SOUTHERN BASES LOOKING GOOD IN HOOVER HOOVER GIVES ITS BALLPARK A FACELIFT IN HONOR OF ITS 20TH YEAR

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1 SOUTHERN BASES Volume XIII, Issue 3 May 9, 2007 An Official Publication of the Southern League HOOVER GIVES ITS BALLPARK A FACELIFT IN HONOR OF ITS 20TH YEAR LOOKING GOOD IN HOOVER

2 1 CELEBRATING IN STYLE Birmingham has a decorated professional baseball history that can rival that of the Southern League itself. With baseball roots dating to 1885, the same year of the Southern League s inaugural season, Birmingham has seen Hall of Famers Pie Traynor, Burleigh Grimes and Rollie Fingers play for the Barons at Rickwood Field. Fellow Hall of Famers Satchel Paige and Willie Mays also called Rickwood Field home while playing for the Black Barons of the Negro Leagues. SOUTHERN BASES Legend has it that another Hall of Famer, Reggie Jackson, clubbed a home run out of Rickwood Field some 40 years ago that never landed. Twenty years later, that historic ballpark staged its final full season of Southern League baseball before yielding to brand new Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, which welcomed more than 13,000 fans for its first game amid the excitement of its unveiling. Twenty more years have passed and now the new stadium in Hoover is older than every active Southern League park except Huntsville s Joe Davis Stadium. Although the arrival of five-time NBA Most Valuable Player Michael Jordan in 1994 sparked 10 straight seasons of the Barons ranking first or second in league annual attendance, newer facilities in Jacksonville and Montgomery caused the Hoover Met to slip to third for three straight years beginning in With the baseball landscape in Birmingham in need of more decoration, this time of a physical nature, a multi-million dollar renovation project funded by the City of Hoover began in the fall of Along with the desire to provide a better atmosphere in which to enjoy Barons games, the city s decision also was driven by the need to maintain its strong collegiate baseball presence. We, the Barons, have partnered with the City of Hoover, the (Southeastern Conference) and Alabama Sports Foundation in hosting the SEC Baseball Tournament for 10 of the last 11 years, Barons general manager Jonathan Nelson said. And with the contract expiring in 2006, all parties agreed renovations were in order for the tournament to remain in Hoover. The first of three phases was relatively minor, involving mainly cosmetic changes to the concourse and banquet room. Prior to the start of the second phase, the Barons endured an uncharacteristically poor season in On the heels of six straight playoff appearances, Birmingham led the Southern League with 81 losses and was saddled with a leagueworst 4.10 team ERA. As a result, the Barons averaged fewer than 4,000 fans per game for the first time since The difficult 2006 campaign was not given a chance to linger, however. By the time the Barons took the field for an exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox on March 29, more than 7,000 fans and media members were in attendance to bask in the glow of the completed second phase and celebrate the dawn of the team s 20th season in Hoover. Phase Two began immediately following the final 2006 game last September (and) focused on permanent structural changes to the park, Nelson said. The contractors had to drag their feet until Hoover High football finally concluded in early December, then it was off to the races in doing a lot of major work in a relatively short amount of time. Upgrades are evident even before fans enter the stadium. The walkway leading toward the ticket collectors is lined with a new brick surface and adorned with a series of trees and American flags waving atop towering poles. Inside, a second tier of luxurious press boxes has been added to accommodate an ever growing media population.

