Category: T-Bones

As they prepare to celebrate their 15th anniversary in Kansas City, Kansas, the T-Bones have unveiled a special 15th anniversary logo (attached) and announced several promotions for the special season.

“Time flies when you’re having fun, and that’s what the T-Bones have been doing for a decade and a half,” T-Bones President Adam Ehlert said. “After having been one of the earliest attractions in Village West, we’re proud that our brand of affordable, family-friendly entertainment is a summer fixture in Kansas City.”

The T-Bones moved to Kansas City, Kansas, from Duluth, Minnesota, following the 2002 season. The team broke ground on the privately funded CommunityAmerica Ballpark that fall, and welcomed independent league baseball to the area in June 2003.

Since that time, the T-Bones have been one of the most successful organizations in, first, the Northern League, and now in the American Association. Kansas City, which won the Northern League championship in 2008, has won the Field of the Year award twice (2009 and 2010) and has been selected as the league Organization of the Year four times (2004, 2007, 2010 and 2014).

A few of the highlights of what fans can expect during the T-Bones’ 15th season in Kansas City, Kansas:

— For every Friday night home game, fans can get a buy one, get one free general admission or berm ticket on the day of the game by wearing current or past T-Bones gear.

— The game on Tuesday, June 6, marks the actual 15th anniversary since the T-Bones’ first game in Kansas City, so the team will be turning back the clock with 2003 ticket pricing and other specials. For instance, anyone who shows up with a ticket stub from a 2003 game will get in free that night.

— Fans will have an opportunity to help select the 15th anniversary team, which will be announced during the summer, with special appearances by former T-Bones players and coaches.

— Special 15th anniversary merchandise will be available throughout the season in the team store.

– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones

Scott Steckly has been hired as the T-Bones’ vice president of corporate partnerships and sales.

The announcement was made Tuesday by Chris Browne, T-Bones vice president and general manager.

This marks Steckly’s third stint the T-Bones. He was with the club during its infancy in Kansas City, 2002-2003, the latter of which was the T-Bones’ first season in Kansas City, and then he left and came back as the Vice president of corporate sales during 2008-2011.

“Scott is a proven sports sales executive,” Browne said. “He’s a veteran director that will lead our staff internally and maximize the relationships with our partners. He definitely gets our ‘Fun…Well Done’ slogan.

“We’re glad to have him back on board for our 15th anniversary season and beyond.”

It’s not a stretch to say that Steckly has been in sales throughout his entire adult life. A die-hard sports fan, who grew up approximately 30 minutes south of the Kansas City metro area pulling for the Royals and Chiefs, Steckly at the age of 21 opened a baseball card shop that he owned and operated for eight years.

After working for the T-Bones during the club’s first season in Kansas City, Steckly spent five years, 2004-2008, with Mid-America Sign Contractors, Inc. Following his second stint with the T-Bones, he worked for MAPS (Mid-America Peripheral Support) from 2011 until 2015, and then Time-Warner Cable Business Class from 2015 until earlier this year.

“The T-Bones are like family to me, so I’m extremely excited and proud to be working for the Ehlert family and Chris Browne again,” Steckly said. “I will continue to build long term relationships with our customers and provide the best customer service possible.”

– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones

The Kansas City T-Bones have signed Marcus Lemon to a contract for the 2017 season.

Lemon, 28 (06-03-88), is a 5-foot-11 and 175-pound infielder from Eustis, Fla. He spent the majority of the 2016 season — his 11th as a professional — at double-A Birmingham (67 games), as well as 17 games at triple-A Charlotte, both in the Chicago White Sox organization.

In a combined 84 games, Lemon batted .219 with 61 hits, 29 RBIs and 24 runs scored. Although he played every defensive position last season except pitcher and catcher, his main position was shortstop, where he had a .944 fielding percentage (four errors in 163 2/3 innings) at Charlotte.

“I’m very excited to have a player with this level of experience,” said T-Bones manager Joe Calfapietra.

The Texas Rangers selected Lemon, who’s a son of former major-league outfielder Chet Lemon, in the fourth round of the 2006 June MLB Amateur Draft out of Eustis High School.

He’s played for four major-league organizations including Texas, Atlanta, Detroit and Chicago, reaching triple-A with the White Sox and Detroit. Lemon is a career .268 hitter with 1,012 hits, 364 RBIs and 508 runs scored in 1,094 games.

The Kansas City T-Bones now have 11 players — five pitchers — signed for 2017.

The T-Bones open the 2017 regular season at home on May 19 against Lincoln.

– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones