Bulls open Fourth of July weekend festivities Friday
Published on July 1, 2005 under International League (IL1)
Durham Bulls News Release
The Durham Bulls open the month of July with a four night Fourth of July celebration. Fans can start the Fourth of July weekend when the Bulls take the Syracuse SkyChiefs on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. After the game, there will be a special "A Tribute to Heroes" Fireworks Show.
The Columbus Clippers come to town on Saturday, July 2nd for a two-game series. It is St. Lawrence Homes Night at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park when the Bulls take on the Clippers at 5:00 p.m. It is also a New Balance Autograph Saturday. After the game, your favorite Durham Bulls will be signing autographs on the field until the last fan leaves. Sunday will feature a special 7:00 p.m. game time. Following the game be sure to stick around for the Bank of America "Star Spangled" Fireworks.
Come out to the game on Monday for the Chick-fil-A Fourth of July Celebration when the Bulls take on the Toledo Mud Hens at 5:00 p.m. Celebrate our nation's birthday with our national pastime. After the game, the City of Durham celebrates Independence Day with a free concert and fireworks show!
Durham and Toledo close out their two-game series on Tuesday when the Bulls and Mud Hens meet on Harris Teeter VIC Card Night. Bulls fans receive 2 for 1 tickets courtesy of Harris Teeter just by showing their VIC Cards at the DBAP box office every Tuesday night this season.
Parents, make sure to bring the kids out for their chance to meet SpongeBob SquarePants from the hit Nickelodeon cartoon when the Bulls celebrate the fourth of five Time Warner Cable Weekends. SpongeBob SquarePants will appear at the DBAP July 1st-4th.
The Bulls return to the DBAP on July 14th for a four-game series with the Rochester Red Wings. Thursday, July 14th is Big 10 Fans and Alumni Night and ConAgra $1 Family Feast Night. Come hungry and enjoy $1 hot dogs, popcorn and French fries all night long.
On Friday, July 15th the Bulls will host the second Durham Bulls Youth Athletic League (DBYAL) Charity Auction. The silent auction will be held on the main concourse from 6:00 p.m. until the seventh inning. Following the post-game Triangle Orthopaedics fireworks show, the winning bids will be posted on the glass doors of the main office leading into the ballpark. Fans may pick up and pay for their items at that time.
On July 16th, the Durham Bulls welcome Kooka Bird to the DBAP for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Night. Kooka Bird will entertain the crowd throughout the evening during several between-inning breaks. Sunday, July 17th is Wool E. Bull's Birthday Celebration. Come out for the Mascot Mania-packed night as Wool E. Bull welcomes his mascot friends from around the state to help celebrate his birthday. Plus, bring a new toy to the box office and receive two tickets for the price of one. All toys will be donated to Duke Childrens' Hospital.
The month of July closes out with a two-game series with the Richmond Braves July 20th-21st. Wednesday, July 20th is Starter Night at the DBAP. Thursday, July 21st is SEC Fans and Alumni Night and ConAgra $1 Family Feast Night. Come hungry because hot dogs, french fries and popcorn are one dollar apiece every Thursday night during the 2005 season.
Though the Bulls are finished for the month, there's still plenty of baseball action at the DBAP. For the third consecutive summer, the USA Baseball National Team will take the field at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The USA Baseball National Team consists of the top collegiate baseball players in the country. The team performs each summer in a schedule of exhibition games across America and overseas, versus the world's top baseball talent.
Catch the USA Baseball National Team as they take on the Italian National Team July 22nd-24th and the Nicaraguan National Team July 29th-31st. Make sure to stay after the games on July 22nd and 29th to catch USA Baseball Fireworks.
June Review
Durham saw plenty of players move to Tampa Bay during the month of June, some possibly for good and some who later returned. Meanwhile, the Bulls remain in second place in the International League's South Division, trailing Norfolk.