3 CELEBRATING IN STYLE The upgrade most appreciated by the fans of Birmingham, however, is the more than 3,000 blue box seats outfitted with cup holders. From one such seat, a longtime fan mentioned the facility in the same breath as Montgomery s Riverwalk Stadium, which was built in It s much better, Barons season ticket holder Wayne Lowe said of the upgrades. There s some other good parks around the league, Montgomery s got a neat little place. But the improvements here have helped and we re glad to see them come. Lowe, who lives within walking distance to the ballpark, has been faithful to the Barons for decades. Seated a row in front of him on a warm Sunday afternoon, however, is Greg Barrett, who only has had a couple years of exposure to baseball in Birmingham. Still, he already has become enamored with the facility and plans to join Lowe as a season ticket holder beginning next year. They re more comfortable, Barrett said of the new seats, with his wife by his side nodding in agreement. Everything they ve done with the renovations is nice, but the Hoover Met has always been nice. Regions Park now has a second tier of press boxes and over 3,000 new box seats. And that is what makes the changes work for all parties involved. The ballpark was not in need of a major surgery, just a facelift. And that is precisely what it got. Even though (the Hoover Met) is the second-oldest park in the Southern League, it has held it's age pretty well and the renovations definitely provide a refreshing atmosphere and experience for our fans, Nelson said. Fans are not the only ones impressed. Regions Financial Corporation recently inked a nine-year naming rights partnership with the Barons to rename the ballpark Regions Park though the 2015 calendar year. The timing was perfect, Nelson said. (I m) not sure if it was a deciding factor, but remodeling the park with all the great upgrades made for the perfect time for a naming rights partnership with a local company that plans on being active and giving back to the Birmingham community. (We ve received) nothing but positive feedback from the media, our supporters and teams that have come in here, Nelson said. When you factor in all the renovations, a stadium name change along with kicking off the season in grand fashion with our parent club, it was the perfect way to begin our 20th season in Hoover. Even Birmingham s pitching staff seemingly has responded well to the renovations. Barons starters Gio Gonzalez, Jack Egbert, Adam Russell, Wes Whisler and Kris Honel combined to go 7-3 with a 1.58 ERA and 8.21 strikeouts per nine innings pitched at Regions Park in April. Four of those pitchers ranked in the league s top 10 in earned-run average at the conclusion of the season s first month. The Barons annually embrace their storied history by playing one home game each season at Rickwood Field. With Regions Park receiving upgrades, which will include a new sound system and digital scoreboard as part of the third and final renovation phase in 2008, they also are embracing the present. SOUTHERN BASES 2

4 SOUTHERN LEAGUE NOTES *All standings and statistics as of Tuesday, May 8, 2007 C Donny Lucy led the Barons with a.317 batting average during the month of April. In addition to his exploits at the plate, Lucy has gained a reputation for his strong game-calling abilities and leadership traits behind it. Lucy has backstopped a staff ranked second the Southern League in ERA (3.09) and strikeouts (267) and tied for the top spot with four shutouts.... RHP Dewon Day, plucked from the Toronto Blue Jays in the minor league phase of the 2005 Rule V draft, had 34 strikeouts in his first 17 1/3 innings of Among the franchise record-setting six home runs the Mudcats hit during a 13-4 victory at Tennessee on April 26 was a two-run shot by RHP Scott Nestor. It was the first professional hit for Nestor, whose blast to center field highlighted a seven-run eighth inning.... Knoxville native OF Brett Carroll enjoyed a homecoming at Smokies Park, batting.375 with two doubles and his first three home runs of the season during the five-game set at Tennessee. Among Carroll s homers was a blast that traveled an estimated 450 feet on April 30. After going an amazing 14-1 in extra-inning games last year, the Lookouts have lost their first two such affairs in RHP Sam Lecure has won his last four starts, allowing two runs or fewer in each. In fact, Lecure has not allowed more than two runs in any of his last eight starts, including his final two outings for Sarasota in the Class- A Florida State League last year. Lecure, who turned 23 on May 4, also has been formidable at the plate, collecting a pair of singles and two walks in five plate appearances. LHP Steve Hammond pitched the Southern League s first shutout of 2007, a six-hitter at Birmingham on April 29. It was the second professional shutout for Hammond, whose first also came as a member of the Stars on July 12, RHP Mike Jones, the Milwaukee Brewers