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Innovation and family-friendliness have long been hallmarks of Minor League Baseball, so it only makes sense that Minors teams are continually seeking ways to make their ballparks more welcoming — and more fun — for girls and women.
More and more Minor League teams are finding creative ways to celebrate women pioneers every season. You can get involved by finding your nearest Minor League teams and checking out their promotions calendar.
Here’s a limited sample of teams that are building on an established tradition of promos aimed at empowering women and girls in sports and beyond.
Albuquerque Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies — May 31
Albuquerque’s Women In Sports Night features ambassadors from across the sporting world and celebrates the message that girls and women not only belong in athletics at the highest levels, but that sports can be a fun and rewarding part of a girl’s or a woman’s life at any age or degree of competitiveness. The University of New Mexico and University of Nevada, Las Vegas softball teams were both special guests in 2022 and other elite athletes have served as ambassadors, but the Isotopes are as enthusiastic in welcoming local girls who play youth sports (including an all-girls traveling Little League team) and honoring female staff members. Plus, this year’s event will include a hat giveaway, and everybody loves a free hat.
Buffalo Bisons, Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays — Aug. 23
Susan Roarke (l) and Marissa Figueroa threw out first pitches in Buffalo last year.
Last year, the Bisons’ Women in Sports Night featured first-pitch appearances by Buffalo Bills assistant athletic trainer Marissa Figueroa, Niagara University senior athletic director Susan Roarke and Pegula Sports and Entertainment senior vice president Christie Joseph, and the night was loaded with in-game tributes to female athletes of note both historically and at a local level. The details for the 2024 edition will be announced soon.
Charlotte Knights, Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox — Aug. 27
From 2016-19, the Knights held a Women in Baseball night, which over the years included appearances by Pan American Games Gold Medalist Anna Kimbrell, former Sporting News Double-A Executive of the Year Frances Crockett, multiple former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League players and actress Megan Cavanagh, who played slugging (and crooning) Marla Hooch in “A League of Their Own.” How do you build on an event like that? The Knights have done so by blowing the theme out to include other athletic endeavors with Women in Sports Night. Details for this year’s event will be announced during the season.
Corpus Christi Hooks, Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros — May 5
The Hooks focus on putting together panels that offer encouragement and practical advice.
The Hooks approach their Women in Sports Night with a specific mission: to connect high school and college-aged girls and women in the area with professionals in the sporting world, providing a fun opportunity to network and learn about sports as a potential career path (as well as promoting women athletes). A panel is a key part of this equation, and this year’s will feature Team USA Women’s Baseball infielder Valerie Perez and orthopaedic surgeon Dr. April Hallquist (whose Orthopaedic Center of Corpus Christi is sponsoring the event), as well as other accomplished women yet to be announced.
Fort Wayne TinCaps, High-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres — June 8
Daisies great Dolly Vanderlip Ozburn signed for High-A Fort Wayne players.
The Fort Wayne Daisies competed in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1945-54, doing the northeastern Indiana town proud by making the playoffs eight times. In recent seasons, the TinCaps have conducted a multifaceted tribute to that historic club — Fort Wayne Daisies Throwback Night — with the team playing as the Daisies. The promo has featured numerous players onsite, the unveiling of a monument at Fort Wayne’s Memorial Park in partnership with the city, the sharing of memories and memorabilia and much more. This year’s event will incorporate even more, with artifacts (including game-used uniforms and equipment) and displays from The History Museum of South Bend. The featured guest list may expand, but as of now, two Daisies alumni and four total AAGPBL players will be in attendance and participating in autograph sessions, as will one former bat girl. Local softball players will also join the TinCaps (er, Daisies) in running out onto the field, and the opposing Peoria Chiefs will suit up as the Peoria Redwings as a nod to another AAGPBL team.
Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies — May 5
The IronPigs’ Women’s Empowerment Night goes beyond the importance of girls and women in sports, with the whole of the in-ballpark show (think between-innings entertainment and videoboard messaging) tailored to celebrate the theme of women’s empowerment. Lehigh Valley’s female front office staff members are also honored on the field before the game, and the IronPigs will soon have more details to announce.
Portland Sea Dogs, Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox — Aug. 22 & Aug. 24
The Sea Dogs, who debuted the first all-female radio booth with play-by-play broadcaster Emma Tiedemann and commentator Rylee Pay last season, go all in on their Women in Sports Night. Last year, the team honored former player development coach Katie Krall (who in 2022 became the first female coach to make an on-field appearance during a Double-A game) and a local softball star. This year, the team will give away bobbleheads featuring Indiana University forward Mackenzie Holmes, a product of a local high school who this year became the Hoosiers’ all-time leading scorer. Portland typically also hosts an interactive panel with noteworthy women from the sports world.
Additionally, the Sea Dogs are hosting Women-Owned Business Night two games later.
Rochester Red Wings, Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals — May 31
Kathryn Nesbitt, who has officiated World Cup soccer matches, joined Rochester in 2023.
The Red Wings are woman-led. Naomi Silver worked her way through the Rochester front office over a period of 30 years and has been the president, CEO and COO of the team for more than 15 years. Her team’s Women in Sports Night originated in 2019, and the Red Wings have welcomed female sports luminaries such as Olympics soccer star Kristine Lilly. This season, Rochester honors its own, as Silver gets the bobblehead treatment herself.
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