It’s opening night for the Tulsa Drillers, the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The local minor leaguers will open the 2023 Texas League season tonight, with a three-game series at home against the San Antonio Missions (San Diego Padres). First pitch is 7:05 p.m. tonight through Saturday, at ONEOK Field in downtown Tulsa.
It is the third earliest home opener in ONEOK Field history, and marks the beginning of the 110th season of professional baseball in the city of Tulsa, dating back to 1905 and before Oklahoma statehood. It is the 46th season of play for the Drillers franchise.
Opening Night will include a number of festivities, highlighted by an Opening Night parade starting at 6:00 p.m. Fans will receive special Drillers “Fire It Up” rally towels to wave during the game and a 2023 schedule magnet when they exit the stadium. In addition, Dodgers legend Bill Russell will be on hand to throw out the season’s ceremonial first pitch and to sign autographs.
Friday’s game will feature the first Friday Night Fireworks Show of the season. For Saturday’s series finale, the first 1,500 fans to enter ONEOK Field with paid admissions will receive Drillers hooded sweatshirts.
After an almost 50-year absence, the Tulsa Drillers will bring back the iconic Oily the Oiler character, that was popular when the franchise went by the Tulsa Oilers monicker. Oily the Oiler was originally introduced to Tulsa fans in 1952, and was a popular representative of Tulsa’s professional baseball team for over 25 years.
The reintroduction of Oily the Oiler will include an Oily patch on the left sleeve of the Drillers home white jerseys and a new, red Oily hat that the Drillers team will wear as an official, on-field alternative cap during selected games.
“We are thrilled to reintroduce Oily the Oiler to a new generation of Tulsa Baseball fans this season,” said Drillers General Manager & President Mike Melega. “Oily was a presence at Tulsa Oilers games and in the community for decades so it only makes sense to welcome him to DrillVille. There is such a deep and wonderful baseball history in Tulsa, and this addition of Oily is another way that we can honor and remember that history.”
Rumor has it, there may even be an Oily the Oiler mascot introduced later in the season.
TULSA OILERS WRAP UP SEASON
The Tulsa Oilers will wrap up the regular season home schedule this weekend at the BOK Center.
The Kansas City Mavericks will be in town for a pair of games Friday and Saturday evening, beginning at 7:05 p.m. Prior to the game on Saturday, two professional women’s hockey teams will square off beginning at 4:05 p.m.
The home season will conclude with a 4:05 p.m. start against the Allen Americans.
Following this weekend, the Oilers will have one more road trip to close out the season, with a three-game series at Utah on April 12, 14 and 15.
The Oilers, who are in last place in the Western Conference of the ECHL, will miss the playoffs.
TULSA BEACON RADIO
My guests this week on the “Tulsa Beacon” radio show will include Dr. Jason Poarch, the head of Tulsa Classical Academy, also Julie Huston and Andrea Walker will be on to talk about mental health issues. The show airs on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CST on 970am KCFO.