Thank You for a Great 2011 Season!
A BANNER YEAR FOR THE DRAGONS
Dragons Set All-time Professional Sports Sellout record; Best Regular Season Record in Midwest League; Selected as "Organization of the Year" By Ballpark Digest
Dayton, Ohio-The Dayton Dragons set the all-time professional sports sellout record during the 2011 season as they sold out their 815th consecutive game on July 9th. Every game in the team's 12-year history has been a sellout. The team finished the year with 844 consecutive sellouts.
The Dragons also posted the best regular season record in the Midwest League with a mark of 83-57. The Dragons posted the top second half record in all of Minor League Baseball with an all-time franchise-best 48-22 and earned their third division title in team history. The Dragons led all of professional baseball in stolen bases and their top base stealer, Billy Hamilton, set a Reds' organizational record with 103.
Ballpark Digest named the Dragons as the 2011 Minor League Baseball "Organization of the Year." This annual award honors one organization for excellence in Minor League Baseball during the 2011 season.
The Dragons completed the 2011 regular season with an attendance total for the year of 571,866. The Dragons have led all of Single-A baseball in attendance in each of their 12 seasons. Dayton averaged 8,288 per date over 69 home openings in 2011.
Each of the Dragons 70 home games (including one playoff game) in 2011 was sold out; this is the longest sell-out streak in professional sports history. Every Dragons game ever played at Fifth Third Field since the club's inception in 2000 has been a sell-out.
Longest Sell-Outs Streaks in Professional Sports History
* projected 710 through end of 2011 season
For the 12th straight year, the Dragons also finished in the top-10 in all of Minor League Baseball in attendance as they surpassed the 7.1 million mark in 2011. The team enjoyed a 95 percent renewal rate of 2010 season ticket holders into the 2011 season.
A Celebration for the Ages
On July 23, the Dragons held a celebration night to thank the loyal fans of Dayton for helping to break the all-time sports sellout record. Dragons' owners Magic Johnson, Archie Griffin, Peter Guber, Bill Luby, and Mandalay Baseball Properties CEO Art Matin were all on hand for the event. On that evening, the Dragons had former players Logan Ondrusek, Drew Stubbs and Chris Heisey arrive by helicopter - after the conclusion of their 4pm day game in Cincinnati - and thank the fans from the field. The team also unveiled a retired "#1" jersey on the outfield wall, which is dedicated to the fans of the Dayton region.
Dragons Receive National Media Attention in 2011
The Dragons and Fifth Third Field received significant national media attention during the 2011 season.
The New York Times featured the Dragons' sellout streak in a piece written by award-winning sportswriter George Vecsey. Team President Robert Murphy appeared with owner Magic Johnson on ESPN's Outside The Lines on August 3rd to discuss the team's sellout streak The Dragons were featured in multiple major publications including USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and Sports Illustrated. Over 200+ newspapers across the country and around the world carried coverage of the sellout streak from The Associated Press.
The coverage generated by the Dragons sellout streak reached all 50 states and several countries across the globe, totaling more than 315 million media impressions.
Other 2011 Highlights at Fifth Third Field:
High School Baseball: For the fifth consecutive season, the Dragons played host to high school baseball at Fifth Third Field. In April and May, 34 area high school teams participated in 22 games.
Bob Ross Classic: On July 16th, the 12th Annual Bob Ross Classic was played at Fifth Third Field. The exhibition game showcased the best incoming high school seniors from 50 schools in the Miami Valley.
Cedarville Classic: On April 15th, the Dragons' Fifth Third Field played host to the sixth annual Cedarville Classic. The proceeds from the game went to two different non-profit organizations. With the Dragons guidance, students from Cedarville University's sport management program are responsible for all elements of the game including ticketing, operations, and in-game entertainment.
Hometown Heroes Celebration Nights: Two times during the 2011 baseball season, the Dragons partnered with the Dayton Development Coalition and their partners to pay tribute to all service men and women associated with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Springfield Air National Guard Base. Festivities included a welcome home to servicemen returning from their deployment, a video greeting card from an airman serving oversees to his family back in the Dayton region, and swearing in ceremonies for a group of local Air Force recruits.
Home Run for Life: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dragons teamed up to provide five battling serious medical conditions with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities during Dragons games. Each honoree got to take an honorary home run "lap" around the bases of Fifth Third Field during a game and receive an honorary bat from Dragons manager Delino DeShields.
Dragons MVP Program: For the sixth straight season, The Dragons MVP program provided students who were selected by their teachers the chance to be recognized for their achievements. More than 850 classrooms and 25,000 students participated during the 2011 season. Those children selected as Dragons MVPs received a customized certificate and complimentary tickets to enjoy a Dragons game at Fifth Third Field with their families. At the game, they received a specially designed Dragons MVP ball cap. MVPs also received tickets to the "MVP Field Day" at the stadium.
Other Events:
Dragons Youth Baseball Camp: June 28-29, July 27-28 Great American Beer Tasting: August 6 Amateur Boxing at Fifth Third Field: August 12 Donatos Pizza Movie Night: August 20 Dragons 5K Fun Run: August 25
The Dragons also expanded their 2011 television package from 15 to 25 games. All telecasts were produced by the Dragons in-house crew and featured a collection of guest color commentators including former Reds Todd Benzinger, Eddie Milner, and Doug Bair as well as hall-of-fame writer Hal McCoy and many others.
Additionally, the Dragons introduced a Facebook fan page in 2011 that featured team videos, highlights, information, and photo galleries.
