Pelicans game to be broadcast on CBS Sports Network on July 3
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (JUNE 30, 2014) - On Thursday, July 3, The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Advanced-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, will host the Winston-Salem Dash in Minor League Baseball's Game of the Week on CBS Sports Network. First pitch is slated for 8:05 p.m. and gates will open at 6 p.m. The Pelicans were selected as one of 15 MiLB teams to host a nationally televised game this season as part of an agreement announced on May 1 between MiLB and CBS Sports Network. Highlights of the night will include skydivers from the All-Veteran Parachute Team and post-game fireworks courtesy of Kangaroo Express, as well as pre-game autographs with team mascots, Splash and Rally. July 3 is also a Thirsty Thursday courtesy of Celebrations Nitelife, 96.1 WKZQ, the Weekly Surge and WBTW News 13 with $1 Bud and Bud Light draught beers from 6 to 8 p.m.
"We're incredibly excited to host the CBS Sports Network Game of the Week," said Pelicans Vice President and General Manager Andy Milovich. "The opportunity to showcase one of the most exciting prospect-laden franchises in Minor League Baseball against the backdrop of one of America's premier family vacation destinations is a fantastic opportunity. Baseball in Myrtle Beach over the July Fourth holiday is true Americana."
"We look forward to exposing even more fans to the excitement of Minor League Baseball, from top prospects working their way up to the major leagues to the fun and engaging elements our fans enjoy at our ballparks," Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O'Conner, added.
This is the first time in MiLB's 100 plus years of existence that multiple classifications of Minor League Baseball will be featured on a national TV broadcast. Fans tuning in to the Game of the Week broadcasts will see intrastate rivalries, an array of baseball's top prospects and 15 unique team locations over the course of the season. A total of 28 MiLB teams are being featured, as well as eight different leagues and more than 20 Major League Baseball affiliations.
Dick Gabriel and Doug Flynn will anchor each week's matchup. Gabriel, a three-time Kentucky Sportscaster of the Year, will be joined by Flynn, a two-time World Series Champion with the Cincinnati Reds and Gold Glove winner with the New York Mets. Lauren Gardner will serve as roving reporter.
"Since baseball began its first player draft in 1965, only 21 selections out of nearly 60,000 have advanced directly to Major League Baseball without first playing in Minor League Baseball," said Michael Hand, Chief Marketing Officer for Minor League Baseball and President, MiLB Enterprises. "By televising our games to a national audience, MiLB can feature the next generation of stars at all classifications as they travel The Road to the Show."
CBS Sports Network is available across the country to more than 99 million households through local cable, video and telco providers, and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 221 and Dish Network Channel 158. For more information, and to access the CBS Sports Network channel finder, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.
For tickets to the July 3 game or any other Pelicans home game, call (843) 918-6002, visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com or stop by the Pelicans box office, which is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
About the Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Texas Rangers and play their home games at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The park was named the best in the Carolina League by Baseball America in 2009 and the overall experience ranked third in all of Minor League Baseball by Stadium Journey in 2013. The Pelicans earned co-Mills Cup championship honors in their inaugural 1999 season, won the outright title in 2000, and has garnered seven half-season Southern Division titles, most recently in the first half of 2013. For more information on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, please contact Nathan Barnett by calling (843) 918-6080 or emailing [email protected].
About Minor League Baseball
Minor League Baseball, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Fla., is the governing body for all professional baseball teams in the United States, Canada, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic that are affiliated with Major League Baseball clubs through their farm systems. Fans are coming out in unprecedented numbers to this one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found at Minor League Baseball ballparks. In 2013, Minor League Baseball attracted more than 41 million fans to its ballparks to see the future stars of the sport hone their skills. From the electricity in the stands to the excitement on the field, Minor League Baseball has provided affordable family-friendly entertainment to people of all ages since its founding in 1901. For more information about Minor League Baseball, visit www.MiLB.com.