2012 RailCats Final Four Fan Fest Recap
Saturday, March 31, 2012, 2-9 p.m.
Fan Fest Photos
The Fourth Annual RailCats Fan Fest had a basketball twist
and helped kick off the baseball season for RailCats fans from all over the
Region. On the day of the 2012 Final Four, fans gathered for the first Fan Fest
to be held at U. S. Steel Yard.
After the opening ceremonies, fans got to mingle with RailCats
players past and present along with White Sox legend Minnie Minoso and two-time
NBA Champion Cliff Levingston. There were question-and-answer sessions, autographs,
baseball clinics and games that included great prizes, including a free night
in a luxury suite at a RailCats game.
“We want to thank our fans and sponsors for another great
Fan Fest,” RailCats President and General Manager Kevin Spudic said. “It was a
fun way to welcome the baseball season and we are proud to have such loyal fans
and supporters. We can’t wait to see everyone again for Opening Day on May 25.”
Minnie Minoso and Cliff Levingston each had autograph
sessions at the First Midwest Bank booth in the Diamond Club. Minoso is the
only professional baseball player to play in seven decades, and Levingston is a
former Chicago Bulls forward and former coach of the Gary Steelheads basketball
team.
Current RailCats outfielder Mike Coles, infielder Mike
Rohde, manager Greg Tagert, coach Mick Curran and bullpen catcher Aaron
Ciaburri were joined by former RailCats pitcher Travis Kerber and infielder
Eric Blakeley.
The fan photo submissions from the Post-Tribune Photo Contest were on display, and Marilyn Abramczyk
won the grand prize of four box seat flex tickets, $50 in Cat Coins and a
ceremonial first pitch at a RailCats game.
Fans also enjoyed the first annual Chili Cook-Off, won by
Paulla Weinberg, who took home $100 worth of Cat Coins good for tickets,
merchandise or food and a $50 gift card to Chili's. The donations from fans
that determined the cook-off winner all went to benefit Merry Meals.
During the cook-off, the Final Four basketball games were on
the TV’s in the Diamond Club and capped a great day of events at U. S. Steel
Yard.
The RailCats would like to thank the sponsors who helped
make Fan Fest a success: presenting sponsor First Midwest Bank, the Post-Tribune, LakeShore Radio, SelectServ,
North Coast Distributing, Indiana University Northwest, Digital Printworks,
Indiana 105, Red Hot Chicago, Merry Meals, POPOS Parties and Pepsi.
Photos from the event are available on the RailCats flickr
page at this link.
2011 RAILCATS FAN FEST RECAP
Saturday, February 5, 2011
10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza
Merrillville, Ind.
Minor League Baseball's one-of-a-kind event is back and better than ever!
CHECK OUT:
MERRILLVILLE,
Ind. — For the third consecutive winter, throngs of Gary SouthShore RailCats
fans flocked to the Radisson Hotel in Merrillville from all over Northwest
Indiana for Fan Fest, a fun-filled day of baseball despite the cold and snow
outside which featured current and former players and a celebration of the
RailCats Tenth Anniversary.
“Three years
into this event, it’s still amazing to see the tremendous turnout from
Northwest Indiana every year at Fan Fest” said President/General Manager Andy
Viano. “Even the great blizzard of 2011 couldn’t stop our legions of devoted
fans, corporate partners, coaches and players from descending on the Radisson
and we as an organization are sincerely touched by the support from everyone
who makes our continued success possible. With another Fan Fest now in the
books, we can’t wait to get to Opening Day!”
A swarm of
RailCats fans were lined up at the Radisson before the doors opened at 10 a.m.
eager to get the festivities underway and to ensure their chance each of the
day’s giveaways which included a commemorative poster and program for the first
1,000 fans and a free t-shirt for the first 500 adults and 300 kids. The Third Annual Fan Fest began with a packed
house at the Opening Ceremony where the RailCats introduced the day’s special
guests including New York Mets Pitcher and former ‘Cat Tim Byrdak and
former major leaguer and Gary Roosevelt High School grad Wallace Johnson,
in addition to the 16 former and current RailCats players and coaches in
attendance.
