With 11 full seasons in the books, the Arizona Diamondbacks begin their 12th campaign in an attempt to build on what has been — by many measures — the most successful early run anyone has ever seen from an expansion franchise. In its first 11 years, Arizona has had seven winning seasons, four division titles and playoff appearances, and of course, a World Series cham-pionship in 2001, the franchise’s fourth season. The D-backs were the fastest club to ever win a World Series, and the fastest to 100 wins, which they reached in their second season in 1999. There were many superb individual achieve-ments, most notably Randy Johnson’s perfect game against Atlanta in 2004 and his four consecutive Cy Young awards, Luis Gonzalez’s 57 home runs in 2001 and 30-game hitting streak in 1999, and Brandon Webb’s Cy Young in 2006. It was, in short, an 11-year span that was any-thing but dull. Of course, although the D-backs are 11 years old as a competitive entity, they were actually born 14 years ago on March 13, 1995, when Major League Baseball awarded franchises to Arizona and Tampa Bay at a record cost of $130 million per franchise. And the foundation for the Valley’s entry into MLB had actually been laid five years before that when the Arizona Legislature passed a bill author-ing Maricopa County to assess a quarter-cent sales tax for the express purpose of building a baseball-only facility. Groundbreaking ceremonies for an air condi-tioned $354 million downtown structure complete with retractable roof, swimming pool in right field, and nostalgic dirt path between the mound and home plate were held Nov. 16, and included the novelty of an actual game between two Little League teams on a specially built kids-size field. With Opening Day still some three years away, Buck Showalter, late of the New York Yankees, was hired as the team’s first manager. The assembling of the team officially began with the selection of left-handed pitcher Nick Bierbrodt in the team’s first-ever amateur draft in 1996, and the signings of first baseman Travis Lee and pitcher John Patterson. Shortly thereafter, infielder Jay Bell of the Kansas City Royals became the first Major League player to sign with the team, and lefthander Brian Anderson of the

Cleveland Indians was the first player chosen by the team in the expansion draft. Finally, the big day everybody had been wait-ing for arrived — March 31, 1998, Opening Night at Bank One Ballpark. Opening ceremonies included a tribute to the late Jackie Robinson, and two youngsters escorted to the mound by then-Owner Jerry Colangelo threw out the first ball. One of the loudest cheers of the night from the overflow crowd of 50,179 was for the opening of the roof to the accompani-ment of stirring music. The Colorado Rockies were the parties of the second part, Andy Benes was the D-backs’ starting pitcher, and Lee got the team’s first hit and also hit the team’s first home run. This was the start of a great “honeymoon” for the team, and nobody was the least bit surprised or even slightly bothered when it lost 31 of its first 40 games. And it’s not like there weren’t any highlights. Centerfielder Devon White drove in 85 runs, stole 22 bases, and tied with Lee for the club lead in home runs with 22. Benes won 14 games. Omar Daal was 8-12, but had a fine 2.88 ERA, and Gregg Olson’s 30 saves earned him club Pitcher of The Year honors. David Dellucci, who quickly became a fan favorite with his acrobatic catches in the outfield, hit a solid .260. As a team, the D-backs finished strong, play-ing .500 ball over the final 24 games, including a an expansion record-tying seven-game winning streak in September, and finished at 65-97, which left them last in the N.L. West, but was quite respect-able for an expansion team. The club also had 21 sellouts and drew 3,602,586 fans, and everybody went home for the winter happy with the team’s first season.

A ThRIllING RuN The FirsT 11 years oF d-baCks baseball

Andy Benes throws the first pitch in franchise history against Colorado’s Mike Lansing, March 31, 1998.

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During the offseason, the D-backs went on a spending spree that netted pitchers Randy Johnson, Armando Reynoso, and Greg Swindell, and center fielder Steve Finley. Then-General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. acquired Gonzalez and Tony Womack in trades that turned out to be steals. And during the season he reeled in Marlins closer Matt Mantei. Gonzalez, who came over from Detroit with a nice chunk of cash in exchange for outfielder Karim Garcia, would become the face of the fran-chise and deliver the winning hit off closer Mariano Rivera in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. And Womack would have some good years here and deliver two of the biggest hits in franchise history in the playoffs that year. But the rest, as they say, is history. Johnson was 15-2 with a 2.01 era at the All-Star Break in 1999, went on to lead the Majors in strikeouts (364) and complete games, and would go on to win 17 games and the first of his four Cy Young Awards here while posting a 2.48 ERA. Gonzalez, meanwhile, had one of several career years he would fashion with the D-backs, hitting .336, with 26 home runs and 111 RBI, and putting together that hitting streak. And he had plenty of help. Matt Williams hit 35 home runs and had 142 runs batted in, Bell was good for 38 and 112, and Dellucci hit .374 in a util-ity role. Womack stole 72 bases while hitting .277, Daal won 16 games, Reynoso added 10, and Mantei saved 22 while striking out 42 in 29 innings as the D-backs went from 65 wins to 100 to take the West by a landslide. They lost their first-ever playoff game to the New York Mets, 8-4, but came back behind some gutsy pitching by Stottlemyre and five RBI by Finley to win Game 2, 7-1. With the Division Series moving to New York, the Mets won Game 3, 9-2, as Todd Pratt hit a 10th inning home run just over Finley’s outstretched glove to close out the series with a 4-3 win.

