The defending NY-Penn League Champion Staten Island Yankees today released their 2003 schedule. They will open the season on the road, facing the Williamsport Crosscutters for three games. The home opener will be on Friday Night, June 20th when they will raise the Championship Banner before hosting the Crosscutters for two games. Home game times will be Monday-Saturday at
7:15 p.m. and Sunday at 5:15 p.m.
Featured on the schedule are 12 games against their cross-town rivals, the Brooklyn Cyclones. The Baby Bombers earned bragging rights in 2002 by taking the season series, 8-4. As a new feature for 2003, the Baby Bombers announced their first weekday day game, on August 8 at noon.
The Yankees have also announced a preliminary Promotional Schedule, featuring giveaways—particularly those relating to their championship—a significant number of child-friendly acts, and even a mini-bobblehead night featuring the likeness of mascot Scooter the Holy Cow. For the second year in a row, the Baby Bombers will honor the memory of Deputy Fire Commissioner Gerald Barbara, who was lost on 9/11, with a postgame fireworks display on August 15 sponsored by the New York Stock Exchange. All promotions are subject to change.
Season tickets and mini-plans sales are now open for new subscribers. Past season and mini-plan holders who have not yet renewed are still encouraged to do so.
“We are delighted to release our schedule early this year,” said Baby Bombers Chief Operating Officer Josh Getzler. “We are able to line up our promotions and put together some initiatives that will take us to another level in minor league baseball operations.”
In their announcement, Staten Island today announced the first of many community initiatives for 2003, involving Staten Island Little Leagues.
Each Little League on Staten Island has been given the opportunity to sell $8.00 reserve seats for an assigned 2003 Staten Island Yankee game. For every ticket sold, the Little League will get $1 back, with significant incentives for individual teams and players to produce. Every Little League on Staten Island has gotten on board the program, and Getzler is confident that the initiative will succeed.
“We realized that our best sales representatives are actually our fans,” said Getzler. “We have determined that many people come to our games because their friends and family are coming—it’s a social event. So we divided our market into geographic regions, and every night is going to feel like a block party.”