Dayton Dragons 2011 Recap
Final Record: 83-57 (1st in the Midwest League; third division title in club history)
First Half: 35-35 (4th in Eastern Division)
Second Half: 48-22 (1st in Eastern Division)
Playoffs: Lost to Lansing, two games to one, in Midwest League quarterfinals
Final Attendance: 571,866
Per Game Attendance Average: 8,288
2011 Midwest League All-Star Game Participants:
Josh Smith, Pitcher
Daniel Corcino, Pitcher
Dominic D'Anna, First Baseman
2011 Dragons Award Winners
Billy Hamilton MWL Full-Season All-Star shortstop
Drew Hayes MWL Full-Season All-Star right-handed relief pitcher
Daniel Renken MWL Pitcher of the Week, June 27-July 3
Daniel Corcino MWL Pitcher of the Week, August 15-21
Donald Lutz MWL Batter of the Week, August 29-September 5
2011 Dragons Team Leaders
Batting
Batting Average: Donald Lutz, .301
Home Runs: Donald Lutz, David Vidal 20
Runs Batted In: David Vidal, 85
Stolen Bases: Billy Hamilton, 103
Games Played: Billy Hamilton, 135
Pitching
Victories: Josh Smith, 14
Earned Run Average (qualifiers): Josh Smith, 2.97
Saves: Drew Hayes, 22
Games Pitched: Drew Hayes, 51
Innings Pitched: Josh Smith, 142.1
Dragons Leading all of Professional Baseball
Stolen Bases: Billy Hamilton, 103 (most since 2001)
Dragons 2011 Midwest League Leaders
Stolen Bases: Billy Hamilton, 103
Runs Scored: Billy Hamilton, 99
At-Bats: Billy Hamilton, 550
Doubles: David Vidal, 37
Wins: Josh Smith, 14
Saves: Drew Hayes, 22
Strikeouts: Josh Smith, 166
Games Played: Billy Hamilton, 135 (tied for first)
Fielding Percentage (3B): David Vidal, .965
Fielding Percentage (C): Tucker Barnhart, .998
Caught Stealing Pct., (C): Tucker Barnhart, 47 percent
Other Dragons among 2011 Midwest League Leaders
Home Runs: David Vidal, Donald Lutz, 20, tied for fourth
RBI: David Vidal, 85, fifth
Hits: Billy Hamilton, 153, second
Strikeouts: Daniel Corcino, 156, second
Strikeouts: Daniel Renken, 141, fourth
Extra base hits: David Vidal, 58, fourth
Runs Scored: Donald Lutz, David Vidal, 85, tied for fourth
Triples: Billy Hamilton, 9, fourth
Total Bases: Donald Lutz, 229, fourth
Notable Dragons Individual Performances
Billy Hamilton had 103 stolen bases to lead all of professional baseball. The last Minor League player to steal 100 bases in a season was Chris Morris of Peoria in 2001 when he set the Midwest League record with 111. Hamilton broke the Reds organizational record of 98 by Ramon Sambo of Cedar Rapids in 1988.
Donald Lutz became the first Dragons player to hit for the cycle when he recorded a home run, triple, double, and single in his first four at-bats on July 21 vs. Peoria.
Daniel Renken tied a league record by striking out 10 consecutive batters vs. Lansing on June 20. In the same game, Lutz struck out 14 batters to tie the Dragons club record.
Donald Lutz hit .301 with 20 home runs. Only one other player in Dragons history had ever hit .290 or higher with at least 20 home runs (Austin Kearns, 2000).
Lutz tied a club record with three multi-homer games. The most dramatic came on August 30 vs. West Michigan when he tied the game with a home run in the eighth inning and ended the game with a homer in the 10th.
Ronald Torreyes tied a club record with five hits in a game on July 21 vs. Peoria. On July 20, Torreyes had four hits, giving him nine hits over two games.
Daniel Wolford went 22 consecutive games without allowing a run. He allowed a run on June 9 and pitched shutout baseball over the next 34.1 innings before giving up a run on August 31.
Notable Dragons Team Performances
The Dragons full-season record of 83-57 was the best in the Midwest League.
The Dragons' 48-22 second half record was the best in the minors among the seven full-season leagues (80 teams) that play a split-season.
Dayton held at least a share of first place for the last 68 days of the season (since June 29). They were in first place for all but four days of the second half.
The Dragons were the only team in Minor League Baseball in 2011 to lead their league in batting average and earned run average. The Dragons are the first MWL team to lead the league in batting average and ERA since Quad City in 1995.
Dayton was one of two teams in the minors in 2011 to lead its league in runs scored and fewest runs allowed (San Antonio). The Dragons become just the second Midwest League team in the last 42 years to earn this accomplishment.
Midwest League Records Set
Dragons pitchers broke the all-time Midwest League record for single-season strikeouts with 1,292 (1,274 by Wisconsin, 1998).
Dragons Club Records Set
Most Wins in a Season (83, 82 in 2001).
Most Wins in a Half (48, 44 in the first half of 2007).
Most Wins in a Month (22-8 in August, 20 wins in June, 2002).
Most Road Wins in a Season (38, 36 in 2001 and 2002).
Most Shutout victories (14, 13 in 2001).
Most Stolen Bases in a Season (228-most in all of professional baseball, 151 in 2002).
Best Team ERA (3.39, 3.41 in 2007).
Most Strikeouts by Pitchers, Season (see above).
Former Dragons to Reach the Major Leagues in 2011 (52 total since 2000)
Jeremy Horst, Pitcher, Reds
Devin Mesoraco, Catcher, Reds
Todd Frazier, Infielder, Reds
Zack Cozart, Infielder, Reds
Dave Sappelt, Outfielder, Reds
Zach Stewart, Pitcher, Blue Jays/White Sox