The 2000 campaign was most notable for another great award-winning season from Johnson and the in-season acquisition of pitcher Curt Schilling. Although the Phillies ace wasn’t fully recovered from injuries, he still went 5-6 the balance of the year here, and of course teamed with Johnson to form one of the most potent one-two punches ever. As for Johnson, he again led the Majors in strikeouts (347) and tied for the league lead in com-plete games (eight), shutouts (three), and starts (35) while putting together a 19-7 record and 2.64 ERA. Gonzalez did his bit, hitting 31 home runs and again driving in over 100, but otherwise, due mostly to a series of injuries, especially to slugger Williams and closer Mantei, the D-backs had a 15-victory drop off and slipped to third in the West. The disappointing season led to the dismissal of Showalter, with Bob Brenly coming down from the broadcast booth to take over as manager — and the stage was set for one of the greatest seasons in the history of Arizona sports. There will never be another year like 2001. This is not to say the D-backs will never win another World Series, but rather that there will never be an experience as exhilarating as that first one, especially when you factor in the Yankees, the grim background of Sept. 11, and the dramatic twists and turns of the series itself. The regular season was exciting enough, what with Gonzalez hitting those 57 home runs and driving in 142, Johnson racking up a third-straight Cy Young Award with 21-6 mark and a 2.49 ERA and Schilling going 22-6 and 2.98. Craig Counsell emerged as the team’s “glue” man, Reggie Sanders provided a big-time power boost with 33 home runs, and Mark Grace hit .296 and played some brilliant first base. But the fun was just beginning. The D-backs took out the St. Louis Cardinals in the Division Series, with Womack delivering the key hit in Game 5, then blew the Atlanta Braves away in five games in the Championship Series. And now it was the upstart D-backs, who were all of four years old, against the lords of the realm, the Yankees. Schilling and the upstarts overpowered the Yankees 9-1 in Game 1 here, and won Game 2 behind Johnson 4-0. With the series shifting to Yankee Stadium in the very shadow of Ground Zero, the “aura” and “mystique” of the Bombers that Schilling had poked fun at seemed to kick in. The Yanks won Game 3 in fairly routine fashion, 2-1, behind Roger Clemens and Mariano Rivera, but the next night, with the Yanks down 3-1 and two out in the ninth, Tino Martinez hit a two-run home run off Byung-Hyun Kim, and Derek Jeter drove in the winning run with a fly ball in the 10th.

Danny Bautista slides head-first at home plate on Tony Womack’s game-ending single that staked the D-backs to a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals, propelling Arizona into the NLCS against Atlanta.

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The fol-lowing night, with the series tied at 2-2 the Yanks went into the ninth down 2-0. This time Scott Brosius hit a two-run home run off Kim, the Yanks survived a bases loaded sit-uation in the top of the 11th and Alfonso Soriano drove in the win-ning run in the bottom of the 12th to send the

series back to Phoenix with the Yanks leading 3-2. Could anything top the drama in New York? Well, yes it could, but not right away. Behind Johnson, the D-backs blew Andy Pettitte and the Yankees away 15-2 in Game 6, sort of the lull between dramas, as it were. In Game 7, Schilling and the D-backs clung to a 1-0 lead over Clemens and the Yankees through six innings on Danny Bautista’s RBI double, but Martinez tied it with an RBI single in the seventh, and when Soriano led off the eighth with a home run the Yanks took a one-run lead that loomed as large as 10 with Rivera and his 23 straight postsea-son saves warming up in the bullpen. But Grace opened the home ninth with a single, and the usually smooth-fielding Rivera threw wildly to second on a sacrifice. One out later, Womack lined a double into the right field corner to drive in the tying run and advance the potential winning run to third. Counsell was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and with the infield drawn in Gonzalez hit a soft little bloop that barely reached the outfield grass, Bell scored and pandemonium ensued. The D-backs were world champions, and fit-tingly, the winning pitcher — working in relief with just one day of rest — was Johnson. It was his third win of the Series, and earned him co-MVP honors with Schilling. With the Big Unit and Schilling at their peak, the D-backs seemed to be favorably positioned for a repeat. And indeed, the D-backs won six more games in 2002 than they had the previous year and claimed their third division title in five years, with Johnson going 21-6 and annexing a fourth straight Cy Young Award, and Schilling going 22-6. But injuries, including the late season loss of Gonzalez, left the depleted D-backs in no shape

to deal with the Cardinals, who swept them in the Division Series. It would be four years before the D-backs got back to the postseason again. The injury-driven downward spiral continued in 2003, only more swiftly. Johnson went down on April 12 with a knee problem that would require surgery and limit him to 18 starts. Schilling had an appendec-tomy in April, broke a bone in his pitching hand in May and wound up making only 24 starts, and reliev-ers Mike Koplove and Mantei also went down. And that was just the pitchers. Among posi-tion players, Counsell missed two months with a thumb injury. But while the victory total shrunk to 84, there was a silver lining in all these clouds, namely the birth of the “Baby Backs”, a rich harvest from a once-scorned system that was quietly sowing the seeds bumper crop after bumper crop of prospects down on the farm. Pitchers Brandon Webb and Jose Valverde topped a list of 13 rookies that played for the big club that year. Webb had 10-9 record with a 2.84 ERA and opposing hitters batted only .212 against him, the third best figure in the National League. Valverde took up some of the slack in the depleted bullpen, racking up nine saves in May alone. And another reliever, Oscar Villarreal, set a league record for a rookie with 86 appearances. On the plus side, Gonzalez once again drove in 100 runs and hit 26 home runs, Finley had 22 home runs and Shea Hillenbrand had 17 after com-ing over from Boston in a trade for Kim. The year also marked the departure of fan favorites Dellucci (trade), and Williams and Grace (retirements). The downward spiral hit warp speed in 2004 when so many players went down with injuries, the club fielded its least experienced team since expan-sion, and not surprisingly lost 111 games.

