect Game for the Athletics.

Flying Squirrels hosting four job fairs ahead of 2022 season

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels will host four job fairs in the coming weeks to fill part-time, game-day positions for the upcoming 2022 baseball season.

Positions are available in food & beverage, ticketing and other areas for the team’s home games from April through September. Information on the Flying Squirrels’ upcoming job fairs can be found here.

The job fairs will take place at The Diamond (3001 N Arthur Ashe Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23230) on the following dates:

  • Saturday, February 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Thursday, March 10 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Interested candidates can enter the stadium through the main gates next to Arthur Ashe Boulevard.

Available positions include:

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Concession Stand Managers

Cashiers

Food Runners

Bartenders

Line Cooks

Prep Cooks

Banquet Servers

Dishwashers

Fry Cooks

Vendors

Warehouse Runners

TICKETING

Ticket Sellers

OPERATIONS

Grounds Crew

Anyone interested in working with the Flying Squirrels can fill out the Candidate Information Form and return it to [email protected]. The Flying Squirrels’ 2022 game schedule can be found here.

The Nine: Michael Taylor

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

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 the fourth installment of five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Sacramento River Cats.

Former Sacramento River Cats outfielder Michael Taylor is one of the most successful hitters to don the RC logo.

Drafted out of Stanford University in the fifth round by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2007 MLB Draft, Taylor had a well-decorated MiLB career. His impressive production in the Philadelphia system led to his inclusion in the Phillies’ 2009 trade for Hall-of-Fame right-hander Roy Halladay.

Taylor was a five-time Player of the Week (one with Sacramento in 2012), two-time Mid-Season All-Star, a Post-Season All-Star, a Topps Double-A All-Star, and two-time Organization All-Star while with the River Cats in 2012 and 2013.

The 6’5 outfielder did everything for the River Cats during his five seasons in Sacramento.

He was the River Cats’ Most Improved Player in 2010, Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, and Most Exciting Player in 2013.

He still holds the title of River Cats’ all-time RBIs leader with 325 and also ranks second in games played (511), at-bats (1,900), runs (299), hits (521), doubles (112), walks (266), and steals (60).

Taylor played 37 games in the Majors for the Oakland A’s and Chicago White Sox, hitting his first MLB home run off left-hander Derek Holland on Sept. 20, 2011. He hit his 100th professional home run on May 1, 2014 against Tacoma.

The Nine: Jemile Weeks

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

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 the third installment of five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Sacramento River Cats.

Former Sacramento River Cats second baseman Jemile Weeks is one of the fastest players in River Cats history.

The speedy switch-hitter had a standout career at the University of Miami before going 12th overall to the Oakland A’s in the 2008 MLB Draft.

The professional game did not slow Weeks down.

After making the Futures Game in his first full professional season, Weeks impressed in the Arizona Fall League, being named a Player of the Week and Rising Star while earning a spot on the All-Prospect Team.

He arrived in Sacramento in 2011, posting a .417 on-base percentage through his first 45 Triple-A games.

Weeks turned that hot start into an MLB debut, where he had an impressive June, winning American League Rookie of the Month.

He played parts of six MLB seasons with Oakland, Baltimore, Boston, and San Diego, hitting .254 with 121 runs, 45 doubles, 18 triples, 62 RBIs, and 41 stolen bases in 260 games.

In 185 games for Sacramento from 2011-2013, Weeks hit .287 with 131 runs, 29 doubles, seven home runs, 72 RBIs, 28 stolen bases, and is tied for third all time in team history with 14 triples.

Weeks continues to make an impact off the field as the executive director for the nonprofit organization WeFam United, Inc., located in Orlando, Florida. WeFam United aims to “change the narrative of our underserved youth.”

Listen to Weeks talk about WeFam United, his time in Sacramento, his MLB draft experience, and more on episode 13 of the River Cats Nine Lives Podcast.

River Cats add second job fair on Feb. 12

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

West Sacramento, Calif. — The Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the 2021 National League West champion San Francisco Giants, have added a second job fair for Saturday, Feb. 12, at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. The event will take place from 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. (PT) rain or shine.

After completing an online application at rivercats.com/employment, those interested in working for the River Cats and at Sutter Health Park for the upcoming 2022 season may attend this free event where hiring managers will conduct interviews.

Applicants must be at least 16 years of age (with a valid work permit) and at least 21 years old if the position serves alcohol. A condition of employment requires employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Available jobs are part-time seasonal positions in concessions, culinary, catering, promotions (Cat Crew), and game day staff (security, EMTs, and parking attendants).

Employees of the River Cats and Sutter Health Park receive job training, food discounts while at work, competitive wages, and tickets to River Cats games.

For questions and inquiries, please call (916) 376-4722. A representative from the River Cats’ front office will be available for comment at the event. For the best visuals, it is suggested arriving by 11 a.m. (PT).

Season ticket memberships and packages are available now by calling the River Cats ticket hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487), emailing [email protected], or visiting rivercats.com.

River Cats holding national anthem auditions for 2022 season

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

West Sacramento, Calif. — Celebrate America’s pastime with your own rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner. The Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, are excited to open national anthem auditions at Sutter Health Park for the 2022 season.

The national anthem is open to all soloists, groups, and instrumentalists. Those interested in performing the national anthem at a 2022 River Cats game must submit an audition demo by Feb. 11. Demos received past this date will not be considered.

Audition Demo Guidelines:

  • A cappella version
  • The Star-Spangled Banner in full
  • Clear, consistent, and correct lyrical performance
  • Full performance must be under 90 seconds

Audition demos must be emailed as an mp3 file or YouTube link to [email protected] with the following information:

  • Subject: 2022 National Anthem Demo
  • Include: Name, Phone, and Email

Submissions that do not meet the above guidelines will not be considered for a call back.

The River Cats will invite the top-50 submissions to a live audition at Sutter Health Park. Due to the number of demos received, performers will only be contacted if selected. Selected parties will be contacted with further instructions by Monday, Feb. 14.

The Nine: Tyson Ross

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

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 the first installment of five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Sacramento River Cats.

Former Sacramento River Cats right-hander Tyson Ross has California in his blood. The Berkeley, California native was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of the University of California, Berkeley before becoming an All Star with the San Diego Padres in 2014.

Prior to his move south, Ross spent five years in the Oakland organization, three split between Oakland and Sacramento. In 30 games with the River Cats, Ross was 11-5 with a 4.30 ERA, 128 strikeouts, and a 1.48 WHIP.

He was traded to the Padres in 2012 in exchange for infielder Andy Parrino and left-hander Andrew Werner. Ross excelled with the Padres, posting a sub-3.30 ERA in each of his first three seasons in San Diego.

In 10 MLB seasons, Ross is 44-70 with a 4.04 ERA, 816 strikeouts, and a 1.36 WHIP in 904.2 innings, last pitching in the Majors in 2019 with Detroit.

Ross’ strongest impact now is off the field, inspiring young baseball players in the Bay Area. He is the founder of the Loyal To My Soil program, where he and his big leaguer peers gather to “educate, inspire, and coach the kids of our community to be great on and off the field.”

You can hear Ross talk about his MLB journey, his time in Sacramento, and Loyal To My Soil on episode eight of the River Cats Nine Lives Podcast.

Flying Squirrels named team captain of “The Nine,” a new Minor League Baseball initiative to celebrate, engage and welcome Black fans

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels have been named a team captain of “The Nine,” a new, Black-community focused outreach platform launched by Minor League Baseball® (MiLB™) specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball, and embrace millions of passionate fans throughout MiLB’s 120 communities nationwide.

The Flying Squirrels are one of five MiLB clubs selected as team captains for the national platform.

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

“The Flying Squirrels are honored to be a captain of The Nine and will continue to utilize our platform to promote equality and change inspired by Jackie Robinson and others before us,” Flying Squirrels CEO Todd “Parney” Parnell said. “We look forward to continuing and growing our initiatives with the Richmond 34 Legacy Campaign, the Career Advancement & Mentorship Program and Flying Squirrels Charities.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

In 2021, the Flying Squirrels launched a series of initiatives to honor and recognize the Richmond 34, a group of 34 Virginia Union University students who were arrested following a peaceful sit-in protest at the whites-only lunch counter of Thalhimers Department Store in downtown Richmond on February 22, 1960. The Richmond 34 sit-in ultimately led to the integration of Thalhimers and influenced legislation in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Richmond 34 Legacy Campaign collaborates on educational and community outreach programs to tell the story of the Richmond 34.

Additionally, the Flying Squirrels’ Career Advancement & Mentorship Program, in partnership with Virginia State University and Virginia Union University, offers students at both institutions opportunities to gain professional experience working with the organization in various capacities. The program was designed to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce with the goal of elevating more minorities into leadership positions throughout the professional baseball industry.