After the
Opening Ceremonies, fans broke out across the Radisson to take part in a wide
range of activities including a number of their favorite ballpark games and
challenging their favorite RailCat to home run derby on the Nintendo Wii. Down
the hall, RailCats players and coaches were available for hour-long autograph
sessions throughout the day. Young RailCats fans had an opportunity to
participate in five different baseball clinics and receive expert instruction
from RailCats legends including former Player of the Year Tanner Townsend
and former major leaguer Tony Cogan. Players, team administrators and special
guests also took part in the always popular Question and Answer sessions.
Byrdak and Johnson also each had their own autograph sessions at the First
Midwest Bank booth in the Main Room.
The RailCats
and the Post-Tribune displayed all entries to the Photo Contest and crowned
a winner in Linda Drinski, who took home a luxury suite night for 20
people and four VIP parking passes at an upcoming ‘Cats home game. A number of
fans also took part in the “Dress like a RailCats Player” photo session taking
turns trying on actual sized jerseys and pants in both serious and comical
poses.
Hundreds of
fans stuck around for the Closing Ceremony and the unveiling of the RailCats
Tenth Anniversary Team which celebrates ten wonderful years of professional
baseball in Northwest Indiana.
The RailCats
would like to thank each and every sponsor who made this year’s Fan Fest a huge
success including: Presenting Sponsor First Midwest Bank; Grand Slam Sponsors North
Coast Distributing, Radio One Communications, Radisson Hotel and the Post-Tribune
and Home Run Sponsors Barry’s Photography, Century 21, Edward Jones, Garman
Printing, Lakeshore Public Television, Miss Pam, Popo’s and Red Hot Chicago.
The Radisson Hotel is located at the intersection of I-65 and US-30 in
Merrillville and is adjacent to the Star Plaza Theater, The Region’s foremost
indoor entertainment venue. For more information on the Radisson Hotel at
Star Plaza, visit
www.radisson.com/merrillvillein.
The RailCats welcomed the following players and coaches to Fan Fest 2011:
- Jermaine Allensworth - Spent parts of four season in the majors before joining the RailCats
- Eric Blakeley - member of 2007 NL Championship squad, now runs Diamond Kings in St. John
- TIM BYRDAK - First member of the RailCats to move onto the majors, now plays for the New York Mets
- Tony Cogan - RailCats lefty who excelled as both a closer and starter, played in majors with the Royals
- Mick Curran -RailCats Hitting Coach since 2009
- Willie Glen - Two-time NL Pitcher of the Year, current Pitching Coach for Single-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins
- Kenny Graham - RailCats hitting coach from 2008-09, currently hitting coach in Toronto Blue Jays system
- Steve Haake - Franchise leader in doubles, tripes, stolen bases and RBI
- Josh Habel - All-Star lefty Pitcher in 2007 when he posted a 2.96 ERA (2nd in NL)
- Brian Halford -played only pro season with RailCats and posted a 5-1 record.
- WALLACE JOHNSON - Former major leaguer and Chicago White Sox Coach
- Travis Kerber - Only RailCat to pitch five seasons in NWI and RailCats leader in appearences
- Eric McNamee - Longtime second baseman who was an All-Star in 2008 and 2009.
- Mike Rohde - Only RailCat to win Northern League Rookie of the Year, second all-time in career batting (.293)
- Dan Soria - Biggest success story of the RailCats open tryout
- Greg Tagert - Manager who has led the 'Cats to six straight ployoff berths, including two NL titles
- Alex Taylor - Played virtually every position for the RailCats during his two year career which included a NL Title
- Tanner Townsend - Only RailCat to win Northern League Player of the Year, currently The RailCats Ambassador
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
RELIVE THE 2010 FAN FEST:
2010 Photo Gallery
2010 Fan Fest Recap
Willie Glen Signs 2010 Contract at Fan Fest
Wallace Johnson, Tommy John Added to Fan Fest Lineup
Willie Glen Headlines Another Batch of Fan Fest Guests
First Guests Announced
RELIVE THE 2009 FAN FEST:
Read the Press Release Announcing Fan Fest
Check out the preliminary Fan Fest lineup
Tommy John to Appear as Special Guest
Wille Glen and Four Others Added to Lineup
Complete Schedule Announced
2009 Fan Fest Photo Gallery
