Share your Frontier Field memories
It could be a favorite player....an on-field moment like the '97 Governors Cup win here, or Garrett Jones' walk-off homer to end the 2008 season, or the Hideki Irabu mania surrounding his pitching appearance....or a favorite personal moment - like getting an autograph from one of your childhood heroes (Bobby Grich, Don Baylor), your first date here with your future spouse, taking your son or daughter/grandson/granddaughter to their first game, watching your kids run the bases with Spikes and Mittsy for the first time... you get the idea.
Please send us an email and share your memories and moments with us. Also include your first and last name, and a daytime phone number. If you prefer to send us a written memory, mail it to Red Wings FF 15, One Morrie Silver Way, Rochester NY 14608. We'll be highlighting your memories in various ways throughout the upcoming months.
ESL Federal Credit Union will be providing a bobblehead to the first 2000 fans at Frontier Field for the Red Wings game against the Pawtucket Red Sox on Wednesday, August 31st at 7:05 p.m.. Fans can vote for one of five Wings players, or write in your own choice. Click here to find out all the details.
As part of our 15th season at Frontier Field, we would like you to join us in reminiscing on the most memorable moments at the Ballpark. These moments will be featured on a series of magnet giveaways throughout the 2011 season.
A special thanks to Barbara Jean Germano, for providing several key photos for the Frontier Field 15th Season Magnet Series.
The Magnet Series design was created by Ilana Zatkowsky, a student in RIT's New Media Design & Imaging Program.
August 3, 2004
When J.D. Durbin arrived from Double A New Britain, he did so with much fanfare as the 22-year-old former 2nd round draft pick with a nickname he couldn't escape: "The Real Deal." Ottawa's Mike Fontenot spanked a triple to begin the game, and it seemed to bring J.D. to life. He struck out the next six Lynx hitters (the most consecutive strikouts by a Wings pitcher since Mike Oquist fanned six straight Pawtucket batters in 1993) while on his way to a 13 strikeout performance. Durbin never pitched another game for the wings like he did in his debut (7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 13 SO), but he gave Wings fans a dominating performance to remember.
Giveaway Date: Sat. April 23, presented by Segar & Sciortino, Attorneys at Law
Bobby Korecky sets save record--2007 Season
The Red Wings have enjoyed a lot of outstanding closers during their time as a Twins affiliate, but none has wracked up as many saves as this short right-hander with a big heart and a terrific slider. Korecky first joined the Wings in 2006 and saved 8 games late in the season after Pat Neshek had earned a promotion to Minnesota. That set the stage for 2007 when Korecky shattered the previous single season save mark of 23 (set only two years earlier by Travis Bowyer) by June 19. Korecky went on to save 35 games--21 of them at Frontier Field.
Giveaway Date: Sun. June 5, presented by Olive Garden
Restovich Hits for the cycle--May 8, 2004
Hitting for the cycle (single, double, triple, home run in the same game) is a rare occurence. For the Red Wings, it has been especially rare. John Shelby was the last Wing to accomplish the feat (August 6, 1981 at Syracuse) before Michael Restovich turned the trick May 8, 2004 vs. Durham. Restovich hit for the "natural" cycle meaning the single, double, triple, and homer came in that order, and he did it quickly. His single came as part of an eight run 1st inning and-by the time he had homered off Jose Veras in the 5th inning--"Resto" had already completed the cycle as part of a 15-3 Wings blowout win. No Wing has hit for the cycle since.
Giveaway Date: Sat. May 7, presented by Urology Associates of Rochester
Garrett Jones Walkoff---September 1, 2008
As the 2008 season was winding down, it was a foregone conclusion that Garrett Jones would not be back with the Wings in 2009. The lefty slugger was not getting promoted to Minnesota despite hitting almost .350 after the All Star Break, and he planned on testing the free agent market in the offseason. So when Buffalo scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to tie the final game of the season, Garrett was given a chance to end his Red Wings career in style. That’s exactly what the future Wings Hall of Famer did crushing a three-run HR into the Wings bullpen off Brian Slocum to win the game 9-6 and end the season. The home run was the 81 st of Jones career putting him 7 th on the franchise’s all time list.
Giveaway Date: Thurs. July 7, presented by Olive Garden
Cal Ripken HOF Induction---August 29, 2003
An afternoon monsoon followed by a 7-3 loss to Syracuse didn’t ruin a fantastic evening at Frontier Field when Cal Ripken, Jr. was inducted into the Red Wings Hall of Fame August 29, 2003. 12,452 fans---including Ripken’s brother Billy---packed into Frontier Field for the ceremony honoring the “Iron Man.” Rochester has always held a special place in Ripken’s heart. He lived in Irondequoit as a youngster when his father managed the Wings in 1969-1970, and he earned IL Rookie of the Year honors with the Wings as a player in 1981. Ripken went on to play 21 seasons in the big leagues before becoming a first ballot Baseball Hall of Famer in 2007.
Giveaway Date: Sat. August 20, presented by Monroe Extinguisher
2000 Triple-A All-Star Game---July 12, 2000
The Red Wings and the Rochester Community showed off the Flower City when they hosted the minor league version of the mid-summer classic. Many of Triple-A baseball's finest prospects and former Major Leaguers (Alfonso
Soriano & Ruben Sierra) played in the game. A national TV audience (ESPN2) watched the PCL stars defeat the IL stars 8-2 in front of 12,810, the 9th biggest crowd in Frontier Field history. Red Wings RHP Javier De La Hoya would capture the IL player of the game.
Giveaway Date: Sun. May 22, presented by T-Mobile
Jason Kubel Batting Title---2004
Just days away from turning 22-years-old, Jason Kubel was promoted to the Red Wings in late May 2004 after battering Double A pitchers to the tune of a .377 batting average in New Britain. Kubel singled in his first Triple A at bat May 21 in Richmond and kept hitting the rest of the season for the Wings. He finished the season with a .343 batting average with 16 home runs (not to mention 28 doubles in only 90 games earning him the “Mr. Doubles” nickname from Joe Altobelli.) Kubel became the first Red Wings IL batting champ since Steve Finley in 1988 and the first Wing to win the IL Rookie of the Year award since Luis Mercedes in 1991.
Giveaway Date: Sat. August 13,presented by Unity Health
Francisco Liriano 13 strikeout game/IL Rookie of the Year---2005
Francisco Liriano took the International League by storm in 2005 and perhaps none of his Wings starts were as dominating as his August 4 effort at Frontier Field. Only one start after tossing eight shutout innings of one-hit baseball against Charlotte, the hard-throwing lefty took the mound against a Buffalo lineup featuring the likes of Brandon Phillips, Ryan Garko, Ryan Ludwick and Ernie Young. Liriano was even better in this game, beating Fausto Carmona with seven more shutout innings while allowing only one hit. He also struck out 13 including five straight at one point. The win put Liriano’s record at 6-1 while dropping his ERA to just 1.62. He eventually would post a 9-2 record with a 1.78 ERA in 14 starts for the Red Wings---including a perfect 7-0 mark at Frontier Field. His performance was good enough to give the Wings their second straight IL Rookie of the Year winner after Jason Kubel in 2004.
Giveaway Date: Sat. July 30, presented by Dr. Michael Mayer, DMD
Two Straight Walk-Offs at Frontier---2005
Although the Red Wings fell just shy of the playoffs in 2005, the season certainly provided many memorable highlights. At or near the top of that list has to be a two-day stretch in mid-August when the Wings clobbered walk-off home runs in back-to-back nights to beat Pawtucket. On August 15, the Wings lost Game One of a doubleheader to Pawtucket giving them four losses in their last five games. They were three outs away from getting swept in the twinbill in Game Two trailing 9-6 in the bottom of the seventh when they mounted a rally. A Garrett Jones RBI single made it 9-7 and---with two men on base---Kevin West belted a long home run to left giving the Wings a thrilling 10-9 win. The very next night it was Josh Rabe’s turn to be the hero. The Wings and Pawtucket were tied 1-1 after nine innings, but the Paw Sox took the lead in the top of the 10th with three runs off Ricky Barrett. The Wings didn’t give up, however, and loaded the bases for Rabe who promptly smoked a game-ending grand slam. It is still the only time in Frontier Field history that the Wings have won back-to-back games on walk-off home runs.
Giveaway Date: Sun. June 26, presented by T-Mobile
1997 Opening Night at Frontier Field---April 11, 1997
A new era of Red Wings baseball began in 1997 when Rochester opened up beautiful Frontier Field in downtown Rochester. Opening Night, one of the most anticipated events in Rochester sports, included a crowd of 13,227 which was the largest crowd for a baseball game in Rochester since June 27, 1975 at old Silver Stadium. Rochester native and famous recording artist Lou Gramm would sing the national anthem, RHP Brian Sackinsky would throw the first pitch, and catcher B.J. Waszgis would collect the first hit in a Red Wings 8-5 loss to Scranton.
