LOWELL SPINNERS FIRST BASE LOADED WITH HISTORY

Spinners to use “The Slap” 2004 ALCS first base in-game all season long

LOWELL, MA – The Lowell Spinners, Class A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, hope a piece of Red Sox history will help them out at first base this year.

The Spinners, whose season begins on June 19, will use the actual first base from Game 6 of the 2004 American League Championship Series against the Yankees – the location of The Infamous Alex Rodriguez Slap play – as their first base all season long, thanks to sponsor Electrical Wholesalers.

It was a seminal moment in Red Sox history and the last gasp of a rally threatened by the Yankees en route to the first Red Sox World Championship in 86 years. After grounding a ball to Bronson Arroyo, Rodriguez slapped the ball loose during the ensuing tag at first base.

The Infamous Slap at first base almost shifted momentum back in New York’s favor. Derek Jeter scored from first and A-Rod ended up on second base before the umpires huddled to eventually call Rodriguez out and return Jeter to first base.

Now the first base is back in Red Sox Nation and will be used in-game as the official first base during Spinners games.

“The Slap was a defining moment of the ALCS,” said Vice President/General Manager Tim Bawmann. “It’s a privilege for the Lowell Spinners to present this piece of Red Sox history to our fans as an interactive exhibit during Spinners games.”

Asked if the team was worried about using such a valuable item on the field, Bawmann quipped, “As every baseball fan knows, you can’t steal first base.”

Game 6 featured not only The Slap, but also Curt Schilling’s famous Bloody Sock. And at the time of The Slap, the umpires had already overturned a call in Boston’s favor, ruling correctly that Mark Bellhorn hit a fourth-inning home run after a fan dropped the ball onto the playing field.

The acquisition and use of this first base is another piece of the Spinners Yankees Elimination Promotion (Y.E.P.). For two consecutive years the Spinners have donated jerseys and hats to local youth baseball and softball leagues willing to change their Yankees team to the Spinners. In total, the Spinners have donated over $40,000 of equipment through the Y.E.P. program.

For more information please contact Jon Shestakofsky at 978-805-5117 or via email at jshesta@lowellspinners.com.