Saints to Open City of Baseball Museum on Opening Day
Fun. It is the number one word fans think of when someone says, “St. Paul Saints.” From the zany promotions, to the hilarious giveaways, to the crowd interaction the Saints have kept fans on their toes since the current version of the Saints in 1993. The Saints are about to take that fun in a different direction, one where fans of all ages can get a glimpse into the past. This season the organization will unveil the most significant addition to CHS Field since it opened in 2015, a free amenity to fans, and an asset to the greater Twin Cities community, The City of Baseball Museum.
On Opening Day, Thursday, May 16, fans will get their first glimpse of the 2,000+ square foot City of Baseball Museum, which is located on the 3rd base concourse, between sections 118-120. The project has been a collaboration between the Saints, Split Rock Studios, Snow Kreilich Architects, Ryan Companies, TDB Builders, the Minnesota Historical Society, and several St. Paul and Minnesota baseball history experts. The Museum will include powerful images, amazing artifacts, and cutting-edge technology all in the effort to bring to life the many stories that have made this city a place where baseball dreams have become reality.
The history of the Saints dates back to the late 1800s and the stories to be told include names like Charles Comiskey, Babe Ruth, Miller Huggins, Roy Campanella, Toni Stone, Kevin Millar and Darryl Strawberry. In Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor and Jack Morris St. Paul boasts three native sons already enshrined in Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Many would argue a fourth is on the way with Joe Mauer’s recent retirement. While St. Paul’s baseball story extends well beyond the St. Paul Saints, the various versions of this storied franchise are the tie that binds. From Comiskey’s teams of the late 1890s, to the Brooklyn Dodgers affiliates of the 1940s and 50s, to the Saints of 1993 (the team that brought baseball back to the capital city after a 32-year hiatus), the franchise has played a significant role in establishing Saint Paul as the City of Baseball.
According to Saints part owner, Mike Goldklang, “The City of Baseball Museum is designed to preserve and celebrate the rich heritage of the Saints, dating back to the 1800s, in a manner that both educates and inspires visitors of all ages and backgrounds. It will portray how the history of the Saints has intersected with the evolution of the City of St. Paul. It is our hope that the Museum will serve as a fitting tribute to that remarkable history.”
The City of Baseball Museum will offer a trip through time that features five distinct eras of baseball in St. Paul with a focus on the rich history of its storied hometown team:
St. Paul Sandlot: The St. Paul Sandlot tells the story of a simpler time from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, both on the baseball diamond and in the city of Saint Paul. In this space, patrons experience the sights and sounds of the time. They will learn about the growth of Saint Paul, and with the city’s growth, the growth of Saint Paul Baseball. Including highlights of the Saint Paul Olympic Club and their diamond on Ninth & Olive, the St. Paul Red Caps, the St. Paul Blue Caps, and others. They will be introduced to a young baseball man by the name of Comiskey who will shape the future of baseball both, in St. Paul and beyond.
On The Map: The On the Map feature is central to the City of Baseball Museum experience and helps tie all of the stories presented throughout the museum together. It provides a visual representation of how those stories shaped the history of St. Paul baseball. This map of St. Paul, set to true north, highlights the locations of all of Saint Paul’s ballparks, the childhood homes of Saint Paul legends, including Joe Mauer, David Winfield, Jack Morris, Toni Stone, Charles Schultz, F. Scott Fitzgerald and many more, while calling out other locations and landmarks that played a role in St. Paul’s rich baseball history.
River Rivals: The River Rivals space represents the era during which the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul took their sibling rivalry to the ballfield. The history of the Streetcar Series, the rivalry between the St. Paul Saints and the Minneapolis Millers, includes stories of Hall of Fame caliber players, crosstown double-headers, and mythical games. With names like Williams, Mays and Yastrzemski having played on the west side of the river and Durocher, Campanella, and Snider having played on the east, it was Minnie and Paul who ultimately brought the two cities together. Yet the friendly rivalry continues.
Heavy Hitters: The Heavy Hitters “era” focuses on the Saints of the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. This feature tells the story of the Saints unique connection to the Murderers Row and the Boys of Summer. It highlights greats that played against the Saints, for the Saints, and coached the Saints, during this golden age of baseball. This era is anchored by a feature honoring the many players who wore the Saints uniform that went on to be enshrined in the Hall Of Fame.
Comeback Kids: The Comeback Kids focuses on the modern-day Saints. It tells the story of a partnership of visionaries that led professional baseball back to Saint Paul after 32 long years without a team to call its own, and that of a franchise built on second chances and dreams realized, from Millar to Morris, Strawberry to Drew, Ordonez to Borders. The Comeback Kids era also highlights the team’s unique connections to pop culture and the fun that has been had both on and off the field since the “new” Saints came back in 1993.
As an added bonus, fans at each home game will have the opportunity to visit the Museum for free while enjoying the game experience. The Museum is free to tour on non-gamedays as well and will be open during business hours, Monday-Friday 9-6 and 10-2 on Saturdays during the season.
Saints tickets continue to be a tremendous value. Tickets begin at $5 for the Treasure Island berm seating (limited number available in advance of each game while the remainder will be offered only on game day, in person at the box office), $6 for SPLASH bleacher seats, $14 for outfield reserved, $16 for the drink rail and $18 for infield reserved and home plate reserved. Friday Home Games with Post-Game Fireworks are an additional $2 per ticket. Post-Game Fireworks Supershows (May 27, July 2 and September 2) are an additional $3 per ticket. Tickets purchased on the day of the game are an additional $2 per ticket. Children under the age of 12 and seniors 65 and older receive $1 off the admission price. Children under 2 that don’t require a seat are free.
Beginning March 16, Saints Box Office hours on non-game days are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. On game days, the Box Office will open at 9 a.m., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday and 12:00 p.m. on Sunday and will remain open until 15 minutes following each game. Tickets are always available at saintsbaseball.com.
The Saints open the 2019 season with a 10-game homestand with Opening Day on Thursday, May 16 against the newest team in the American Association, the Milwaukee Milkmen, at 7:05 p.m. For more information contact the Saints at 651-644-6659 or visit saintsbaseball.com.
By Sean Aronson