Now that the fifth season of York Revolution baseball has drawn to a close, the organization is thrilled to report another successful year at the gate, with the team’s charitable efforts and on the field.

The Revolution set an all-time total attendance mark in 2011, drawing 301,740 fans through the gates at Sovereign Bank Stadium this season (including the All-Star Game and playoffs) in a year where the Atlantic League celebrated drawing 25 Million fans all-time.  The total topped the 2008 season mark of 300,246.  This season’s attendance was anchored by three of the top-10 regular season crowds in Revolution history:

·         6,372 vs. Lancaster on June 18

·         6,966 vs. Bridgeport on August 22

·         7,026 vs. Southern Maryland on September 17.

Other attendance marks set in 2011 were:

·         The season-ending series was the best-attended three-game series in Sovereign Bank Stadium history, drawing 16,643 during the weekend of September 16-18.

·         A club record was set by drawing over 4,000 fans to each of seven consecutive home games between August 8 and 24.  The previous record was six consecutive home games.

·         The 2011 season also produced the largest crowd in stadium history on July 13, when Sovereign Bank Stadium hosted the Atlantic League All-Star Game for the first time, drawing 8,053 fans and filling every corner of the ballpark.

Overall, the Revolution drew 4,101 fans per game during the regular season in 2011, and 4,190 fans per game counting the playoffs and All-Star Game.

The Revolution showed their appreciation for that terrific and on-going fan support with an ambitious-as-ever season of charitable fundraising partnerships.  As the hallmark of the team’s community-first attitude and love for York, the organization once again worked in numerous ways to generate impressive numbers for area non-profits and causes.  The highlights include:

·         York County Libraries grossing $100,000 as the Revolution’s official presenting partner for the 2011 season, through various team-sponsored YCLS fundraisers including the giant DownTown bobblehead raffle and merchandise sales at games.

·         $46,000 dollars raised for a myriad of community groups through the Revolution’s group ticket fundraising program, where groups sell their tickets through a special portal of the team’s website, and keep a healthy percentage of all sales.

·         Concessions fundraising through the team’s concessionaire, Legends Hospitality.  Various non-profit groups raised over $17,000 for their organizations by volunteering as concession stand workers throughout the season. 

·         Similarly, many non-profit groups also took advantage of volunteering in the Weis DownTown Playground for Revolution home games, which raised them over $9,000. 

·         The annual York Revolution Golf Tournament (sponsored by Loxley’s), which raised $4,000 for Leg Up Farm, a facility that specializes in providing therapeutic play for children with developmental disabilities.

·         Numerous game-worn jersey silent auctions, which all-told raised in excess of $36,000 for worthy causes.

·         The York County Industrial Development Authority’s generous donation of 8,000 lawn tickets valued at $56,000 for deserving community non-profits.

o        All-Star Game jerseys raised an incredible $11,227 for the United Way (sponsored by OSS)

o        Camouflage jerseys raised $5,620 for the USO (sponsored by BAE Systems)

o        Special blue jerseys raised $5,400 for Children’s Miracle Network (sponsored by PSECU)

o        Special red jerseys raised $4,750 for the American Heart & Stroke Association (sponsored by Memorial Hospital)

o        Pink jerseys raised $4,467 for the York Cancer Center (sponsored by Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics)

o        Special “Mudville 9” pinstriped jerseys raised $3,036 for York County Libraries

o        A special game-worn hat auction also raised an additional $1,800 for York County Libraries

The Revolution also saw local students earn nearly 39,000 tickets this season, through educational based programs.  Between “Boomer’s Book Club”, the Revolution-created and run reading program for schools all over York County, the Literacy Council’s Buck-a-Book program and the summer reading club spearheaded by York County Libraries, the team continued to demonstrate their commitment to education and rewarding good students for their work with Revolution baseball.

On the field, the Revs enjoyed a rare combination in minor league baseball:  Moving several players up the ladder, while still maintaining a winning team.  In 2011, the Revolution sold the contracts of eight players to eight different Major League organizations, a single-season team record.  Despite that, York achieved franchise-bests for regular season wins (73), winning percentage (.589) and still had five players named All-Atlantic League, including four on the first team.  Manager Andy Etchebarren was also honored as the Atlantic League Manager of The Year for the first time. 

The season culminated with the Revolution’s second consecutive league championship, something accomplished just once before in the league’s 14 years.  After outlasting Lancaster three games to two in a thrilling divisional playoff series, including a game five win at Lancaster, the Revs roared back to win the final three games of the season after dropping game one of the Atlantic League Championship series to the Long Island Ducks, clinching the title at home for the first time.

