AL Franchise Notes: Rays Give Out AL Championship Rings

Rays' Rings Are 14-Karat White Gold With 48 Diamonds

FIRST PRIORITY: In Akron, Patrick McManamon notes after the "drenching the Indians took at their home opener" last Friday, "quite a few folks wrote to ask why the Indians don't ask [MLB] to schedule the home opener later in April." Indians Exec VP/Business Dennis Lehman said that the home opener "could not be later than April 13." He added that the team only "made one early request this season -- and it stemmed from the move of spring training to Arizona, a three-hour time difference." The team "asked to open on the West Coast, or in a city en route from the West Coast, so they could head back home rather than make the time change all at once," and MLB "acquiesced, putting the Indians in Texas" on Opening Day (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 4/15).

ALONE ON THE RANGE: In Ft. Worth, Anthony Andro reports the Rangers drew 12,184 fans to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington for Monday's game against the Orioles, setting a "record for the smallest crowd for a scheduled game in the 16-year-history" of the ballpark. Rangers Exec VP/Communications John Blake said that the team "knew for months the game would be a low draw." There were "no promotions for the game," which took place on the Monday after Easter, and the season-ticket base "is down." Andro: "That set the stage for the perfect storm for a bad turnout." Blake said that the "numbers for the rest of the homestand are better," and 14,041 fans attended last night's game (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 4/15).

HELPING HAND: The A's have "raised $130,000 for the family trust funds of the four Oakland police officers who were killed by a wanted parolee March 21." The team said that $65,000 was raised "through fan and player donations, a silent auction and a special law enforcement ticket offer," and A's Owner Lew Wolff and investor John Fisher "matched that amount" (CONTRA COSTA TIMES, 4/15).

Print This Article