Swing unveiles All Star Game logo

[Ez Street]

Swing hopes to make all-star game ?special?

The last time Midwest League all-stars took the field at Davenport?s John O?Donnell Stadium, fans were treated to the debut of a home run contest that has become a fan favorite at the annual gathering of the league?s top baseball talent.

Swing of the Quad-Cities staff members are hoping to create a similar new experience when the Midwest League All-Star Game returns to the banks of the Mississippi River in June for the first time since 1990.

?We?re looking at adding a few twists and making it more of a two-day affair instead of just a single day of activities for fans,?? Swing president Kevin Krause said. ?This is an event that brings a lot of people into our community, and we want to treat it as a special occasion.??

A home run derby, autograph sessions and fireworks likely will continue to be a part of the league?s all-star event, but the Swing staff continues to work to add a few new wrinkles.

Details will be announced once a schedule is finalized in upcoming months, but the Swing did unveil the 2006 Midwest League All-Star Game logo during a Monday news conference.

Designed by Plan B, a San Diego company that coordinated the team?s makeover prior to the 2004 season, the logo features the name of the event centered around a likeness of the Centennial Bridge and the Swing logo framed by a baseball.

?It?s an attractive design that is unique and something that we will use in a lot of ways during the all-star events,?? Krause said.

The all-star game will be played at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20 at John O?Donnell Stadium, but players will arrive in the Quad-Cities after the final games of the first half of the season are played two days earlier. Krause expects public events on Monday to be a part of the final schedule.

?This is our chance to show off our new facility and our community to the front office personnel and fans of other teams in the league, and we want to make the most of that,?? Krause said. ?The one thing that has surprised a lot of people who have hosted this game the past few years is how many people from outside of their markets have attended, and that?s a big plus. It?s a great opportunity for us to showcase the Quad-Cities.??

Advance tickets for the all-star game currently are on sale through the Swing office at John O?Donnell Stadium or through the team?s Web site, www.swingbaseball.com.

?There has been some interest already, and this is the one chance fans have to see all of the league?s top prospects and some future major leaguers in one place at the same time,?? Krause said. ?It?s a unique event and something we?re looking forward to hosting.??

Steve Batterson can be contacted at (563) 383-2290 or sbatterson@qctimes.com.