Drillers receive honor from Baseball America
December 5, 2005 - Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
National publication Baseball America today presented the 2005 Bob Freitas Award to the Tulsa Drillers franchise. The presentation occurred at the Wyndham-Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas during professional baseball's annual Winter Meetings.
The Freitas Award, first presented in 1989, is given annually by Baseball America to one franchise in each of Minor League Baseball's four levels (AAA, AA, A & Short-Season). It is given to honor long-term business excellence and success and is named after Bob Freitas, who was a well-respected and long-time operator, promoter and ambassador in minor league baseball.
Tulsa becomes one of only five franchises to win the award twice, joining Buffalo (NY), Pawtucket (RI), Reading (PA) and Spokane (WA). Tulsa and Reading are the only two Double A franchises to receive the honor twice. The Drillers were previously awarded the Freitas Trophy in 1992.
"The Drillers are honored to receive this award for the second time and would like to thank those people most responsible," said Drillers Executive Vice President Chuck Lamson. "First and foremost are the great fans of Tulsa and Northeastern Oklahoma for their continued support. Secondly, our great partners ...Levy Restaurants, the Colorado Rockies and the Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority whose business relationships are invaluable to us. And finally, to all of our game associates and fulltime staff who work tirelessly to ensure that Drillers Baseball is a FUN experience for all!"
Lamson added, "We would also like to thank Baseball America for this recognition and the wonderful work that they do promoting the great game of baseball."
Baseball America Assistant Editor Chris Kline wrote of the Drillers, "Plenty of minor league franchises like to talk about how they are tied into their respective community historically, but not many can trace their roots back to before that community officially existed. The Double-A Tulsa Drillers are one such franchise, as baseball began in 1905 when the Tulsa Oilers first took the field in the Class C Missouri Valley League--two years before Oklahoma became a state."
Drillers' attendance in 2005 for Tulsa's 100th Anniversary Season topped 335,000, marking the 12th time in 13 years that the franchise's total attendance has exceeded 300,000.
The Drillers will begin the city's second century of professional baseball on April 6, 2006 by hosting the Wichita Wranglers at Drillers Stadium to open the Texas League season.
Texas League Stories from December 5, 2005
- Drillers receive honor from Baseball America - Tulsa Drillers
- Book signing with the Ryans - Corpus Christi Hooks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
