It’s a whole new year for the Brooklyn Cyclones.
With a different manager at the helm — and home games at the recently re-named MCU Park — the team returns this summer with renewed hopes of making it to the New York–Penn League Championship series for the first time since 2007.
Baseball officially starts in Brooklyn on June 19, when the team faces their fierce rival — the Staten Island Yankees — with a new skipper taking the wheel: Wally Backman.
Backman played nine seasons (1980-88) at second base with the Mets, where he was an integral part of the 1986 World Series Amazins. He looks to continue his success with the organization in Brooklyn with a group of young prospects, improving upon last season’s 45-30 record and Wild Card appearance in the playoffs.
Since forming nine years ago, the team has made the playoffs six out of nine seasons, while consistently leading the New York-Penn League in attendance.
Beyond baseball, the team has announced a few promotional dates this summer to make note of, including “T-Shirt Tuesdays,” when the first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a free limited-edition shirt, and “Jersday Thursdays,” when fans will be given Cyclones jerseys of their own. Adding to the excitement, baseball fans young and old will be able to trot around the bases after every Thursday home game, and every Saturday home game will be followed by a post-game fireworks show. Fans will be hoping for a season that’s equally on fire.
MCU Park [1904 Surf Ave. at W. 17th Street in Coney Island, (718) 449-8497]. For info, visit www.brooklyncyclones.com.
