It’s not quite baseball season yet, but mere ice and snow won’t stop the St. Paul Saints from squaring off against the St. Croix Base Ball Club this Saturday, Jan. 30. The game is the called the Iceball, the cause is Second Harvest Heartland, and admission is free.
More than 1,000 fans showed up for the inaugural Iceball (and world record coldest game of baseball) in February 2009. Following its success, many of the same activities will return for the second installment at Midway Stadium. The parking lot will open for tailgating at 11 am. Fans can keep warm by dancing to the tunes of a popular Minnesota band: The Spectaculars, a hip-hop band performing on the Cities 97/KDWB soundstage.
The game takes place at Midway Stadium (1771 Energy Park Dr., St. Paul); first pitch is 1:30pm.
THE TAILGATING
It wouldn’t really be baseball without some tailgating, so show up early and grill up some great food, elements be damned. Live entertainment and prizes will spice up the day.
Heavy Table staffer Ashley Laflin will make the rounds and judge the various dishes prepared by the Iceball’s hardy tailgaters. Dishes will be awarded up to a perfect score of 44 points, with a maximum possible 20 points for taste, 10 points for appearance, 10 points for creativity, and up to 4 points for incorporating Crispin Cider into the dish.
And photographer Alli Wade will be on the scene to record the scene for posterity.
THE CAUSE
Proceeds and donations collected during the game will benefit Second Harvest Heartland. Fans are encouraged to donate cash and non-perishable food for the worthy cause. For each $1 donated, Second Harvest Heartland can distribute more than $9 worth of grocery products for those in need.
Second Harvest Heartland is the Upper Midwest’s largest hunger-relief organization, striving to end hunger through community partnerships. It forms the backbone of organizations working together to efficiently alleviate hunger in 59 counties throughout Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. Second Harvest Heartland operates the fourth largest Feeding America member food bank in the United States, helping feed 77 percent of the hungry in its service area.