Islands tradition to offer baseball, camaraderie
Free tickets to the 33rd annual Sam Bailey’s Islands Night are available for the community.
The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels will play the Tampa Tarpons on May 8 at 7:05 p.m. at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers. The gates will open at 5:45 p.m., with a pregame parade set for 5:50 p.m.
“Islands Night baseball night has been a longstanding tradition celebrating the end of a successful season,” SanCap Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said, noting that the event also marks the end of spring training and start of the summer season to come. “And it provides an opportunity for hospitality employees, residents and business owners to convene for a fun time with just the islands community.”
The late Sam Bailey, a former athlete and island pioneer, founded the tradition.
Bailey, whose descendants own and operate Bailey’s General Store and A Bit of Bailey’s on Sanibel and The Island Store on Captiva, wanted to get the whole island together in one place and came up with the ballpark. According to his family, he approached the former Fort Myers Miracle organization about sponsoring a game. Bailey was able to negotiate the deal, but then had to figure out how to pay for it.
He worked with his brother, Francis, and the chamber. Island businesses were encouraged to help sponsor the game for just $100 and to invite everyone to attend. With a successful response, Bailey was able to collect enough funding to rent out the stadium, plus give back to the island community.
In 2004, the event was renamed Sam Bailey’s Islands Night in his honor.
Lai noted that this year is a Friday game for the first time, so youths can enjoy the whole evening.
The traditional parade will showcase Sanibel and Captiva businesses and organizations.
“Participants will line up and go around the track and throw out goodies to the kids and adults,” he said. “But really it’s a great opportunity to see and wave to the business and nonprofit communities and service groups that help make the islands what they are and congratulate them on a great season.”
The Islands Night ceremony will follow.
The national anthem will be sung by students from the Rayma C. Page Elementary School in Fort Myers, and this year’s first pitch will be throw out by chamber Board Chair Michael Nachef.
Another first this year, the game will conclude with a drone presentation.
“It will be an island-themed drone show,” Lai said, explaining that they swapped out the fireworks in honor of the islands’ nod to the environment and sustainability. “It will last about 15-20 minutes.”
“It’s the very first drone show ever done at Hammond Stadium,” he added.
Bank of the Islands is the homerun sponsor, and Bailey’s is sponsoring the drone presentation.
“We couldn’t do events such as this without our sponsors,” Lai said. “We want to thank Bank of the Islands for stepping up year after year to make this possible, and we thank Bailey’s for taking our post-game festivities to the next level.”
Event tickets are available online.
The community is encouraged to come out and enjoy a night of baseball and island fellowship.
“Islands Night is a special tradition for islanders to convene and celebrate a tremendous season, particularly following the events of the last three years,” he said. “This community embraces every opportunity to convene and this is another chance to do so.”
For tickets or more information, visit gofevo.com/event/Sambaileys2.
For questions about the event, contact chamber Director of Operations Aaron Walton at aaron@sanibel-captiva.org or 239-472-8759.
Hammond Stadium is at 14100 6 Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers.
…..
IF YOU GO
What
33rd annual Sam Bailey’s Islands Night
When
May 8 at 7:05 p.m., with gates opening at 5:45 p.m.
Where
Hammond Stadium, 14100 6 Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers
Details
Tickets are free to community