Craig Counsell, Curt Schilling and David Dellucci surround Luis Gonzalez after his game-winning hit to end the World Series against the Yankees

Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling raise the World Series Most Valuable Player award after sharing the honor by going a combined 4-0 with a 1.40 ERA during the Fall Classic. They were also named Co-Sportsmen of the Year by Sports Illustrated.

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One of the biggest single blows was the loss of slugger Richie Sexson. Two days after hitting a massive 503-foot home run in April — the longest in Chase Field history — Sexson dislocated his left shoulder and was done for the year. The biggest loss, of course, was Schilling, who had been dealt to Boston in the offseason. Gonzalez played hurt much of the year, but was finally shut down Aug. 2 with a painful elbow injury that required surgery. But there were slivers of a silver lining even in this cloud, most notably Johnson’s perfect game in Atlanta. He finished the season 16-14 and was second in the Cy Young race behind Clemens, though Johnson had better numbers in ERA (2.60 to 2.98), innings pitched (246 to 214) and strikeouts (290 to 218). With the team in free-fall, Brenly was replaced as manager by Al Pedrique. With Josh Byrnes installed as Senior Vice President and General Manager, and former bench coach Bob Melvin rejoining the team as manager, the upward spiral began in 2005. Schilling and Johnson were gone, but Gonzalez and Counsell were healthy again, Tony Clark had a sensational year with 30 home runs and 87 RBI in just 349 at bats, Troy Glaus hit 37 home runs and the club recorded a 26-win improvement at 77-85. The upward spiral hit a slight hiccup in 2006, an emotional year of transition in which the D-backs said goodbye to veterans like Gonzalez and Counsell, and symbolically hand-ed the torch to the what was hoped — and did turn out to be — next generation of winners. Webb had quite a year, fashion-ing a 16-8 record with a 3.10 ERA,

making the All-Star team, and capping it off by win-ning the Cy Young Award. In 2007 the D-backs fooled the experts who, while lauding the team’s collection of young talent, felt it was a year away from contender status in the West. Oh, how wrong they were. The D-backs not only won 90 games and cap-tured their fourth division title, but they did it while becoming only the fifth team in Major League his-tory to reach the playoffs while giving up more runs than they scored in the regular season. In other words, this was a season in which the sum of their accomplishments exceeded their statistical parts — a development which had the cognoscenti shaking their heads all year. Sparkplugs Eric Byrnes and Orlando Hudson were the leaders of a group that had a knack for getting the right hit and making the big play, and with 32 home runs and 27 stolen bases, center fielder Chris Young became the only second rookie in Major League history to have a 30-20 season. Rookie Mark Reynolds did a great job filling in for the injured Chad Tracy, Webb made a strong run at a second successive Cy Young Award (18-10, 3.01) and shortstop Stephen Drew had a more pro-ductive year than his .238 average would indicate. Veterans Doug Davis and Livan Hernandez had so-so ERAs, but won 24 games between them, and the bullpen, with Valverde racking up 47 saves and Brandon Lyon and Tony Pena pitching effec-tively in setup roles, was one of the team’s keys to winning so many close games. Although they fell to the Rockies in the NLCS after sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the Division Series, the youth-oriented D-backs more than lived up to expectations and should be contenders for the foreseeable future. And the pipeline that produced all this young talent is by no means drying up.

Brandon Webb captured the 2006 Cy Young Award.

The D-backs celebrate winning their fourth NL West title in Colorado on Sept. 28, 2007

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Heading into 2009, the D-backs are continuing to pull from that pipeline, bringing back the core group of players from a team that has been in first place for 212 days over the last two seasons, more than any other club in the National League. Webb and newcomer Dan Haren — acquired via a trade with Oakland in the offseason — each spent much of the 2008 season in the discussion for the National League Cy Young Award, with Webb eventually finishing second. In the third-straight year in which he finished first or second in the Cy Young race, Webb shattered his previous career high in wins with 22, while also walking fewer batters and allowing fewer hits than in his equally stellar 2008 season. Haren was also brilliant, nearly mirroring Webb’s totals in innings pitched and earned runs allowed. He led the D-backs in strikeouts with 206, the only mem-ber of the pitching staff to reach the 200-plus plateau, and matched that with an absurdly low 40 walks, equating to less than two per nine innings. The offense in 2008 saw breakout sea-sons by Drew and Justin Upton, with continu-ing progression from Conor Jackson, Chris Snyder, Reynolds, Young and Hudson. Drew was the team’s best offensive player in the second half of the season, hitting .326, and reaching base 110 times with 23 doubles in 64 games. He led all big-league shortstops in extra-base hits for the season. Upton got off to a terrific start, posting a .372 on-base percentage in March and April, with six doubles and five home runs. After battling back from an injury that kept him side-lined midseason, he finished as strong as he started, belting six doubles and four home runs with a .353 on-base percentage in September.

