Derby City’s newest sports team is fixing to be the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball.
Meet the Louisville Jockeys. Between their dinosaur-themed season opener yesterday against the Madisonville Miners, the 20 specialty home games they’ll be playing at Derby City Field in Cyril Allgeier Park + a custom wine created just for the team, the Jockeys are looking to deliver more than just baseball this summer.
But first, meet the boys in green. The Jockeys’ 30+ player roster is made up of athletes from across the country with skills ranging from junior to Division I ball. While the team is mostly locals from around the area, a few West Coasters have journeyed to the 502 for the summer like Max Samson + Justin Santoyo of Seattle, WA and Garden Grove, CA, respectively.
The Jockeys are the latest to join the Ohio Valley League, which consists of 10 teams from Kentucky, Tennessee + Indiana. The league operates according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules and guidelines — aside from the fact that they play with wooden bats.
In total, the Jockeys will play 40 games between now and the season’s end on Sun., July 31, including playoff games which will begin Thurs., July 21.
As for what elevates them to Globetrotter status? Each game will come with family-friendly, inclusive entertainment in addition to the baseball game itself. For example, last night’s “Dinosaur Night,” included a costume contest, dinosaur races + a roaring contest.
The themes only get more quirky as the summer goes on — like Jorts and Mullet Night, Colonel Sanders Day + Dress Like a Baby Night.
As part of the Jockeys’ inaugural season, the team has also joined forces with nearby Lanesville, IN-based New Vibes Wine Co. to offer their first official wine, Louisville Jockeys’ Dinger Rosé — whose name is in reference to “hitting a humdinger.”
The Jockeys’ Dinger Rosé — which will also be available in slushie form, by the glass, or by the bottle at games — is a 2019 light-bodied, dry rosé from California with notes of peach + apricot.
Catch the next game
- Louisville Jockeys vs. Muhlenberg County Stallions | Sat., June 4 | 6:30 p.m. | Derby City Field | $9 | Come for “Jockey Night,” and see the game with some of your favorite jockeys.
- Louisville Jockeys vs. Franklin Duelers | Sun., June 5 | 6:30 p.m. | Derby City Field | $9 | Grab your leash + furbaby because it’s “Bring your dog to the ballpark” night.
- Louisville Jockeys vs. Owensboro RiverDawgs | Fri., June 10 | 6:30 p.m. | Derby City Field | $9 | Don your most colorful wrestling mask as the Ohio Valley Wrestling League takes over the field for “Luchador Night.”