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Tri-City ValleyCats

Valleycats Awarded Bob Freitas "Organization Of The Year" For 2009

December 5, 2009 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release


TROY, N.Y. -- Baseball America has announced the Tri-City ValleyCats, Single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, have been recognized as the Bob Freitas "Organization of the Year" Award at the Short-Season level. The Bob Freitas Awards are handed out annually by Baseball America to the top Minor League teams at the Triple-A, Double-A, Single-A and Short-Season levels.

"It's a tremendous honor to be selected as the Short-Season Organization of the Year," said ValleyCats Vice President/General Manager Rick Murphy. "Baseball America's bi-weekly publication is an institution within the industry and we are grateful for their recognition."

The ValleyCats set an all-time attendance record for the sixth consecutive season in 2009 by drawing 145,976 fans. Promotional highlights from the season included a record 15 fireworks displays, four bobbleheads and industry themed nights throughout the season. The ValleyCats "Weatherman Bobblehead" promotion was a finalist at the 2009 Promotional Seminar for "Best Theme Night". Community outreach programs included Little League field renovations, a Junior Sportswriters program and Leading Women in Business and the Community campaign that increased awareness for the ballclub in New York's Capital Region.

"Since the Tri-City ValleyCats have been recognized by their peers in the New York-Penn League each of the past four seasons, it only seemed fitting for Baseball America to do the same this year," said Baseball America Business Editor Josh Leventhal. "Tri-City is a great example of a team doing things the right way: increasing its base of fans annually through creative promotions, affordable ticket prices and a series of ballpark renovations that have made Joe Bruno Stadium an inviting place for baseball fans to visit. This award is well earned."

The Freitas Award is named in honor of longtime Minor League Ambassador Bob Freitas and is given to franchises annually not on attendance, but rather to organizations that are "on a path of long-term excellence and true parts of their communities."

The ValleyCats will be presented the award next week at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Indianapolis. Other recipients include the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Class-A San Jose Giants.

The ninth season of ValleyCats baseball is scheduled to open at home on Friday, June 18 against the Oneonta Tigers. The ValleyCats are poised to draw the one millionth fan of the organization's history during the first series.

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