Perhaps no D-backs player endured more change in his role than Jackson, but he continued to progress as one of the game’s steadiest young hitters. In addition to reach-ing career highs in on-base percentage (.376), batting average (.300) and hits (162), Jackson carried the D-backs offense for stretches of time. He was twice named the N.L. Player of the Week, for his April 14-20 and July 21-27 stretches. Through all of this, Jackson moved from first base to left field after the D-backs lost Eric Byrnes for most of the season due to injuries. Byrnes was a huge part of the D-backs’ red-hot start in 2008, posting a sizzling .897 OPS before he got hurt on a trip to Los Angeles in late April. In the first 21 games of the year, he was batting .293, with 10 doubles, three home runs and a 14-game hit streak to boot. The feel-good story of the year was,

undoubtedly, that of Davis. Diagnosed with thyroid cancer days before the start of the season, Davis spent six weeks on the disabled list, returning in dramatic fashion. He started in Atlanta on May 23, 44 days after his last start, and threw seven innings, allowing one run on just five hits and two walks to pick up a win. After the 2008 season, the D-backs under-went a major front-office change. Derrick Hall, previously the President, was named the President and Chief Executive Officer following the depar-ture of the previous Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Moorad. The D-backs approach the 2009 season with more than a decade of success in the rear-view, and lofty goals ahead. With more young pitching on the way, the D-backs will have an opportunity to make the second ten years even better than the first.

Eric Byrnes’ hustle helped lead the D-backs to the NLCS in 2007.

Stephen Drew hit for the third cycle in franchise history on Sept. 1, 2008 (as seen above), and was named the D-backs’ Player of the Year by the Arizona chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America in 2008.

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Since its inception in 1997, before the D-backs ever took the field, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation has been a Valley leader in community involvement. The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation has donated more than $14.5 million to non-profit organizations and communities throughout Arizona since it was first established, and donated more than $2.5 million in 2008. The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation’s annual donations back to the community are more than all of the other sports teams in Phoenix combined. The Foundation focuses its efforts on three main areas of need: homelessness, indigent healthcare and children’s programs of all types, including education and youth baseball field development. The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation par-ticipates in many fundraising efforts, from large-scale events such as the annual Evening on the Diamond to smaller-scale ones like the Mystery Ball Fundraiser. With the dollars raised, the Foundation is able to give back to the community through Grand Slam Awards and various program grants.

evening on the diamond Now in its third year, “Evening on the Diamond” raised more than $3 million combined in 2007 and 2008 for the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, which featured entertainment from national recording artists Kenny Loggins and George Benson performing with Members of The Phoenix Symphony. The headline performer in the 2009 event is comedy legend Bill Cosby. The Evening on the Diamond, to be held April 2 this year, includes a cocktail party and dinner on the Chase Field diamond attended by many of the Valley’s philanthropists and corporations. Members of the D-backs’ team and coaching staff sit with guests at selected tables. Sports memorabilia and entertainment packages are available for purchase in the silent auction, and sports packages go to the highest bidder in the live auc-tion. All proceeds benefit the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation.

d-backs license Plates The idea of a D-backs license plate was originally conceived several years ago as a method of spreading brand awareness and giving loyal fans another outlet to display their team pride. Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano made the D-backs’ license plate program possible after signing House Bill 2727 on Aug. 11, 2006. Senate President Ken Bennett also participated in making the program possible, which became law on Sept. 21, 2006. The license plates hit the streets in the spring of 2007 and more than 9,000 D-backs fans throughout Arizona now have a team license plate on their car.

Fans can now purchase a state-issued D-backs license plate through the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division. The D-backs were the first professional sports team in Arizona and one of roughly a dozen Major League teams to have a state-issued license plate. The Sedona Red and Sonoran Sand license plate features the team’s “D” snake logo in the background and “D-backs” across the bottom. The plate can be purchased at servicearizona.com or in person at any Motor Vehicle Division office throughout Arizona.

“diamonds back” Field building Program The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation’s cor-nerstone of giving is the “Diamonds Back” Field Building Program. The fields are built through the aid of corporate partners APS and Summit Builders, local businesses, funds from the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and monetary donations from individual players and owners. Fields include a backstop, full fencing, dugouts, bleachers, bullpens, irrigation, fully turfed playing surfaces, warning tracks, electric scoreboards, scorer’s tables, storage units and lighting systems. One of the more unique and notable fields con-structed by the program is the $3.7 million four-field Diamondbacks Youth Complex at the Reach 11 sports complex in North Phoenix, which was dedicated in 2007. The complex includes two adaptive fields and two Little League fields for youth experiencing a disability and able-bodied children to play and learn baseball side-by-side. The Reach League, comprised of several teams filled with disabled youths aged 6-16, began play on the adaptive fields, made with a synthetic surface called Tot Turf, immediately after they opened in the fall of 2007. Doug Davis Field in Camp Verde, Ariz. was the 28th youth field either constructed or refurbished by the field building program in Arizona since 2000.

grand slam awards & Program grants Established in 2002, the Grand Slam Award is designed to make a considerable impact on community organizations by providing a grant of $100,000. Made possible by contributions from the D-backs Partnership Group, the Grand Slam Award has been given to the Southwest Autism Research Center and Resource Center, ACCEL, the Amblyopia Foundation, Clinica Adelante, Chrysalis Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence, Arizona Helping Hands, Phoenix Herpetological Society, UMOM, Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix, the Arizona Science Center, Junior Achievement of Arizona and The Rodel Foundation of Arizona. In addition to the Grand Slam Award, the D-backs Foundation contributes more than $250,000 annually to support community programs throughout Arizona with grants awarded in amounts of $1,000 to $5,000.

