Stadium Cache Traditional Cache
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A fairly easy cache just outside the San Bernardino Stadium.
The Inland Empire 66ers, San Bernardino's single-A minor league baseball team in the California League, has enjoyed tremendous success over the years, winning the hearts and minds of the Inland Empire in the process. The club, formerly known as the Stampede, has won league championships in 1995, 1999, 2000 and 2003. They became just the fourth team in California League history to win back-back titles when they won the crown in 2000. The 66ers moved into a state-of-the-art stadium in downtown San Bernardino at the end of the 1996 season and drew over 270,000 fans in its first full year in the ballpark, providing Inland Empire residents with a Crown Jewel for entertainment and value. Prior to the 2002 season, the 66ers and the city of San Bernardino signed a 10-year stadium naming-rights deal with Arrowhead Credit Union, a pillar in the Inland Empire business community. In doing so, the 66ers became the first team in the California League's history to secure a stadium naming rights deal. A new and aggressive promotional schedule in 2002 led to the team increasing its attendance by more than 50% from the 2001 season (to nearly 240,000), by far the biggest jump in the California League. In March, 2002, the 66ers parent club, the Seattle Mariners, played an exhibition game at Arrowhead Credit Union Park. It was the first time in 30 years that a major league team played a game in San Bernardino. The 66ers invited actor Kevin Costner to play in the game and he accepted. Costner played for the 66ers in that game and started at shortstop before finishing up with an inning on the mound. The highlight of the game came in the final inning, when Costner pitched to Seattle manager Lou Piniella. Costner battled Piniella right to the wire before issuing a walk. Arrowhead Credit Union Park even played host to a sold-out welcome home rally for former Inland Empire resident Derek Parra, who captured gold and silver in speed skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah.
Preparation for Stardom
During the first half of the 20th century, four attempts were made to establish minor league baseball in San Bernardino. It wasn't until 1987, after a 39-year sports drought, that baseball returned to the Inland Empire with the San Bernardino Spirit. In 1988 the Spirit entered a five-year growth period affiliated with the Seattle Mariners. Many talented young athletes played in San Bernardino on their way to the major leagues, most notably Ken Griffey, Jr. and Mike Hampton. Griffey spent 58 games in a Spirit uniform on his fast track to Seattle. San Bernardino got into the "Spirit," helping the club set a then-league attendance record, but following the 1992 season the franchise moved to Rancho Cucamonga. Four months later, the Salinas Spurs claimed San Bernardino as its new home, along with the Spirit name. The franchise was soon sold to Dave Elmore and Donna Tuttle. With the assistance of several major league organizations, the Elmore Sports Group quickly constructed an independent squad for the 1993 season.
The Elmore magic has been helping the team ever since. A "blue era" dawned in 1995 when the club became affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers. That same year, construction on the new stadium began.
As the Sixers are the Dodgers affiliate, this past season this is where Manny Ramirez began his warm up after his mini vacation.
This cache is located just outside the park grounds and outside the fence.
Please be sure to rehide this one good so it does not grow legs.
CONGRATULATIONS TO losel2 FOR THE FTF!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Vs lbh unir ERNYYL ybat nezf pna ernpu sebz fvqrjnyx, ohg cebonoyl abg.
Treasures
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