It's a final good bye to Ray Winder Field as the Arkansas Travelers played their last game Sunday afternoon. Fans turned out in droves to see the historical send off.
Bitter sweet times for the Travs and their fans even though Ray Winder Field is no longer home base for the 100 year old team, the memories made here will never be forgotten.
After 74 years, Ray Winder Field has run its course for the Arkansas Travelers. It's the final game day and a season wrap up for the legendary baseball field, as players gear up to hit the turf on a newly planned state of the art baseball stadium in North Little Rock.
Carl Eldridge says, "I came when I was a kid!"
Faithful fans, like 94-year-old Carl Eldridge, has been coming to Ray Winder to watch the Travs play from the beginning to the end.
"I hate to see them move. I love the Travelers, followed them all my life."
Meantime, the Sims family turned out wearing t-shirts in support of their son, Caleb, who died of cancer before throwing the first ball for the Travelers during last year's season opener.
Adam Sims says, "The Travs have even come to see Caleb when he was in the hospital. They've taken a vested in Caleb and the fight against cancer."
"It's just a blessing, we'll really miss it here."
“It never rains at Ray Winder Field. We're the greatest show on dirt!"
General Manager Bill Valentine stayed busy on this last day, especially in the gift shop where fans waited in long lines for last minute baseball buys. It's time for out with old and in with the new, and Valentine says fans will enjoy the new stadium. “When people go out there, they're not going to forget Ray Winder, they're going to say wow, why didn't we have this sooner?"
Managers say normally 4,000 to 5,000 people fill the stands here at Ray Winder but they say today, on this special occasion, that number has nearly tripled.
"We're sending it out the way it opened. We had an overflow crowd in 1932. April 13th is when it opened."
It's been a home runner with honors and distinction for Ray Winder. And little Hayden Givens-Craig is going down in history too, as he is the winner of the final mascot race. He offers Ray Winder a send off, "I'll miss you very badly.”
The Travelers also leave a final message sparkling in Arkansas pride, "Good-bye Ray Winder.”
Still no word yet what will exactly happen to Ray Winder. Managers tell FOX16 News that efforts are under way to push for high school, college and American League baseball games to be played here. But of course, time will tell.
