BLUE WAHOOS FINISH HISTORIC FIRST SEASON IN PENSACOLA
Though the Blue Wahoos did not make the postseason, the club was still recognized nationally for an outstanding first season. Baseballparks.com announced that Pensacola Bayfront Stadium was named Ballpark of the Year for 2012, while Ballpark Digest honored the franchise as Organization of the Year just a few days later. Four more players were announced by the Reds as September call-ups to join the Big League team. Those being infielders Didi Gregorius and Henry Rodriguez, along with starting pitchers Pedro Villarreal and Tony Cingrani joining the fraternity of Blue Wahoos alums to be promoted to the Big Leagues. Cingrani was the first player to be transferred directly from Pensacola to Cincinnati.
Fan support for the franchise was a huge part of the success of the 2012 campaign, with the club selling out 40 of their 68 openings throughout the season. It all started on April 1, when the team was met at the airport after arriving from the Reds' Spring Training complex in Arizona. Before a game was even played, over 1,000 fans attended the team's first two preseason practices at the brand new Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, many finding their seats they would be sitting in throughout the year for the first time.
Throughout the season was also a celebration of the high-caliber athletes that have come through the Pensacola area, with several returning to be honored by the Blue Wahoos. One month after winning the Green Jacket at the Masters, Bubba Watson was honored by the Blue Wahoos and threw out a first pitch.
Other professional and amateur athletes on-hand and honored at the stadium this season included Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Josh Sitton, New York Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes, former Alabama running back and Cleveland Browns first-round pick Trent Richardson, Brooklyn Nets forward Reggie Evans, 2012 Oakland Athletics first-round draft pick Addison Russell and Army pitcher and academic All-American Zach Price.
Naturally, the first month of the season was filled with firsts for the Blue Wahoos. Following a pre-game flyover and an additional flyby from the Blue Angels, the first season of Double-A baseball in Pensacola began just minutes after 7:00 p.m. CT, when Pensacola starter Pedro Villarreal fired the first pitch in team history, which was fouled back to the screen behind home plate by Montgomery Biscuits INF Hak-Ju Lee.
The team would then record their first hit in the bottom half of the first frame, when SS Didi Gregorius singled to left. Later in the inning, 3B Henry Rodriguez drove home Ryan LaMarre for the club's first of 529 runs in 2012. Rodriguez would make more history in the eighth, when he blasted a two-run homer to left to break a 1-1 tie and push Pensacola to their first victory, with RHP Justin Freeman earning the first victory in the club's history.
Two nights later, C Brian Peacock recorded the first Wahoos' walkoff win, dropping a bunt down the first base line and diving into first as the run scored to end the game in the bottom of the ninth. Then on Monday, April 9, the first homestand in the history of Pensacola Bayfront Stadium ended in a bang. 1B Mike Costanzo blasted the first grand slam in team history off the video board in right field, which led to the fourth Pensacola victory in the five-game homestand. Costanzo would continue to etch his name in Blue Wahoos lore in the month of May.
After the 28-year-old Costanzo became the first player to be promoted to the Louisville Bats on April 18, the Wahoos would have their first Big Leaguer less than a month later. Pensacola's parent club, the Cincinnati Reds, called up Costanzo to the Majors on May 12 and the infielder would record his first plate appearance the next day, lifting a sacrifice fly to bring home a run for his first Major League RBI.
Within a week, the list would grow to two when the Chicago Cubs acquired C Koyie Hill from the Blue Wahoos on May 19. Hill started for the Cubs later that night at Wrigley Field. That same day, Mike Costanzo made his first start of the season for the Reds and recorded his first Major League hit, a single to left, against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Youth however, would get their moment in the spotlight in June.
Pensacola starter Daniel Corcino was dealing on June 16 against Mobile. Every pitch was on target and had plenty of movement, baffling BayBears hitters. Through eight innings, the 21-year-old did not allow a hit and only walked three batters. Corcino would give way to reliever Wilkin De La Rosa in the ninth, who struck out outfielder Marc Krauss looking to end the game and give the franchise their first no-hitter in only its 68th game in history. The game drew national attention and was featured on Sportscenter's Top Ten Plays for that week. In July, another young phenom would bring the Blue Wahoos into the national spotlight.
As the month of July began, buzz started growing about a 21-year-old shortstop whose speed was thought of as virtually unmatched. Billy Hamilton was on pace to break Vince Coleman's single-season steals record and rumors started to spread that the speedster would perhaps be promoted to Pensacola. Rumor turned to reality on July 11, when Hamilton was officially transferred by the Reds from High-A Bakersfield to Pensacola. It did not take long for Hamilton to showcase his speed, as after swiping five bases in his first four games, Hamilton raced around for an inside-the-park homer on July 15, rounding the bases in under 14 seconds. The roundtripper again made the national media rounds, and the chase for Vince Coleman's single-season record of 145 heated up as the season moved into August.
After Pensacola's contest against Montgomery was postponed on August 20, the Blue Wahoos and Biscuits were scheduled for a twin bill, with Hamilton just two steals away from matching Coleman's record, and three from breaking. Hamilton did not need the second game, taking four bases in an extra inning defeat.
After taking second earlier in the contest, Hamilton singled to right in the third frame, and proceeded to steal second to even his single-season tally with Coleman, before taking third just several pitches later, placing him alone at the top of the record books. In total, Hamilton finished the season with 155 steals between Bakersfield and Pensacola, leading both the California League and Southern League in stolen bases at the end of the season. The Mississippi native's 155thh and final steal of 2012 came on September 1, with that month being a celebration of an incredible year-long team effort.
The bar has certainly been set high for the 2013 campaign after a very successful inaugural season at the bayfront stadium. The Blue Wahoos would like to thank all the players, coaches, fans and sponsors who made this first year so spectacular and are looking forward to another fun-filled season starting on April 4 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium against the Tennessee Smokies. Throughout the offseason, fans should be on the lookout for Kazoo. He figures to have a busy off-season with a lot of free time on his hands.
Season ticket information for the 2013 season will be announced soon, with single-game tickets going on sale early in 2013. Be sure to consistently check BlueWahoos.com for the latest information regarding tickets as well as other events that will be hosted at the stadium through the offseason. Fans can also get the most up-to-date information on the Blue Wahoos' Facebook page at facebook.com/PensacolaBlueWahoos or on Twitter at twitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall.