IL1 Rochester Red Wings

Baseball Month in Rochester Comes to a Close

June 1, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


ROCHESTER**, NY* - Baseball Month in Rochester concluded yesterday after 29 games in 25 days in May at Frontier Field. The total includes 10 Red Wings home games, 17 Empire State Yankees "home" games, and two Section 5 high school championship contests. The Red Wings and Monroe County on April 30 proclaimed May as Baseball Month in Rochester. The Red Wings in 2012 are sharing Frontier Field with the Yankees while their home of PNC Field in Moosic, Pa., undergoes a season-long renovation.

Baseball Month in Rochester will be celebrated one final time tomorrow at the Red Wings' doubleheader at 5:05 p.m. with the giveaway of a 2012 Toyota Camry presented by Hoselton Toyota, a tribute for Joe Altobelli's 80th birthday, and check presentations to the local not-for-profit organizations benefitting from the month-long raffles and Mustache Madness collection bins. A three-foot by five-foot Baseball Month in Rochester sign, autographed by members of the eight teams that played at Frontier Field in May, will also be raffled off.

"What an exciting month of baseball," said General Manager Dan Mason. "Everyone at the Red Wings feels fortunate to have been a part of something so special and unique. We hope the great baseball fans of the Rochester community enjoyed it as well. The fun doesn't stop, though. It's now on to 24 games in June."

The final attendance for Baseball Month in Rochester is 90,597, including 89,386 for the 27 Red Wings and Yankees games and 1,211 for the two high school matchups.

Baseball Month in Rochester was highlighted by the May 6 appearance of Yankees' pitcher Andy Pettitte. Frontier Field set a record for a regular-season baseball game with 13,584 fans in attendance that day. The attendance figure is second in Frontier Field baseball history to only a Red Wings exhibition game with their parent club, the Baltimore Orioles, on July 10, 1997, when 13,723 came through the turnstiles.

The Red Wings partnered with Monroe County and Frontier Field to host a local not-for-profit organization in a complimentary suite during every game of Baseball Month in Rochester. Raffles for autographed memorabilia were held on each of the 25 days during Baseball Month in Rochester, and the $8,380 raised will be donated to the not-for-profit groups that were hosted in the suite. Check presentations to the local organizations will take place tomorrow between games of the doubleheader. Money raised from tomorrow's raffle for the 3-foot by 5-foot Baseball Month in Rochester logo will benefit Golisano Children's Hospital in Rochester.

"Baseball Month in Rochester truly brought out the best in our community," said Red Wings President/CEO/COO Naomi Silver. "The Red Wings family would like to thank all fans who celebrated our national pastime at Frontier Field and contributed to so many great causes in the community."

Altobelli, Rochester's Mr. Baseball, celebrated his 80th birthday on May 26. Altobelli played, managed, broadcasted, and worked in the front office for the Red Wings, and he will be honored between games of tomorrow's doubleheader.

Baseball Month in Rochester also featured a drawing for the chance to win the grand prize of a one-year lease on a 2012 Toyota Camry, courtesy of Hoselton Toyota. The 20 finalists, who were selected at random after attending at least one game per week during the month, will be on the field tomorrow after the doubleheader to see if their key unlocks the door to the Toyota Camry. The 19 fans who don't win the car will be re-entered into a drawing with qualifying fans for prizes that include lunch with the Red Wings coaching staff, batting practice at Frontier Field, throwing a Ceremonial First Pitch, taking a Red Wing to school or work, and broadcasting an inning with the Voice of the Red Wings, Josh Whetzel.

The 20 finalists are Charles Caruana of Lyons, Valerie Daciw of Angelica, Karen Diamond of Spencerport, Melinda Dykstra of LeRoy, Christine Eli of Rochester, Fred Garwood of Rochester, Julie Johannes of Geneseo, Christa Knaak of Penfield, Marylou Krest of Lima, Andrea Lanphere of Rochester, Harry Leathersich of Spencerport, Laurie Long of Rochester, Laura Markwick of Pittsford, Michael Murray of Leicester, Kathy O'Neill of Rochester, Addie Setek of Spencerport, Allen Stubinsky of Rochester, Robert Warner of Scottsville, Mary Lou Yusklewicz of Spencerport, and Krystle Zenner of Rochester.

The Red Wings also conducted an essay contest, asking their fans "When, where, and how did you fall in love with baseball - The winner, Sean Hanna of Rochester, was selected from a panel of Red Wings front-office staff and uniformed personnel. Hanna will receive a complimentary suite for 16 people to a regular-season game and an on-field batting practice visit that includes a meet-and-greet with Red Wings players and coaches. Hanna will also present his essay to the Frontier Field crowd between games of tomorrow's doubleheader.

Spikes, the beloved mascot of the Red Wings, made a public appearance during each of the 31 days of Baseball Month in Rochester, including 24 visits to area schools. He traveled 930 miles in all during the month.

Local organizations benefiting from the Baseball Month in Rochester raffles include Al Sigl Community of Agencies, American Red Cross Greater Rochester Chapter, Bivona Child Advocacy Center, Catholic Charities Community Services, Catholic Family Center, Camp Good Days, Compeer Rochester, CDS Monarch, Gilda's Club Rochester, Hillside Family of Agencies, Honor Flight Rochester, Lifespan, Mary Cariola Children's Center, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Kidney Foundation, NeighborWorks Rochester, Open Door Mission, Providing Animal Welfare Services, Reality Check, Rochester Children's Scholarship Fund, Rochester Press-Radio Club, United Way of Greater Rochester, Urology Associates of Rochester, Volunteers of America - Western New York, and YMCA of Greater Rochester.

Autographed memorabilia for the Baseball Month in Rochester raffle was donated from 16 professional sports teams across the United States, including 12 from Major League Baseball: Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, and Texas Rangers. The Buffalo Sabres, Rochester Americans, Buffalo Bills, Boston Celtics, and Wayne Gretzky also contributed items to the raffle.

Red Wings right-handed pitcher Anthony Slama, infielder Michael Hollimon, and members of the Red Wings' front-office staff raised an additional $625 for local not-for-profits by sporting mustaches during Baseball Month in Rochester. Addition organizations include Wounded Warriors Project, CP Rochester, Make-A-Wish Metro+Western New York, The Brain Aneurism Foundation, Tracy's Hope, Helping Harmonies Music Therapy, Wilmot Cancer Center, Rochester Presbyterian Home, American Cancer Society of Rochester, and Little League Challenger World Series.

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