D-BACKS lEADING ThE WAYIN COMMuNITY INvOlvEMENT

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season Ticket scholarship Program Prior to the 2008 season, the D-backs introduced a first-of-its-kind season ticket scholarship plan for fans or existing season ticket holders who may have experienced a change in personal circumstances or who could demonstrate financial need. More than 25 families whose nominations were approved by the D-backs were given full season tickets on the lower level at Chase Field for the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

hometown Tour presented by aPs Every year, D-backs players, coaches and staff head north, south, east and west to visit the cities and small towns that make up the Arizona fan base on the D-backs Hometown Tour presented by APS. Stops include visits to schools and hospitals, along with autograph signings and appearances on D-backs radio affiliates. D-backs shortstop Stephen Drew, who grew up in Hahira, Ga., a small town three hours from Atlanta, said he was able to find an immediate connection with D-backs fans who live hours away from Chase Field. “I kind of know what those kids feel like,” said Drew, who traveled on the east tour in 2008. “When somebody comes in who they have seen on TV, they say, ‘whoa.’ It’s a great feeling for them. I like that small town feeling. That brought back some memories.”

military appreciation day The D-backs honor past and present members of the armed forces when they host Military Appreciation Day. In 2008, the event coincided with the team host-ing the San Diego Padres on July 4. A number of military groups and personnel participated in pre-game ceremonies and were recog-nized throughout the game. Prior to the game, military personnel attending as Fox Sports Arizona guests and five Purple Heart recipients from Wounded Warriors were recognized on the field, while Disabled American Veterans and MLB’s Welcome Back Veterans initiative were acknowledged with video messages on the Chase Field high definition video scoreboard. Fox Sports Arizona also honored those in the military with its “This One’s For You” telecast. During the coverage of the D-backs game, the television network recognized members of the United States military and also conducted live satellite interviews with an Arizona National Guard unit serving in Iraq.

mystery ball Fundraiser On Aug. 9, 2008, the D-backs hosted their first-ever Mystery Ball Fundraiser, and after it’s enormous suc-cess, they will host another in 2009. Fans can purchase a grab bag with a concealed, signed baseball inside it. The balls were signed by current D-backs

stars such as Brandon Webb, past D-backs greats such as Mark Grace and Matt Williams, and stars from other teams, such as Chipper Jones and Ryan Howard. All proceeds benefit the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation.

native american recognition day, native american inter-Tribal Tournament and nabi baseball Tournament The first Native American Baseball Invitational was held July 5-9, 2008, in Phoenix, partnering with the 10th annual Arizona Diamondbacks Inter-Tribal Youth Baseball Tournament. Five years ago, the Native American Basketball Invitational was created in an effort to create opportuni-ties for Native American high school players to receive college scholarships. The Phoenix-based tournament started small, but quickly grew, and now, heading into its sixth year, it’s the first all-Native American tour-nament certified by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and draws teams from all over the country. Based on the success of the NABI, its founders decided to give the same opportunities to baseball and softball players as well. NABI Baseball, which featured high schoolers, and the D-backs’ tournament, which featured elemen-tary, middle school and early high school players, were hosted by the D-backs in partnership with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and NABI. The tournaments are in conjunction with Native American Recognition day, an annual showcase of aspects of American Indian culture, held at Chase Field. The yearly event is the only one of its kind in all of Major League Baseball. The event is highlighted by a pre-game ceremony featuring a traditional song and dance performed by youth from various Arizona tribes. The Diamondbacks Spirit Award for Native American Youth Advocacy is

Justin Upton greets a fan in a hospital.

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also awarded during an on-field ceremony. The 2008 event took place before the D-backs game with the San Diego Padres on July 5.

United Way Campaign Every year, D-backs employees look forward to participating in the team’s United Way campaign. Through various fundraising efforts, the D-backs are able to give back to one of the most far-reaching com-munity organizations in America. In 2007, as the team was coming down the stretch toward a National League West championship, the D-backs donated $5 from the purchase of every ticket to the Valley of the Sun United Way. The D-backs were able to donate $622,880 through the program.

Winter Classic The D-backs have been hosting the Winter Classic for underprivileged children at Chase Field ever since the team’s inception in 1998. Beginning in 2005, though, the team decided to do even more for the par-ticipating children. For the past three years, D-backs employees have provided new pairs of athletic shoes for the holidays at the event. “Everybody who has the means should give back if they have the chance,” said D-backs pitching coach Bryan Price, who has appeared at three Winter Classics. “The Diamondbacks make an extra effort, and I’m proud to be a part of that extension. To me, we’re benefiting because we get to watch the excite-ment on the kids’ faces.” At the event, each group of kids rotates through a series of four stations, monitored by a group of vol-unteers that includes volunteering D-backs employees.

At the Santa Claus station, each youngster has the opportunity for a picture with Santa Claus and a D-backs player and to receive a toy. At the food station, the kids get to sample ballpark fare and eat at picnic tables. At the music station, they have the chance to expend some energy by participating in a variety of upbeat dances emceed by a DJ. At the shoe station, each child receives a new pair of shoes and has an opportunity to talk to and receive autographs from D-backs players and coaches.

A board of Diamondback and Maricopa County appointees are responsible for annually approving all grant applications. The Arizona Diamondbacks take great pride in being recognized as a leader in community giving. Our commitment to the needs of our state will continue be a cornerstone of our corporate mission. Board members include: Executive Committee Chairman Ken Kendrick President Michael Kennedy Vice President Derrick M. Hall Advisors Julie Schweigert, Dean Short Board of Directors Annette Auxier, Ron Barness, Brad Nelsen, Hope H. Ozer, Issac Serna, Michael Yates, William Perry, Roy Hendrickson The Diamondbacks Community Affairs office offers a variety of programs for the community. Fan mail and requests for player appearances, donations, and sponsorships must be submit-ted in writing, addressed to the following:

Arizona Diamondbacks Community Affairs DepartmentP.O. Box 2095

Phoenix, AZ 85004

“diamonds baCk” FieldsField name site City location dedication dateMatt Williams Field Simpson Elementary School Phoenix, AZ 23rd Ave. and 1/4 N. of Camelback June 27, 2000Jay Bell Field Gateway Elementary School Phoenix, AZ Just North of Loop 202 on 35th St. September 29, 2000O’Callaghan Field St. Agnus Church Phoenix, AZ McDowell and 24th St. June 30, 2001Randy Johnson Field Eastlake Park Phoenix, AZ Jefferson and 15th St. September 26, 2001Curt Schilling Field Indian Bend Elementary Phoenix, AZ 36th St. and Thunderbird April 3, 2002Steve Finley Field Smith Park Phoenix, AZ 41st Ave. and Buckeye August 7, 2002Brian Anderson Field Lions Park Glendale, AZ 63rd Ave. North of Grand September 9, 2002Armando Reynoso Field Somerton Middle School Somerton, AZ 10 Miles South of Yuma September 12, 2002Todd Stottlemyre Field Town of Guadalupe Guadalupe, AZ Priest Dr. South of Baseline September 27, 2002Jerry Colangelo Field South Mountain YMCA Phoenix, AZ Central and South of Baseline June 6, 2003Miguel Batista Field District 3 Ballfield Sacaton, AZ Main and Parkway August 5, 2003Mark Grace Field Arroyo Park Flagstaff, AZ Lone Tree and Paseo del Flag August 28, 2003Matt Mantei Field Clark Park Tempe, AZ 620 W. 19th St. September 26, 2003Elmer Dessens Field Jacobs Park Tucson, AZ Prince Rd. and Fairview March 23, 2004Shea Hillenbrand Field Chandler Boys & Girls Club Chandler, AZ Chandler Blvd. and Arizona Ave. July 23, 2004Danny Bautista Field Hamilton Elementary School Phoenix, AZ 19th Ave. and Durango September 16, 2004Troy Glaus Field Casa Grande L.L. Complex Casa Grande, AZ 900 N. Amarillo St. May 25, 2005Shawn Green Field Varney Park Peoria, AZ 11820 N. 81st Ave. September 13, 2005Luis Gonzalez Field Tempe Beach Park Tempe, AZ 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway September 26, 2005Craig Counsell Field Earl Edgar Recreation Center Buckeye, AZ 201 E. Centre Ave. June 26, 2006Williams Family Field Show Low City Park Show Low, AZ 12th Ave. & Owens St. August 31, 2006Mark Grace Thunderbolt Field Luke Air Force Base, Fowler Park Glendale, AZ W. Lightning Rd. September 14, 2006Brandon Webb Field Diamondbacks Youth Complex Phoenix, AZ 3075 E. Deer Valley Rd. September 17, 2007Chad Tracy Field Diamondbacks Youth Complex Phoenix, AZ 3075 E. Deer Valley Rd. September 17, 2007D-backs Partners Field Diamondbacks Youth Complex Phoenix, AZ 3075 E. Deer Valley Rd. September 17, 2007Rich Dozer Field Diamondbacks Youth Complex Phoenix, AZ 3075 E. Deer Valley Rd. September 17, 2007D-Votion Field Estrella Mountain Elementary Goodyear, AZ 10301 S. San Miguel September 2, 2008Doug Davis Field Camp Verde High School Camp Verde, AZ 1326 N. Montezuma Castle Hwy. September 12, 2008

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While success on the field and financial sta-bility are utmost priorities for the D-backs from a business perspective, the team emphasizes one other thing equally as much — strong corporate culture. The culture is evident, of course, in the organi-zation’s “Circle of Success,” and can be seen in first Friday luncheons, quarterly employee outings and other events. The “Circle of Success” focuses the organization’s efforts on performance, community, culture, financial efficiency and fan experience. On the first Friday of every month, D-backs employees are treated to lunch, along with an interview segment between President and Chief Executive Officer Derrick Hall and a special guest, which has included influential people internally, such as Executive Vice President and General Manager Josh Byrnes, and externally, such as Laurel Prieb, Major League Baseball’s Vice President for Western Operations and Special Projects. It is at these meetings that Hall also introduces the organization’s Employee of the Month, who earns a personalized D-backs jersey, plaques, an executive parking space for the month and a spot on the team’s prestigious President’s Council. The ownership group and executive man-agement team met with small groups of employ-ees through “General Partnership” lunches and “President Roundtable” meetings to communicate the organization’s goals and objectives while also tak-ing suggestions from employees. Through feedback from employees, a President’s Council was formed, comprised of select members of the executive man-agement team and a rotating committee consisting of the organization’s Employee of the Month winners, to organize numerous company events to enhance the culture through the company. The President’s Council meets regularly to dis-cuss wide-ranging organizational topics, including selecting Employees of the Month and scheduling quarterly employee outings, which have included bowling and golf tournaments, a yearly softball tournament, and community projects such as vol-unteering at St. Mary’s Food Bank. The President’s Council is also treated to an annual trip prior to the start of the season. In 2008 and 2009, the group travelled to Los Angeles to see live tapings of ABC’s “The Jimmy Kimmel Show” and visit Disneyland and Universal Studios, allow-ing the group to take in experiences at facilities that pride themselves on great customer experiences, much like the D-backs. While the team has several avenues to honor team employees, including a monthly segment in the team magazine, D-backs Insider, the organization wanted to find a way to pay tribute to gameday employees who are, to many D-backs fans, the face

