LAS VEGAS FRANCHISE OPENS 32nd
PCL SEASON IN THE SILVER STATE
51s SEASON & HOME OPENER ON BUDWEISER
DOLLAR BEER NIGHT (THURSDAY, APRIL 3)
FIREWORKS/GIRL SCOUTS NIGHT (FRIDAY, APRIL 4)
51s BP WINDBREAKER/NEVADA DONOR NETWORK
DONATE LIFE NIGHT (SATURDAY, APRIL 5)
AGAINST THE FRESNO GRIZZILES
The Las Vegas 51s professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets & 2013 Pacific Southern Division Champions, will open their 32nd season in the Silver State on Thursday, April 3 against the Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, at 7:05 p.m. at Cashman Field. The opening homestand will consist of eight games against Fresno (April 3-6) and the Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland A’s, from Monday-Thursday, April 7-10 (all games at 7:05 p.m. against the River Cats).
The 51s, under second-year manager Wally Backman, enters its second season as the top affiliate of the Mets.
2013 RECAP: The 51s compiled the second-best record in the 16-team PCL with an 81-63 (.563) mark and were the Pacific Southern Division Champions. The Las Vegas franchise recorded 80 or more wins in a season for the fourth time in its history and Backman led the 51s to the PCL Playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons (since 2002). Las Vegas lost to Salt Lake three-games-to-one in the Conference Championship Series.
The 51s organization have the proud distinction of being the longest enduring franchise in the history of professional sports in the state of Nevada. The 51s are 14-17 (.452) all-time in season openers and 16-15 (.516) all-time in home openers at Cashman Field (1983-2013).
Budweiser Dollar Beer Night will be presented in the season opener on Thursday, April 3. Every Thursday home game throughout the 2014 campaign will feature “Dollar Beers.” Proper identification and wristbands are required for dollar beer night.
Game two of the four-game series against Fresno on Friday, April 4 at 7:05 p.m. will feature a spectacular post-game “Fireworks” Show and Girl Scouts Night and Magnetic Schedules will also be given out to fans in attendance. The Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada will be on hand to cheer on the 51s. Girl Scouts will be included throughout the evening activities including the color guard, the cookie eating contest and cookie mascot race. In addition, the 51s will host a tennis ball toss to benefit Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada. The evening will conclude with a giveaway of 1,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies.
About Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada
Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls – all girls – where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and life skills for success in the real world. Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada serves more than 10,000 girl and adult members throughout Southern Nevada. Membership is open to all girls 5-17 years-old. To join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate to Girl Scouts, call (702) 385-3677 or visit girlscoutsnv.org.
Follow Girl Scouts on Twitter: www.twitter.com/girlscoutsnv
Friend Girl Scouts on Facebook: www.facebook.com/girlscoutsnv
Game three of the four-game series on Saturday, April 5 at 7:05 p.m. will feature 51s BP Windbreaker Night, to the first 2,500 fans through the gates, on Nevada Donor Network Donate Life Night. Donate Life Nevada is proud to team up with the 51s to bring awareness to the critical shortages of lifesaving organs, celebrate the lives of those saved by transplant and honor the heroic donors who have given a second chance to so many people.
As a tribute to the thousands of heroic donors who save lives every year, the 51s players will wear special jerseys inspired by the Donate Life logo! The jerseys will be auctioned off after the conclusion of the game with the proceeds going to Nevada Donor Network. In addition, 8-year-old heart transplant recipient Chris Rodriguez will “throw out” the ceremonial first pitch.
Important Facts – Organ Donors
1 organ donor can save up to 8 lives!
1 tissue donor can heal more than 50 people!
More than 121,000 people are waiting for life saving transplants, that’s enough to fill all the seats at Cashman Field nearly 13 times!
A new name is added to the waiting list every 10 minutes.
In Nevada, 560 people are waiting for life saving transplants.
Organ donors save the lives of more than 25,000 people every year.
Fans interested in being an organ donor are encouraged to register at www.DonateLifeNevada.org
The finale of the four-game series against the Grizzlies on Sunday, April 6 will feature “Little League Day” at 12:05 p.m. and selected 51s players will be available to sign pre-game autographs for the Little League teams in attendance. In addition, all children will have the opportunity to “Run the Bases” at the conclusion of the contest (with proper shoe attire).
The opener of the four-game series against the River Cats on April 7 will feature “Smith’s Value Menu Monday.” Monday “home” games will feature a “Value Menu” for the sixth 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 eight-game homestand on April 10.
The 51s, in conjunction with radio partner Lotus Broadcasting, are proud to announce that KOMP 92.3 FM will sponsor all Budweiser Dollar Beer Nights and KXPT 97.1 FM will sponsor selected firework shows as well as various promotion nights during the 2014 campaign.
The 51s will broadcast all games on Lotus Broadcasting on Sports 920 (AM) 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 nine-time Nevada Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA), is in his 15th 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 its first road trip of the season with eight games to Northern California and Northern Nevada. Las Vegas will face the Grizzlies in a four-game series from Friday-Monday, April 11-14. The 51s will then travel to Aces Ballpark to face intrastate rival, the Reno Aces, Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, in a four-game series from Tuesday-Friday, April 15-18.
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.
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)
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 $10.00 (reserved, $11.00-Day of Game); $13.00 (plaza, $14.00-Day of Game) and $14.00 (field, $15.00-Day of Game) & the blue dugout seats at $25.00. The traditional $2.00 discount for Military personnel is offered on plaza and reserved seats throughout the season except for the “Fireworks Extravaganza” on Thursday, July 3 (all seats are priced at $15.00 for this special event).
Season tickets and mini-plan packages (10 & 10-Game You Pick’em, 20, 33-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 –
