210SA - San Antonio's entertainment, culture and events publication

New season, new Missions

Whip out your singles; the Missions' season has started. The team opened at Tulsa on April 5.
Bahram Mark Sobhani | Contributor

In describing a local institution such as the San Antonio Missions, the word “new” is seldom used.

Until now, that is.

Entering their 2007 home opener on Thursday, April 12, the Missions’ home at Wolff Stadium that will look almost like new, thanks to offseason renovations.

Then, of course, there's the team itself, which is also new.

In the offseason, the Missions signed a two-year player development contract with San Diego, thus making them the Padres' new Class Double-A affiliate. The Missions had served as the Double-A club for Seattle since 2001.

As for the Missions' new players, the South Texas weather should provide a climate change.

“It's a little muggy for me,” catcher Nick Hundley said. “It's a great place to play because I'm from Seattle, where it rains all the time. So it's nice to have some sunny weather.”

The players, many of whom played at Class A Lake Elsinore (Calif.) last season, were quick to sample some of the local culture upon arriving here.

“I already got to go down to the River Walk,” outfielder Peter Ciofrone said. “Everything seems really nice here.”

That now includes Wolff Stadium.

Thanks to a lease the Missions signed with the city in the offseason, the team now controls stadium operations.

In addition to a new scoreboard and picnic deck, the team upgraded the Wolff Stadium sound system and repainted permanent signs.

But one thing that didn't change is the playing surface's massive layout.

“It's a pretty big yard here, so (fly balls) don't get (over the fence) much,” second baseman Sean Kazmar said. “We're going to have to play some small ball.”

The rundown

A night at Wolff Stadium often entails much more than a baseball game. The Missions, like many other minor league baseball teams, are known for their frequent promotional nights. Here are some to look forward to:

Dollar night
When: Every Thursday home game
The rundown: Dollar sodas, hot dogs, pizza and, most importantly, beer. Lots of beer.

Beach towel night
When: Friday, June 1, 7:05 p.m.
The rundown: The first 2,000 fans to arrive receive a commemorative Missions beach towel. The promotion comes a day after the infamous “dollar night,” so even if you don't frequent the beach, you can use the towel to soak up sweat pouring from your hung-over self.

Used-car night
When: Friday, June 22, 7:05 p.m.
The rundown: Before the game ends, 10 lucky fans are walking away with a used car. And if the cars are broken-down enough, those not-so-lucky fans are literally walking away with a used car.

Robert Earl Keen
When: Wednesday, July 4, 5:05 p.m.
The rundown: One of Texas' favorite country singer-songwriters will play a postgame concert for anyone who purchases a ticket to the game. Baseball and down-home music on Independence Day? Take some apple pie, and it's American utopia.

T-shirt night
When: Thursday, July 19, 7:05 p.m.
The rundown: The first 2,000 fans through the gates receive a commemorative Missions' T-shirt. And it's drunken “dollar night,” so it's always nice to have backup attire in case beer spills.

Clint Hale | 210SA

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