Bridgeport turns the equivalent of a seamless municipal double play this week as the Bridgeport Bluefish host the Atlantic League All-Star Game on Wednesday and the city hosts one of the giants of the game, Cal Ripken Jr., at a ballfield ribbon-cutting Thursday.
The All-Star Game festivities include the Bluefish All-Star Block Party on Fairfield Avenue at 5:30 p.m. and a post-game party. The game is at 7 p.m. at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard, with tickets running $11 and $14.
The block party will feature live music and food, as well as appearances by the All-Star players and the Atlantic League team mascots. There also will be a VIP reception and presentation at The Bijou Theatre after the block party.
A post-game “Boathouse Bash” with limited ticket sales will take place at the Knowlton Boathouse. Tickets are available at bridgeportbluefish.com or by calling 203-210-BLUE.
Manager Ricky VanAsselberg will skipper the home Liberty Division team against the visiting Freedom Division all-stars. Six Bluefish made the all-star squad.
Brian Shapiro, owner of Cigar Factory Outlet, will participate in the post-game party along with his company”™s “torcedor,” who will hand-roll cigars for attendees and discuss the process.
Ripken is coming to Bridgeport to celebrate the opening of the new community ballfields that his father”™s foundation helped build at the Blackham School Youth Development Park at 425 Thorme St.
The new fields at the Blackham School incorporate synthetic turf as well as new dugouts, scoreboards and backstops. The field is described as all-inclusive and will be open to special-needs athletes.
