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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Break Single-A, Franchise Attendance Records; Sell-Out Streak Record Within Reach

September 7, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, Ohio-The Dayton Dragons 11th season in the Midwest League featured a new single season Single-A and franchise attendance record as well as the extension of the club's consecutive game sell-out streak. The Dragons will be within reach in 2011 of the all-time professional sports record for consecutive sell-outs.

The Dragons completed their 2010 season on Monday with an attendance total for the year of 597,433, breaking the Single-A record previously held by the Dragons of 593,663 in 2004. This is the fourth time that the franchise has set or reset the Single-A record. The Dragons have led all of Single-A baseball in attendance in each of their 11 seasons. The Dragons averaged 8,535 per date over 70 home openings in 2010.

Each of the Dragons 70 home games in 2010 resulted in sell-outs, extending the Dragons sell-out streak to 774 consecutive games. This is the longest sell-out streak in professional baseball history and the second longest in professional sports history. Every Dragons game ever played at Fifth Third Field since the club's inception in 2000 has been a sell-out.

The Dragons are in position to tie the all-time record of 814 consecutive sell-outs by the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association, with the Dragons 40th home date of the 2011 season. Barring rain-outs, the projected date to break the record is July of 2011.

Longest Sell-Outs Streaks in Professional Sports History

No. Team League Years

814 Portland Trail Blazers National Basketball Association 1977-'95

774 Dayton Dragons Minor League Baseball 2000-'10

662 Boston Celtics National Basketball Association 1980-'95

620 Boston Red Sox Major League Baseball 2003-'10 (through 9/6; projected 631 through end of 2010 season)

610 Chicago Bulls National Basketball Association 1987-'00

For the 11th straight year, the Dragons also finished in the top-10 in all of Minor League Baseball in attendance as they surpassed the 6.5 million mark in 2010. The team enjoyed a 95 percent renewal rate of 2009 season ticket holders into the 2010 season.

A Baseball Legend Joins the Dragons in 2010

Ken Griffey, star right fielder for the two-time World Series Champion "Big Red Machine" of the 1970's, served as the Dragons hitting coach in 2010 until he was sidelined by hip replacement surgery late in the season. Still immensely popular with fans 20 years after he played his last game in Cincinnati and 34 years after the Reds swept the Yankees in the 1976 World Series, Griffey was a fixture at Fifth Third Field as he worked with Dragons hitters.

Other 2010 Highlights at Fifth Third Field:

High School Baseball: For the fifth consecutive season, the Dragons played host to high school baseball at Fifth Third Field. In April and May, 43 area high school teams participated in 22 games.

Bob Ross Classic: On July 17th, the 11th Annual Bob Ross Classic was played at Fifth Third Field. The exhibition game showcased the best incoming high school seniors from 43 schools in the Miami Valley.

Hometown Heroes Celebration Nights: Two times during the 2010 baseball season, the Dragons partnered with the Dayton Development Coalition and their partners to pay tribute to all service men and women associated with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Springfield Air National Guard Base. Festivities included a welcome home to servicemen returning from their deployment, a video greeting card from an airman serving oversees to his family back in the Dayton region, and swearing in ceremonies for a group of local Air Force recruits.

Home Run for Life: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dragons teamed up to provide five battling serious medical conditions with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities during Dragons games. Each honoree got to take an honorary home run "lap" around the bases of Fifth Third Field during a game and receive an honorary bat from Dragons Todd Benzinger.

Dragons MVP Program: For the fifth straight season, The Dragons MVP program provided students who were selected by their teachers the chance to be recognized for their achievements. More than 850 classrooms and 25,000 students participated during the 2010 season. Those children selected as Dragons MVPs received a customized certificate and complimentary tickets to enjoy a Dragons game at Fifth Third Field with their families. At the game, they received a specially designed Dragons MVP ball cap. MVPs also received tickets to the "MVP Field Day" at the stadium.

Other Events:

* Great American Beer Tasting: July 31

* Classic & Collector Car Show: August 8

* Donatos Pizza Movie Night: August 14

New Events in 2010:

* Dragons Youth Baseball Camp: July 28-29

* Dragons 5K Fun Run: August 7

* Dragons-Bengals Partnership, Bengals Practice in Dayton on August 22

* Boxing at Fifth Third Field: September 17

* Movie Night at Fifth Third Field: September 18

Dragons Receive National Media Attention in 2010

The Dragons and Fifth Third Field received significant national media attention during the 2010 season.

