Island Passion National Pastime
Anna Maria MARCH 5, 2008 • Vol. 16, 18 ANN A MARIA ISLAND BASEBALL PASSION This section … ISLAND PASSION-NATIONAL PASTIME ARIA ISLAND BASEBALL NA M PASSI AN ON News, sports, real estate The Islander and classifieds inside. ISLAND PASSIONPlay Ball! NATIONAL PASTIME A ON NNA MARIA ISLAND BASEBALL PASSI ARIA ISLAND BASEBALL PAS NA M SION AN Play Ball! Clockwise from top left: A sign welcomes visitors to Manatee County — home of Bradenton, beaches and spring-training baseball. Two photos: The Pirates play the Royals in 1973. The Pirates are marking their 40th spring-training season in Bradenton this year. A milestone will come on March 7, when the team plays the Reds at McKechnie Field at night, under lights. Pirate City, 1701 27th St. E., Bradenton, is dedicated in 1969. Islander Photos: Courtesy Manatee County Public Library Historic Photograph Collection Of baseball and beaches: Venues draw springtime crowds By Lisa Neff boat from an Island marina. On game days in Bradenton, some 3,700 fans gather Islander Reporter “We definitely see the folks that are here following at McKechnie Field. About 60 percent of the fans are Marcia and Bruce Pippen began making the March the Grapefruit League, as well as ballplayers and their not full-time residents and they spend $90 to $100 a trip to Anna Maria Island seven years ago for different families,” said Ed Chiles, owner of the local Sandbar, day outside the park, mostly in restaurants, according reasons. BeachHouse and MarVista restaurants. to a state tourism survey. Bruce Pippen wanted to catch as many baseball “We also see many of the doctors, trainers, scouts, Thus, the Florida Gulf Coast Commission promotes games as he could crowd into 31 days.
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