The Sacramento River Cats are the AAA Minor League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics and play across the river in West Sacramento, CA. Even though I'm a little biased, most people agree that the River Cats is the best minor league team in the United States, and their home stadium - Raley Field - is the best stadium in the minors and is better than even the Oakland Coliseum! This is the second year the River Cats have opened up the ballpark for fans before the season starts, and most people had a great time - except for some tired kids and even more tired parents.
Of course Dinger was there! No, not the Colorado Rockies' Dinger, but our very own local mascot. Nobody really knows what a "river cat" is. Maybe it's one of the many feral cats by the river? Maybe it's a very lost and very wet mountain lion? I think most people hope it's a lovable, tall kitty who loves little kids and jelly beans!
Not quite as impressive as the outfield at PNC Park or AT&T, but our Raley Field still has a pretty cool background with Tower Bridge and the Sacramento skyline. West Sacramento is across the Sacramento River from downtown Sacramento - west of course - so you can see the city even though you are not in the official City of Sacramento. They were selling tickets for charity to try and hit a ball on field and had a game to get stamps around the park for a free ticket to the Stockton Ports exhibition game.
Like other stadium tours, they opened up the home locker room, luxury suites, and other areas not usually open to the public. The baseball theme is prevalent with lights and fixtures looking like baseballs and even wallpaper in the bathrooms showing the various pitches by grip! Many major league players like Yoenis Cespedes, Barry Zito, and the Giants' new pitcher Tim Hudson have all played for the River Cats. I saw Brandon Belt and Hector Sanchez play at Raley Field just before being called up to the majors. Who knows who you will see next?
Like most trips to a ballgame, there was food - although this was FREE FOOD! Everyone got two free hot dogs and a soda, plus samples of Merlino's Freeze and other samples from Raley's. For real garlic fries and 1/2 lb Dinger Dogs, you have to wait until opening day. Sadly, beer was not free.
Yes, a rubber game against the Dodgers in San Francisco is much better than a River Cats game, but it's very hard to not have a good time here in Sacramento. Both Giants and A's fans come together to root for the home team and take on the Dinger Dog challenge. Delta breezes and low humidities make for perfect baseball weather most of the season. Plus it's baseball! Enjoy the rest of the pictures below.
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