More than 6,500 fans attended the Syracuse Chiefs’ opening day, a 4-1 loss to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Some found it inspiring, with the stadium dressed up in bunting and, hey, baseball back in town. Others — notably members of the Simone family, the team’s former management — found it … uninspiring. Members of the family registered complaints on social media about a range of issues, including the movement of a bust of Tex Simone, a long-time Chiefs executive, from the walkway in the stands (above) to the Hank Sauer room, at the end of the first-base line.
New Times photographer Michael Davis was on hand to capture the days events. See his photos below:
(Michael Davis Photo | Syracuse New Times)
Chiefs General Manager, Jason Smorol. (Michael Davis Photo | Syracuse New Times)
(Michael Davis Photo | Syracuse New Times)
Dominic Motanaro, 1 1/2 years old, and Mom. (Michael Davis Photo | Syracuse New Times)
(Michael Davis Photo | Syracuse New Times)
A day off from work for (L to R) Steve Chase, Ken Pliszka and Rod McDonald. (Michael Davis Photo | Syracuse New Times)
(Michael Davis Photo | Syracuse New Times)
Scene from a beer line -Jim Demko and Tim Perez. (Michael Davis Photo | Syracuse New Times)
Betty Lamb of Syracuse bundles up but never misses opening day. (Michael Davis Photo | Syracuse New Times)