DAVENPORT, Iowa (June 8, 2015) - When shortstop Carlos Correa makes his major league debut for the Houston Astros in Chicago, he will become the 300th player to appear for both the Quad Cities Midwest League franchise and a major league team. To celebrate 300 Quad Cities major league alumni, $3.00 (300 pennies) will be the price of a general admission ticket to Wednesday's 7 p.m. River Bandits game at Modern Woodmen Park, where Correa led the team to a Midwest League Championship in 2013.
From a drawing during each of the nine innings of Wednesday's game, three lucky fans will win a Carlos Correa-signed baseball, three will win a Carlos Correa bobblehead, and three will win a 2013 Midwest League Champions pennant. For all fans, all-you-can-ride amusement passes are just $10 each for Wednesday's game.
The $3 tickets were announced Monday, when 3 was the River Bandits' magic number (combination of Quad Cities wins and losses by the third-place team in the Western Division) needed to clinch a playoff spot in the first half this season. The first-place River Bandits, who held baseball's best record at 39-18 through Sunday, will host the Lansing Lugnuts, the Eastern Divison first-place team Wednesday through Friday, in a series that is also a rematch of the 2011 Midwest League Championship Series.
"This Wednesday, our fans will score a triple play: they get a chance to win three great prizes, watch two first-place teams fight for playoff spots, and get great deals on tickets and amusement rides at Modern Woodmen Park," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "We always talk about how our fans can see the major league stars of tomorrow here at Modern Woodmen Park today. Well, this Wednesday, all you need is 300 pennies to see the club that has produced 300 major leaguers."
On Wednesday, gates open at 6 p.m. for a game themed as Jurassic Park Night. It is also Mack Orthodontics Patient Appreciation Night and a Pay Your Bill Wednesday presented by Mix 96. Two bills will be selected from a drawing and paid up to $100 by the River Bandits. IHMVCU members can save even more money, since they can get one free ticket for each ticket they purchase.
Correa will become the fourth former River Bandit to make his major league debut this season, joining Cody Stanley, Lance McCullers and Michael Feliz. Stanley, a catcher with the 2011 Midwest League Championship team, debuted for the St. Louis Cardinals May 18. McCullers, a Midwest League All-Star for the 2013 River Bandits, made his debut with Houston in May 18. Feliz, a River Bandits pitcher and All-Star Futures Game selection in 2014, made his debut for Houston May 31.
Attached to this release is the list of 300 major league players who have appeared for the Quad Cities Midwest League franchise.
UP NEXT: Gates open at 6 p.m. Wednesday for Jurassic Park Night, with all-you-can-ride amusement passes are just $10 each! The 7 p.m. game is Mack Orthodontics Patient Appreciation Night and a Pay Your Bill Wednesday presented by Mix 96. Two bills will be selected from a drawing and paid up to $100 by the River Bandits. IHMVCU members can get buy-one-get-one free tickets. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931, and this year the club is matching that effort by opening three new areas in July: a new 11,000 s.f. concourse expansion down the third base line will open in July, as will a new two-tiered special group deck immediately behind and overlooking the corn field. Finally, the club is expanding the children's play area by an additional 5500 s.f. down the right field line. New rides will be announced upon completion of these new areas.
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