first-round pick in 2001, allowed just three hits in six innings of a 3-0 win at Montgomery on April 25 - two days after celebrating his 24th birthday. It was the first win since June 20, 2004 for Jones, who missed 2005 following shoulder surgery. Highly regarded LHP Scott Elbert has not pitched since April 16 due to shoulder tendinitis. His injury enabled RHP Justin Orenduff to return to the rotation for the first time in nearly a year. Orenduff, who was selected 33rd overall - 16 spots after Elbert - in the 2004 draft, was 4-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 10 starts with the Suns last year before shoulder trouble eventually required surgery. In his fourth start of 2007, he allowed just one run and four hits in a season-high four innings against Birmingham on May 7. The Braves won nine of their first 10 games at Trustmark Park this season, a stretch that included the team s first five-game series sweep since relocating from Greenville following the 2004 campaign. C Jarrod Saltalamacchia batted.379 with six homers and 10 RBI during Mississippi s first two home series before making his major league debut with Atlanta on May The Braves lead the league with 51 stolen bases, including nine at Mobile on May 1 and another seven at Montgomery two days later. After spending the first month of the season in extended spring training with a tired arm, LHP Greg Smith made his season debut on May 6 at West Tenn. The 23-year-old Smith, who ranked second in the Arizona Diamondbacks system in both wins (14) and ERA (2.55) in 2006, allowed two runs and six hits in four innings.... 3B Mark Reynolds, who led the organization with 31 homers last year, had only one blast in a 22-game span from April 9-May 3 before connecting twice in three days against the Diamond Jaxx. 3B Evan Longoria matched Rico Washington s team record by reaching base safely in 26 consecutive games from April 11-May 8. The third player taken in last year s draft, Longoria has drawn 23 walks in 107 at-bats this season after working just one free pass in 105 at-bats with the club in After beginning May with three straight defeats to fall below.500 (12-15) for the first time in nearly 13 months, the Biscuits rattled off a seasonhigh five straight victories from May 4-8. Summoned to pitch after three Smokies hurlers combined to allow 16 runs in the first five innings, 2B Gary Cates worked three perfect frames with a pair of strikeouts against Mobile on April 25. Cates also led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a home run, triggering a seven-run frame. That blast stands as Cates only homer of the season and one of just 18 in nearly 2,900 professional at-bats.... LHP Donnie Veal was 0-4 with an 8.86 ERA in April before outdueling Birmingham s Jack Egbert with seven brilliant innings for a 1-0 win on May 5. 3 OF Jeff Frazier was hitting just.150 through April 21 before putting together a 15-game hitting streak that added 70 points to his average. Acquired via trade from the Detroit Tigers in February, Frazier hit his first home run as a member of the Seattle Mariners organization May 3 against Mobile and added another two days later.... RHP Craig James saved half of the Diamond Jaxx 10 wins in April and was tied for the league lead in that category during the season s first month. SOUTHERN BASES

5 SOUTHERN LEAGUE HAPPENINGS Birdzerk! will be on hand when the Barons host the opener of a five-game series against the Mississippi Braves at Regions Park on Saturday, May 12. During that game and the following afternoon, Barons coaches and players will wear pink caps in honor of Mother s Day. The pink caps will be auctioned off on May 13 with all proceeds donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure of North Central Alabama. The Mudcats, partnering with Rex Healthcare and the Carolina Ford Dealers, will host a cancer fundraiser called Pink in the Park in conjunction with the opener of a five-game series with the Huntsville Stars on Saturday, May 12. All Mudcat players will wear custom-made pink jerseys that will be auctioned off following the game. All proceeds will be donated to the Rex Cancer Center s Angel Fund, which serves patients with unique needs associated with treatments. The BK King, as seen in Burger King s national advertising campaign, is scheduled to visit Spring Creek Elementary in Chattanooga on May 17. Joined by Lookouts coaches and players, the BK King will treat approximately 100 elementary school kids to a lunch featuring some of Burger King s nutritious menu items, like side salads, veggie burgers and the BK Tendergrill Chicken Sandwich. The BK King also will make an appearance at AT&T Field that evening, when the Lookouts host the opener of a five-game series with Mobile. Saturday, May 19 will be Salute to Armed Forces Day at Joe Davis Stadium, with the first 1,500 fans arriving for the game receiving a Stars camouflage baseball. In conjunction with this occasion, the Stars will team with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Boy Scouts of America through the Alabama Department of Homeland Security to host Be Ready Day to educate fans on preparing for emergencies. Public service announcements will be made during the game and local Boy Scout troops will distribute brochures to fans. In conjunction with the PGA Tour s most lucrative event taking place at nearby Ponte Vedra Beach from May 10-13, the Suns have extended a special ticket offer. Any fan presenting a ticket from The Players Championship at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville ticket window through May 11 will receive a box seat ticket for half price. Also, any golf fans visiting from out of town presenting an out-of-state drivers license will receive a free hot dog along with the ticket discount. The first 1,000 fans through the gate for the finale of a the Braves five-game series with West Tenn on Friday May 11 will receive a Mississippi Braves miniature souvenir baseball bat. All fans present that night will be treated to a postgame fireworks display. The first 1,500 fans arriving for the following the May 18 game against Tennessee will receive a Mississippi Braves pennant. On Sunday, May 20, the first 1,000 fans aged 14 and under will receive an Atlanta Braves replica batting helmet. The BayBears kick off a five-game series with Jacksonville on Saturday, May 12 with a Vegas Night promotion which will feature games of chance on the concourse and songs by a talented Elvis Presley impersonator. Honoring Mother s Day for a third consecutive year, BayBears coaches and players will wear pink jerseys which will be available to fans via silent auction conducted through the seventh inning. Proceeds from the jersey auction will benefit breast cancer research and awareness. Last year, Mobile raised over $11,000 from the event. The Biscuits recently welcomed their 1,000,000th fan and many more are expected for a pair of upcoming giveaways. The first 3,000 fans through the gate for the finale of the Montgomery s 10-game homestand on Friday, May 11 will receive a Charlie Montoyo figurine. Montoyo managed the Biscuits to their first Southern League title last year. On Saturday, May 19, the first 3,000 fans arriving for Montgomery s game against Birmingham will receive a replica of Riverwalk Stadium. The Smokies have quite a lineup of promotions slated for the opener of a five-game series against Chattanooga on Saturday, May 12. It will be Girl Scout Night at Smokies Park, with discounted tickets available for Girl Scouts around the area. Uniformed Girl Scouts also will throw out the first pitch. Three fans will get the chance to grab as much money as they can in the money grab machine courtesy of Citizens National Bank. A postgame ball toss will provide a chance to win a recliner, and a fireworks extravaganza will conclude the evening s festivities. During their five-game series against Montgomery, which begins Saturday, May 12, the Diamond Jaxx will reward youths in the community for their scholastic achievements. Monday, May 14, will be Reading Program Night, on which children who have read 10 books can redeem a voucher authorized by their teacher for two free game tickets. Honor Roll Night is scheduled for Tuesday, May 15, when kids from local counties who have made the honor roll will comprise a pregame onfield ceremony, say their name and school and receive a Diamond Jaxx pennant. SOUTHERN BASES 4

6 AWARDS SOUTHERN LEAGUE HITTER AND PITCHER OF THE WEEK APRIL 23-29, 2007 HITTER OF THE WEEK JAI MILLER ~ CAROLINA MUDCATS The Mudcats' offense sprung to life in the Southern League's third full week of the season, and outfielder Jai Miller was at the center of the action. With help from Miller, who topped the circuit with a.909 slugging percentage and tied for the league lead with a.500 batting average, Carolina hit.285 in seven games during the period after entering the week with a.203 team average. A 22-year-old native of Selma, AL, Miller went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBI as the Mudcats concluded a 10- game homestand with a 6-2 victory against Chattanooga on April 25. The next day, Miller homered in each of his first two at-bats as Carolina set a franchise record with six blasts in a 13-4 triumph at Tennessee. Miller's offensive exploits during the week raised his overall average from.205 to.311. AVG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB Miller PITCHER OF THE WEEK CHRIS MASON - MONTGOMERY BISCUITS Righthander Chris Mason did his part to rekindle the Biscuits' playoff magic from last season, posting wins against Montgomery's 2006 postseason opponents during the final full week of April. On April 24, Mason gave up just an unearned run and four hits in six innings of a 13-6 victory against Huntsville, which Montgomery defeated in the most recent Southern League Championship Series. The 22-yearold Mason struck out a season-high seven batters without issuing a walk in that performance. Five days later, Mason allowed an unearned run and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-2 victory at Jacksonville, which Montgomery swept in last year's South Division Series. A native of Gastonia, NC, Mason ranked second in the Southern League with a 1.26 ERA through the end of April. W-L SV ERA IP H R ER BB SO HR Mason SOUTHERN BASES

