Event 21 – You’re Playing Baseball at What Time?

The clock strikes midnight in Fairbanks and they're still playing baseball without any artificial lights.
The clock says it all! That’s 12:04 a.m. and you’ll notice no artificial lights being used during the 120th Midnight Sun Game.

The Written Word

Still Photos

  • Josh, Doug, and Tim strike a pre-game pose.
  • The view from 35,000 feet above the Alaskan panhandle.
  • Sports are an important part of interior Alaksa’s culture.
  • Check out this line of fans hoping to buy day-of tickets!
  • The A.J. Barnette String Band performed pre-game.
  • The history of baseball in Alaska was showcased on this display. …
  • … and this display …
  • … and this display.
  • A bit of Growden Memorial Park’s history is detailed here.
  • The mascot is named Happy Boy.
  • A full house is seated and ready for Midnight Sun Game action.
  • The Goldpanners’ bullpen was empty about 40 minutes before the game.
  • The view from the rightfield line of the half artificial turf, half grass field.
  • Glacier Pilots GM Derek Foote addressed the sellout crowd.
  • Teams line up for the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
  • Getting underway.
  • Tom Seaver is probably the most notable of the ex-Goldpanners.
  • Bob Boone also played here.
  • Rick Monday was the first-ever player drafted by a MLB team.
  • The Spaceman touched down for two seasons in Fairbanks!
  • Dave Kingman belted over 400 career homers in the Bigs.
  • Dave Winfield’s probably the second most notable player to suit up for the Panners.
  • Long before he was a Hall of Fame-worthy manager, Terry Francona played in Fairbanks.
  • Mike Boddicker was a solid Big League pitcher playing in Fairbanks.
  • I wonder if Harold Reynolds worked on his gift of gab while in Alaska?
  • While a member of the Panners, Barry Bonds never actually played a game.
  • A second generation Boone played here.
  • Noted power hitter, Jason Giambi worked on that stroke at Growden Park.
  • The Sweet Adelines sing the “Alaska’s Flag” song.
  • Happy Boy entertains the fans during the playing of “Happy Boy.”
  • Eighth inning and still plenty of daylight!
  • The three of us from our seats shortly before gametime.
  • Winfield returned in 2024 for a statue dedication.
  • Here’s the ticket and program from the 2024 Midnight Sun Game.
  • His homerun allegedly landed somewhere near where this photo was taken from.
  • Which was outside the Fairbanks Curling Club.
  • The Curling Club is celebrating its 120th anniversary as well.
  • Winfield’s statue, while dedicated in 2024, didn’t get installed until July 2025.
  • He came back for the installation/dedication earlier this summer.

Video

The A.J. Barnette String Band.
An F-35 flyover.
Goldpanner introductions.
The first pitch, shortly after 10 p.m.
“Alaska’s Flag” is performed.
The final out at 12:40 a.m.
A Goldpanners’ tradition, the singing of “Happy Boy.”

Audio

Longtime Fairbanksan and current Explore Fairbanks employee, Bob Eley, gives us the lowdown about the Midnight Sun Game and what to do in greater Fairbanks.

Fun Facts

  • Traveling Party – Doug from Michigan to Fairbanks. Josh and Lilah from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Tim was already in Fairbanks.
  • Last Time Visited – Doug lived for year in Fairbanks and attended one previous Midnight Sun Game (1994). Tim and Josh have been frequent Midnight Sun Game attendees through the years. This was Lilah’s first.
  • I’m a Happy Boy – Only in Fairbanks, AK, would a mid-1980s San Diego-based rock band of little note (The Beat Farmers) produce the feel-good sing-along that’s been an Alaska Goldpanners’ staple since the early 1990s. Each home game the 1985 cult-hit “Happy Boy” is played. Today the playing coincides with an appearance by the dancing Goldpanners’ mascot who’s name is – wait for it – Happy Boy. I stumbled upon this Nice Ones Studio webpage that detailed its Alaska Goldpanners rebrand from years ago.
  • That Name Sounds Familiar – The visiting Anchorage Glacier Pilots General Manager, Derek Foote, addressed the soldout crowd during pre-game ceremonies in an attempt to begin healing whatever wounds might exist between the Goldpanners and the rest of the Alaska League (the Panners left 10 years ago). If, like me, the name Foote sounded familiar, it should. Derek’s the son of former Major League catcher and 1-time Montreal Expos first-round draft choice, Barry Foote.
  • Running List of States Traveled To/Through – Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, & West Virginia
  • Running List of Countries Traveled To/Through – Canada (Ontario & Quebec), England, Japan, Korea, Scotland, United States, & Wales
  • Distance Traveled – 6,920 air miles roundtrip from DTW to FAI. Add another 108 miles roundtrip from my home to DTW. That’s a total of 7,028 miles.
  • Cumulative Distance Traveled After 21 Events – 52,236 miles
  • Up Next: The rodeo at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming