RailCats To Honor Late Joe Gates During 2010 Season
April 2, 2010 - Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
GARY, Ind. - The Gary SouthShore RailCats will honor the life of longtime coach Joe Gates this summer at U. S. Steel Yard by wearing a commemorative patch on their uniform sleeve throughout the season. Gates' number 45 will also be retired, making Gates the first RailCat to be so honored.
The RailCats will officially retire Gates' number and unveil the commemorative patch at a date early in the 2010 season. The black patch will bear his number and will be placed on the RailCats home, road and alternate uniforms. Gates' number 45 will join Jackie Robinson's 42 as the only retired numbers at U. S. Steel Yard.
Gates passed away earlier this week at age 55. A coach with the RailCats since the team's first home season of 2003, Gates was a mainstay at U. S. Steel Yard and a fervent supporter of his hometown of Gary and the RailCats organization. A standout baseball player, Gates won the Southern League (AA) batting championship in 1978 and played in the major leagues with the Chicago White Sox from 1978-79. A graduate of Gary's Roosevelt High School, Gates coached baseball at Gary's Wirt High School for 28 years after his playing career ended.
Gates is survived by 12 brothers and sisters and three children. His life will be remembered with a series of services next week in Gary, including a funeral and wake Tuesday, April 6 at the Genesis Convention Center starting at 9 a.m.
The RailCats officially open the 2010 season Thursday, May 20 with a 7 p.m. game against the Kansas City T-Bones.
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