of the franchise. This includes employees from game operations, guest relations, guest services, Levy res-taurants, security, Team Shop, ticket offices, traffic support systems, and suites and premium services. These standout employees are honored on the field in a pregame ceremony and presented with an engraved wooden bat and a special lapel pin by Hall and a D-backs player. Each employee also receives a framed picture of the presentation to commemorate this special recognition. The A-Game All-Stars policy is part of the larger FAWTSY (Find A Way To Say Yes) customer service policy which is adhered to by the entire organization to further improve upon the extraor-dinary fan experience at Chase Field. These are regular segments, of course, but the D-backs also have an annual United Way campaign, during which two D-backs employees are given the opportunity to take leadership roles for presenta-tions throughout the company. All D-backs employees also receive a monthly employee newsletter, featuring stories germane to their work and question-and-answer segments with various employees. The organization’s investment into its employ-ees resulted in the D-backs being named one of the “Best Places to Work” in Phoenix by the Phoenix Business Journal and BestCompaniesAZ in 2007 and 2008 and also PHOENIX Magazine in 2008. The D-backs were the first sports organization to be named a “Best Place to Work” in the program’s five-year history. While the D-backs take a great deal of pride in their presentation to those outside Chase Field, it’s equally important to express the gratitude for the hard work done by those inside the ballpark. With monthly events and larger-scale annual occur-rences, the D-backs are putting a strong emphasis on employee culture, to show appreciation to all team employees.

D-BACKS GROWING ORGANIZATIONAl CulTuRE

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Visitors to Chase Field will notice some changes this year, including a new pool sponsor and a brand new section in the left field Insight Diamond Level area. Beginning in the left-field section 221, the new all-you-can-eat seats will allow fans to enjoy a D-backs game and all their favorite ballpark food. Conveniently positioned one level below the St. Joeseph’s Sandlot kids’ area, the new family-friendly section features its own private lounge with plenty of space to move around plus extra-wide seats with added leg room. Fans can enjoy unlimited ballpark fare, such as hot dogs, popcorn, chips, peanuts, soda and water. Looking toward the rightfield side, fans will see the RideNow Powersports Pool. RideNow Powersports agreed to a three-year contract with the D-backs prior to the 2009 season to be the official sponsor of base-ball’s most unique in-ballpark attraction. Sandlot, presented by St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, was a ballpark attraction that devel-oped over time, becoming a major destination point for families during the 2008 season. For Opening Day 2007, the initial stage of D-backs President and Chief Executive Officer Derrick Hall’s vision for an expansive, interactive kids’ area at Chase Field was completed, when a Wiffle ball field was launched at a previously underused area on the upper level in left field. In August of that year, the area began to grow, incorporating Futures Field, a playground and a batting cage. Over the offseason, the area received an upgrade thanks to a partnership agreement with St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. The partnership with St. Joseph’s enhanced the character of the area, which was refurbished with a “sandlot” look and feel reminiscent of old-style base-ball fields while promoting a healthy and active lifestyle for kids. In addition to the St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center branding elements, the team added a tod-dler playground, and remodeled the kids’ playground clubhouses in an effort to be more user-friendly to accessible-needs children, maximize available space and to ease congestion within the playground. In 2008, the D-backs also introduced the most notable and sizable change to Chase Field — dbTV. Towering high above center field is the most magnificent video board in Major League Baseball, a 136-feet-by-46-feet high definition LED board, made by Daktronics. Based in Brookings, S.D., Daktronics is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of electronic video boards and other large display systems. The com-pany also worked with the D-backs and the Maricopa Stadium District on installing Chase Field’s now-outdated incandescent and cathode ray tube boards,

the sound system which was updated in 2006, and the LED ribbon display installed prior to the 2007 season that rings the second deck of the stadium. The ribbon runs 1,119 feet and is the largest of its kind in Major League Baseball. The LED (light-emitting diode) video board is so wide that it is capable of displaying two true high-definition 16:9 images side by side. It also provides the D-backs video crew with many display options, including using it to show one wide video display, or to segment into multiple windows showing a video, animation, still images, a scoreboard and more. The board has 880 native lines of resolution and provides video in up to 4.4 trillion colors. The board is eight times bigger than the previous CRT video board that was used for the D-backs’ first 10 years. The project consumed Chase Field for much of the 2007-2008 offseason in order to be finished in time for the D-backs’ home opener April 7 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. With the changes in signage and appearance that occurred concurrent with the D-backs’ re-branding in 2007, the new LED video board helped to keep Chase Field among the world’s most innovative and technology-driven stadiums. It’s not the first time Chase Field has been consid-ered innovative, however. Nestled among Jefferson Street to the north, Fourth Street to the south and Seventh Street to the east, Chase Field is the epicenter of the downtown Phoenix sports experience. When ground first broke on the building in November of 1995, it was always intended to be among baseball’s most unique parks. Then-named Bank One Ballpark was the first to feature a pool, is fully air-conditioned and features a retractable roof. The RideNow Powersports Pool sits 415 feet from home plate and has been the recipient of many home run balls. The first was hit by Mark Grace, though not during his three years as a D-backs first baseman. He hit it prior to coming to Arizona, as a member of the Chicago Cubs, on May 12, 1998. With all of the amenities and unique facets of the facility, one can easily imagine that it took significant time to build. The project began more than two years before the D-backs ever played a game, but it took all of that time — 28 months in total — to complete the structure, at a cost of $354 million. The park was designed by Ellerbe Beckett, with Bill Johnson serving as the design principal, John Watson as project man-ager and the Huber Hunt & Nichols company working as the managing contractor. The designers borrowed from the downtown Phoenix warehouse district in their concepts, using red