7 AWARDS SOUTHERN LEAGUE HITTER AND PITCHER OF THE WEEK APRIL 30-MAY 6, 2007 HITTER OF THE WEEK PRENTICE REDMAN ~ WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX Right fielder Prentice Redman s potent and timely hitting helped the Diamond Jaxx win five times in six tries during the week. The 27-year-old Redman contributed a pair of two-run homers as West Tenn established its high-water mark for runs scored in a game with a 16-8 victory at Chattanooga on April 30. Two nights later, Redman legged out a triple among his three hits and scored the tying run in the seventh inning of a game the Diamond Jaxx won in the bottom of the 11th against Mobile, 3-2. Redman had three more hits, including a pair of solo homers, in a 5-2 victory vs. the BayBears on Saturday and capped the week with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift West Tenn to a 5-4 triumph in the series finale against Mobile. A native of Forney, TX, Redman led the Southern League with four homers and a slugging percentage during the period. AVG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB Redman PITCHER OF THE WEEK MATT RILEY ~ JACKSONVILLE SUNS Lefthander Matt Riley continued his inspiring return from injury, striking out 12 batters in just 5 1/3 innings and converting his first two save opportunities of the season. In his first outing of the week against Montgomery on May 1, Riley inherited a bases-loaded situation with no outs in the sixth inning and promptly struck out the side, enabling the Suns to maintain a three-run lead in an eventual 8-4 triumph. Three nights later, Riley recorded five strikeouts in two perfect innings at Carolina to notch his first save since Winning pitcher Wesley Wright and Riley combined to strike out 10 consecutive Mudcats in that contest. On May 6, the 27-year-old Riley emerged relatively unscathed from another bases-loaded jam, allowing a run to score on a wild pitch before inducing an inning-ending groundout. He then preserved Jacksonville's 4-3 victory with a scoreless ninth inning that included two more strikeouts. A native of Corona, CA who pitched in just 25 1/3 innings due to elbow problems the previous two seasons, Riley posted a 1.47 ERA and 29 strikeouts in his first 18 1/3 frames of 2007 before being promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas on May 8. W-L SV ERA IP H R ER BB SO HR Broadway SOUTHERN BASES 6

8 FANS IN ACTION Special thanks to Mike Wyatt for submitting a picture of infielder Cesar Nicholas emerging from the Mobile BayBears dugout with a piece of bubble gum stuck to his cap. If you have a photo from a Southern League game you would like to share with Southern Bases, please send it via in either.jpeg or.tif format to Joe Barbieri at slmedia@earthlink.net. If your photo is used, you will be entered into a drawing to win an official Southern League cap and shirt at the end of the season. TRIVIA QUESTION After leading the Southern League in saves each of the previous two years while with Mobile, Montgomery s Dale Thayer is tied for second in the circuit with six saves in Thayer is attempting to become the first player to lead the league in saves three times. Who is the only other player to lead the circuit in that category more than once? ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Writer, Managing Editor and Graphic Designer Joe Barbieri Editor Lori Webb Credits John Hartwell (cover photo and Regions Park photo, Page 2), Hartwell Studio Works (logo, Page 1) Southern Bases would like to thank the following people for the information and assistance they provided: Jonathan Nelson and Paul Kennedy (Birmingham Barons), Pete Intza (Chattanooga Lookouts), Kirk Goodman (Jacksonville Suns), Nick Skinner (Mississippi Braves), Mike Callahan (Mobile BayBears), Kelli Baker (Montgomery Biscuits) and Claire Skipper and Liz Malone (West Tenn Diamond Jaxx). Copyright 2007, The Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of Southern Bases, in whole or part without the expressed written consent of the Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs, Inc., is strictly prohibited. HOP ABOARD! Are you interested in having Southern Bases ed to you directly? Please send an to Joe Barbieri at slmedia@earthlink.net if you would like to be added to our mailing list. The Mississippi Braves will be hosting the 2007 Southern League All-Star Game at Trustmark Park on July 9. Don t miss any of the festivities! For ticket information, please visit the Braves web site at or call (601) TRIVIA ANSWER Jake Whitlock of the Montgomery Rebels led the Southern League with 12 saves in 1970 and 15 in SOUTHERN BASES 7