The Fourth Annual RailCats Fan Fest had a basketball twist and helped kick off the baseball season for RailCats fans from all over the Region. On the day of the 2012 Final Four, fans gathered for the first Fan Fest to be held at U. S. Steel Yard.

After the opening ceremonies, fans got to mingle with RailCats players past and present along with White Sox legend Minnie Minoso and two-time NBA Champion Cliff Levingston. There were question-and-answer sessions, autographs, baseball clinics and games that included great prizes, including a free night in a luxury suite at a RailCats game.

“We want to thank our fans and sponsors for another great Fan Fest,” RailCats President and General Manager Kevin Spudic said. “It was a fun way to welcome the baseball season and we are proud to have such loyal fans and supporters. We can’t wait to see everyone again for Opening Day on May 25.”

Minnie Minoso and Cliff Levingston each had autograph sessions at the First Midwest Bank booth in the Diamond Club. Minoso is the only professional baseball player to play in seven decades, and Levingston is a former Chicago Bulls forward and former coach of the Gary Steelheads basketball team.

Current RailCats outfielder Mike Coles, infielder Mike Rohde, manager Greg Tagert and coach Mick Curran and bullpen catcher Aaron Ciaburri were joined by former RailCats pitcher Travis Kerber and infielder Eric Blakeley.

The fan photo submissions from the Post-Tribune Photo Contest were on display, and Marilyn Abramczyk won the grand prize of four box seat flex tickets, $50 in Cat Coins and a ceremonial first pitch at a RailCats game.

Fans also enjoyed the first annual Chili Cook-Off, won by Paulla Weinberg, who took home $100 worth of Cat Coins good for tickets, merchandise or food and a $50 gift card to Chili's. The donations from fans that determined the cook-off winner all went to benefit Merry Meals.

During the cook-off, the Final Four basketball games were on the TV’s in the Diamond Club and capped a great day of events at U. S. Steel Yard.

The RailCats would like to thank the sponsors who helped make Fan Fest a success: presenting sponsor First Midwest Bank, the Post-Tribune, LakeShore Radio, SelectServ, North Coast Distributing, Indiana University Northwest, Digital Printworks, Indiana 105, Red Hot Chicago, Merry Meals, POPOS Parties and Pepsi.

Photos from the event are available on the RailCats flickr page at this link.