Black History Month – San Jose Giants History

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

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.” In no particular order, here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players to suit up for the San Jose Giants since our affiliation with the San Francisco Giants began in 1988:

ROYCE CLAYTON

Royce Clayton was drafted out of St. Bernard High School in Playa del Rey in the first round (15th pick overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 1988. He made his San Jose Giants debut in 1989 after being called up from the Clinton Giants. In his time in San Jose, Clayton batted .243 with 17 doubles, 10 triples and 75 RBI in 151 games.

He made his San Francisco Giants debut in 1991 and would go on to play for 10 other teams in his 16-year major league career. In 1997, as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, he was selected to his first and only MLB All-Star game.

In 2011, Clayton portrayed Miguel Tejada in the film _Moneyball_, making him the first former big-league player to appear in an Oscar nominated Best Picture film. Clayton was the childhood favorite player of San Francisco Giant shortstop Brandon Crawford, and is currently the head varsity baseball coach at Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, CA.

THOMAS NEAL

Neal was drafted by San Francisco in the 36th round of the 2005 amateur draft, and signed with the Giants organization in 2006 out of Riverside Community College. After a slow start to his professional career, Neal found large success at the plate in his third year, and first full season in Augusta in 2008.

In 2009, Neal had one of the best seasons in San Jose Giants history, as he batted .337/.431/.579 with 22 home runs and 90 runs batted in. Neal was among the Cal League leaders in runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, and average. Baseball America ranked him as the best prospect in the Cal League, and as high as #9 in all of the minor leagues. He was also named to the Cal League All-Star team and helped lead San Jose to a league title.

Neal was ultimately traded to the now Cleveland Guardians in 2011, where he made his big-league debut in September of 2012. Neal retired from his playing career in 2015 and has since served as a minor-league hitting coach in the Giants organization.

FRED LEWIS

Fred Lewis was drafted out of Southern University and A&M College in the second round (66th overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 2002. Lewis made his San Jose Giants debut in 2004, and batted .301 with 20 doubles, 11 triples and 57 RBI in 115 games before being called up to AAA Fresno.

He later debuted for the San Francisco Giants on September 1st, 2006. In only his 16th appearance in the major leagues, Lewis hit for the cycle in Colorado on May 13, 2007. He was also the first player in San Francisco Giants history to hit two grand slams in a rookie season. Lewis eventually retired from Major League Baseball in 2012.

JEROME WILLIAMS

Jerome Williams was selected in the first round (39th overall) of the 1999 draft by the San Francisco Giants out of Waipahu (Hawaii) High School.

After spending the 1999 season in rookie ball, Williams came to San Jose in 2000 where he appeared in 23 games, posted a 7-6 record with a 2.94 ERA, and struck out 115 batters. His success in the minor leagues came with a Futures Game Invite during the 2001 season.

Williams made Giants’ history when he made his Major League Debut on April 26, 2003, becoming the first Hawaiian-born player in organizational history (including New York) to appear in a Giants’ uniform. He would eventually receive the same honor when he took the field as a Washington National in 2007. Williams retired from Major League Baseball in 2016, and his accomplishments were later celebrated in San Jose with his own bobblehead.

DARREN FORD

Ford, drafted in the 18th round of the 2004 draft, began his Giants career in 2008 when he was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers. He would spend the remainder of this season in San Jose, finishing the year with 62 total stolen bases. The 48 bases he stole prior to his arrival in San Jose was good for second in the entire Florida State league, despite only playing 91 games in that league.

Ford returned to San Jose in 2009 where his success on the base baths continued while enjoying one of his best career years at the plate. Ford batted .300 with 50 RBIs and added 35 stolen bases, fourth overall in the Cal League. Alongside an impressive San Jose team featuring the likes of Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, Madison Bumgarner and Thomas Neal, Ford and his teammates brought home the 2009 California League Championship.

Ford was eventually called up to make his big-league debut with San Francisco Giants, appearing in seven games in 2010 and 26 games in 2011, before jumping between the Mariners, Pirates, and back to the Giants from 2012-2016.

River Cats to host annual job fair Jan. 29

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

West Sacramento, Calif. — The Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, will be hosting their annual job fair on Saturday, Jan. 29 at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, looking to hire over 300 employees. The event will take place from 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. (PT) rain or shine.

