Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 15, 2001
Illuminated parade
It's time for another parade through Ybor City, this one sponsored by the Tampa Rough Riders in honor of St. Patrick's Day. The illuminated night parade always draws 100,000 or so, and organizers are expecting an even bigger crowd this year because the Saturday event falls on March 17. More than 100 units are scheduled, including floats from all the usual krewes and a few new ones, including Ye Muttly Krewe of dog lovers. The parade begins at 8 p.m. on Fourth Avenue and winds down Nuccio Parkway to Seventh Avenue, finishing at 20th Street. Expect lots of partying along Seventh as revelers celebrate the Wearing o' the Green.
About 50 celebrities and former baseball greats take the field at Florida Power Park/Al Lang Field Saturday for the annual Legends of Baseball Game, hosted this year by Wade Boggs. The baseball immortals scheduled to appear include Hall of Famers Bob Feller, 82, Rollie Fingers, 54, Ferguson Jenkins, 57, Brooks Robinson, 63, Robin Roberts, 74, and Harmon Killebrew, 64.
Former greats Goose Gossage, Bert Blyleven, Tug McGraw and Vida Blue also are expected in the line-up, as are actor Mark Harmon and singer Joe Walsh, regulars for the annual game. Actor Jonathan Silverman and comedian Elayne Boosler also plan to play.
The game starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $6-$8 and available at Ticketmaster at (813) 287-8844 or (727) 898-2100, or the Al Lang box office, 230 First St. S, St. Petersburg.
As part of the event, Fingers and Jenkins will be signing autographs at Tyrone Square Mall noon-2 p.m. Saturday. Feller, Gossage and Killebrew will sign 1-3 p.m.; Boggs and Robinson will sign 2-4 p.m. Autographs range from $15 to $35. Money raised from autographs goes to All Children's Hospital. For information, call the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association at (727) 892-6744.