Welcome Back Senators Night

This annual event hasn't taken a break since the inception of the modern Harrisburg Senators in 1987. Organized by what is now officially the Harrisburg Senators Fan Club non-profit corporation, Welcome Back Senators Night literally introduces the newly formed team fresh from Viera, Florida.

This is where the team is formally introduced for the very first time -- the precursor to a brand new season of Eastern League baseball on City Island.

This is where local baseball fans enjoy dining with a professional baseball player or coach.

This is where (in recent years), Anthony Rendon laughed and answered questions from members of a local Little League team.

This is where Stephen Strasburg's entrance forced an orderly strategy for attendees to meet the young San Diego State star pitcher up close.

This is where autographs, photos, handshakes and hugs are graciously given and accepted. 

This is where 28 years of memories are made, whether with returning Senators coaches and players or newly assigned talent visiting their new home for the first time.

Ah, "home". As former Harrisburg mayor Stephen R. Reed aptly reminds the team each year, this is where those new to this assignment learn that they are not only welcome here now, but whenever they may return to the Harrisburg area.

And he means it. And the hospitable attendees and Senators front office staff mean it.

If you enjoy following young folks as they refine their craft toward a lofty goal such as a career as Major League Baseball players, this is where you can become involved in that process and even become a part of their support system.

This is where you'll want to be Tuesday, April 7th: Welcome Back Senators Night. Meet-and-greet with hors d'oeuvres begins at 6 PM at the West Shore Elks Lodge #2257 at 108 North Saint Johns Church Road, Camp Hill. Dinner at 7 with a player or coach at every table. The program follows, including Manager Brian Daubach introducing the 2015 Harrisburg Senators.

Reservations for this special evening are just $29.50 each; children 12-and-under, only $12.50. Please contact Fan Club VP, Jeanne Jacobs to learn more: 717-774-2730 or email senatorsfanclub@comcast.net.


Brian Williams, President
 

Six More Weeks

You may be thinking, "That kind of headline gets tired on February 2nd." But my thoughts are nowhere close to a prognosticating rodent from Punxsutawney.

We're now less than five full weeks away from actual MLB spring training games. Six weeks from now, those games will begin to take shape as pitchers and position players gradually ramp up their performances to regular-season readiness.

For the second consecutive year, I've been fortunate enough to attend Orioles Fan Fest. I'm so thankful that the weather cooperated Saturday.

Among other activities, I enjoyed two early Q&A forums, Adam Jones' family, Chris Davis scurrying by me to an autograph table (for the second year), and another tour of the ballpark. Climbing the dugout steps onto a baseball field never gets old even in brisk January winds.

 

I can be shy in large crowds, but talking baseball with a complete stranger for 20 minutes comes so naturally. And the conversation ends well before either of us runs out of baseball-related material.

Finally ... finally, there's light at the end of this long, cold, dark off-season. We're getting closer. But until I hear a ball sizzle into a glove with an echoing thud, I'll remain curled up in this winter blanket.


"From Deep Short"

One Step Closer ...

Happy 2015!

As I recycle the 2014 New Britain Rock Cats calendar in my office and exchange it for a fresh 2015 series of months, I feel anticipation growing. That means we’re one hurdle closer to a new baseball season.

Even as a youth, I anticipated the first day of practice as much as Christmas. We didn’t play many organized games in those days, but I savored every one.

I still feel most alive when I’m at the ballpark. The expanse of green. The span of the base paths. The crisp sound of wood meeting ball.

So how do I spend New Year’s morning? Posting the Fan Club calendar to our blog site:

http://harrisburgsenatorsfanclub.blogspot.com/p/events.html

Please check back often since our schedule is fluid and subject to change. Better yet, join us for our first Fan Club meeting of the new year. (You’ll find details at the link above.) Bring a friend. And don’t forget to bring your annual dues – still just $5 per person and $15 per family.

I also want to thank you for your vote of confidence during October’s elections. Thank you for your patience when my business travel interferes with our scheduled events, as it did for that meeting. One of my resolutions is to continue to grow into the role as your elected president.

As you'll notice on our updated Events page, only 97 days until our traditional Welcome Back Senators evening! That alone makes 2015 look brighter already.

 

Brian Williams

"From Deep Short”

Celebrating the Holidays with the Fan Club

The Fan Club foregoes business meetings in both November and December to focus fully on celebrating the holidays with our membership. Traditionally, we gather the first Sunday in December for holiday cheer.

After last year's snowfall truncated our post-dinner gifting and games, we were relieved to see clear skies and feel a December chill on the 7th. Thankfully, everyone safely returned home last year.

After greeting each other, sharing snacks and finding seats, Dave Prediger offered grace. We enjoyed a fantastic dinner thanks to the hard-working team at the New Cumberland American Legion. Dessert included chocolate and white cake topped with a light baseball-themed icing.

During dessert, Fan Club board members began to call prize winners. Each attendee could choose among the many attractive gifts and poinsettia centerpieces.

Following a full round of gift giving, we donned our thinking caps for a couple of fun holiday-and-baseball-related word games. Our festivities with even more gifts, more skill (such as the ever-popular "Guess the number of pieces of candy in the jar" game), and a special prize generously donated by John Barrick.

Congratulations to Annie Miller, who won both the candy guessing game and the special backpack prize!


Dolly Kmetz donated creative, homemade holiday tissue box covers. One lucky person at each table took one home to add to their decorations.

I want to thank everyone for participating in this year's event. Special thanks to our Fan Club board, (Jeanne Jacobs, Margie and Barry Fealtman, Ruth Patrick and Barb Thomas), who invest a lot of time and effort to make our events special for all of us.


Thank you also to Dave Prediger for his constant support and willingness to offer thoughtful prayers. And a special thanks to the Harrisburg Senators for supporting the Fan Club. Due to the timing of baseball's Winter Meetings in San Diego, we only got to enjoy the company of two front office representatives: my long-time friend, Todd Matthews, and the newest member of the team, Blair Jewell.

I know that all of us want to enjoy this season with family and friends. Please know that your newly elected officers (thank you again for your votes of confidence!) held a recent board meeting and are already working on an aggressive 2015 Fan Club calendar.

We promise to reveal more during our next business meeting Tuesday, January 20th, at the New Cumberland American Legion. Details to come. Meanwhile, Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!

Brian Williams, President

Plan Now for Our Fan Club Christmas Party

Greetings!

Is it too early to bid you “Holiday Greetings”? After all, Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away.

The Harrisburg Senators Fan Club dives headlong into the holiday spirit with our annual Christmas Party. If you haven’t already, mark your calendar for Sunday, December 7th.

We’ll begin to gather after 5:30 PM at the New Cumberland American Legion on Market Street. Our delicious buffet dinner will be served at 6:30. Save room for dessert; and save time after dessert for fun holiday games and gifts for all attendees.

If you plan on some early Christmas shopping, please pick up an additional gift or two to wrap and add to the table. To learn more, please call Fan Club Vice-President, Jeanne Jacobs at 717-774-2730 by November 29th. Reservations are $25 per adult and $12.50, 12 and under.

Since our next business meeting will be after the New Year, we look forward to seeing you December 7th. Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Brian Williams

President

Election Day

You may believe that Election Day is Tuesday, November 4th. You would be correct. Please take advantage of your right as an American to vote for our leadership.

You’re also invited to participate in Election Day next Tuesday, October 21st. That’s when the Harrisburg Senators Fan Club will elect its leadership for the upcoming season.

Please join us to exercise your right as a voting member in good standing. We will accept nominations from the floor. Each of the current officers has accepted a nomination as well.

Following the democratic process, we plan to celebrate our affection for the National Pastime with a special classic baseball surprise. In addition, Senators General Manager Randy Whitaker will provide an update of off-season goings-on at Metro Bank Park.

Don’t forget: vote on Election Day before Election Day, Tuesday, October 21st at the New Cumberland American Legion on Market Street. We’ll come to order at 6:30 PM.

 

Brian Williams
President

No-No History

Sunday, September 28, 2014

The Fan Club's traditional final Sunday home game trip to Nationals Park resulted in an extra-special historical treat this year: the Nats' very first no-hitter! The proof is in the MASN broadcast: during Adeiny Hecchavarria's 3rd inning at-bat, the centerfield camera panned down the left field line. Pause the broadcast and you'll see all of us cheering on Jordan Zimmermann from Section 110.

What a thrill to be on hand for such a historical occasion! Only two of us on the trip had ever experienced a Major League no-hitter prior to this date: Bill Given attended one in the 90s while I was fortunate enough to be invited to witness Roy Halladay's playoff no-hitter versus Cincinnati.

Nats Park was electric as the innings ticked by. Ian Desmond's line drive homer into the Marlins pen accounted for the only scoring, so the game was always in doubt.

Nationals starters would exit to standing ovations as more recent Senators took the field. Ryan Zimmerman, trying to work in some ABs following his DL stint, would be the last to depart as Steven Souza, Jr. trotted out to left field for the 9th inning.

None of us sat through the final two innings as Jordan put away Marlin after Marlin. His only perfect game blemish was a mid-inning walk to rookie Justin Bour.

After 26 outs, Christian Yelich battled and laced what appeared to be a gapper, splitting between Souza and Michael Taylor to snuff the drama. As Steven laid out, he snagged the liner and rolled over to preserve the victory and the team's very first no-hitter.

The aftermath was as much fun as the very efficiently played game. None of the 35,085 left or even wanted to leave. This is the last day of the regular season. Nationals baseball would take on a very different feel from this point forward.

Even the 8-year-old sitting next to me, attending his first ever MLB game, seemed to grasp the magnitude of what we'd just witnessed. Our bus was abuzz the entire way home.

The moral of this story? Don't miss another Senators Fan Club event. You never know what you're going to experience.