October 8, 2024 – Eastern League (EL) News Release
Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) today announced the 2024 winners of the Organization of the Year Award, Executive of the Year Award, Future Star Award, Driving Diversity Award, and the CommUNITY Champion Award. Nominees from each league were selected by their peers and were candidates for the overall awards.
ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR – Hartford Yard Goats (Double-A Affiliate of the Colorado Rockies)
Since moving into Dunkin’ Park in 2017, the Hartford Yard Goats have been a model franchise in Minor League Baseball, establishing franchise attendance records year after year and being a strong community partner in the Hartford community.
The Yard Goats posted 39 sellouts in 2024 and set a franchise record by drawing over 417,000 fans, the third consecutive year they’ve posted a year-over-year increase.
The club’s alternate identities, the Bouncing Pickles and Steamed Cheeseburgers were two of the most popular alternate identities in Minor League Baseball, gaining the club national notoriety. Their tribute to the Negro Leagues, playing as the Hartford Schoolboys in honor of Johnny “Schoolboy” Taylor, who was the first Black athlete to play professional baseball in Hartford, was a resounding success. The club had Pedro Sierra, who played for the Indianapolis Clowns and Detroit Stars of the Negro Leagues take part in the festivities and threw out the ceremonial first pitch that night.
The Yard Goats have been active participants in MiLB’s Copa de la Diversion initiative, playing as the Los Chivos de Hartford, where they have been among the most creative and innovative teams when it comes to reaching out to the Latino fan base in Hartford. The Yard Goats honored Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente in August and his son threw out the first pitch. Fans were given a Roberto Clemente knit hat as they entered the ballpark.
Their promotional schedule was highlighted by the seventh annual “Whalers Alumni Weekend” in July, which paid tribute to the city’s former NHL franchise. The weekend included a hospital visit, luncheon, on-field batting practice, and autograph session. Many former Whalers returned to Hartford including All-Star Kevin Deneen and the Yard Goats wore special hockey-style uniforms in the game.
Since their inception, the Yard Goats have been active members of the greater Hartford community and were selected as Minor League Baseball’s 2019 John Henry Moss Community Service Award winner. Their impactful programs…
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