A season of wins!

“Baseball, to me, is still the national pastime because it is a summer game. I feel that almost all Americans are summer people, that summer is what they think of when they think of their childhood. I think it stirs up an incredible emotion with people.” —Steve Busby

About the only pastime as all-American as playing baseball is watching it.

This summer down at Canal Park, our beloved Akron RubberDucks are making spectating quite a thrill.

“The team is sitting pretty in the top two,” says General Manager Jim Pfander. “There have been some amazing games so far and I have a feeling that will continue as we near the halfway point in the season, so we can punch our ticket to the playoffs.”

Catching the Bicentennial Buzz

Jim reports they are all in with celebrating the City of Akron’s Bicentennial this summer, orchestrating events, themed T-shirts and bobbleheads.

On Saturday, July 5, fans receive bobbleheads of Judith Resnik and on Saturday, August 23, ones of poet laureate Rita Dove.

“Our players are honoring the celebration with special patches on their uniforms,” he says.

Hitting the Cover off the Baseball

Hot players to watch include Cleveland Guardians #1 draft pick and second baseman Aussie Travis Bazzana, who is no stranger to leadoff homers, triples and four-hit games.

“This left-handed hitter is tearing the cover off the baseball,” says Jim. “Other players to watch are outfielder Kahlil Watson and pitcher Austin Peterson, who are in their second seasons with us. You never know when these guys will be taking that trip up I-77 to join the Guardians. We all remember back when Shane Bieber played here, and Steven Kwan was our leadoff hitter.”

Jim notes their players aren’t the only ones bumping up to the Guardians. 

“Our former manager Rouglas Odor, the winningest manager in RubberDucks history, was promoted to third-base coach, and our former pitching coach Brad Goldberg was also made a Guardian,” he says.

All About the Park Food

“Our new chef, Amy Rose, has come up with an amazing lineup of extreme eats this year,” says Jim. “My personal favorite is the Emmett Golden Bicentennial Bacon Burger, which is two 4-ounce patties topped with thick-cut Canadian bacon, onion rings, smoked gouda and finished with spicy barbecue mayonnaise served on a Hawaiian bun.”

Fans are also raving about WONE Base on (Meat)Balls, which is a giant, four-meatball sub nestled in French bread and topped with marinara, mozzarella and parmesan and served with a free souvenir cup. For adults, don’t miss the WQMX Should Have Been a Cowboy layered cocktail with grenadine, lemonade, Tito’s and blue curaçao topped with a whimsical little cowboy boot.

The Akron RubberDucks is the Class AA affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. The season runs through late September. Canal Park is located at 300 South Main Street in downtown Akron, less than five minutes off I-77. Visit AkronRubberDucks.com for a schedule of games and special events or call 330-253-5151, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, to buy tickets.