MADISON, Wis. – The best college baseball talent in the country will play their mid-summer classic at the “Duck Pond” on July 24, at 7:35 pm. The 2012 Northwoods League All-Star Game is coming to Madison.
The Mallards made this announcement at their annual First Pitch event Thursday night. The Mallards will host the event for the first time since 2008, and will welcome the stars of the Northwoods League to Madison to showcase their skills.
“It’s an honor for the Mallards and the city of Madison to host the players and fans of the Northwoods League,” said Mallards General Manager Conor Caloia. “We look forward to a great game, and a great event at the “Duck Pond” on July 24.
The Mallards will be hosting the Zimbrick Honda Northwoods League All-Star Game banquet featuring the Milwaukee Brewers President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Doug Melvin on Monday, July 23, at 6:00 pm.
Northwoods League President Dick Radatz and Mallards personnel will also be speaking and will be available during the question and answer session. All of the Northwoods League All-Stars will be in attendance (All-Star teams announced July 16th). Tickets for the event will be $35. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Mallards at 608-246-4277, going to Mallardsbaseball.com, or stopping by the Mallards ticket office.
In 2011 Melvin was named by Baseball America as Major League Executive of the Year, and in 2012 he was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
Melvin has been the Brewers GM since September 26, 2002. In 2008, the Brewers made the playoffs for the first time since 1982 and in 2011, they won the NL Central Division, and advanced to the NLCS before falling to the eventual World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
Northwoods League All Star Game Itinerary
Monday July 23rd
7:00 pm – NWL All-Star Dinner featuring Doug Melvin
Tuesday July 24th
5:00 pm – Gates open for NWL All-Star Game
6:00 pm – NWL Home Run Derby
7:35 pm – NWL All-Star Game
The Northwoods League is the nation’s largest Summer Collegiate League with 16 teams. The NWL All-Star Game showcases the league’s top 50 players. In 2011, 53 Major League scouts attended the NWL All-Star Game.
Current MLB players who played in the NWL All-Star Game include Curtis Granderson of the New York Yankees, Jordan Zimmermann of the Washington Nationals, former Mallard Ryan Spilborghs of the Colorado Rockies, Ben Zobrist of the Tampa Bay Rays, George Sherrill of the Atlanta Braves, Andre Ethier of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox, Free Agent Juan Pierre, Max Scherzer of the Detroit Tigers, and World Series hero Allen Craig of the St. Louis Cardinals.
To reserve your seat for the Northwoods League All-Star Game buy a 7-Game Pack today. The Combo Pack includes the Northwoods League All-Star Game as one of its seven games. Single game tickets for the All-Star Game and the rest of the Mallards home games will be on sale April 30th.
2012 “Duck Pond” Renovations
Major ballpark improvements at the “Duck Pond” are planned for the 2012 season. Pending approval from the City of Madison the Meriter and Physicians Plus Backyard, a brand new Great Dane Duck Blind Club, and two Home Plate Suites will all be added to the “Duck Pond.”
The Meriter and Physicians Plus Backyard will be a 5,000 square foot grass berm behind the left-center field wall that will hold 400-500 fans. Tickets for the Backyard will be $8 with $1 of every ticket sold being donated to the Madison Parks Foundation, the YMCA, and the Boys and Girls Club.
The Great Dane Duck Blind Club will be improved as a new section on an elevated deck, over the right field fence. The newly improved Great Dane Duck Blind Club will have picnic and high top tables, and will be reserved seating. The Great Dane Duck Blind Club includes all-you-can-eat-and-drink ballpark food, and soda, water or beer. Great Dane Duck Blind Club seating is $350 for a picnic table seating eight or $175 for a high top table seating four on Friday and Saturday, and $300 for a picnic table seating eight or $150 for a high top table seating four on Sunday-Thursday.
The capacity of the Great Dane Duck Blind will remain the same, however, sight lines for all Great Dane Duck Blind General Admission and club level purchasers will be improved. The old Great Dane Duck Blind Club will now be part of the General Admission area. The entire Great Dane Duck Blind will receive an upgrade as all wood picnic tables, benches and drink rails will be replaced with a recycled composite material.
Two new suites will be installed on the concourse directly behind home plate. Featuring the best views in the park, the Home Plate Suites will be perfect for fans who love baseball, and want to be right in the middle of the action. Each suite can accommodate up to 20 fans, and will be great for client entertainment, employee outings or family gatherings. The private suites will offer unlimited ballpark food, all the soda and water you need and three beers.
The Madison Mallards are part of the 16-team Northwoods League. The Northwoods League has more teams, plays more games, and draws more fans than any other Summer Collegiate Baseball League in North America.
