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Beavers bring back host of all-time greats Saturday to cap retro celebration

August 22, 2006 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Beavers are welcoming back several of their all-time greats Saturday, Aug. 26, as the team caps off its season-long "Retro Saturdays" theme with a special celebration at PGE Park when the club plays host to the Las Vegas 51s at 7:05 p.m.

Headlining the list of former-Beaver greats who will be in attendance are Pacific Coast League Hall-of-Famers Eddie Basinski and Artie Wilson. The Beavers also will welcome back George Freese (1957-60), Frank Peters (1970-72), Hal Saltzman (1948-49), Tommy Sandt (1979-81), Dick Sinovic (1948-49), Wayne Twitchell (1970) and former manager Pete Ward, who led the 1981 club to a 72-65 record.

The Beavers will honor the familiar favorites in a special pre-game ceremony. Gates open at 6 p.m.

Basinski played second base for the Beavers from 1947-57 and was elected to the PCL Hall of Fame earlier this year. Once voted the "Most Famous Beaver" by Portland fans, Basinski, also a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Fame, appeared in more than 1,400 games with the Beavers.

Freese led the Beavers in batting average in 1958 and 1959 and paced the 1958 club in home runs (35), RBIs (81), runs (94), hits (164) and total bases (294). The third baseman was a PCL All-Star both seasons.

Wilson played in Portland from 1955-56 and again in 1962 and was elected to the PCL Hall of Fame in 2003. Wilson won a PCL batting title while splitting the season between San Diego and Oakland in 1949 and paced the circuit in stolen bases with 47.

As part of their "Retro Saturdays" promotion this year, the Beavers have worn limited-edition throwback uniforms from the 1956 season. Each Saturday a fan has won one of the game-worn jerseys, but the additional jerseys will be sold through a silent auction held before and during Saturday's game, the final "Retro Saturday" of the season. The silent auction tables will be set up on the main concourse, and winning bidders will receive their jerseys on the field at the conclusion of the game.

Funds raised from the jersey auction will benefit Schoolhouse Supplies, an organization that collects new and used supplies to stock a unique store for Portland Public School teachers.

Also, the first 2,000 fans through the gates for the game will receive a Jack Cain Bobblehead doll, courtesy of G.I. Joe's. Cain, a longtime baseball ambassador in Portland, is the Beavers' senior advisor and the former owner of the Class A Portland Rockies.

Tickets for Saturday's game are available at www.pgepark.com, by phone at (503) 224-4400, at the PGE Park box office or area Ticketmaster outlets. Discounted group packages are available by phoning the Beavers at (503) 553-5555.

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