Ready for the season

Opening night guests lined up

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Weaver and Robinson, a minority owner of the Blue Crabs' parent company, Opening Day Partners, will be honored on the field in a pregame ceremony. The gates open at 5:30 p.m. for the 7:05 p.m. first pitch.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early to see the two baseball legends reunite as the 2009 season kicks off.

Weaver has been named honorary manager for the Blue Crabs on opening night.

"I was very lucky to play for a manager like Earl. He always used all of his 24 guys; everyone got to play and everyone knew their job," Robinson said about being on the same field again with the manager he won the 1970 World Series with.

Weaver debuted as a manager in the Major Leagues with the Orioles on July 7, 1968.

In his first full year as skipper of the club he led the team to 109 wins — the third most in the history of the American League at the time — along with the 1969 American League pennant.

Weaver is renowned for his extensive use of game statistics and expert usage of the bench. In 1982 his No. 4 was retired by the Orioles, and Weaver was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.

Robinson entered the major league arena for the first time Sept. 17, 1955, with the Orioles.

In 1960 his major league career took off with his first American League All-Star selection and Gold Glove award. In 1964 he took home the American League most valuable player award, in 1966 the All-Star Game MVP and in 1970 the World Series MVP.

Robinson played in four World Series. In his professional baseball career he amassed 2,848 hits and 268 home runs. Robinson's No. 5 was retired by the Baltimore Orioles in 1977 and he was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983. 

1960 American League rookie of the year Ronnie Hansen will also be in attendance, as a guest of Robinson.

Hansen, who played in 15 MLB seasons with the Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals, is a longtime friend of Robinson stemming from when they were teammates in Baltimore.

Another special Maryland resident will join the Blue Crabs for opening night.

Pierre Thout is a resident of Leonardtown and a former NASA astronaut. He's a veteran of three space flights, in 1990, 1992 and 1994.

Players signed for the 2009 season as of April 17

Name Pos. DOB Height Weight Bat Throw  

Pitchers

Baugh, Kenny RHP 2/5/79 6-4 190 R R

Bicondoa, Ryan RHP 1/26/79 6-4 190 R R

Blanton, Jason RHP 9/10/79 6-4 235 R R

Cory, Forrest LHP 10/13/83 6-3 205 R L

Crawford, Tristan RHP 7/22/82 6-3 180 R R

Gannon, Joe RHP 3/15/75 6-1 190 L R

Halama, John LHP 2/22/72 6-5 200 L L

Navarro, Jason LHP 7/7/75 6-4 220 L L

Rayborn, Kenny RHP 11/22/74 6-4 210 R R

Schweitzer, Matt LHP 11/11/78 6-1 190 L L

Serrano, Jimmy RHP 5/9/76 5-9 178 R R

Warden, Jim Ed RHP 12/19/78 6-2 185 R R

Catchers

Burkhart, Lance C 12/16/74 5-9 220 R R

Martinez, Octavio C 7/30/79 6-0 180 R R

Perry, Anthony C 7/18/85 6-0 200 R R

Infielders

Crozier, Eric 1B/OF 8/17/78 6-4 200 L L

Garcia, Travis 3B/SS 4/18/82 6-3 215 R R

Jeroloman, Chuck 2B/3B/SS 9/14/82 6-1 190 R R

Just, Mike U 9/30/83 5-11 180 R R

Osborn, Pat 3B 2/27/81 6-3 210 R R

Outfielders

Conroy, Mike OF 10/3/82 6-3 190 L L

Doetsch, Steve OF 12/2/83 6-2 185 R R

Owens, Jeremy OF 12/9/76 6-1 200 R R

Shanks, James OF 1/26/79 6-0 180 R R