Those wanting to work for the River Cats and at Sutter Health Park for the 2022 season should attend this free event where hiring managers will conduct interviews. Interested persons must submit an online application by visiting rivercats.com/employment prior to attending the job fair. Job offers for select positions may be extended on the spot.

All applicants must be at least 16 years of age (with a valid work permit) and at least 21 years old if the position serves alcohol. A condition of employment requires employees to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Jobs available are part-time seasonal positions in concessions, culinary, warehouse, security, EMT, parking, suite attendants, bartenders, catering servers, and game day entertainment (Cat Crew).

River Cats and Sutter Health Park employees will receive competitive wages, job training, food discounts while at work, and River Cats tickets.

For questions and inquiries, please call (916) 376-4722.

Season ticket memberships and packages are available now by calling the River Cats ticket hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487), emailing [email protected], or visiting rivercats.com.

River Cats participate in Homers That Help campaign

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

West Sacramento, Calif. — The Sacramento River Cats are proud to have partnered with Minor League Baseball to participate in the Triple-A Final Stretch “Homers That Help” campaign, in which the California Fire Foundation was selected as the local charity to benefit.

“We’re honored to be chosen as part of the Triple-A Final Stretch Homers That Help campaign,” said Rick Martinez, Executive Director of the California Fire Foundation. “We’ve all seen how destructive this year’s fire season has been, which has left many needing a helping hand. There are many organizations working hard to make a difference, and we are honored by the support and recognition.”

For each home run hit by the River Cats during the 10 Triple-A Final Stretch games, Minor League Baseball donated $50 to the California Fire Foundation. Additionally, the team hitting the most home runs over the 10-game span generated an extra $5,000 donation.

“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.”

On Monday, it was announced the Homers That Help campaign raised $20,700 for 501(c)3 charities across the 30 Triple-A communities. By leading the Final Stretch with 24 home runs, the Omaha Storm Chasers also claimed the overall Homers That Help prize, a $5,000 donation for their charity, the B&B Sports Academy in Omaha.

With 13 home runs hit during the final 10 games, the River Cats created a $650 donation to the California Fire Foundation.

“We are very pleased that the stretch drive of the Triple-A season not only generated excitement for fans but also donations to deserving organizations in our communities across the country,” Woodfork said. “We thank our players and clubs for their efforts throughout our return to the field this year and look forward to an even more exciting 2022.”

PRIDE Night Returns To PK Park On June 25

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

PRIDE Night returns to PK Park on June 25 as the Emeralds celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community on a night that will include a PRIDE flag giveaway for fans and a game-worn Emeralds PRIDE jersey auction benefitting the Matthew Shepard Foundation. The special evening is proudly sponsored by our friends at Kendall Auto Group and KLCC NPR.

PRIDE Night is nothing new to PK Park. In 2019, the Emeralds became the first-ever affiliated Minor League Baseball organization to don PRIDE jerseys in-game**,** a landmark moment that hadn’t even occurred to Emeralds General Manager Allan Benavides at the time.

“We weren’t aware that we would be the first [affiliated] team,” he told MiLB.com. “It wasn’t a factor. We thought it was important that as an organization, we were committed to doing a PRIDE night. We had some people in the community give us some ideas on what we could do and how we should do it properly.”

The evening was also highlighted by a pregame Q&A panel with activist Candace Gingrich, a raffle of the game-worn jerseys that benefitted the HIV Alliance, and every Emeralds gameday employee decked out in PRIDE merchandise.

Asked to reflect back on that night in an interview with the Washington Post earlier this month, Benavides recalled, “there were a lot of people in the stadium who felt comfortable holding hands, hugging each other. A lot of people wearing PRIDE colors. Just very comfortable, and that continued. It wasn’t just that one game.”

On June 5, the San Francisco Giants, the Major League affiliate of the Eugene Emeralds, became the first-ever Major League franchise to sport PRIDE jerseys in-game.

This year’s PRIDE Night will be highlighted by an Emeralds PRIDE flag giveaway thanks to Kendall Auto Group. On June 25, the first 1,000 fans that enter the home plate gate at PK Park will receive a free Emeralds PRIDE flag.

 

Additionally, the Emeralds will once again don specially designed Emeralds PRIDE jerseys on June 25. The game-worn Emeralds PRIDE jerseys will be available for sale via online auction. Information regarding the online jersey auction will be available later in the week at www.EmeraldsBaseball.com.

