When you come to a Big Train game at Shirley Povich Field this summer, you'll find a whole new entrance. Thanks to Miller & Long and Sandy Spring Builders, we are adding a second wall of commemorative bricks and a plaque to honor the generous donors who have helped us make $500,000 of improvements to youth ballfields.

The Big Train's Tenth Season will kick-off on Friday June 6. Make sure you don't miss an inning of our Tenth Season Celebration.

How you can help: To help our Tenth Season Fund, you can buy a Family Season Pass or Corporate Season Pass for Four for just $125. Or you can place a one-quarter page ad in our Tenth Season Souvenir Program. This year's program will be bigger and better than past issues with a recap of each of the first nine seasons, a profile of our All-Decade Team, and four pages of ads from Big Train fans. For just $250, we will help you prepare your ad, and we will send you a Family Season Pass. We can help you design your ad to feature your special memories of Povich Field or just wish the team good luck this summer. Please email us at faninfo@bigtrain.org with your intent to buy an ad as soon as possible (deadline was originally May 1), and we will be right back with you to discuss your ad. Don't procrastinate as space and time are limited. Checks can be mailed to PO Box 30306, Bethesda, MD 20824.

Big Train All-Decade All-Star Team

As we move into the tenth year of Big Train baseball, it is fitting to look back at some of the stellar players who have graced the Big Train uniform. To do that, we have assembled an all-time all-star team covering our first nine years of play. The team was constructed using three mechanisms. First, the four Big Train players who went on to play in the major leagues were placed automatically on the team. Second, fan voting governed the selection for most of those who were placed on the team. Third, a committee consisting of manager Sal Colangelo, general manager David Ireland, and team historian Bill Hickman reviewed the results of fan voting and added a few more players to the team based on their consensus that these were deserving players who shouldn't be omitted.

The all-time all-star team is as follows (names in alphabetical order within positions):

• First base - Brian LaNinfa
  
• Second base - Greg Lemon, Bert Smith
  
• Shortstop - Pat Boran
  
• Third base - Mike Costanzo, Jon Karcich
  
• Outfield - Nick Cleckler, Casey Gilvin, Charlton Jimerson, Jonnie Knoble, Matt Long
  
• Catcher - Michael McKenry
  
• Starters and Relievers - Brian Anderson, Byron Binda, Chris Cullen, Gus Hlebovy, Matt Kleweno, Bobby Livingston, John Maine, Keith Moreland, Adam Redd, Steve Schmoll
  
• Closer - Wyatt Stewart

More details will be published in the 2008 10th Season Commemorative Souvenir Program, which will be available starting at Big Train home games starting in early June. Special thanks go to Bill Hickman for his research and writing on this project.

Homer Hits the Streets!

The Big Train and Homer helped christen the new Bethesda Little League on Saturday, April 12th. Homer was joined by several dignitaries including Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett who threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The Big Train was proud to support the new league and was responsible for funding the brand new fence that will serve as the league's outfield wall at North Chevy Chase Park.

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