Hello and welcome to the second installment of the Ben’s Biz’s Beat to appear this March and the 97th overall. This reminds me that Lehigh University’s band is known as the Marching 97s, that Lehigh University’s campus is located a 15-minute drive from the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, and that the IronPigs are among the teams mentioned below. What a journey, not at all contrived. Let’s talk about Minor League Baseball. |
2024 MINOR LEAGUE PROMOTIONS: TRIPLE-A HIGHLIGHTS
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It’s a tedious task, but someone’s got to do it. Each March I comb through every Minor League team’s promotional schedule to compile a comprehensive spreadsheet listing every interesting theme night, giveaway and celebrity appearance of the upcoming season. Over the next several weeks, as time, space and stamina allows, I’ll share some of my findings with you. |
Rochester Moon Rocs vs. Lehigh Valley Space Pigs (Rochester Red Wings, April 5-7
“An epic battle of galactic proportions!” Hyperbole? Perhaps. Nonetheless, the “cosmic showdown” taking place in Rochester, N.Y., from April 5-7 is unique. Both teams will adopt out-of-this-world identities, with the hometown Red Wings playing as the Moon Rocs and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs suiting up as the Space Pigs. It’s all part of the Red Wings’ eclipse-related festivities; Rochester is in the path of totality and the team will host an apparently all-caps ballpark SOLARPALOOZA on April 8. Keep an eye out for specialty food items like Solar Fries, Nebula Nachos and, of course, a Planetary (garbage) Plate.
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Legends Night (Omaha Storm Chasers, May 11)
The Omaha Storm Chasers, originally known as the Royals, were established in 1969 and have served as Kansas City’s Triple-A affiliate ever since. Jack McKeon managed Omaha in that inaugural season and remained in that capacity through 1972; he then was called up to Kansas City to begin a big league managerial career that spanned five decades. McKeon, 93 years young, will be the guest of honor at the Storm Chasers’ May 11 game, during which his number will be retired. The quintessential baseball lifer will be joined at the ballpark by former Royals ace (and Omaha alum) Dennis Leonard, whom McKeon managed in Kansas City in 1974 and ‘75.
Mystery Egg Roll Night (Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, June 26)
Celebrity guests, bobblehead giveaways and alternate identities are all wonderful things, but lest we forget: All it really takes to stage a Minor League promotion is one stupid idea and the wherewithal to carry it through. The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, reigning kings of the “Why not?” theme night, devote a huge portion of their promo schedule to stupid ideas. Case in point: June 26’s Mystery Egg Roll Night. “Our food and beverage department is going to fry up God knows what in a ton of different egg rolls and we’re going to make people eat them,” said Jumbo Shrimp promotions director David Ratz. Are you not entertained?
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Jamie Farr’s 90th Birthday Celebration (Toledo Mud Hens, July 1)
Few people, if any, have done more to bring Minor League Baseball to a mass audience than actor Jamie Farr. The Toledo native played Corporal Klinger on M*A*S*H and, not coincidentally, Klinger often could be seen wearing a Mud Hens hat. Farr’s Mud Hens fandom -- and his love for his hometown -- has never abated. On July 1, he’ll return to the Mud Hens' home of Fifth Third Field to celebrate his 90th birthday. The Mud Hens haven’t yet announced the full slate of festivities, but a Jamie Farr-themed specialty jersey is on the docket.
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Sister Ros bobblehead giveaway (St. Paul Saints, Aug. 1)
“Receive a free massage from a nun” isn’t ordinarily part of a fan’s gameday to-do list but, then again, the St. Paul Saints aren’t an ordinary team. Sister Rosalind Gefre, better known as Sister Ros, became a key part of the Saints’ experience during the Mike Veeck-run independent club’s anything-goes 1990s heyday. She had been banned from her parish for giving massages, so why not give them at the ballpark? Here’s the rub: The Saints -- Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins since 2021 -- are honoring Sister Ros with her own bobblehead on Aug. 1. You knead it.
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Razor Shines Weekend (Indianapolis Indians, Sept. 13-15)
Triple-A heroes don’t get much more heroic than Razor Shines, who played parts of nine seasons with the Indianapolis Indians. During that time (1984-89; ’91-93) he was part of multiple championship winning teams, established himself in the franchise record books and became one of the team’s most popular players. During Razor Shines Weekend the Indians will retire his No. 3 jersey and give away T-shirts and bobbleheads. Shines will be there as well, of course, throwing out first pitches, signing autographs and basking in the well-deserved adulation.
Going into the above section, it was not my intent to highlight three nonagenarians (McKeon, Farr and Sister Ros). Speaking of nonagenarians, at least in spirit…
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This is Josh Jackson, refusing to wait one more moment to be let in to this newsletter. You know me as host of Ghost of the Minors, the segment on The Show Before the Show podcast in which you're challenged to pick out the real historical Minor League Baseball team or player hiding among a pair of fakes.
Last time, we got stuck on a Jedi theme with Elmer Yoter. This week, I ask you which of these teams had us on the ropes in the Minors of yesteryear:
A. The Manassa Punch Bugs
B. The Mansfield Haymakers
C. The Lenox Knockouts
For the answer, check out the next Ghosts of the Minors on The Show Before the Show!
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ASK ME (JUST ABOUT) ANYTHING! |
Within this newsletter I am often asking questions of you, the reader. I would like to now turn the tables: Ask me a question. I mean, yes, I often get emails from people asking me questions. But I want to encourage it and formalize it and, yes, make “Ask Ben’s Biz” a recurring feature of this newsletter. I may answer some of the questions on Instagram as well (@thebensbiz), because I need to be on Instagram more in order to grow my “brand.”
Feel free to ask me anything, but obviously the questions I reply to in this newsletter will be largely focused on the world of Minor League Baseball. Be creative, be inquisitive, be ridiculous. It’s all good to me. Just get in touch if you think I’d be able to provide insight on a MiLB topic you’d like to know more about.
Email benjamin.hill@mlb.com, and if you want to get fancy put “Ask Ben’s Biz” in the subject line.
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READER OF THE WEEK: MIKEL PETTY |
I’ve corresponded with Mikel Petty a number of times since the launch of this newsletter, always appreciating his insight and thoroughness when it comes to documenting his Minor League Baseball fandom. Here’s an excerpt from his email in response to my recent “Tell me about yourself” newsletter query:
I was introduced to Minor League Baseball in 1981, while living in El Paso, Texas, when a friend took me to an El Paso Diablos game; the Diablos were a Double-A team in the Texas League. He and I later bought season tickets for the 1982 and 1983 seasons. We were at El Paso's so-called "Dudley Dome" in 1983 when the Diablos beat the Beaumont Golden Gators 35-21, which I believe is still the highest scoring game in Texas League history. (Correct)
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Lately I live in Huntsville, AL. My wife and I went to many Huntsville Stars games until they left for Biloxi in 2015, and we've had season tickets to the Rocket City Trash Pandas since they began play in 2021. In addition to Trash Pandas games, each summer we take two or three road trips to see baseball games around the country. For example, last summer we saw six games in six different ballparks over seven days in North Carolina. Our long-term goal is to see a game in every MLB and MiLB ballpark. So far we've seen games in 77 different ballparks, so we're about halfway.
Thanks, Mikel. Now it’s your turn: Tell me about your Minor League Baseball fandom, or ask me a question, or both. Or neither. You’ve got options: benjamin.hill@mlb.com.
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