The Las Vegas 51s professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), Triple-A affiliate of the 2015 National League Champion New York Mets, will open an eight-game “Tennessee” homestand on Monday, May 23 against the Nashville Sounds, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland A’s, at Cashman Field at 7:05 p.m. The four-game series against the Sounds will conclude on Thursday, May 26. Las Vegas will then host the Memphis Redbirds, Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, in a four-game series from Friday-Monday, May 27-30. The first six games of the homestand will begin at 7:05 p.m. and the final two games on Sunday-Monday (Memorial Day), May 29-30 at 12:05 p.m. The 51s are playing a stretch of 16 straight games against the American Conference from May 14-30.
The 51s, under fourth-year manager Wally Backman, are concluding a stretch of 16 out of 20 games on the road from May 2-22. Las Vegas is 4-2 on the eight-game road trip (3-1 vs. Oklahoma City; 1-1 vs. Colorado Springs). The trip will conclude in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Sunday afternoon against the Sky Sox, Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.
The 51s organization have the proud distinction of being the longest enduring franchise in the history of professional sports in the state of Nevada.
2016 ATTENDANCE: In 18 dates, Las Vegas’ total is 98,869 for an average of 5,493. The season-high “home crowd” was an overflow sellout of 11,726 vs. Tacoma on April 28 for Fireworks/Star Wars Night. Las Vegas then recorded its second sellout of the season vs. El Paso on May 13 with an overflow crowd of 11,449 on Fireworks/Hometown Heroes Night. The Las Vegas franchise has reached the 300,000 plateau in “home” attendance in all 33 seasons (1983-2015). The all-time attendance total now stands at 11,076,598. The Las Vegas franchise welcomed the 11-millionth fan (Brian Johnson) during the opening homestand on April 14 vs. Sacramento.
“Smith’s Value Menu Monday” will be featured in the series opener against Nashville on May 23 and in the finale of the eight-game homestand against Memphis on Memorial Day in the matinee contest at 12:05 p.m. Monday “home” games will feature a “Value Menu” for the eighth straight season! The 51s and Aramark have teamed together for discounted food items on Hot Dogs, Popcorn, Peanuts, Cracker Jacks and Pretzels for just $1.00 per item.
Budweiser Dollar Beer Night will be presented in the finale of the four-game series against Nashville on Thursday, May 26. Dollar Beer Night will be featured at every Thursday home game during the 2016 season. Proper identification and wristbands are required for dollar beer night.
UNLV Runnin’ Rebels head basketball coach Marvin Menzies will be in attendance on Thursday, May 26 and introduce “Play Ball” on the field microphone as the 51s “take the field” prior to the 7:05 p.m. start. He will also be a guest on the game broadcast with 51s play-by-play voice Russ Langer on NBC Sports Radio AM 920 ‘THE GAME.’
8 News Now Viva Las Vegas Fireworks (post-game show), presented by The Orleans & Gold Coast will be featured on Military Appreciation Night in the series opener against the Redbirds on Friday, May 27.
Game two of the four-game series on Saturday, May 28 will feature Wally Backman 1986 Jersey Night, presented by Smith’s, to the first 2,500 fans through the gates (open at 6 p.m.)
Wally Backman: In his fourth season as manager of the 51s. Mlb Playing Career: He played 14 seasons in the Major Leagues as an infielder (2B, SS, 3B) with the New York Mets (1980-88), Minnesota (1989), Pittsburgh (1990), Philadelphia (1991-92) and Seattle (1993). He appeared in 1,102 games and batted .275 (893-for-3,245) with 138 doubles, 19 triples, 10 home runs, 240 RBI and 117 stolen bases in 169 attempts. He was a member of the 1986 Mets World Series championship team and hit a career-high .320 (124-for-387) during the season. He recorded back-to-back seasons of 30 stolen bases or more in 1984 & 1985 (32 stolen bases in 41 attempts & 30 SB’s in 42 attempts). In 1990, as a member of Pittsburgh, he collected six hits in a game on April 27 vs. San Diego. He was selected by the Mets in the first round (16th overall pick) of the 1977 Major League Baseball Draft out of Aloha High School in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Nashville’s roster features four of the top 10 prospects in the A’s organization, according to Baseball America: Third baseman Renato Nunez (No. 4); outfielder Matt Olson (No. 6); shortstop Chad Pinder (No. 7) and left-handed pitcher Dillon Overton (No. 8).
The 51s will broadcast all games on Lotus Broadcasting on NBC Sports Radio AM 920 ‘THE GAME’, which will carry live all 144 regular season games. Also, all games will be available on the 51s website (Major League Baseball Advanced Media, MLBAM) at www.LV51.com. Russ Langer, the 10-time Nevada Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA), is in his 17th season behind the microphone calling 51s baseball.
All 51s games (home & away) will also be broadcast on MiLB.TV via LV51.com.
Following the homestand, Las Vegas will embark on a brief four-game road trip to Northern Nevada against intrastate rival, the Reno Aces, Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, on Tuesday, May 31. The series at Aces Ballpark will conclude on Friday, June 3.
SILVER STATE DIAMOND CHALLENGE: In 2009, Las Vegas and Reno developed the Silver State Diamond Challenge and the “Silver Plate Trophy” to add to the excitement to the rivalry for the two PCL teams that represent the state of Nevada…Reno defeated Las Vegas, 3-games-to-1, in the 2015 PCL Conference Championship Series.
The 2016 campaign will mark the eighth season of the S.S.D.C.
CHAMPION OF THE SILVER STATE DIAMOND CHALLENGE:
2009: Las Vegas 51s (series tied 8-8 and won the “Draw of the Cards” between the two Mayors)
2010: Reno Aces (Reno won series 11-games-to-5)
2011: Reno Aces (series tied 8-8, Aces retain trophy)
2012: Reno Aces (series tied 8-8, Aces retain trophy)
2013: Las Vegas 51s (Las Vegas won series 13-games-to-3)
2014: Las Vegas 51s (series tied 8-8, Las Vegas retains trophy)
2015: Las Vegas 51s (Las Vegas won series 11-games-to-5, Las Vegas retains trophy)
Tickets for all 51s home games can be purchased at the America First Credit Union Box Office at Cashman Field. The box office is open Monday-Friday (non-game days) from Noon to 4:30 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster (1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com). Ticketmaster outlets are located at selected Smith’s Food & Drug.
The individual game tickets for the 72-game home season are priced at $11.00 (reserved, $12.00-Day of Game); $14.00 (plaza, $15.00-Day of Game) and $16.00 (field, $17.00-Day of Game) & the blue dugout seats at $30.00. The traditional $2.00 discount for Military personnel is offered on plaza, field and reserved seats throughout the season except for the “Fireworks Extravaganza” on Monday, July 4 (all seats priced at $16.00-presale & $17.00-Day of Game for this special event).
Season tickets and mini-plan packages (11, 22, 36-game plans) are available by calling the 51s office at (702) 798-7825.
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 –
