STOCKTON PORTS
Gearing Up for Another All-Star Season

For the third straight season, the Stockton Ports, High Class-A Affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, will play their home games at beautiful Banner Island Ballpark on the downtown Stockton waterfront. Since moving into the new digs, the Ports have enjoyed steady increases in attendance. Last season, in their 65th year of existence, the Ports broke their all-time attendance record with a total of 213,724 fans passing through the gates at Banner Island Ballpark.

This season the Ports will host the 2007 California/Carolina League All-Star Game for the very first time. With a fan fest, skills competition and celebrity guests all in the mix, the event should be a summer celebration for the city of Stockton.

Last season the Ports made the playoffs as a wild-card team under second-year skipper Todd Steverson, compiling an overall record of 69-71. Despite a first-round playoff loss to the Visalia Oaks (1-2), Stockton still proved to be fertile ground for growing A's prospects.

Travis Buck, who was invited to A's camp for Spring Training this season, hit .349 with three homers and 26 RBI's, including 17 doubles in 34 games with the Ports. Third base/outfield prospect Myron Leslie also had a solid year offensively, knocking in 100 RBI's while finishing with a .273 batting average. Catching prospect Landon Powell also impressed, bouncing back from a torn ACL in '05 to make the California League All-Star team-belting 15 home runs and gunning down 52 percent of would-be base stealers from behind the dish.

Stockton was also home to some future A's pitchers in '06. Marcus McBeth, a relief pitcher, was un-hittable in a Ports uniform. McBeth allowed just one hit in eight appearances, going seven-for-seven in save opportunities while striking out 14 in 8.2 innings of work. Mike Mitchell, another California League All-Star, finished fifth in the Cal-League in saves with 18. Both McBeth and Mitchell were invited to A's Spring Training camp.

Fans who come out to Banner Island Ballpark this season can expect not only a great product on the field, but a fantastic entertainment experience as well.

Monday's will feature Monday Madness, where fans can purchase two Field Box tickets, two hot dogs and two sodas for $16. On Two-for-Tuesday, presented by Carl's Jr., fans will be able to pick up a coupon from local Carl's Jr. restaurants redeemable for two-for-one Field Box tickets to Tuesday home games. For the second straight season, Wednesday's will once again feature "Baseball BINGO". All fans entering the ballpark will receive a Baseball BINGO card and the first fan to score a BINGO on their BINGO card will be awarded a grand prize. "Thirsty Thursdays" will feature $1 12 oz. domestic draft beer until 8:30 p.m., and $1 12 oz. sodas will also be available throughout the game.

In addition to daily promotions, the Ports will have eight post-game fireworks shows (April 5, April 20, May 19, June 8, July 3, July 20, August 4, and September 1). The Ports will also welcome acts such as the Reggy Entertainment Show (August 4), the ZOOperstars! (August 17), and critically acclaimed Christian rock band Hawk Nelson (August 22).

Among the items that will be given away are a Ports BBQ Set (May 18), a Ports Beach Towel (July 8), a Fonzie Bobble-Arm Doll (July 21), a Splash Bobble-Belly Doll (August 5), and much more! To purchase tickets, book group outings, or for any Ports information, visit www.stocktonports.com or call (209) 644-1900.