GARY, Ind. — Nearly 1,000 of Northwest Indiana’s biggest baseball fans descended on the Radisson Hotel in Merrillville on Saturday for the first-ever Gary SouthShore RailCats Fan Fest.

Promoted as a one-of-a-kind event in minor league baseball, RailCats fans from throughout the Region came together despite an overnight snowstorm to make the day one to remember for all the players, coaches, staff and fans in attendance.  Sixteen current and former players and coaches were part of the celebration, which also included a special guest appearance from former Chicago White Sox left-hander Tommy John.

“We could not be happier with our first Fan Fest,” RailCats President/General Manager Roger Wexelberg said.  “It was great to see such a tremendous turnout from our fans and to re-connect with so many great RailCats.  From our standpoint, it was a resounding success.”

Fans lined up at the Radisson as early as 8 a.m. Saturday, a full two hours before Fan Fest was scheduled to begin.  Free t-shirts went quickly to the first 500 fans, who packed the main ballroom for an energetic Opening Ceremony that kick-started a day of February baseball.

Fans, players, coaches and more gathered throughout the day in the main ballroom to take a crack at the RailCats fast pitch and t-ball games, get their faces painted, grab some freebies from the event’s sponsors, check out the RailCats Hall of History, call an inning of play-by-play and even challenge a RailCats player in an inning of Wii Baseball.  Next door, fans lined up around the hallway for a chance at autographs from all of the day’s guests while others talked candidly with RailCats Owner/CEO Pat Salvi, Manager Greg Tagert, Wexelberg, John and several players in a series of question-and-answer forums.

With the day winding down, the RailCats gave the fans two more treats at the Closing Ceremony, first unveiling a throwback uniform the ‘Cats will wear at home on Sunday’s this season – a sleeveless, pinstriped jersey with pinstriped pants – that mimics the uniforms worn by the 2002 and 2003 RailCats.  The jerseys were modeled by Mike Rohde, Eric McNamee and Jay Pecci, and the latter two gave the fans one more chance to cheer when they signed their 2009 contracts to return for a fifth straight season at second base and shortstop, respectively.

“On behalf of the entire organization I want to thank everyone who made this event such a success,” Wexelberg said.  “The fans, sponsors and staff helped make Fan Fest the perfect representation of our Tradition of Excellence, and we look forward to seeing everyone again at U. S. Steel Yard this summer.”

The RailCats open the 2009 season at home Monday, May 18 at 7 p.m. against the Joliet JackHammers.  Season tickets, group outings, mini-plans and flex tickets are now on sale by calling the RailCats at 219.882.2255.  Don’t miss your chance to experience the RailCats Tradition of Excellence in 2009 at U. S. Steel Yard.