THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 11, 1996 TAG: 9609110640
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 59 lines
After playing in sub-40 degree temperatures in April and sloshing through a wet July, the Tides still managed to draw over a half-million fans this season.
It was the lowest attendance in the four years of Harbor Park's existence, but not without reason. And not without a single-game attendance record when the weather was good.
Ten days ago, on the Tides' second-to-last regular-season game, a record 14,263 fans poured into the 12,038-seat facility.
``That turnout was very gratifying,'' Tides general manager Dave Rosenfield said. ``We had concerns all the way to the very end about reaching 500,000. With the horrible weather we had in April, we were down 30,000 to 40,000 before you could shake a stick.''
In their first three seasons at Harbor Park, the Tides drew 542,040, 557,586 and 586,317.
This season the Tides finished with 500,038 in official attendance, an average of 7,143 a game.
Once the unseasonably cool April was behind the Tides, the franchise had over a dozen home dates on which afternoon rain showers or the threat of evening showers affected that night's attendance.
``Afternoon rain storms killed our walkups more than in any season before this,'' Rosenfield said.
DOWN THE ROAD: Among Mets organizational pitchers who had big years at the lower levels were:
Nelson Figueroa, who led the Class-A Columbia Bombers with a 14-7 record, 2.04 earned run average and 200 strikeouts in 185 1/3 innings while walking 58.
Lefthander Ethan McEntire, who went 9-6 with a 2.22 ERA with Class-A Columbia.
Class-A St. Lucie lefthander Jesus Sanchez, who was 9-3 with a 1.96 ERA.
RADIO DAYS: The Tides will bring back radio play-by-play man Rob Evans for a fifth consecutive year and his sixth year overall with the Tides.
``Rob's coming back, unless he gets a big-league job,'' Rosenfield said. ``And I'll do everything I can to help him get one.''
WALL-TO-WALL: The outfield padding at Harbor Park will receive a facelift when the burgundy fabric is replaced in the offseason, most likely by royal blue.
The burgurdy, while initially attractive, faded rapidly. Harbor Park was the first pro baseball facility in which Pro Mats, which outfits 150 parks nationwide, used the color.
The regular cost for such fabric padding is $30,000. But according to Rosenfield, the city of Norfolk has cut a deal with Pro Mats for a significantly lower cost due to the unexpected aging of the original fabric.
IL PLAYOFFS: Ramiro Mendoza and two relievers shut out the Rochester Red Wings on six hits as the Columbus Clippers won 4-0 to take a 2-0 lead Tuesday night in the best-of-five International League Governor's Cup Finals. It was the final game in the 67-year history of Silver Stadium. The Red Wings move into Frontier Field next season. MEMO: The Associated Press contributed to this report. by CNB