National Champions & the American Idol

We announced today that Scotty McCreery will throw out the first pitch at the Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game on September 18th. Even better, he will lead the crowd in singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Big fun! (WRAL TV5 broke the story on Tuesday. I wonder who told them?) 

The country music superstar played baseball at his Garner NC high school. He was a pitcher. This should work out nicely. Click here for ticket info and more details.

Scotty winds up
for the Garner Trojans

DBAP: Summa Cum Laude

Stadium Journey magazine has bestowed its highest ranking upon the Durham Bulls for the "fan experience" at the fourteen IL ballparks: 

At the top of the pile in the International League is the Durham Bulls. It’s Triple-A Baseball at its best. There is nothing more a baseball fan can ask for. The Durham Bulls experience is so good that it almost makes you forget that you are in the heart of basketball country smack dab in the middle of one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports.

That's from the July edition of Stadium Journey. In that issue the editors have rated every ballpark in each minor league classification - quite an undertaking! The magazine is a compendium of stadium and arena reviews. If you are a "sports tourist" you will enjoy this publication. I made note of SJ's 2011 MiLB rankings in a March post. 

Click here for purchase info on back issues and subscriptions.

Olympians in the House

Bulls' first baseman Henry Wrigley was the Topps Minor League Player of the Month in July, and Thursday night at the DBAP he was wearing Olympic silver and bronze. Say what!?!

...but the medals were on loan from Duke University divers Abby Johnson (silver) and Nick McCrory (bronze) who threw out first pitches and signed autographs. Wool E. Bull horned in, too.

Abby Johnston, 22, captured a silver medal in London in the women's synchronized 3-meter springboard diving competition along with partner Kelci Bryant. Their medal was the United States' first diving medal since 2000. 

Chapel Hill native Nick McCrory, 20, brought home the bronze in the men's synchronized 10-meter platform diving final along with his partner David Boudia. The junior collected the Duke diving program's first national title on the platform at the 2010 NCAA Championships. Check out Nick's preparation for the first pitch ceremony at goduke.com.

Click here for the N&O's slideshow and Robert Willett's photography.

Bovine Bonanza!

Wool E. Bull is graciously sharing the spotlight with eleven artfully decorated cows on the American Tobacco Campus. The CowParade North Carolina arrived on Sunday, and these sculptures will be on display through December 7th.

The creation of this public art is a Triangle-wide fund raising project for the North Carolina Children's Hospital at UNC. Click here for more info.

You will find these three cows parading on Blackwell St. in front of the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

This is Cow Catcher Crash, an homage to the legendary
Crash Davis, commissioned by Capitol Broadcasting Co.
and created by Michael Berley of Morganton NC.

Durham Traveler

Blue Mooove

Old & Faded

Some days I feel old and faded…but that’s a good thing when it comes to team logos. On apparel, the vintage or distressed look is popular. It works especially well with baseball, the vintage American sport, circa 1850.

Chapel Hill artist Michael Brown has taken up residence at the ballpark this week painting a vintage version of the Bulls' logo in our elevator lobbies.

Michael is renowned for his giant murals and vintage sign painting. In my opinion, his greatest work is our signature snorting bull that sits atop the Blue Monster outfield wall. He created the latest version by hand, circa 2008.

Slide show (from wralSPORTSfan.com) of the Bull's creation

Digitally printed vinyl graphics are the norm, so it’s good to support and prominently display the work of a gifted local artist.

Michael Brown’s website
A dailytarheel.com interview w/Michael

New Woodwork

We are sprucing up our elevator lobbies…want to make a good impression on our visitors for the Gildan National Championship Game in September. 

Actually, the spruce reference is off the mark. We are installing tongue and groove ash paneling on the walls. Our interior designer, Alison Steele, was obviously inspired by a baseball bat, and John Patrick of Wood Shapes in Creedmoor is doing the carpentry. 

One of the woodworkers suggested that we use pine tar to stain the wood. His idea may prove overly authentic???

That's Evan Longoria's signature Louisville Slugger -  an ash bat.