End of an era: Salt Lake Bees' final season at Smith's Ballpark in photos

SALT LAKE CITY — Shortly after the last out was recorded, the entire Salt Lake Bees team walked out of the dugout and toward the first base line, lifting their caps to the sky and waving to the crowd to thank them for their support this season — the team's last at Smith's Ballpark.

A crowd of 13,450 — a likely non-holiday Sunday afternoon record attendance for the stadium — responded with roaring applause, despite a 3-1 defeat to Oklahoma City Sunday afternoon.

Fans didn't seem to care much about the score, instead relishing the final moments at the 30-year-old ballpark before the team moves to a new stadium in South Jordan's Daybreak community next year. A few boos rained down when the new stadium was discussed in a postgame interview and when a video featuring Gail Miller — owner of the Larry H. Miller, the team's owner — played on the scoreboard.

But nearly everyone who came to the finale took advantage of the team's offer to run around the bases and collect stadium dirt from a cart parked by the third base line. It was their moment to say goodbye to the stadium, which still has an uncertain future.

Sunday's game had significant meanings for players, too.

Salt Lake Bees infielder Elliot Soto walked over toward his normal position at shortstop and kneeled down for a few moments, appearing to write a message in the dirt before pointing up to the sky. He previously opened up about a special moment hitting a go-ahead grand slam on Mother's Day at the ballpark not long after his mother's death, a moment that took place at Smith's Ballpark.

And as fans ran out around the bases, pitcher Adam Cimber stuck around to sign autographs for fans gathered around the first base dugout. He was charged with Sunday's loss, giving up a pair of runs in 1 2/3 innings, but the outing had much more significance for his career.

The righty sidearmer with seven years of big league experience immediately embraced Bees pitching coach Shane Loux and teammates in the dugout after he left the field. He told KSL.com after the game that he believes that was his last appearance and that he plans to retire, following a string of injuries that derailed his career in recent years.

Although he went into Sunday's game thinking about his last game as a baseball player, he understood what fans were also going through too as Smith's Ballpark played host to its last Triple-A game. Signing autographs for fans was a small gesture to give back to the game in the same way he fell in love.

"I remember when I was a kid going to Tacoma Rainiers games and I was one of these kids taking away special memories," he said, pushing back tears as he reflected on his career. "They last with you forever. This is bigger than baseball — it's family; it's love."

This is what the stadium's final season looked like.

Smith's Ballpark's final season in photos

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