Giveaway Date: Sat. September 3, presented by T-Mobile
1997 Governors' Cup Win to cap 1st season at Frontier Field----
September 14, 1997
The Red Wings capped a remarkable first season at Frontier Field with their International League record 10th Governors' Cup championship. With the series tied 2-2 Rochester and Columbus would play a winner take all Game 5 at Frontier Field. Outfielder Danny Clyburn would provide the offense early but it was third baseman P.J. Forbes that stole the show.
Forbes raced half-way down the third baseline and made a head first diving catch on an attempted bunt (one of the greatest catches in Red Wings history) for the second out of the ninth inning. Closer Brian Shouse recorded the final out as Rochester defeated Columbus 4-3.
Giveaway Date: Mon. August 1, presented by Wegmans
Irabu Game----June 30, 1997
Japanese pitcher Hideki Irabu, who signed a 12 million dollar deal with the New York Yankees, made his Triple-A debut at Frontier Field vs.Rochester. Irabu not only brought out the fans but the media as well as 175 media, including 60 from Japan, would make their way to Rochester to watch him pitch. The atmosphere was electric as Rochester would rally to
defeat Columbus 8-7 in front of 13,485 still the largest crowd to ever watch a regular season game in Frontier Field history. Irabu would receive a no decision in the game and would hold a post-game press conference in the Frontier Field Walk-of-Fame that was attended by all the media and 1,000 fans.
Giveaway Date: Mon. May 30, presented by Warm 101.3
Tim Laker Home Run over the Left Field Scoreboard---April, 1997
Hitting a home run over the left field scoreboard at Froniter Field is a rare occurrence. For the Red Wings its happened only once by Tim Laker April 23, 1997. It was a majestic shot that was still rising as it cleared the top of the scoreboard. Only three players have been able to clear the left field scoreboard in Frontier Field's history. Scranton's Tony Barron and Charlotte's Scott Morgan are the only others to accomplish it.
Giveaway Date: Mon. June 20, presented by the New York State Public Employees Federation
Justin Morneau Walks Them Off---June 2, 2003
Certainly the most memorable Red Wings player of the first year of the Twins Era was slugging first baseman Justin Morneau. The big Canadian joined the Wings in early May and immediately made his presence felt with a five hit game (including two HR) in just his second game in Triple A. In early June, Morneau’s father George made the long trip to Rochester from British Columbia, Canada only to see his son go hitless the first three games of the homestand. Morneau gave his proud papa something to cheer about June 2 when he ended an extra inning battle with Norfolk with a solo HR off lefty Pete Zamora. The home run was the future American League MVP’s 12 th home run for the Wings in only a month of time in the IL. Within just a couple of seasons, Morneau would establish himself as one of the most feared sluggers in the American League.
Giveaway Date: Mon. August 15
2008---Record Home Winning Streak
If it seemed like the Red Wings almost couldn’t lose at Frontier Field in 2008, it’s because they couldn’t. In fact, from July 23 to August 9 the Red Wings reeled off 10 straight wins at One Morrie Silver Way beating the previous stadium record of nine straight wins (accomplished two times in 1997). The streak included manager Stan Cliburn’s 1,000 th win as a Minor League manager and capped off in an exciting way when Jason Pridie ended the August 9 game against Indianapolis with a game-winning, two-run double. The 10 game home win streak was the best for the Red Wings since they won 12 straight at Silver Stadium in 1992. For the season, the Wings went 46-26 for their best home record since the 1997 Governor’s Cup Championship team went a remarkable 49-22 at Frontier Field.
Giveaway Date: Wed. July 20, presented by Vanderstyne Toyota
In November, the Rochester Red Wings unveiled a logo to commemorate their 15th season at Frontier Field. The "15th Anniversary season logo" is a hybrid of the logos of the Red Wings and Frontier Field.
The logo was designed by Diana Polle, a senior in RIT's New Media Design & Imaging program. "In many respects it's hard to believe that we are coming up on our 15th season at Frontier Field. In that time, there have been many great moments and our fans have seen some extremely talented players on their way to the Major Leagues. We look forward to commemorating many of those memorable moments and players throughout the 2011 season. We think Diana did a great job of matching our logo, - and the Frontier Field logo - to celebrate this historic season," said Red Wings General Manager Dan Mason.
The new logo will adorn many of the Red Wings' print and marketing efforts in 2011.