Did you know that last season, the Bluefish spent $1.93 million with 35 Bridgeport companies? And that's not even counting the full value of bartered arrangements where we provide seats and advertising to a vendor in return for the goods and services that vendor provides to the Bluefish. It is this "multiplier effect" that is often overlooked when the value of a team to a city is calculated. Fortunately, we have now provided this specific information to the city as the City Council considers our request for improvements in our lease agreement for the use of the Ballpark at Harbor Yard.Another most interesting statistic; for many years the Bridgeport Bluefish have had an active program where we allow non-profit and community organizations to raise money for their organizations. We call this our Fundraiser Program, and it's really quite simple. A group or organization sells Bluefish tickets at "full retail", or $9.00 for a grand stand seat, and, after the game, we return one-half, or $4.50 per ticket, to the group that has sold the tickets. We do it for two reasons. First, it enables us to support the many worthy organizations in this region who seek our support. Secondly, we galvanize volunteers to sell our tickets for us, and, in so doing, bring lots of people into the ballpark that we might be able to reach otherwise. Community groups love the program because they can actually raise a significant amount of money for their programs and services. Moreover, the game itself affords an opportunity for the group to have a terrific social gathering for their friends and supporters. In just the past three seasons, the Bridgeport Bluefish have contributed $328,000 via this Fundraiser Program to local community organizations. And we are distinctly proud of that!
Even though we won nearly every game against the now-defunct Pennsylvania Road Warriors last season, an infielder named Melvin Falu, gave us fits. In our final game of the season, Falu played every position but pitcher, and made a great, falling-down catch in right field which saved the game for the Road Warriors, and officially eliminated us from playoff contention. Well, we have just learned that the Newark Bears (who have been very active in this off-season) have signed both Melvin Falu and former Road Warrior catcher Abraham Ayala. Falu hit .266 last season in 107 games with five home runs and 46 RBIs. Ayala hit .286 with four home runs and 28 RBIs. Both players are 24 years old, and, according to the Bears, were being scouted all last years by the Bears' brain trust.
Also, two Atlantic League All-Stars have been signed this past week to minor league contracts with Major League organizations. Most notably, our own 36-year old Jose Offerman who played with us for all of the 2003 season, and was with the Minnesota Twins last year, has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Also, the Chicago White Sox have signed former Camden Riversharks catcher Chris Widger. Widger had a big grand slam against the Long Island Ducks in last year's Championship Series, in a game the Ducks won 11-10 in extra innings. We wish these guys well, especially our own "Offie". Last year, by the way, Offie batted .256 with two homes runs and 22 RBIs in 77 games for the Twins.
One of our most loyal fans, Leon Spivek, has a very special birthday coming up. On Super Bowl Sunday, February 6, Leon will be 90 years old! Here is what Bluefish Booster Joe Trovarelli, Jr. wrote us about our friend: "Leon and his wife are loyal and supportive Bridgeport Bluefish members, and have come on road trips with us He is an ardent sports fan, and it is interesting to note that Leon was the first captain of the inaugural Boston University football team what amazes me is hid handshake, for a man who is about to turn 90, his firm handshake feels like he has got you in a vice grip." Joe also reports that when he saw Leon recently, he and his wife were just coming from a class they were taking together at Fairfield University. Joe also notes that Leon is immensely proud of his three grandsons, two of whom are serving our country in Iraq. We heartily wish Leon the happiest birthday, with many more to come.
Leon is a long way from being our eldest fan. In a few weeks, on March 1, Ms. Albie Booth will be celebrating her 105th birthday as we look forward to welcoming her back for her eighth Bluefish season. Whenever Albie comes to a game, we like to recognize her by announcing that "we are proud to have Albie Booth, our oldest fan, in the house tonight." After which Albie usually gives a big wave form her seat outside Skybox #1 over the Bluefish dugout.
Albie was born in 1900. That's four years before these 1904 mind-boggling statistics: Only 8% of all homes had a telephone, and only 14% a bathtub. There were only 8,000 cars in the country, and only 144 miles of paved road, with a maximum speed limit in most places of 10 mph. The average wage was 22 cents per hour, with the average worker earning between $200 and $300 per year. More than 95 percent of all births took place at home, and 90% of all U.S. physicians had no college education. Only 6% of all Americans graduated from high school. The population of Las Vegas was 30; and California was only the 21st most populated of the 45 states in our country. Crossword puzzles, canned beer and iced tea had not been invented, and there was no Mother's Day, or Father's Day. Marijuana, heroin and morphine were all sold over the counter at drug stores and there were only 230 reported murders in the country for the entire year. The first World Series had been held a year earlier (between the American League's Boston Pilgrims and the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates), but in 1904, New York Giants manager John McGraw refused to allow his team play the American League champion Boston Red Sox, deeming that contest less significant than the National League championship his team had just won. Relations became more cordial the next year, however, with the Giants defeating the Philadelphia Athletics, and the World Series has been played every year since 1905, except in 1994 when the 232-day players' strike ignominiously ended the season in August.
If you want the most up-to-date "counter" of how long it is until our home opener on April 28 against the Long island Ducks, just go to our website at www.bridgeportbluefish.com. You'll see the actual countdown, down to the second! Sure we wish we were a lot closer, with current temperatures in the single digits and mounds of snow piled everywhere.
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