Revolution Wrap 6th Successful Year
Published on October 26, 2012 under Atlantic League (AtL)
York Revolution News Release
(York, PA): The York Revolution was responsible for $225,000 of charitable fundraising in 2012, and saw attendance increase by 5% from the previous season. 2012 was the sixth season of Revolution baseball at Sovereign Bank Stadium in Downtown York, and the team participated in the postseason for the fourth time in its history.
The final numbers for the regular season show the Revolution drew 273,648 fans in 2012, an increase of 12,058 from 261,590 last season. The per-game average also grew in 2012, with an average crowd of 4,084, compared to 3,904 fans per game in 2011. The Revolution has now drawn 1.6 million fans to Sovereign Bank Stadium during the six seasons the stadium has been open.
The busiest weekend at Sovereign Bank Stadium this summer was when 21,759 fans came through the gates between Friday evening and Sunday afternoon September 14-16, with a day-night double-header on Saturday. That broke the record of 21,421 during a four-game series from September 10-12, 2010. The 6,848 fans who attended the game on Saturday, September 15 marked the eighth largest crowd in Sovereign Bank Stadium history and the largest for 2012.
The Revolution also set a stadium playoff game attendance record, when 6,437 fans attended Game 3 of the Freedom Division Championship Series on Saturday, September 29.
The Revolution showed their appreciation for that terrific and on-going fan support with an ambitious-as-ever season of charitable fundraising partnerships. As the hallmark of the team's community-first attitude and love for York, the organization once again worked in numerous ways to generate impressive numbers for area non-profits and causes. The highlights:
- The YMCA of York & York County grossed $65,500 for their organization as the 2012 Presenting Partner of York Revolution Baseball. The "Y" raised that amount from their game-worn jersey auction, in-game fundraising and donations from fans in exchange for balls for the "Post-Game Pitch" contests as well as video board and PA announcements for birthdays, anniversaries and other special announcements.
- $65,000 was raised by groups through York Revolution ticket fundraisers.
- Non-profit groups working concession stands at Sovereign Bank Stadium during Revolution games totaled over $13,000.
- Non-profit groups working the playground at Sovereign Bank Stadium during Revolution games totaled nearly $10,000.
- Nearly $20,000 was raised for worthy causes with game-worn jersey auctions by the Revolution, bid on by fans in silent auctions during games. The recipients included:
o Children's Miracle Network, for the special alternate jerseys worn on Friday, May 4. Sponsored by PSECU.
o York Cancer Center, for the pink jerseys worn on Sunday, June 10 which was Cancer Survivor Day presented by Visiting Angels. Sponsored by Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics
o USO, for the camouflage jerseys worn on Wednesday, July 4. Sponsored by BAE Systems.
o YMCA of York & York County, for the "throwback" jerseys worn on Wednesday, September 5.
When considering each facet of the Revolution's many charitable programs, upwards of $225,000 was either directly donated or earned by charitable causes through volunteering or ticket sales thanks to baseball games at Sovereign Bank Stadium in 2012.
It was also a banner year for the Revolution's main educational program, "Boomer's Book Club". The Revolution-created and run reading program for schools all over York County reached a record 20,000 kids leading up to the 2012 season. For reading above and beyond school curriculum, those area students earned great prizes such as visors, Revolution tickets and cheerstix courtesy of WellSpan Health to help the home team. The program was sponsored in 2012 by Heritage Valley Federal Credit Union.
The York County Literacy Council's Buck-a-Book program and the summer reading club spearheaded by York County Libraries also supplied about 1,400 tickets for their special nights at the ballpark, to students who successfully completed each program. In 2012 the Revolution continued to demonstrate their commitment to education and rewarding good students for their work.
The York County Industrial Development Authority (YCIDA), the owner of Sovereign Bank Stadium, in partnership with the Revolution, also generously donated 6,700 lawn tickets to deserving non-profit groups. All told those tickets have a value of $47,000.
On the field, the 2012 Revolution reached the postseason for the fourth time in five years. While the team came up short of a third straight Atlantic League Championship, the '12 season was hardly short on history. A host of single-season individual Revolution records fell, including:
Home Runs: Chris Nowak finished with 34, destroying his own previous record of 25 a season ago, which eclipsed Jason Aspito's 24 in 2008. It's the first 30-home run season in the Atlantic League since Jesse Hoorelbeke hit 33 for Bridgeport in 2007. Nowak's career Revolution total of 59 home runs now gives him a 17-homer lead over Aspito in that department. His home run and RBI totals this season were the most for each category in the league since 2005.
RBI: Chris Nowak finished with 107, two better than Jason Aspito's 105 in 2008.
Extra Base Hits: Andres Perez set a new record this season, with 61. 23 home runs, three triples and 35 doubles. He surpassed Jason Aspito's record of 59 in 2008.
Wins: Corey Thurman went 14-3 this season, one win better than the 13-3 mark he put up in 2011. His 52 career wins in a Revolution uniform give him a 32-win lead over Wayne Franklin, who has 20. Thurman is third all-time in Atlantic League history.
Earned Run Average: Ryan Feierabend bested Thurman's single-season ERA mark this season, finishing at 2.71 in 18 starts and 113 innings pitched. (9-5 record). Thurman's record in the hitter-friendly Atlantic League was 3.33 last season.
When the Atlantic League Postseason All-Star teams were announced, the Revolution placed seven players on the first and second teams. On the first team were Andres Perez (2B) and Chris Nowak (3B). On the second team, Michael Hernandez (OF), Brandon Haveman (OF), Corey Thurman (RHP), Ryan Feierabend (LHP) and Ricardo Gomez (reliever) were all honored as well. Revolution President & General Manager Eric Menzer was also named Co-General Manager of The Year.
As a team, York's 79 regular season wins was also a franchise single-season best. The 2012 Revolution also established franchise records with 152 home runs, and team ERA (3.99). Nowak was voted as the team's MVP for 2012, and relief Pitcher Adam Thomas was named Community Outreach Player of the Year.
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The York Revolution Professional Baseball Club is a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The team has captured the Atlantic League Championship in two consecutive seasons, 2010 and 2011 in just five years as a franchise. Home games are played at Sovereign Bank Stadium, located at 5 Brooks Robinson Way, York, PA 17401. For more information, please call 717-801-HITS (4487), or visit the Revolution online at www.YorkRevolution.com .
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