2/16/2003 & 2004, The 1st Pitch with Trick Pony, Scottsdale Stadium & Rawhide Western Town, Scottsdale, AZ


 18 (and 17) years ago today...

February 16, 2003 & 2004 - Scottsdale, AZ

Community boosters The Charros kicked off spring training in their city with "1st Pitch," a celebrity softball game and country concert headlined by Trick Pony at Scottsdale Stadium in 2003 and Rawhide Western Town in 2004.

In a TSTT rarity, the same event with the same band happened on the same date in consecutive years.

Serving as goodwill ambassadors and fundraisers for City of Scottsdale, The Charros help operate Scottsdale Stadium for San Francisco Giants spring games and run the Charro Lodge, an all-inclusive F&B patio in right field.  The Charros also present the Parada del Sol rodeo and parade and the Trails End street party, recalling the roots of "The West's Most Western Town."

Local media celebrities, politicos and a few old timer baseball players took part in the softball game.  Trick Pony, the 2001 CMA Artist of the Year, headlined the live concert in both shows.  The act didn't last long as Heidi Newfield, lead vocalist and pretty face of the band, left the band in 2006.  After modest success as a solo artist, Heidi rejoined the band in 2016 for a third album, but it didn't chart and the group broke up again.

In non-pandemic years, Scottsdale Stadium is typically sold out with some of the highest ticket prices in the Cactus League.  I'm assuming that the 1st Pitch event was cancelled when it became clear that desert baseball in March under sunny skies and 70-degree temps didn't need a lot of extra promotion.

I guess you could say 1st Pitch was a Two-Trick Pony.

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