Marauders Gear Hits the Market

The Bradenton Marauders began selling merchandise at the McKechnie Field Gift Shop and Pirate City in Bradenton on Tuesday. The Pittsburgh Pirates' affiliate, which will begin its first season in the Class-A Florida State League in April, can also process e-mail orders for merchandise at maraudersinfo@pirates.com. The team is in the process of opening an online store.

Here's some pics of the Marauders gear from the team's facebook page:

Championship Team, Staff Come to Bradenton and FSL for 2010 Season

Check out the story from Associated Content.

Marauders Hold Facebook Fan Edge Over Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training

The Bradenton Marauders, who will begin their first season as the Pittsburgh Pirates' affiliate in the Class-A Advanced Florida State League on April 8, started Jan. 26 with 1,024 fans on Facebook. The Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training page on the same social networking site began the day with 324 fans.

Florida State League Alignment

The following is a breakdown of the Florida State League's two divisions with the team's parent organization in parenthesis.

NORTH DIVISION
Brevard County Manatees (Milwaukee Brewers)
Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia Phillies)
Daytona Cubs (Chicago Cubs)
Dunedin Blue Jays (Toronto Blue Jays)
Lakeland Flying Tigers (Detroit Tigers)
Tampa Yankees (New York Yankees)

SOUTH DIVISION
Bradenton Marauders (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Charlotte Stone Crabs (Tampa Bay Rays)
Fort Myers Miracle (Minnesota Twins)
Jupiter Hammerheads (Florida Marlins)
Palm Beach Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals)
St. Lucie Mets (New York Mets)

Important Dates (2010 Season)

The following are some of the key dates for the 2010 Bradenton Marauders and the rest of the Florida State League

APRIL 8 Franchise opener against visiting Fort Myers, 7 p.m.
JUNE 11-13 Florida State League All-Star Break
JUNE 12 FSL All-Star Game at Viera, 7:35 p.m.
JUNE 24 Start of the second half
SEPT. 5 End of the second half/regular season
SEPT. 6 Playoff Date (if necessary)
SEPT. 7 Start of the FSL Championship Series

2010 Home Schedule

The following is the Bradenton Marauders' home schedule for the 2010 Florida State League season. All home games are scheduled to be played at McKechnie Field, which has served as the Pittsburgh Pirates' spring training home since 1969.

APRIL 8 Fort Myers 7 p.m.
APRIL 12 Fort Myers 7 p.m.
APRIL 16 St. Lucie 7 p.m.
APRIL 17 St. Lucie 6 p.m.
APRIL 18 St. Lucie 1 p.m.
APRIL 19 Jupiter 7 p.m.
APRIL 20 Jupiter 7 p.m.
APRIL 21 Jupiter 7 p.m.
APRIL 23 Fort Myers 7 p.m.
APRIL 27 Palm Beach 7 p.m.
APRIL 28 Palm Beach 7 p.m.
APRIL 29 Palm Beach 7 p.m.
APRIL 30 Charlotte 7 p.m.

MAY 1 Charlotte 6 p.m.
MAY 2 Charlotte 1 p.m.
MAY 10 Daytona 7 p.m.
MAY 11 Daytona 7 p.m.
MAY 12 Daytona 7 p.m.
MAY 13 Daytona 7 p.m.
MAY 14 Fort Myers 7 p.m.
MAY 24 Fort Myers 7 p.m.
MAY 25 Fort Myers 7 p.m.
MAY 26 Fort Myers 7 p.m.
MAY 27 Tampa 7 p.m.
MAY 28 Tampa 6 p.m.
MAY 30 Tampa 1 p.m.

JUNE 1 Lakeland 7 p.m.
JUNE 2 Lakeland 7 p.m.
JUNE 3 Lakeland 7 p.m.
JUNE 17 Jupiter 7 p.m.
JUNE 18 Jupiter 7 p.m.
JUNE 19 Jupiter 6 p.m.
JUNE 21 St. Lucie 7 p.m.
JUNE 22 St. Lucie 7 p.m.
JUNE 23 St. Lucie 11 a.m.
JUNE 27 Fort Myers 1 p.m.
JUNE 28 Fort Myers 7 p.m.

JULY 4 Palm Beach 6 p.m.
JULY 5 Palm Beach 7 p.m.
JULY 6 Palm Beach 7 p.m.
JULY 7 Charlotte 7 p.m.
JULY 8 Charlotte 7 p.m.
JULY 9 Charlotte 7 p.m.
JULY 14 Clearwater 7 p.m.
JULY 15 Clearwater 7 p.m.
JULY 16 Clearwater 7 p.m.
JULY 17 Clearwater 7 p.m.
JULY 22 Dunedin 7 p.m.
JULY 23 Dunedin 7 p.m.
JULY 24 Dunedin 6 p.m.
JULY 25 Dunedin 1 p.m.
JULY 27 Lakeland 7 p.m.

AUGUST 4 Brevard County 7 p.m.
AUGUST 5 Brevard County 7 p.m.
AUGUST 6 Brevard County 7 p.m.
AUGUST 7 Brevard County 6 p.m.
AUGUST 12 Jupiter 7 p.m.
AUGUST 13 Jupiter 7 p.m.
AUGUST 14 Jupiter 6 p.m.
AUGUST 15 Palm Beach 6 p.m.
AUGUST 16 Palm Beach 7 p.m.
AUGUST 17 Palm Beach 7 p.m.
AUGUST 23 Fort Myers 7 p.m.
AUGUST 24 St. Lucie 7 p.m.
AUGUST 25 St. Lucie 7 p.m.
AUGUST 26 St. Lucie 7 p.m.
AUGUST 27 Charlotte 7 p.m.
AUGUST 28 Charlotte 6 p.m.
AUGUST 30 Charlotte 7 p.m.