Educational Curriculum

Materials

Combining with Education and

Character Development for Capital Region Students

ValleyCats School Day June 12, 2019

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2019 Education Day TABLE OF CONTENTS

MATHEMATICS

"Take Me Out to the Ballgame" - Baseball Math Problems …………………………………………………… Page 3 "The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round" - Mileage Chart……………………………………………. Page 4 "Take the Field" - Baseball Field Dimensions……………………………………………………………………..Page 5 "Hey Batter, Batter" - Player Statistics……………………………………………………………………………. Page 6

ENGLISH

"Keep Your Head in the Game" - Baseball Terms………………………………………………………………. Page 7 Baseball Scramble & Game Day Grammar…………………………………………………………………..... Page 8 "Great Game" - Write to the ValleyCats…………………………………………………………………………....Page 9

SCIENCE

"Rain, Rain, Go Away" - Baseball & Weather …………………………………………………………………… Page 10 "Keep Your Eye on the Ball" - How Does a Baseball Curve? ………………………………………………….Page 11

GEOGRAPHY

"On the Road Again" - -Penn League Geography…………………………………………………... Page 12 "Born in the USA (and Beyond)" - Where are the ValleyCats from? ………………………………………….Page 13-14 "From Sea to Shining Sea" - Plotting Teams……………………………………….... Page 15-16

HISTORY

"Put Me in " - Baseball in the Capital Region……………………………………………………………. Page 17 "Buy Me Some Peanuts and Cracker Jack" – America’s Pastime……………………………………………. Page 18

ACTIVITIES "Who’s on First?" - Keeping Score…………………………………………………………………………………… Page 19 ValleyCats Word Search………………………………………………………………………………………… Page 20 Baseball Crossword Puzzle…………………………………………………………………………………….. Page 21 "Let’s Go Cats" - Color SouthPaw …………………………………………………………………………………. Page 22

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2019 Education Day BASEBALL MATH PROBLEMS

"TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME"

Directions: At a ValleyCats game, you can buy a souvenir, something to eat and something to drink. Based on the scenario below calculate how much money you would have left after the game.

On your way to "The Joe", you stopped at your local bank to withdraw money from your savings account. You withdraw $100.00 for the ValleyCats game.

During the 1st inning, you stop by the Concession Stand to purchase a hot dog and a bottle of soda. On your way back to your seat you stop into SouthPaw’s Den to purchase a hat. After the 3rd inning you buy a bag of peanuts and a baseball. During the 7th inning stretch you buy an ice cream sundae. After the ValleyCats victory you stop back into SouthPaw‟s Den to purchase a new ValleyCats t-shirt.

ITEMS TO BUY COST Money Left

Hot Dog, Bottled Soda, Hat ______Peanuts, Baseball ______Ice Cream Sundae ______T-Shirt ______

What did you spend at the ValleyCats game? $______

Now you want to deposit the money you have left back into your savings account.

How much money do you have left after the game to deposit? $______

ValleyCats Prices

Hot Dog $2.50 Bottled Soda $2.50 T-Shirt $18.00 Ice Cream $3.50 French Fries $3.50 Hat $16.00 Peanuts $4.00 Popcorn $3.00 Baseball $6.00

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2019 Education Day MILEAGE CHART

"THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND" Directions: The ValleyCats travel all over the northeast each summer. Answer the following questions using the mileage chart for the New York-Penn League.

MILEAGE CHART ABD AUB BAT BRK CT HV WV LOW MV SC SI TC VT WIL Aberdeen x 315 330 160 295 220 243 370 350 165 155 305 450 165 Auburn 315 x 90 270 320 220 403 345 300 215 265 175 265 150 Batavia 330 90 x 365 400 310 320 425 215 225 230 255 345 165 160 270 365 x 150 85 387 230 355 255 10 170 360 210 295 320 400 150 x 360 523 175 375 280 75 150 300 325 Hudson Valley 220 220 310 85 360 x 423 200 350 245 90 100 245 200 West 243 403 320 387 523 423 x 603 150 181 383 506 650 243 Lowell 370 345 425 230 175 200 603 x 495 440 235 175 200 400 Mahoning Valley 350 300 215 355 375 350 150 495 x 180 415 375 560 225 State College 165 215 225 255 280 245 181 440 180 x 250 330 475 60