* CBS Weekend Edition News produced a major feature on the City of Dayton substantially dedicated to the Dragons

* The BBC visited Fifth Third Field for a feature on the world's oldest living set of conjoined twins, Ronnie and Donnie Galyon of Dayton. The documentary will air in 2011 on TLC.

* CNN Headline news broadcast a feature story on the Dragons Home Run for Life program.

* Dragons mascots Heater and Gem appeared on the FOX network program, "You Think You Can Dance" courtesy of FOX 45 TV.

* The Dragons were featured in a prominent story on AOL and Fanhouse.com, detailing the success of the team in attracting fans.

Dayton Dragons 2010 Recap

Final Record: 53-84

First Half: 30-39 (7th in Eastern Division)

Second Half: 23-45 (8th in Eastern Division)

Final Attendance: 597,433

Per Game Attendance Average: 8,535

2010 Midwest League All-Star Game Participant:

Henry Rodriguez, Second Baseman

2010 Dragons Award Winners

Donnie Joseph Cincinnati Reds Minor League Pitcher of the Month, April

Cameron Satterwhite Cincinnati Reds Minor League Batter of the Month, June

Henry Rodriguez MWL Batter of the Week, May 31-June 6

Didi Gregorius MWL "Best Infield Arm" by Baseball America

2010 Dragons Team Leaders

Batting

Batting Average: Henry Rodriguez, .307

Home Runs: Henry Rodriguez, Chris Richburg, 14

Runs Batted In: Henry Rodriguez, 78

Stolen Bases: Henry Rodriguez, 33

Games Played: Henry Rodriguez, 124

Pitching

Victories: Jacob Johnson, 8

Earned Run Average (qualifiers): Jacob Johnson, 4.47

Saves: Chase Ware, Doug Salinas, 7

Games Pitched: Junior Martinez, 47

Innings Pitched: Jacob Johnson, 129

Dragons Among 2010 Midwest League Leaders

Hits: Henry Rodriguez, 158, second in MWL

Batting Average: Henry Rodriguez, .307, seventh in MWL

Total Bases: Henry Rodriguez, 243, fourth in MWL

Other Dragons Notable Achievements, 2010

On September 1, the Dragons lineup featured two Major League players. Shortstop Orlando Cabrera had been assigned to Dayton by the Reds on an injury rehabilitation assignment. Starting pitcher Edinson Volquez had been optioned to Dayton from Cincinnati and served as the Dragons starting pitcher on that date, then pitched again for Dayton on September 6.

The Dragons began the season by winning their first five games. It was the second time in franchise history that Dayton won its first five games in a season.

On April 12, Dayton's Henry Rodriguez hit two runs including one from each side of the plate. One was also a grand slam.

Pitcher Donnie Joseph, the top relief pitcher in the Cincinnati Reds organization in 2010, spent the first two months of the season with the Dragons. Joseph notched 24 saves in 2010, more than twice as many as any other pitcher in the Reds farm system. He appeared in 19 games with the Dragons, going 2-1 with six saves and a 0.78 ERA.

The Dragons hit four grand slam home runs in 2010. Henry Rodriguez, Chris Richburg, Cameron Satterwhite, and Alex Oliveras each hit grand slam homers.

The Dragons gave their home fans seven "walk-off" wins in 2010, three more than they had in 2009. The first two came on the first days of the season. On opening night, April 8th, the Dragons won in 11 innings over Lansing on a game-winning single by Didi Gregorius.

On July 1, Chris Richburg and Cameron Satterwhite connected on back-to-back home runs for the Dragons at Fifth Third Field against Great Lakes. It was the first such occurrence since 2008 for the Dragons.

On August 30 at Lansing, the Dragons trailed 7-2 entering the ninth inning before scoring seven runs to win, 9-7. It was the biggest comeback win of the season for Dayton. The next night, the Dragons beat Lansing 12-0 for their most lopsided win of the year.

2010 Major League Rehabilitation Assignments with the Dragons

Homer Bailey, Pitcher, July 26

Orlando Cabrera, Shortstop, September 1

Edinson Volquez, Pitcher, September 1-6 (official member of roster)

Former Dragons to Reach the Major Leagues in 2010 (46 total since 2000)

Logan Ondrusek, Pitcher, Reds

Chris Heisey, Outfielder, Reds

Enerio Del Rosario, Pitcher, Reds

Travis Wood, Pitcher, Reds

Jordan Smith, Pitcher, Reds

Marcos Mateo, Pitcher, Chicago Cubs

Chris Valaika, Infielder, Reds

Check out the Dayton Dragons Statistics



Midwest League Stories from September 7, 2010


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