The Las Vegas 51s professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, will open an eight-game homestand over the Memorial Day weekend beginning on Friday, May 24 against the Salt Lake Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, at 7:05 p.m. at Cashman Field. The final two games of the series against the Bees will feature matinee contests on Sunday-Monday (Memorial Day), May 26-27 at 12:05 p.m. Las Vegas will then host intrastate rival, the Reno Aces, Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, in a four-game series from Tuesday-Friday, May 28-31, with all first pitches scheduled at 7:05 p.m. The Aces are in their fifth season inNorthern Nevada as a Triple-A affiliate and are the defending PCL and Triple-A champions. Reno is the host city of the 2013 Triple-A All-Star Game to be held on Wednesday, July 17 at Aces Ballpark (9,100).
The 51s, under manager Wally Backman, are concluding an eight-game “Midwest” road trip on Thursday afternoon in Des Moines, Iowa against the Cubs, Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Las Vegas, 21-23, is in fourth place in the Pacific Southern Division, four games behind the Sacramento River Cats.
2013 ATTENDANCE: In 20 dates, Las Vegas’ total is 113,493 for an average of 5,675. Las Vegas’ season-high crowds are 11,776against Round Rock on May 10 and 11,522 for the 10th Annual School Day Game against Albuquerque on May 14 at Cashman Field. The Las Vegasfranchise has reached the 300,000 plateau in “home” attendance in all 30 seasons (1983-2012) and the all-time attendance total now stands at 10,100,007. 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 opener of the homestand on Friday will feature 51s Military Appreciation Jersey Night, sponsored by the USO Las Vegas (United Service Organizations), to the first 2,500 fans through the gates. The 51s have teamed up with the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of the Commerce to celebrate Military Appreciation Night, sponsored by the USO Las Vegas Center at McCarran Airport. The 51s organization thanks the support of the USO Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee and Nellis Air Force Base. The USO lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families. Locally, hundreds of USO volunteers work at the McCarran Center and strive to provide a home away from home for our troops and to keep them connected to their families.
Fans will also be able to learn more about the types of technology being used to protect our country with vehicle displays and demonstrations provided by Nellis AFB. The U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds will also be on hand to sign autographs on the concourse level. In addition, the night will feature a special pre-game ceremony dedicated to the servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
51s PARTICIPATING IN HATS 4 HEROES (H4H) PROGRAM:
The Las Vegas organization is participating in the national program called Hats 4 Heroes (H4H) in partnership with the Operations Hat Trick (OHT) organization, for the remainder of the 2013 campaign. H4H is a co-branded program that generates royalties that support the recovery, education, and future employment of wounded veterans and soldiers. Beginning on May 24, fans will be able to purchase officially licensed 51s hats that support our American military veterans.
The H4H/OHT program originated as an extension of the OHT program, which was born at the University of New Hampshire to memorialize Nate Hardy and Mike Koch, two U.S. Navy SEALs lost in Iraq (2008). The original initiative was focused on producing collegiate hats that could be provided to soldiers that suffered head injuries. This focus, and the program’s roots in ice hockey, provided the inspiration for the Operation Hat Trick name. Since its humble beginnings, the OHT program has evolved into a national program with participation by more than 90 universities throughout the country and a new objective of raising funds for wounded soldiers and veterans.
OHT hats are produced under license by ’47 Brand, one of the country’s leading Major League Baseball headwear manufacturers. In the initial product roll out, ’47 Brand is offering two Las Vegas 51s/OHT hat styles; to include adjustable camouflage and team color versions. The 51s have partnered with ’47 Brand to donate 10% of the Sales Price of these hats sold through the month of May, to Hats 4 Heroes. The hats will be available for sale at the Las Vegas Team Store at Cashman Field and online at www.lv51.com beginning May 24.
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