The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and the Las Vegas 51s professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, announced today the schedule for the 2015 Big League Weekend at Cashman Field.
The Chicago Cubs will make their 11th straight appearance to Las Vegas for two games against the Oakland A’s on Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14. Game times are TBA and both games will feature split-squads. Big League Weekend ticket packages are available NOW by calling the 51s office at (702) 798-7825.
The Cubs have recorded 15 sellouts over the past 10 seasons (2005-14) for their annual Big League Weekend visits to Cashman Field.
Oakland will make their fifth all-time appearance to Las Vegas and its first appearance since the 2000 Big League Weekend. The A’s also played the first six games of the 1996 Major League Baseball season (April 1, 3-7) at Cashman Field due to construction delays in their home stadium. The games marked the first time ever that a MLB season opener was held at a minor league park.
“We are very excited to have Major League Baseball back in Las Vegas for the 25th year of Big League Weekend,” Rossi Ralenkotter, President/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said. “We’re looking forward to having the Chicago Cubs back again this year to take on the Oakland A’s. Both teams have tremendous fans and we look forward to showcasing the great baseball atmosphere here in Las Vegas.”
The Cubs, under manager Rick Renteria, compiled a 73-89 record (.451) in 2014 and finished in fifth place in the National League Central Division, 17 games behind the first-place St. Louis Cardinals (90-72, .566). The Cubs, on November 3, 2014, announced the hiring of new manager Joe Maddon, the franchise’s 54th manager.
Maddon is a two-time BBWAA American League Manager of the Year (2008 & 2011) with Tampa Bay and reached the World Series in 2008 vs. Philadelphia.
“We are excited to announce that the Cubs will return to Las Vegas for the 11th straight season and we also welcome the A’s for their fifth all-time appearance for Big League Weekend,” 51s President/COO Don Logan said. “There is now great optimism surrounding the Cubs with the young talented players in their farm system and the hiring of Joe Maddon.
“Oakland has been one of the best teams in the American League over the past three seasons (94-68 in 2012 & 96-66 in 2013). The A’s should once again be a contender to return to the post-season for the fourth straight time in 2015. The Cubs/A’s matchup will provide a great atmosphere in the ballpark for the fans, both locally and the tourists that will visit the Silver State during this event.”
Starlin Castro, one of the most talented shortstops in the National League, was named to the 2014 National League All-Star Team and appeared in 134 games for the Cubs.
He led the team in average (.292), at-bats (528), hits (154), doubles (tied/33) and also recorded 14 home runs and 65 RBI.
First baseman Anthony Rizzo, a 2014 N.L. All-Star, led the team in games played (140), home runs (32) and extra-base hits (61). He batted .286 (150-for-524) with 28 doubles and 78 RBI.
Infielder Javier Baez, the Cubs 2014 Top Prospect, was promoted to the big leagues from Triple-A Iowa. He appeared in 52 games and recorded 9 home runs and 20 RBI (.169, 36-for-213).
Las Vegan Kris Bryant, the No. 2 Prospect, appeared in the 2014 Big League Weekend at Cashman Field. The third baseman was promoted to Triple-A Iowa in 2014 and has the potential to make his Major League debut at Wrigley Field in 2015.
Bryant captured the 2014 Joe Bauman Home Run Award with a Minor League best 43 round trippers (110 RBI) between Double-A Tennessee (22 HR/58 RBI) and Iowa (21 HR/52 RBI).
The A’s, under manager Bob Melvin, compiled a 88-74 record (.543) in 2014 and finished in second place in the American League West Division, 10 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (98-64, .605).
The A’s were represented by a team-high six all-stars in the 2014 MLB All-Star Game at Target Field in Minneapolis. The all-stars were: Yoenis Cespedes, Josh Donaldson, Sean Doolittle, Scott Kazmir, Brandon Moss and Derek Norris.
Oakland lost to Kansas City, 9-8 in 12 innings, in the American League wild-card game on September 30.
Third baseman Donaldson led the A’s in 2014 in games played (158), at-bats (608), hits (155), doubles (31), home runs (29), extra-base hits (62) and RBI (98).
Left-hander Doolittle appeared in 61 games and led the staff with 22 saves in 26 opportunities and struck out 89 batters in 62.2 innings pitched.
Left-hander Kazmir appeared in 32 games (second on the staff) and led the A’s with a 15-9 record and a 3.55 ERA. He struck out 164 batters in 190.1 innings pitched (second on staff).
Infielder/outfielder Moss appeared in 147 games and batted .234 (117-for-500) with 23 doubles and ranked second on the team in home runs (25), RBI (81) and extra-base hits (50).
Catcher Norris appeared in 127 games and batted .270 (104-for-385) with 19 doubles, 10 home runs and 55 RBI.
The Cubs will be returning to Cashman Field for the 11th straight season and 14th all-time appearance in Las Vegas for Big League Weekend (1993, 1994, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014).
In 2014, the Cubs total attendance for the Big League Weekend two-day event was 19,514. The New York Mets defeated the Cubs, 9-4, on March 15 before a crowd of 9,106. The Cubs then defeated the Mets, 6-3, on March 16 before a sellout crowd of 10,408.
The A’s last appeared in Las Vegas in 2000 and defeated Colorado, 11-9, on April 1 before a crowd of 8,456. The Cubs/A’s split a two-game series in the 1994 Big League Weekend. The A’s defeated the Cubs, 11-8, on March 12 before a sellout crowd of 9,469. The Cubs then defeated the A’s, 4-1, on March 13 before another sellout crowd of 10,506.
Oakland’s all-time Las Vegas appearances include: 1994, 1996 (first six games of the MLB season vs. Toronto and Detroit), 1997 and 2000.
The 51s will open their 33rd season in the Silver State on Thursday, April 9 against the Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, at Chukchansi Park in Northern California. Las Vegas’ home opener is Friday, April 17 against the Grizzlies at 7:05 p.m. at Cashman Field.
2015 season tickets and mini-plan packages (11, 22, 36-game plans) are available by calling the 51s office at (702) 798-7825. Individual game tickets for the 72-game home schedule will go on sale in March.
Official licensed 51s team merchandise is available on the “Team Shop” section of the website at www.LV51.com.
– Visit the Las Vegas 51s on the Internet at www.lv51.com –
– Visit www.MiLB.com – the official site of Minor League Baseball –