Slugging first baseman Chris Nowak and team icon and starting pitcher Corey Thurman were named Co-MVPs of the team, as each achieved single-season franchise records.  Nowak’s 25 home runs surpassed Jason Aspito’s total of 24 in 2008, while Thurman’s 13 wins was one better than Wayne Franklin’s 12 in ’08 as well. 

Barely 72 hours removed from their second straight Atlantic League Championship, the York Revolution is already looking ahead to next season. On October 5, the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and its member clubs released the 2012 game schedule.

The most notable addition to the schedule is the Sugar Land Skeeters franchise, in suburban Houston, TX. The league will again play in eight cities in 2012, with Sugar Land being the first in league history to be located outside the Northeast. 2012 will also mark the first time in league history teams fly to games. That journey will begin with York, who will open Sugar Land’s StarTex Power Field against the Skeeters on Opening Day, Thursday, April 26.

The Revolution remain in Texas for a four game series through April 29 before returning home to open Sovereign Bank Stadium for it’s sixth season of baseball, against the Camden Riversharks from Tuesday, May 1 through May 3. On May 1, the Revolution will receive their championship rings in an on-field ceremony prior to the home opener. The six-game opening homestand will continue that weekend, when the Bridgeport Bluefish come to York May 4-6. May 8-10 will see York head back on the road to face the Long Island Ducks, in the teams’ first meeting since the Revolution triumphed in four games in the 2011 Atlantic League Championship Series.

Other highlights of the Revolution’s 2012 schedule include:

• The first matchup against the rival Lancaster Barnstormers in Lancaster the weekend of May 18-20, after the Revs outlasted the Stormers in a classic five-game divisional playoff series in September en route to the championship.

• The Sugar Land Skeeters first ever visit to Sovereign Bank Stadium from May 21-23.
• The Long Island Ducks first visit to York the weekend of June 8-10 where they were defeated by the Revolution October 2 to clinch the Atlantic League title.
• Lancaster’s first visit to York the weekend of June 22-24.
• The other "War of the Roses" dates against Lancaster include: at Lancaster June 28-July 1 and August 7-9 and at home July 13-15 and July 26-29.
• A July 4 game against the Somerset Patriots.
• York also ends the 2012 regular season at Sugar Land, with six games from September 18-23. The way the league schedule is set up, the seven teams in the Northeast will make two trips to Sugar Land, for a four-game series and six-game series. The Skeeters will make three appearances in each of the Northeast ballparks, as is usual for each team in the league.

The Atlantic League is entering it's 15th season of operation in 2012.

The full 2012 schedule can now be seen online by clicking here and scrolling to April 2012.  Game times for home and road games will be added shortly. Links to buy tickets for individual games will be available in the early spring. Fans and/or companies interested in season tickets, a partial season ticket plan or a game event should contact the Revolution front office at 717-801-HITS.

For the first time since the late 1700s, the founding fathers are back in the first capitol of the United States, York, Pennsylvania.  Well maybe not literally, but this is about as close as possible.

The Washington Nationals Racing Presidents are coming back to Sovereign Bank Stadium for two more games after appearing at the Atlantic League All-Star Game on July 13; Friday August 5 against the Lancaster Barnstormers and Saturday and August 6 against the Somerset Patriots. 

The quartet of George, Tom, Abe and Teddy, known for their love of liberty, prosperity and the pursuit of happiness (as well as their giant heads) have become a fixture at Washington Nationals games as one of the top promotions in baseball.  Their journey to Sovereign Bank Stadium marks their first appearances at a minor league baseball stadium in central Pennsylvania. 

“Without a doubt, York’s colonial and political history makes this a natural tie-in, and we want to thank the Washington Nationals for working with us," said Revolution President and General Manager Eric Menzer.

At Nationals Park in Washington, the GEICO President’s Race begins in centerfield with a sprint to the finish line at first base, and they’ll do the same at Sovereign Bank Stadium.  If history is any indicator, Teddy Roosevelt will have difficulty taking the top spot.  Since the Racing Presidents debuted when the Nationals played at RFK Stadium in 2006, our 26^th president has not earned a single victory.

His plight has made national news on more than one occasion, with ESPN even documenting his struggles on SportsCenter a couple years ago.  While no one at the Revolution is holding their breath, there’s no doubt everyone would like to see Teddy get off the schnide with his first career win in the First Cap. 

In addition to the race, which will take place in the fourth inning just as it does in D.C., the Presidents will be enjoying the entire game the dates they are in town.  They’ll be participating in other between-inning promotions, and will be available to greet fans and take pictures in the ballpark. 

CLICK HERE FOR THEIR BIOS!