GARY, Ind. — The Gary SouthShore RailCats are coming back home for a lengthy stint and have a wild week of promotions ready for fans to enjoy. After three games with the Joliet JackHammers June 26-28 at U. S. Steel Yard, the RailCats will continue with six more contests at their home confines.

The RailCats will host the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks for three games beginning Tuesday, June 30 as U. S. Steel Yard celebrates baseball, Chicago style. On Chicago Night, fans will interact with mascots visiting from the Windy City, enjoy a performance from The Blues Brothers, and get $2 off their tickets if they wear an item supporting their favorite Chicago sports team. The second set of RailCats baseball cards will also be given away to the first 1,000 fans through the gates, courtesy of U. S. Steel Gary Works. Gates open at 6 p.m.

As the calendar flips to Wednesday, July 1, the RailCats will turn U. S. Steel Yard into a country club for the evening as Tennis & Golf Night will feature special promotions and prizes in honor of the fine sports. Gates open at 6 p.m. and fans can also get $2 off their tickets if they dress in tennis and golf garb. The first 1,000 fans will also receive a picture pack featuring shots of RailCats players and coaches who will be available to sign their photos on the concourse near the main entrance until 6:30 p.m. Picture packs are courtesy of Great Lakes Orthopedics.

This week’s baseball cards and picture packs will showcase RailCats pitchers Onan Masaoka, Aaron Cook, former pitcher Jeff Fischer, infielder Mike Rohde, catcher Anthony Esquer, and pitching coach Jamie Bennett.

Thursday, July 2 will feature a special 2 p.m. start and will introduce the RailCats Businessperson’s Special where fans can receive a free ticket with the purchase of a regular priced ticket if they bring a note from their boss. A RailCats jersey will be awarded to the fan with the most creative excuse. Thursday will see the first 1,000 fans through the gates receive an envelope containing cash. Five lucky fans will each win $100 in the second NIEMI Associates money giveaway of 2009. The weekend begins early as the RailCats present their second “Thirsty Thursday” of 2009 at U. S. Steel Yard. Fans aged 21 and older can enjoy $2 MGD and Miller Lite drafts, sponsored by North Coast Distributing and X-Rock 103.9 FM. Gates open at 1 p.m.

Friday, July 3, the holiday weekend gets into full swing when the Winnipeg Goldeyes make their first appearance at U. S. Steel Yard for a three-game series. The first 1,000 fans receive a special RailCats camouflage hat, courtesy of the U. S. Army. Gates open at 6 p.m. and after the game, fans will be treated to a fireworks show presented by First Midwest Bank and The Post-Tribune. Along with celebrating our independence, the RailCats will celebrate diversity with All Faiths Night. It is also Portage Community Night as all Portage residents receive $2 off their tickets with a valid ID.

Saturday, July 4, there’s nowhere better to observe Independence Day than the ballpark as the RailCats celebrate with special giveaways and great surprises for Freedom Fest. Bring supplies to be donated to soldiers overseas and get $2 off the price of any ticket.  The RailCats are soliciting toiletries, calling cards, first aid supplies, playing cards, DVDs and more in association with www.operationac.com.

The first 2,000 fans on July 4 will also receive a free RailCats baseball, courtesy of Indiana University-Northwest and The Post-Tribune. The RailCats and the Les Turner ALS Foundation will honor the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig’s famous speech to raise awareness of Lou Gehrig’s disease. After the game, fans can enjoy a special holiday fireworks spectacular presented by First Midwest Bank and The Post-Tribune. Gates open at 5 p.m.

Also on July 4, the RailCats are proud to congratulate Paulla Weinberg of Merrillville, who won a drawing for 10 free tickets to Saturday's game and will get the chance to throw out a ceremonial first pitch before the game starts!  Congratulations to Paulla who was randomly selected from hundreds of fans who signed up at U. S. Steel Yard all season long.

Sunday, July 5, the weekend closes out with The Times Family Day. Families who clip the coupon in Sunday’s edition of The Times can buy four box seat tickets, four hot dogs, and four sodas for just $36. The first 500 kids will be given a free Kids Pack sponsored by “A Place of Our Own”, airing on Lakeshore Public Television. Gates open at 1 p.m. with a 2 p.m. first pitch.

Over the course of the homestand, the RailCats expect a milestone to be reached. Since its inception, U. S. Steel Yard has seen 981,002 fans pass through their gates, leaving the RailCats just 18,998 fans shy of reaching one million. The RailCats will recognize their one millionth fan when they pass through the gates during the homestand.

Tickets are available for every game of the homestand and can be purchased by calling (219) 882-2255, by visiting the U. S. Steel Yard Box Office, or by logging on to www.railcatsbaseball.com.