Hudson, the Dodgers' second baseman, picked up his fourth career Rawlings Gold Glove Award on Wednesday while Blue Jays teammates Hill and Lind were recognized with American League Silver Slugger Awards on Thursday.  

Zimmerman earned one of each award given out this week as he became the first Nats player to win a gold glove and the second to ever win a silver slugger.

Batting helmets................................................................ $10.00

Game-worn hats................................................................. $5.00

White pants...................................................................... $15.00

Gray pants........................................................................ $15.00

Pinstripe pants................................................................... $2.00

Belts................................................................................... $1.00

Toques................................................................................ $5.00

Catcher's masks................................................................ $20.00

Chest protectors............................................................... $20.00

Shin guards....................................................................... $10.00

Catcher's shoulder guards.................................................. $1.00

Large equipment bags...................................................... $25.00

Small equipment bags...................................................... $10.00

Cleats/sneakers................................................................ $20.00

Uniform name plates.......................................................... $5.00

Locker name plates............................................................. $1.00

Baseballs............................................................................ $2.00

Bats (new)........................................................................ $40.00

Bats (used)....................................................................... $20.00

Bats (cracked)................................................................... $10.00

Winter gloves..................................................................... $2.00

Long sleeve shirts............................................................. $10.00

Short sleeve shirts.............................................................. $5.00

Jackets.............................................................................. $50.00

Miguel Cairo, IF (1996)

Scott Eyre, RHP (2001)

Jayson Werth, OF (2002-'03) (pictured top)

AJ Burnett, RHP (2006-'07)

Chad Gaudin, RHP (2005)

Eric Hinske, IF/OF (2003)

Casey Blake, IF (1999-2000)

Orlando Hudson, IF (2001-'02) (pictured bottom)

Chris Carpenter, RHP (1997, 2002)

Dave McKay, 1B Coach (1979)

Glenallen Hill, 1B Coach (1987-'89)

Rick Stelmaszek, Bullpen Coach (1976)

Keep in mind that 15 of the last 16 World Series champions have had at least one former Syracuse player on their roster.  The only world champion since 1991 without a former Chiefs player on the active roster was the 2003 Marlins, but the Fish did have former Chiefs outfielder Bill Robinson on the bench as the team's hitting coach.  (Sorry Boston & Anaheim fans.)

Enjoy the playoffs everybody!

Hill, who missed significant time last year due to a concussion, received 14 of 30 first place votes from MLB.com beat writers.  The second baseman slugged 36 home runs and drove in 103 runs while batting .286 for the Toronto Blue Jays this season.

Carpenter pitched in a total of five games in 2007 and 2008 before returning to the mound this year and posting a 17-4 record with a 2.24 ERA for the St. Louis Cardinals.  He was a runaway winner of the NL award with 27 first place votes.

Total attendance for 2009 was 392,518 for 65 openings - an average of 6,039 per game.  This year's total is slightly higher than last year's total of 392,017, which was accomplished in 68 openings (5,765 per game).  However, this year's per game average represents an increase of 4.75% over last year.  Furthermore, this year marked the third consecutive season that per game attendance increased in Syracuse.

At a time when so much attention is being paid to the state of the economy in our area and across the country, we are truly grateful that fans in Syracuse helped make us one of only four International League teams that saw an attendance increase.  Gwinnett (new city and new stadium), Columbus (new stadium), and Lehigh Valley were the other cities in the 14-team league that saw an increase.

We could delve further into market size and let you know that our attendance per capita was the fifth-best in the league, but the point of this entry was to thank you, not to overwhelm you with numbers.

However, we would like to clear up a few things that were written in the local newspaper on Monday and posted on its web site.  Attendance for Monday's season finale was 8,742.  The figure of 12,660 that was printed in the box score for Monday's game included an addition of 3,918 that was necessary as a result of the Chiefs playing a game in Cooperstown in June.  This situation was explained in detail to the newspaper employee who was at Monday's game so that it could be accurately presented in the newspaper.  

Unfortunately, the story that appeared in Tuesday's paper was written by a different newspaper employee who was at Sunday's game, but was not at Alliance Bank Stadium on Monday.  It is also unfortunate that the newspaper employee remains obsessed with the method used to calculate attendance.  The method we use is the same method used throughout the International League and approved by Major League and Minor League Baseball.

In conclusion, we would like to say a final THANK YOU for your support this season.  We hope to see you at Dinner at the Diamond this fall and we are already looking forward to an even better year in 2010.

Zack, who has been filling the role of closer as the Chiefs chase a playoff berth, wasn't with the team last night, but is on his way to re-join the team for tonight's twinbill.

Chiefs pitchers Clint Everts, Josh Wilkie, and Zech Zinicola will sign autographs on Saturday, August 22, at JR Junction Train and Hobby from 12noon until 2:00pm.  JR Junction is located at 2716 Erie Blvd. East in Syracuse.

While you're there getting an autograph you can also pick up a custom Syracuse Chiefs flatcar or covered hopper train car (see images below).  

The bus will depart Alliance Bank Stadium at 3:00pm sharp for the 6:05pm twinbill.  The price is only $49.00 per person and includes transportation, snacks and beverages on the bus, a pre-game picnic at Coca-Cola Park, admission to both games, and post-game fireworks.

Seating is limited, please contact Jim Durkin at 668-8418 for more information or to reserve your seat.