Bulls Opening Day Draws Big Crowds
By Brandon Underwood

A record crowd of 11,060 came out to see the 2006 edition of the Durham Bulls when they took on the Toledo Mud Hens last Friday.

Baseball in Durham has a storied history dating back to 1902. They played their first home game on May 12, 1902, as the Durham Tobacconists against Newbern.

They are now the triple-A affiliate of major league baseball’s Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The team began playing at this level in 1998. The top prospect in their organization is shortstop B.J. Upton, who was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2002. This level of minor league baseball is the last step remaining for players like Upton and outfielder Delmon Young before they make it to the major leagues.

Bulls fans like Chris Thomas enjoy spending time with the players before they make the leap to the big leagues.

“The treat you nice, you get respected a little more. You can get closer to the players here than in the majors,” Thomas said.

Rosters are constantly turning over in the minor leagues, with players moving up and down levels quite frequently. Opening day gives fans a chance to get acquainted with the new players on their hometown team.

Pete Hall was the first fan through the gates, and he raced to his seat. Hall, an accountant, has been going to Bulls games for 19 seasons, and he says there is something special about this level of the game.

“I would recommend anyone come out to see minor league baseball,” Hall said. “It may not be as refined as play in the majors, but fans get to see the hustle players -- stars of tomorrow like Derek Jeter -- and the kids get to talk to the players.”

The Bulls sent that record crowd home happy when B.J. Upton hit a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth. The Bulls beat the Mud Hens 5-4.