ChASE FIElD CONTINuING TOPROvIDE GREAT GAME ExPERIENCE

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brick and exposed green structural steel. They even borrowed a real warehouse, in fact, incorporating the former Arizona Citrus Growers’ Packing House as the south façade of the building, currently used as a com-missary for Chase Field’s concession stands. On Sept. 23, 2005, the stadium name was changed to Chase Field (from the previous Bank One Ballpark) after the merger between Chase and Bank One. The ballpark was officially opened when the D-backs took on the Colorado Rockies on March 31, 1998, though it has since been used for many events other than baseball. In 2009, the D-backs hosted Fan Fest on the field. While the event had always been hosted at the ballpark, this year marked the first time the playing surface was used. During the 2004 elections, President George W. Bush held a rally for supporters at the stadium. The park is more known for its sports-related uses, of course. Arizona State University and the University of Arizona played two “Challenge at Chase” games at the park in 2006 and 2007, with the Arizona Wildcats winning both times. The stadium hosted the first-ever outdoor college basketball game, when the ASU women’s team hosted Tennessee Dec. 27, 2000. The Sun Devils played at the stadium again on Dec. 18 2006, though the basketball game was cut short with just over four minutes to go because rain began to fall through the opened roof. Chase Field was also the former home of the Insight Bowl, part of college foot-ball’s yearly bowl series. The final Insight Bowl played at Chase Field was won by ASU 45-40 over Rutgers.

The field has also been used to host the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series, AMA Supercross, several international soccer matches and monster truck competition in the Monster Jam series. One of the signature non-D-backs events that Chase Field has hosted was indeed baseball, though. Prior to the 2006 season, Major League Baseball and the International Baseball Federation used the facility to host the opening round of the first World Baseball Classic. The United States defeated Mexico, 2-0, in the first game played at Chase. One of the main reasons Chase Field is considered such a desirable host for sporting events is, of course, its retractable roof. Made with nine million pounds of structural steel and operating with similar technology as draw bridges and overhead traveling cranes, the roof is opened and closed with a pair of 200-horsepower motors taking a little more than four minutes. It also incorporates more than four miles of cable strung through a pulley system. It opens from the middle, so the two segments of the roof can be opened or closed either in unison or independently, depending on need. The roof opens and closes to its own music, which was composed to time out at exactly the four and a half minutes needed to move it. On game days, the roof is left open to help grow the natural grass that is used on the playing field. The surface consists of Bull’s Eye Bermuda, which is con-sidered the most suitable grass for a retractable-roof stadium. Should sunlight prove to be insufficient, requiring more light on some days, large incandescent lights provide a substitute.

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A decision is then made on a day-to-day basis of whether the roof will remain open or closed at game time. The main factor is, of course, the weather. If there is inclement weather, or the threat of inclement weather, the roof will be closed, as it will during day games in the summer when Phoenix temperatures are regularly well over 100 degrees. Because Chase Field is positioned directly north-south, the roof is rarely open during day games even in comfortable weather because of the effect that the afternoon sunlight has on fans along the first-base line. For those hot summer games, Chase Field is air conditioned using the Northwinds cooling system, which was designed to cool down the highly populated facilities in Downtown Phoenix in 2001. The system cools the ballpark in less time than the prior air condi-tioning system did, which allows for the roof to remain open longer during the day time. The air conditioning, along with the LED board and pool area, is all part of the overall Chase Field experience, along with the food and in-game entertain-ment, of course. In nearly a quarter mile of concession stand area, fans can order nearly any kind of food imagin-able. In addition to standard ballpark fare offered at many stands, fans can order from Peter Piper Pizza, Subway, Garcia’s Mexican food, Fatburger, Panda Express Chinese cuisine, Cold Stone ice cream, Gordon Biersch’s famous garlic fries and burgers, and more. One of the more unique stands is Big Dawgs, where fans can order grilled foot-long hot dogs topped

with all sorts of items, such as French fries, chili and cole slaw. Like the combination of a dirt strip to the mound and a retractable roof, the in-game entertainment is a blend of old and new. While the game operations crew plays current hits with the state-of-the-art sound system, the D-backs also incorporate organ music by Bobby Freeman, who has been with the organization since its inception. With a hot dog in hand, singing along to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” played on the stadium organ, and all sorts of video playing on the new high-definition board all in air-conditioned comfort, the Chase Field experience is second-to-none.

TuCSON ElECTRIC PARK

The D-backs return for their 12th spring at Tucson Electric Park in 2009. T.E.P. has a capacity of 11,000, including 8,000 seats in the main grandstand and another 3,000 available on the outfield lawn. Tucson Electric Park has a symmetrical playing surface, measuring 340 feet down each foul line and 405 to straightaway centerfield. The spring home for the D-backs is located at 2500 East Ajo Way in Tucson.

ChASE FIElD vITAlSGroundbreaking November 16, 1995Construction Costs $354 millionArchitect Ellerbe BecketAddress 401 E. Jefferson St., PhoenixPlaying Surface Natural GrassCapacity 48,652

dimensionsLF - 330 feet

LCF - 376 feetCF - 407 feet

RCF - 376 feetRF - 334 feet

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