Staten Island 155 265 230 10 75 90 383 235 415 250 x 170 315 205 Tri-City ValleyCats 305 175 255 170 150 100 506 175 375 330 170 x 150 265 Vermont 450 265 345 360 300 245 650 200 560 475 315 150 x 400 Williamsport 165 150 165 210 325 200 243 400 225 60 205 265 400 x

1. How many miles do the Tri-City ValleyCats have to travel to play the ? What is the total mileage roundtrip?

2. If Tri-City travels to play Hudson Valley on Friday through Sunday and then travels to Staten Island on Monday for games Monday - Wednesday, returning home after their game, how many total miles will the ValleyCats travel?

3. How many hours will it take to get to the Auburn Doubledays if the bus is traveling 60 miles an hour?

4. What team is the furthest from the Tri-City ValleyCats in miles?

5. What is the shortest trip in the entire league by miles?

6. What is the longest trip in the entire league by miles?

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2019 Education Day BASEBALL FIELD DIMENSIONS

"TAKE THE FIELD" Directions: Use the diagrams to help answer the following questions.

1. What shape is home plate?

2. Using the dimensions of home plate, what is the perimeter of home plate?

3. What is the distance in feet, a batter will if he hits a ?

4. If a player hits 1 , a and strikes out in his other , how many total feet will he run around the bases?

5. If you walked from home plate, down the foul line, to the left field fence, approximately how many yards would you walk? (Hint: 3 feet = 1 yard)

6. How much further, in feet, would a batter have to a home run to make it over the centerfield wall instead of in left or right field near the foul poles?

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2019 Education Day

BASEBALL TERMS

"KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME"

Directions: The following terms are important for any baseball fan to know in order to under- stand what is going on around them. Use the list as a spelling quiz, vocabulary, or have the students write an essay using 8 of the terms.

TERMS

Around the horn: Throwing the ball around the infield after an out. Ball: A pitch that is thrown outside the strike zone. Blooper: A soft, shallow outfield hit. Bunt: To hit a pitched ball lightly so that it does not go beyond the infield. Clean-up batter: The 4th hitter in the batting line-up.

Closer: A relief who gets the final outs for a win.

Double: A hit in which the batter reaches second base. Double play: A play by which two players are out on the same play. : A misplay by a fielder that should have been made.

Grand slam: A home run that is hit with the bases loaded. : The leader of the team who makes decisions and enforces rules.

Pinch hit: To bat in place of a regular player. RBI: : The pitcher who replaces the when he is taken out of the game. Rookie: A first-year player. Sacrifice bunt: A play in which the batter bunts to move his teammates from one base to the next.

Single: A hit in which the batter reaches first base. Steal: An attempt to advance to the next base without the ball being hit. Strike: A pitch that is thrown in the strike zone. Triple: A hit in which the batter reaches third base. Triple play: A play in which three players are put out on the same play. Umpire: The official who administers all the rules of the game.

Walk: When a batter goes to first base because of four balls thrown by the pitcher.

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2019 Education Day BASEBALL SCRAMBLE

Directions: Part of the fun of going to ValleyCats baseball games is learning the words used during the game. See if you can figure out what the mixed-up baseball terms are below!

untb lbudoe kalw albl rrero negsli

tba moeh BIR eksrit emhourn ogvel

lesablab levcalyast seab thapith drngamlas egma

pirlet cthpier eataemtm inw oplobre atbret

GAME DAY GRAMMAR

Directions: Read the following sentences. Correct any mistakes you find or identify the parts of the sentence.

1. Circle the nouns in the following sentence:

The player wearing the white jersey hit the ball over the fence.

2. Underline the verbs in the following sentence:

The runner stole second base after the dropped the ball.