Jonny Gomes continued to swing a hot bat, as he led the International League in RBI before his second call-up to the Devil Rays. Gomes, who belted 14 homers with the Bulls and now has six with Tampa Bay, is hitting .288 with the Devil Rays. He was top five in most IL offensive categories before departing.
Gomes left too early to be selected to the IL All-Star Team, but four other position players made the squad. Joey Gathright, who leads the IL in stolen bases, Pete LaForest, who this month became the first Bull in Triple-A history to have a three-homer game, B.J. Upton, who was also selected to the Futures Game; and Eric Munson, now with the Devil Rays.
Gathright, Upton and LaForest remain key pieces in manager Bill Evers lineup. A surprise lately has been newcomer Darnell McDonald, who has seven homers in 57 at-bats, including back-to-back two-homer games June 28th and 29th.
Meanwhile, Durham enters the month of July with a strong bullpen. Closers Lee Gardner and Franklin Nunez have returned from Tampa Bay, along with Tim Corcoran. That trio, coupled with Joe Beimel and Joe Nelson gives Durham its best pen this season.
Pepsi Baseball Camp
Our popular baseball camps are back for the summer of 2005! Register your child now for three days of baseball fun with the Bulls. All camps take place on the playing field of the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Kids in each camp are coached by Bulls players in pitching, fielding and hitting. After a lunch break, each age group plays a game. On the third and final day of each camp, Bulls players and coaches will summarize lessons learned.
This is a truly unique learning experience for any youngster interested in learning baseball from the future stars of Major League Baseball. The final Camp dates are as follows:
Camp 4
Thursday, August 11
Friday, August 12
Saturday, August 13
For more information, please visit the Pepsi Baseball Camp section of durhambulls.com.
Major the CCB/SunTrust Bull Moves to the DBAP
There is a new bull in the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, but not one that will help win any ballgame. "Major," a 13 foot-long, 6 foot-tall bronze bull weighing 2000 lbs, is a gift to the citizens of Durham. He will be spending the remainder of the 2005 baseball season with the Durham Bulls inside the main gates of the ballpark.
Major was made possible by a generous gift from Central Carolina Bank (now SunTrust). This monumental tribute to the spirit and heritage of Durham represents CCB/SunTrust's enduring legacy of serving the community and supporting the arts. Major was designed, sculpted, cast in bronze and fabricated by Liberty Arts' artists Michael Waller and Leah Foushee. All aspects of this process were performed at Liberty Arts' studio and casting facility in the George Watts Hill Pavilion for the Arts in Durham.
Major will reside permanently in the CCB Plaza currently under construction in the Durham City Center. Until Major arrives at his permanent home sometime in late 2005 or early 2006, he will be traveling to various public spaces throughout Durham. The Durham Bulls, through the courtesy of the Capitol Broadcasting Company, have generously offered to host Major during the 2005 baseball season. By bringing Major to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, this new Durham landmark may be enjoyed by the thousands of citizens and visitors attending games at DBAP this summer.
ESPN's SportsCenter Makes a Stop at the DBAP
ESPN's world-famous sports news and information show SportsCenter will host their 6:00 PM ET show live at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Monday, August 1st prior to the Durham Bulls game against the Charlotte Knights. The Bulls were selected as the venue to represent North Carolina for ESPN's new venture: SportsCenter Across America, a 50-states-in-50-days summer tour starting Sunday, July 17 when the entire 11 p.m. ET show, hosted by Chris Berman and Stuart Scott, will originate from Fenway Park following the Yankees-Red Sox game. The 50 States 50 Days initiative will continue the next 49 consecutive days when SportsCenter will traverse the nation, stopping at a sporting event in a different state each day through September 4.
"This is a tremendous honor," Durham Bulls General Manager Mike Birling said, "when you consider all of the fantastic sports teams and venues that the Tar Heel State has to offer, to be selected as the venue for North Carolina is something special. We look forward to showing off the best sports fans in the country for the nation to see."
