BRADENTON -- This time last year, the Bradenton Marauders were still a mystery to most people.
Trevor Gooby hopes those not in the know were able to crack the case of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ high Single-A affiliate, which is set to begin its second season Thursday, April 7, in Port Charlotte.
“Obviously, we’ve had a lot more time to go out and market. People know what our product is,” Gooby, the Pirates director of Florida operations, said after a breakfast gathering for Marauders season-ticket holders last week at Bob Evans on 14th Street. “Last year, we were knocking on doors on April 5, and people had no idea what the Marauders were.”
The Pirates purchased the minor-league team, which competes in the Florida State League, in November 2009. Five months later, the Marauders played their first of 70 home games under the lights at McKechnie Field.
It was a mad scramble for Gooby and his staff. This year hasn’t been as harried.
“We’ve had a year under our belts, people are more familiar with what we do,” he said. “The people who came last year had a great time, so now we have all those advocates able to go out and help promote the team, as well. I think we’re going to see some more success this year.”
This is a key time for the local staff. The Pirates played their final game of the spring Sunday at McKechnie Field against the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Marauders play their home opener April 8 against the Charlotte Stone Crabs.
Marauders personnel took another chance Sunday to market the minor-league team to a large -- and mostly local -- fan base. And it didn’t hurt that the Pirates drew 88,003 fans to McKechnie Field this spring to set the ballpark’s all-time attendance record.
“It’s the best way for us to be able to market, because obviously, these are people that live here in Bradenton, and they’re baseball fans,” Gooby said. “Hopefully, a good portion of these people end up coming back for a Marauders game. The downside is about 50 percent of these people are snowbirds, and we know they’re not going to be here. But the locals that are here, we’re hoping that they have a good time here for spring training games, and we want them to come back for Marauders baseball.”
The Marauders will officially release their roster during a civic luncheon Tuesday, April 5 and will hold a workout from 6 to 8 p.m. that night at McKechnie Field. The workout is free and open to the public, and gates open at 5:30.
Coaches and players will be signing autographs Wednesday, April 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the DeSoto Square Mall, and the Marauders open the season the next night in Port Charlotte before coming home Friday to face the Stone Crabs at 6:30 p.m.
Bradenton resident Erin Kelly, who appeared and advanced on this year’s run of “American Idol,” will sing the Star Spangled Banner at the home opener, and a fireworks show presented by Gold Coast Eagle Distributing and Clear Channel will begin following the game’s final out.
Bradenton played well on the field last year, making the FSL playoffs and sending a number of players -- as well as manager P.J. Forbes and pitching coach Wally Whitehurst -- to the Pirates’ Double-A team in Altoona, Pa.
“Last season was amazing with the team we had, and now, with some of the players and coaches moving up, we will see a lot of new faces,” said Brad Myers, a regular at Marauders games last season, “that I hope will bring the same excitement and competitiveness that we all loved to watch last season.”
Where the Marauders struggled, however, was at the gate. The team drew 51,856 fans last season, topping only Dunedin in the 12-team FSL.
Those who do follow the Marauders are passionate, Gooby said. Now, he would like to see more join the fray.
“One of the things we ran into last year was people just didn’t know who we were,” Gooby said. “We thought we were everywhere and obviously, we weren’t. One of things we’ve really focused on ... is to go everywhere we could possibly go, even if it’s only speaking in front of five people about what we do.”