Proceeds from the Emeralds PRIDE jersey auction will benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation, a nonprofit founded by the parents of the foundation’s namesake, Dennis and Judy Shepard.

The foundation was established following the death of Matthew Shepard who, as a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming, was brutally attacked and tied to a fence in a field where he was left to die. Matthew tragically succumbed to his wounds, but his memory lives on through the foundation his parents created using education, outreach, and advocacy programs to inspire individuals, organizations, and communities to embrace the dignity and equality of all people.

Tickets to Eugene Emeralds home games are available for purchase at www.EmeraldsBaseball.com or by calling (541) 342-5367.

Stay up to date with the Emeralds by following the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Cross Timbers Roofing partners with Flying Squirrels to present Field of Dreams

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

RICHMOND, Va. – Cross Timbers Roofing has partnered with the Richmond Flying Squirrels and Flying Squirrels Charities to present the Field of Dreams program, the team announced on Friday.

The Field of Dreams program presented by Cross Timbers Roofing enables area youth leagues to join Flying Squirrels players on the field for the national anthem in 2021. In conjunction with Flying Squirrels Charities, Cross Timbers Roofing will be making a donation to each league that has a team participating in the program throughout the 2021 season.

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“We are thrilled to partner with Cross Timers Roofing and celebrate with Chuck and Wendy for their 30th year of serving the roofing needs of the Richmond region,” Flying Squirrels CEO Todd “Parney” Parnell said. “Youth leagues will reap the benefits of that celebration and Cross Timbers Roofing will continue to support and serve the youth baseball and softball leagues across the Richmond region.”

Anyone interested in participating in the Field of Dreams program can click here for more information.

“Cross Timbers Roofing is excited to partner with the Flying Squirrels for the 2021 baseball season,” Cross Timbers Roofing president Chuck Glady said. “It has been an honor to be a part of the Richmond community for 30 years, and we are excited to celebrate with this partnership. When we thought about how to celebrate our 30-year anniversary, we immediately thought of baseball. The Flying Squirrels are iconic in Richmond, and we knew they would have a great program that we could partner with to contribute to our community. We talked through a few options and landed on youth baseball.

“One of our missions at Cross Timbers Roofing is giving back to the community, and we feel like giving back to the kids is a wonderful way to build the future of this community.

The Richmond Flying Squirrels return home from June 29-July 4. Tickets are available online at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets, by phone at 804-359-3866 or in person at the Flying Squirrels offices.

Community Spotlight: Lyllye Reynolds-Parker

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

Lyllye Reynolds-Parker was born at Sacred Heart hospital, in 1946. She is an elder in our community, and a child of Eugene.

In the 1940s, exclusionary laws prevented Black people from buying or renting within city limits. Because of this, her family lived in the “Ferry Street Village” community, near present-day Alton Baker Park. When she was three years old, the Lane County Commissioners ordered that the neighborhood where she and her family lived be bulldozed so that the Ferry Street Bridge could be placed there. Her family was displaced and lived many years out West 11th.

Redlining was alive and well in Oregon into the late 1970s. This racist practice created an inability for black people to access loans to buy a house, in order to purchase homes in an area where their home would increase in value and send their children to high quality school. Most importantly, this practice did not allow for Black families to build generational wealth that could be passed along through generations.

Ms. Lyllye worked for 17 years at the University of Oregon. She came into contact with countless students of color, and she helped them find comfort in a community and a system that wasn’t made for them. The Eugene Emeralds are thrilled to have Ms. Lyllye, and her family, join us at the ballpark on June 19th. Before the game, Ms. Lyllye will throw out a first pitch and receive a custom Emeralds jersey to thank her for her service to the community.

Ms. Lyllye has a dream of purchasing a home for her and her older sister to live in, and the community is determined to help her see that dream come true. To help raise funds for this dream, the Eugene Emeralds will be selling special Black empowerment shirts featuring Ms. Lyllye on the back with her message of unity. “I chose Unity because we are such a fractured society right now. I just want us to realize we are in this together, be it COVID, White Supremacists, gun violence, civil unrest around the world, whatever it may be, it affects us all. We must come together in unity. We may not agree on everything, and compromise can be painful, but we can do it.”

Fans can also donate at any Oregon Community Credit Union (OCCU) branch. If you wish to donate with a check, they can be written out to new house for Lyllye Parker and write “1316973” in the memo line. You can also donate using a PayPal Pool: https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8xMymFhKhg.