Each SportsCenter Across America segment will originate from a mobile SportsCenter set with an anchor and a live audience at a sporting event germane to the state. These daily segments will include event action, historical notes, factoids and vignettes about each state's contribution to the national sports scene, as well as "Best" lists compiled from ESPN research and ESPN.com voters, and several long-form features.
"This is a phenomenal opportunity for ESPN to touch our viewers, to personally meet the fans who watch us every day," said Norby Williamson, senior vice president and managing editor. "Along the way, we will educate our viewers about the varied sporting events popular throughout the country, and point out the well-known, and perhaps not-so-well-known, athletes and events from each state."
Joining opening night co-hosts Berman and Scott as SportsCenter Across America anchors will be John Anderson, Steve Berthiaume, Linda Cohn, Rece Davis, Neil Everett, Brian Kenny, Steve Levy, Kenny Mayne, Chris McKendry, Dan Patrick, Scott Van Pelt, Matt Winer and Trey Wingo. The anchor for August 1st at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park is yet to be determined.
Tickets for the Bulls 7:00 PM game on August 1st are available now at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park Box Office, by phone at (919) 956-BULL, or online at durhambulls.com. To read the press release from ESPN, click here.
USA Baseball Returns to the DBAP
USA Baseball's National Team returns to the DBAP for their third summer since the relocation of their national headquarters to the Triangle area in 2003. The 2005 team, consisting of 22 of the top collegiate baseball players in the country, will play against Italy and Nicaragua in Durham the weekends of July 22-24 and July 29-31. These six games are part of a schedule of exhibition games the team will play in the United States and overseas.
In addition to ballgames, USA Baseball will offer fans of all ages other forms of entertainment. There will be fireworks after the two Friday night games, autograph sessions after the Saturday games and all kids 12 and under will be allowed to run the bases after the Sunday night games. Furthermore, several nights have special themes, such as Italian Night on July 22, College Alumni Night on July 23, and the Triangle YMCA's Arapahoe Nation Night on July 24th. NewSong, a Christian contemporary group, will perform prior to the game as part of Faith and Family Day on July 31st.
For more information about ballgames or promotional events, contact USA Baseball's Erica Gregory at ericagregory@usabaseball.com. Tickets may be purchased online through durhambulls.com or by calling the Bulls' box office at 919-956-BULL.
July Sponsorship Highlights
Bank of America Neighborhood Champions - July 3rd
Bank of America and the Durham Bulls have teamed up to recognize "Neighborhood Champions" in our community. This program celebrates the contributions of our local heroes - the schoolteachers, police officers, firefighters, and medical workers. They were nominated by their peers, and have shown exceptional dedication and service to our community. Upon carefully reading each nomination, the winners were chosen for each category. We would like to congratulate Eric Hester from the Durham Police Department, Denise Hobbs from the Durham Public Schools' Hospital School, Dr. Evelyn Schmidt from the Lincoln Community Health Center, and Edward Reid from the City of Durham Fire Department. Come to the game on July 3rd to help us recognize these Neighborhood Champions in a well-deserved pre-game ceremony.
ConAgra Home Plate Ticket Offer Every Thursday
Hey Fans! Take advantage of the Home Plate Ticket Offer every Thursday. Bring proofs of purchase from three ConAgra Foods brand products on Thursday to receive four Diamond View tickets for $20. Remember that every Thursday is ConAgra $1 Family Feast, so bring your family and friends out for a night at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
International League Stories from July 1, 2005
- Knights win three in a row - Charlotte Knights
- Zach Duke Gets His First Call To The Big Leagues - Indianapolis Indians
- Bulls open Fourth of July weekend festivities Friday - Durham Bulls
- Ottawa uses five-run seventh to defeat Indianapolis, 9-4 - Indianapolis Indians
- Richmond Braves game notes - Gwinnett Stripers
- Freire's grand slam leads Lynx to 9-4 Canada Day win - Ottawa Lynx
- Buffalo Bisons game notes - Buffalo Bisons
- Lynx pull out 5-4 win - Ottawa Lynx
- Grand Slam spoils Lerew's outing - Gwinnett Stripers
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.
