51s ready for game at one of baseball’s historic stadiums

By Case Keefer (contact)

Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Wrigley Field will always be a special place to Las Vegas 51s outfielder Buck Coats.

It’s not just its 96-year history or ivy-covered outfield walls. It’s what happened there on Sept. 10, 2006, when Coats recorded his first major league hit that day as a member of the Chicago Cubs.

“Unbelievable, it was one of the greatest things I’ve ever experienced in baseball,” Coats said. “That’s what you play to get back for.”

Coats, who’s played 46 big-league games over three years, still is trying to still in the majors. But he gets a change to return to Wrigley Field Sunday when the 51s take on the Iowa Cubs.

For the second year, the Cubs’ organization decided to hots a minor league game at its big league ballpark. Luckily for the 51s, this weekend turned out to be the best fit for the event.

Las Vegas will head to Chicago for a day following a four-game series in Omaha.

“It’s going to be exciting,” 51s manager Mike Basso said. “It’s a revered ballpark and to be able to say you got a chance to play in a game at Wrigley Field is an honor. We’re looking forward to it.”

Basso said he scouted players a few times at Wrigley, but has never played or coached there. Like his players, Basso is excited to experience the ballpark from the dugout.

A number of 51s players have ties to Wrigley. Take Brian Dopirak for example. The designated hitter/first baseman started his career in the Cubs’ organization. In 2004, Chicago named Dopirak its minor league player of the year.

Dopirak seemed destined to be slugging home runs on the North Side of Chicago for years to come. But it didn’t work out that way and after a long journey through the minor leagues, Dopirak is ready to get his chance at Wrigley.

“It’s a big league ballpark,” Dopirak said. “I’ve been in minor league ballparks my whole career, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Dopirak said Wrigley would undoubtedly be his favorite place he’d ever played.

Coats already considers it the best. He appeared in 12 home games as a Cub in 2006. He also played at Wrigley twice the next year as a member of the Cincinnati Reds.

“It’s a real blessing for me to get back there with the memories from when I was there,” Coats said. “It’s going to be a great time.”

The game is also expected to draw quite a bit of fanfare. At last year’s minor league game at Wrigley Field, a Single-A matchup, almost 30,000 fans showed up.

Basso said he wouldn’t be surprised if there is a similar turnout this weekend. He said one of the things that impressed him about Wrigley was the fans.

“They have great fans there,” Basso said. “They love baseball and they are intelligent baseball fans.”

Following the Wrigley matinee, the 51s will travel to Des Moines, Iowa, to finish their four-game series with the Iowa Cubs. But they aren’t pretending that the game at Wrigley means the most to them.

“It’s going to be a great time,” Coats said. “I’m glad we got the opportunity to do it.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or at case.keefer@lasvegassun.com.