The Sacramento Rivercats, a minor league affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, welcomed former 49ers tight end Ted Popson to Raley Field last Friday. The former 49er threw out the ceremonial first pitch and stuck around to chat with fans and sign a few autographs.

Also joining Popson were a few 49ers cheerleaders that welcomed fans to the park. The night was dubbed 49er Faithful night and most in attendance left with a ticket to an upcoming 49er game.

Much of the local fan base is drawn to Raley Field because of the atmosphere pf the Minor Leagues. With no star power, drawing thousands of fans into the small stadium could be a difficult task. The Rivercats make sure to keep fans entertained and rely on local customers to continue coming back. The team also boasts a beautiful stadium set in downtown Sacramento. The facility is not only used for baseball but high profile concerts as well.

Things that you will never see at a major league ballpark include the Rivercats version of American Idol. Fans are put in the spotlight and get one song each between innings to impress the crowd and get their votes. A young boy got the opportunity to pie his dad in the face. And of course there's the hot dog gun that the mascot uses to launch free food into the stands. Sure the games may not count for much, and the players may be unknowns, but the Sacramento Rivercats sure do make the trip to the ballpark worth it.