City of Champions

The baseball stadium at Paul Eames Sports Complex was still a bit of a work in progress when the South Georgia Peanuts opened their schedule in May. I remember reading the slogan on the outfield scoreboard that read “Albany: City of Champions” and thinking how ironic it looked, spelled out in chipped paint on a scoreboard that hadn’t been renovated in more than 15 years. Sure, we’ve had some solid high school teams over the years, but it’s been a long time since “City of Champions” seemed an appropriate tag line for the town.
Just last week on this radio show, we spent a pretty fair amount of time discussing the city’s sports failures, particularly at the professional level. We weren’t alone, I’m sure. Since the departure of the Polecats baseball team in 1994, the general consensus has been that Albany just isn’t a town that can support a professional sports team. There isn’t enough disposable income. The facilities aren’t up to par. There aren’t enough corporate sponsors. The population is too small. The fans are too fickle. You name it, and it’s been said about Albany. Heck, it may have been said by you. Some of the most ardent critics of sports in Albany are also the biggest sports fans.
After this 2007 sports season, however, it will be pretty tough for people to continue their criticism. This is without question a special year in sports for the city of Albany – one that could once again make that “City of Champions” moniker more than appropriate.
After finishing with a 3-13 record in each of the previous two seasons since arriving in Albany, the South Georgia Wildcats had seen attendance start to slip, had fired their second manager in as many years, and people were beginning to wonder if winning was possible here. Enter head coach Derek Stingley and a new group of players, and those questions have been answered.
The Wildcats beat rival Florida for the second time this season last weekend, and their record of 9-4 has them in the playoffs and poised to win the National Conference’s South Division. Make no mistake, this is a serious contender for a title.
The Peanuts, too, will be heading to the playoffs. After finishing the first half of the South Coast League season with a 33-11 record, the Peanuts have cinched up the first-half title and will play at least one home playoff game at Paul Eames at the end of the summer. The Peanuts have been far and away the best team in the league, with two former big leaguers on their roster, four players already signed with affiliated organizations, and several more on their way back to affiliated teams soon. They’re fun to watch, they’ve won a lot of ballgames, and most importantly, they’ve proved a baseball team can succeed in Albany.
In addition to their on-field success, both the Wildcats and Peanuts have found a good bit of success at the box office this year, too.
The Wildcats faced an uphill climb, hoping to shed the “loser” label consecutive 3-13 finishes had placed upon the franchise. Attendance at the first few home games reflected the wait-and-see approach many fans were taking, but with wins came fans, and the Wildcats are drawing around 5,000 per game – up significantly from last season and approaching the numbers they drew in their first year in town.
The Peanuts’ expectations weren’t very high in terms of attendance. Ownership had been told how difficult it was to sell baseball in Albany. And unlike their predecessors, the Peanuts would have direct, in-season competition from the Wildcats. More than a few people questioned whether the team would even complete its first season. But guess what – not only have the Peanuts met expectations, they’ve far exceeded them. The Peanuts have averaged nearly 1,400 fans per game – even with wet weather, rescheduled home games and a bevy of doubleheaders dragging down the average.
It’s easy to write off pro sports in Albany. History is usually a pretty good barometer for such things. But this year’s Wildcats and Peanuts have thumbed their noses at history and have helped restore some luster to a town with plenty of good sports fans, but a dearth of good sports franchises. The fact that both teams have had so much success both on the field and at the box office, the fact that Albany has shown it can support not one, but two professional sports teams, and the fact that both teams will be playing postseason games, should earn everyone in town a strong pat on the back. And who knows? Maybe by September, just about the time everyone turns their attention to Monroe and Dougherty and the other gridiron stars, that “City of Champions” logo will seem more than appropriate.
- David Hale