3. Insert the proper punctuation in the following sentence:

The batter swung and the umpire yelled STRIKE THREE

4. Correct any mistakes that you find in spelling, punctuation, or capitalization:

SouthPaw iz over 6 feat tall and is the ValleyCats‟ biggest fan! You’ll see him dance on the at every valleycats gam Make sure to give him a big hihg five when you sea him SouthPaw luvs base ball

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2019 Education Day WRITE TO THE VALLEYCATS

"GREAT GAME!" Directions: SouthPaw and the ValleyCats players love to hear from our biggest fans! Use a piece of paper to write a letter to your favorite ValleyCats player or . Tell them about your favorite part of the ValleyCats game, why you like baseball, or why it is important to be a team player.

Bring your letter to the stadium or mail it to the team at this address:

SouthPaw (or Player) c/o Tri-City ValleyCats School Day 80 Vandenburg Ave Troy, NY 12180

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2019 Education Day BASEBALL & WEATHER

"RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY" Directions: The ValleyCats rely on more than talent. They need the help of Mother Nature to even take the field. Answer the True or False questions below and then draw a picture of your weather forecast!

TRUE OR FALSE

T or F The ValleyCats will play baseball if it is just raining lightly.

T or F The umpire can stop the game if there is thunder and lightning.

T or F If the field is too wet, the game may be delayed to let the ground dry.

T or F The ValleyCats have a large tarp to cover the whole infield when it rains.

DRAW A PICTURE OF YOUR WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE VALLEYCATS GAME

How was the weather at the game? Was your forecast correct?

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2019 Education Day HOW DOES A BASEBALL CURVE?

"KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL" Directions: During the course of a ValleyCats game, throw many types of pitches to the batters they face. These pitches include a hard, straight pitch, called a fastball, and a wide variety of pitches that move or change course as they approach the plate, like a curveball, slider, or knuckleball. How does a pitcher throw a curveball? Look at the diagram below and then answer the questions.

Introducing...the Curveball

The diagram shows how you would grip a baseball in order to throw a curveball. When throwing this type of pitch, a pitcher can make a base- ball curve up to 17.5 inches in the time it takes a ball to get to the plate. It takes about half a second for a baseball to get to home plate from the pitcher’s mound.

A baseball curves because of the 216 red stitches made of cotton that hold a baseball together. In addition to holding the ball together, they hold a thin layer of air around them as they spin.

A curveball is thrown with more top spin, allowing more air to flow around the bottom of the ball than the top. This causes the air to move faster around the bottom of the ball, creating less pressure, allowing the ball to drop or curve. CURVEBALL Palm is turned inward The curveball generally travels between 70 to 80 miles per hour and with a release like you’re pulling down on the ball. will rotate 1,900 times in a minute. Sidespin and backspin should be created with the wrist, not elbow.

1. When a pitcher throws a curveball, what is the furthest distance he can make the ball curve?

2. What part of a baseball helps make a ball curve?

3. Creating less ______on the bottom of the baseball allows it to curve.

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2019 Education Day NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE GEOGRAPHY

"ON THE ROAD AGAIN" Directions: The ValleyCats are one of 14 teams in the New York-Penn League. The league is comprised of teams from the states of New York, , , , Connecticut, , Vermont, and West Virginia. Below is a map of these states. Test your geographical skills with the following questions.

1. Identify the capitals of each state: New York ______Connecticut ______Massachusetts ______Vermont ______Oh i o ______Pennsylvania ______Maryland ______

2. Three of the seven states border the Great Lakes. What 5 lakes make up the Great Lakes?

3. T or F: The state of New York has 6 New York-Penn League teams.

4. T or F: The are west of the Auburn Doubledays.

5. T or F: The are the only NYPL team in Pennsylvania.

6. T or F: The Vermont Lake Monsters have to travel north to play the Aberdeen Ironbirds.

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2019 Education Day WHERE ARE THE VALLEYCATS FROM?

"BORN IN THE USA (and Beyond)"

Directions: One of the great things about going to a ValleyCats game is that the ‘Cats roster is made up of players from all over the . Often, there are even players from around the world! Use the map to answer the questions below.

Take a look at the ValleyCats roster on the next page and place marks on the states that American players come from and then answer the following questions.

