In their 1996 inaugural season, the Lansing Lugnuts set a Class A single-season baseball attendance record and became the first club to draw more than 500,000 fans in a debut year.
Now 10 years later, as a second-year affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, the Lugnuts are ready to embark on another season in the confines of Oldsmobile Park, in front of the college-friendly atmosphere of the MSU community.
"This is the top affiliation in all of Minor League Baseball as far as I'm concerned," second-year Lugnuts manager Ken Joyce said. "This affiliation is the best that we have in the Blue Jays organization.
"We're excited to be here in our second year in affiliation and certainly hope it's a relationship that can last a long time."
The Lugnuts will begin another season tonight when they prepare for opening day against Southwest Michigan Devil Rays at Oldsmobile Park. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m.
The 2006 season marks Joyce's fifth as a member of the Blue Jays organization and third as the manager of a Toronto-affiliated team.
The community surrounding Oldsmobile Park has certainly shown its support for the Lugnuts. The Molson Thirsty Thursday and other promotions have been a crucial aspect in getting MSU students out to the ballpark.
"It's been great," Lugnuts general manager Jeff Calhoun said. "Lansing's been a great place for this club to be. Michigan State is certainly a key component of that."
The fan support and student atmosphere has made the players feel more at home as well. With team members ranging in age from 20 to 25 years old, the players are still, for the most part, kids at heart.
"Everybody loves it here," pitcher A.J. Wideman said. "It's a great place to play, the people are always supporting us and coming out to watch.
"It gives a lot of guys motivation to step up their game when they see people behind them."
Last season, the Lugnuts finished with a 70-69 record and fell just short of the playoffs.
"Last season was a success from a developmental standpoint," Joyce said. "As far as wins and losses, we were one game over .500 and you consider that we moved nine players to the higher levels. We had a lot of success.
"We're here to develop players; we're here to help the Toronto Blue Jays win a world series."
Twelve players from last year's team are penciled in on the opening day roster and the goal for the Lugnuts' staff remains to continue to develop players.
"The playoffs are a nice icing on the cake, but when you can move that many folks up, you're doing your job," Calhoun said. "There's a lot of talent on this team."
GUIDE TO THE GAME
A night at Oldsmobile Park can be more than just a baseball game. Drink specials and food favorites fill the downtown area for activities before and after the game. Check out what to do in Lansing before the Lugnuts take the field.
Throughout the season
A fireworks series, beginning at tonight's opener, will follow 19 games this season. Another benefit of the opener falling on a Thursday is the crowd-favorite Molson Thirsty Thursday specials, which include 20-ounce drafts and 22-ounce sodas for $2. For details about the fireworks or Molson Thirsty Thursdays, see www.lansinglugnuts.com.
Before heading to the park• Kewpee, 118 S. Washington Square
Specials include 2.5-ounce to 10-ounce burgers ranging from $1.85-4.60
The restaurant, open since 1923, is known for its olive burger and features other greasy favorites such as chili cheese fries.
• Clara's Lansing Station, 637 E. Michigan Ave.
The restaurant sits on the rail tracks a few blocks down from the ballpark and has everything from gourmet pizza to ribs to heaping plates of nachos — plus a dessert menu that will satisfy anyone's sweet tooth.
For a quick bite before the first pitch• The Peanut Shop, 117 S. Washington Square
Try a half-pound of party mix for $2.99. A quarter-pound of cinnamon almonds costs $2.83 or plain Virginia peanuts for 86 cents.
The Peanut Shop sells a variety of nuts, popcorn and candy treats.
• Beaner's Gourmet Coffee, 120 W. Ottawa
Try a Big Chill, a blended iced coffee drink, to cool down on those soon-to-come hot afternoons.
The second oldest Beaner's is located a few blocks from the park.
Where to go after the game• Rum Runners, 601 E. Michigan Ave.
Specials include the Thirsty Thursdays' $2 domestic bottles and $2 Long Islands drink specials.
This dueling piano bar gives one free admission to the bar with a Lugnuts ticket stub every home game.
• Nuthouse Sports Grill, 420 E. Michigan Ave.
Game-day specials include 25-ounce domestic mugs for $3, two hot dogs for $2, two chili dogs for $3 and two bratwursts for $4 available Monday through Saturday after 4 p.m. and all day Sunday on home game days.
