The new faces of the Auburn Doubledays will set foot inside

the gates of Falcon Park for the

first time Friday, many carrying

with them nothing more than a

duffel bag and some big league dreams.

With the 2006 New York-Penn League season opening Tuesday, the transplanted Auburnians, most in their early 20s, will immedi-

ately be given the onus of contin-uing the Doubledays' winning

ways.

The Auburn faithful expect a lot of its players, but in return, accommodate the displaced minor leaguers with housing, accessories and the care of a loved one.

“We feed kids good, we make arrangements for them,” Doubledays Chairman Tom Ganey said. “If they want to play golf we set it up. If their girlfriend needs to be picked up at the airport, we send someone to pick her up. If they need something, we try to get it for them. It's like family here.

“Every year I'm amazed at what gets brought into the clubhouse when they get here. They usually just bring a duffel bag and a change of clothes. They need bedding, they need a fan - a lot of (organizations) don't do that. In other places, you get off the bus, get a list and have two days to find the place.”

The ballplayers may spend only a summer in Auburn, but the friends they make here tend to last longer than their careers.

“I walked out onto the field at Toronto last September and had five former Auburn guys walk up to me and say ‘Hi Mr. Ganey' and shake my hand or give me a hug,” Ganey said. “Someone came up and gave me a big bear hug from behind. I turn around and it's Aaron Hill. They remember you ... they never forget Auburn.”

Every player who buttons up the Doubleday uniform has aspirations of one day taking the field at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Unfortunately, very few players - maybe one or two per year - make it to the majors.

The Pinckney Division titles are adding up, but Auburn remains one of the smallest markets in the NY-P League. Falcon Park's capacity (2,800) is the second smallest in the league despite being reconstructed in 1995.

There just isn't the population to compete with attendance precedents set by the Brooklyns of the league.

But Auburn's size has worked to its advantage. In the smaller market, the probability of player-fan interaction is much higher. While a majority of the Doubledays won't see their faces on “SportsCenter,” they can be kings of a community for one summer.

“This isn't New York City,” Doubledays General Manager Carl Gutelius said. “There's a lot to

do here but you can't compare it to the bigger cities (in the league). Here, you're the big attraction in town.”

A dollar goes a lot further in Auburn. Many people forget that minor league baseball players aren't bringing in the multi-million dollar contracts that are synonymous with Major League Baseball.

Minor league players typically make no more than $800 a month.

With this said, not every Class A organization provides meals, lodging and recreational transportation for its players.

“I look at it as if my son were coming to town,” Ganey said. “We

try to accommodate as best we

can. (Former GM) Jason Smoral did a great job and Carl has continued it. You know you've done

your job when you talk to a guy like Russ Adams and he says to you, ‘Other places don't do what you did for us.' The club and the city just have a great relationship with the players.”

Staff writer Ryan Day can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 257 or at ryan.day@lee.net