1. What state has the most players on the ValleyCats roster?

2. Which American-born ValleyCats player had to travel the farthest to play in Troy, NY?

3. The ValleyCats players all hope to play in the Major Leagues for the . How many players are from Texas, where the Astros are located?

4. How many ValleyCats players are from another country?

5. Including the United States, how many different countries are the ValleyCats from?

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2019 Education Day

PLOTTING MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS

"FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA"

Directions: There are over 200 Minor League Baseball teams across America, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and . These teams play in 19 different leagues and are all affiliated with a team. Choose (5) teams from the list of (160) American Minor League Baseball teams and answer the questions below. Use your answer to compare teams and discuss how they relate to the Tri-City ValleyCats.

(See next page for a listing of every Minor League Baseball team. For additional information, utilize team websites.)

Find the following information about your teams: Team Name:

Level of : Name of League:

2018 Attendance: of Games Played:

Stadium Name: Seating Capacity: Cost of a ticket:

Downtown or Suburbs: Distance from Troy, NY (miles):

Mascot: Team Colors: Inaugural Season:

Now plot your teams on a map of the United States.

Compare your teams to the ValleyCats. How does cost and attendance compare?

How does your team’s name relate to their location or history?

Choose a Major League Baseball team. Compare and contrast it to your Minor League teams.

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2019 Education Day PLOTTING MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS

List of All Minor League Baseball Teams in America & Canada Aberdeen IronBirds Kingsport Mets Akron RubberDucks Richmond Flying Squirrels Lakewood BlueClaws Lancaster JetHawks Auburn Doubledays Elizabethton Twins Augusta GreenJackets Erie SeaWolves Las Vegas 51s Batavia Muckdogs IronPigs Everett AquaSox Salem-Keizer Volcanoes Fire Frogs Fort Myers Miracle Lowell Spinners Fort Wayne TinCaps Mahoning Valley Scrappers Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Bluefield Blue Jays Frisco RoughRiders Midland RockHounds Braves Missoula Osprey St. Lucie Mets Mobile BayBears State College Spikes Bristol Pirates Greeneville Astros Syracuse Chiefs Buies Creek Astros Gwinnett Braves New Hampshire Fisher Cats Tampa Yankees Burlington Royals Baby Cakes Smokies Northwest Arkansas Naturals Charleston RiverDogs Ogden Raptors Tri-City Dust Devils Tri-City ValleyCats Canadians Indians Vermont Lake Monsters Clinton LumberKings Cubs West Whitecaps West Virginia Black Bears Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Connecticut Tigers Johnson City Cardinals Williamsport Crosscutters Princeton Rays Pulaski Yankees Winston-Salem Dash Kannapolis Intimidators Quad Cities River Bandits Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

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2019 Education Day Baseball in the Capital Region

"PUT ME IN COACH" Directions: New York’s Capital Region has a rich history of affiliated, Minor League Base- ball. A few members of the Baseball Hall of Fame were born in the area and several more spent time playing here. Below is a list of players or people who were influential to baseball in the area. Research each player and find information about their careers, then match them with their accomplishments.

PERSON FACT

_____ Johnny Evers A. I was born in Cohoes, NY in 1870 and elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998. I helped rescue 3 people from a burning building while playing for the New York Giants.

_____ B. I played for the in 1948 after serving two years in the US Army. I went on to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1954 to 1955 and then manage the LA Dodgers from 1976 to 1996.

_____ George Stacey Davis C. I was born in Troy, NY in 1857 and elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945. I was one of the first to use a glove and wear a chest protector. I won five pennants while playing for the White Stockings.

_____ Mike " King" Kelly D. I played for the Albany-Colonie Yankees in 1994 and made my Major League debut with the in 1995. I retired in 2013 after winning five and setting the record for most career saves.

_____ Roger Connor E. I was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964 after debuting with the in 1880. I was a Pitcher that had to adapt as changed. I pitched from 45 feet, 50 feet, and then 60 feet from the plate in my career.

_____ Tim Keefe F. I was born in Troy, NY in 1881 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946. I made my professional debut as a for the Troy Trojans, but am best known as the pivot man in a double play with Tinkers and Chance.

_____ G. I made my professional debut with the Troy Trojans in 1880 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976. broke my home run record of 138.

