Our Indiana Pacers may be out of the NBA finals, and this year’s Indianapolis 500 race is now becoming a memory, but local sports fans still have a lot to look forward to with the arrival of warmer temperatures.
Thanks to the Indianapolis Indians, families can have a fun experience with what many know as America’s favorite pastime: baseball.
“Our games at Victory Field provide guests the opportunity to come out and enjoy baseball,” said Brian Bosma, media relations manager for the Indians. “It’s affordable – less than the cost of a movie – and you can enjoy a good game in a great atmosphere.”
The Indians, which trace their history to 1902, are a professional team that is currently part of the International League, an organization of minor-league teams. It is currently ranked as a Triple-A team, the highest level of play in minor league baseball.
This season, the Indians were off to their greatest start since 1948. At press time, they had a 44-21 record, the best in the International League, and are the leaders in their division.
“We are on our way to returning to the playoffs,” Bosma said.
The Indians have also had the advantage of having a strong lineup of mostly veteran players that has remained mostly intact for several seasons, and includes such stars as International League MVP Matt Hague, a first baseman, and Josh Harrison, an infielder who is known as one of the league’s best shortstops.
“We have a very talented group of veterans that have really presented us with a great overall team,” Bosma said. “We have also been adding new players, but it’s been a really good, solid team throughout the season.”
One of the most exciting games to have occurred was a highly anticipated match earlier this month between the Indians and the Norfolk Tides, in which the Indians won in a close 9-8 walk-off victory.
“We definitely battled,” said Andrew Lambo, a popular hitter for the Indians. “Both teams battled, scratching some runs across the plate. It was a good team effort on both sides.”
In addition to being able to watch a competitive, winning team in exciting action, guests at Victory Field also look forward to the amazing variety of discounts and weekly promotions offered by the Indians.
For example, on some Mondays food sold at Victory Field can be purchased for a dollar, fireworks are shown Friday night and Signature Saturday events have given participants the opportunity to meet and get autographs from professional, major-league baseball standouts such as Cecil Cooper and Lou Brock.
From 1931 to 1996, the Indians played at Bush Stadium (now Stadium Loft Apartments), and currently has home games at Victory Field, which has been described in many fan reviews as one of the nicest venues in minor league baseball.
Regular box seats at Victory Field start at $15, reserved seating is $11 and ground lawn seats are available for $10. Fans get a dollar off ticket prices when they are purchased in advance of a game.
In addition, entertainment and side attractions are often provided before or during Indians games, giving guests more than baseball to look forward to.
“Our goal is for people to enjoy themselves from beginning to end,” Bosma said. “We want to make Victory Field a great place to spend a summer day.”
