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By Nate Gartrell
For years, rumors swirled around the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs that one day the league would expand into Napa and other cities on the outskirts of the Bay Area. This year, what seemed like a pipe dream is finally coming true: the Napa Silverados’ home opener is just weeks away.
“This is going to be something Napa has never seen before, and we are so excited to be able to share our passion for baseball and Silverados with Napa this summer,” said Megan Castellucci, Silverados’ assistant general manager. She later added, “It has been a really fun offseason putting this team together and creating something that is fun and affordable for the Napa Community.”
The Silverados, along with the brand new Martinez Clippers, will expand the Pacific Association to six teams. The name ‘Silverados’ will be forever tied to the history of the Napa Valley because of the mining town, Silverado, located alongside Mount St. Helena. It was immortalized by Robert Louis Stevenson in the book The Silverado Squatters, a travel memoir of Stevenson’s experiences in the Napa Valley.
“I think it’s great the league is expanding,” Pacific Association Marketing Director Hayley Slye said. “It gives us two really great markets. The bottom line is we’re really excited.”
Since announcing they were bringing baseball to Napa, the Silverados have hit the ground running in a very public way. Late last year, they announced the signing of Team President Bruce Johnston as their new general manager, Castellucci, and Manager Tito Fuentes, Jr.
“I am ecstatic to have both Megan and Tito on board with me. They both have strong ties to the Napa Community, and they both bring the kind of energy and experience I need to create a strong organization focused toward quality baseball and a terrific fan experience,” Johnston said in a news release.
Fuentes is the son of Tito Fuentes, Sr., a longtime second baseman for the San Francisco Giants and fan favorite, who has been doing Spanish broadcasts for the Giants for years.
The Silverados also announced the signing of their first player, Contra Costa native Scott Harkin, who played in an Arizona league with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2013, and has a 3.14 ERA in his pro baseball career. Harkin is scheduled to be the Silverados’ opening day starter.
News of the Silverados introduction to the league was welcomed by their soon-to-be rivals as well.
“How cool is it to have a baseball team in Napa?” Vallejo Admirals’ assistant GM Matthew Snyder said. “That’s pretty crazy, they have so much good stuff going on, and it’s like, ‘Oh, by the way…’ I think they’ll do great there.”
The Silverados expect to announce their promotional calendar soon, which Megan said will feature 40 fun and individual events that are surrounded by a baseball game.
“We have the opportunity to be creative and innovative and have some fun while doing it,” she said.
The Silverados signed a five-year lease to play at Napa Valley College’s Storm Field. They will have their home opener June 2 against the San Rafael Pacifics. For additional information and a full schedule, visit www.silveradosbaseball.com.
Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia, studied journalism in college, and has written for a handful of media outlets since age 15. He aspires to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and to hit the trifecta at the horse track. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″ offset=”vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=”default” el_class=”sidebar-area-right sidebar-area”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