_____ H. I played for the Albany-Colonie Yankees, developing my skills as a switch-hitter. Outside of baseball I am a classically trained guitarist and have released two jazz albums.

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2019 Education Day AMERICA'S PASTIME

"BUY ME SOME PEANUTS AND CRACKER JACK" Directions: During the late 19th and early 20th century, baseball was the most widely played sport in the country and became known as America’s Pastime. Since then, many items have become part of the American and baseball culture. Read the clues below and see if you can figure out what is being described.

1. Thought to be introduced to baseball at the in New York City this has become the most popular ballpark item to eat at a ballgame. In 2013 over 22 MILLION of these were served in Major League stadiums alone.

2. First played during the Seventh Inning Stretch of the , this song has been played prior to most professional baseball games since World War II.

3. Eaten by soldiers in the Civil War as a source of energy, this food item became an affordable, tasty ballpark snack following the war. They are still served in the shell.

4. This caramel corn snack was first served at baseball games as early as 1896, but it's was eternally linked to the game of baseball 12 years later. In 1908 it was made famous when includ- ed in the lyrics to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

5. This souvenir was originally created in 1971, out of hardware cloth and papier-mâché for the 1971 Iowa High School Boy's State Finals. Modern versions are made of foam with screen print logos that often say "We Are #1."

6. Generally used to celebrate Independence Day, these were setoff following the first Major League night game on May 24, 1935 when the hosted the at . Now they are used throughout baseball season to draw fans and, often, to celebrate home runs.

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2019 Education Day KEEPING SCORE

"WHO’S ON FIRST" Keeping score is easy! All you need is a basic knowledge of the rules of baseball. Experts use a simple code, which is based on numbering players by position. Grab a pencil and scorecard at the ValleyCats game and keep score for a couple of innings!

Players positions are numbered as follows: 1 - Pitcher 6 - Shortstop DH - 2 - Catcher 7 - PH - Pinch Hitter 3 - 8 - PR - Pinch Runner 4 - 9 - 5 -

Symbols for plays: 1B - Single WP - Wild Pitch SH - Sacrifice Hit 2B - Double SB - SF - Sacrifice Fly 3B - Triple DP - Double Play F - Foul Fly HR - Home Run PB - Passed Ball L - Line Drive E - Reached on Error BK - Balk CS - Caught Stealing FC – Fielder’s Choice K - CI – Catcher’s Interference HP - Hit by Pitch BB - Base on Balls FO - Force Out

Every time a batter goes to the plate, use the numbers to indicate how he was retired, or how he reached base. Fielding plays that retire batters or runners also require the use of numbers. For instance, the batter that grounds out to the shortstop is retired 6-3 in your scoring. If he flies to the Right Fielder, just use the number 9. If the ball is foul; 9F. Place a heavy, dark line under a box to indicate a change, either of the pitcher or the batter.

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2019 Education Day

BASEBALL CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Directions: Use the clues below to fill in the crossword puzzle.

1 2

3

4 5 6

7 8 9

10

11 12

13

14

15 16 17

18

19

20 21

22

ACROSS DOWN 1 Two base hit 2 The man behind the catcher 5 Mistake that allows a runner to reach base 3 The tool used by player in the field 6 Not a ball (pitch) 4 Round tripper (2 words) 8 Person who coaches the team 6 One player bunts, the other steals home 9 Ball hit out of play 7 Where relief pitchers warm up 11 Run batted in (abbreviation) 10 Area over the plate between the knee and 12 Player who teams up with the pitcher on every play chest (2 words) 14 Sticky substance used for better grip (2 words) 13 A fly ball that is caught, but scores a run (2 words) 15 Championship round of Major League Baseball 16 Getting two outs in succession (2 words) 18 An infield hit where the hitter doesn’t swing the bat 17 One base hit 20 Three base hit 19 Advancing one base by way of pitcher’s mistake 21 Three white bags on field 22 Wooden stick 22 The other half of base____

Page 21 2019 Education Day COLOR SOUTHPAW

"LET’S GO CATS!" Directions: Use your creativity and artistic skills to color SouthPaw.

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2019 Education Day