Top 10 most absurd promotions in Minor League Baseball

By Sierra Trujillo

With the start of baseball season just around the corner, I took it upon myself to do some research. What type of research you ask? Well, the type that takes you down a deep, deep rabbit hole that nobody asked for.
When I plan a trip to a MLB game, I plan around the promotions, but research began when I decided to find the best, most absurd promotions out there.
Major League teams don’t have the best ones though… the Minor Leagues is where it’s at when it comes to crazy campaigns. I mean, when your team mascot is the Biscuits, Babycakes or Fire Frogs, you can’t take anything too seriously.
So in honor of Opening Day just a few days away, and the fact that I spent the better part of a week looking at these, here are my Top 10 most absurd promos in Minor League Baseball. Road trip anyone?
10. 50 Degree Guarantee- Rochester Red Wings
If it’s not at least 50 degrees on Opening Day, all fans with a ticket will receive a free ticket to another game in April or May.
That seems like a good deal, when the Red Wings are playing in New York and it’s probably still going to be a bit chilly there next week. What’s better than one baseball game? A second, free baseball game!
9. A Giant Luau- San Jose Giants
The San Jose Giants will be hosting a luau, featuring hula dancers, island music, Hawaiian food and a pig-roasting ceremony. The team will wear Hawaiian themed jerseys, and the first 1,000 fans receive festive leis. Plus, wear Hawaiian gear and get two free tickets to a future game. This just sounds like a night full of fun. There is so much going on, so much to see, to do! Plus, more free baseball if I wear my favorite Hawaiian shirt? Any excuse for that!
8. How the Grinch Stole Halfway to Christmas- Potomac Nationals
The Potomac Nationals will honor the 60th Anniversary of The Grinch in July with Cheermeisters, Grinch-themed promotions, activities, trivia, contests and a “Secret Grinch” gift exchange between fans.
While most teams host a “Christmas in July” game, this twist seems like the best of all. A gift exchange with people you don’t know, while everything in the stadium in Christmas-themed? Yes please.
7. Stache’ Bash- Greensboro Grasshoppers
This game features a Beard and Mustache Competition, judged by the Beard and Mustache Club of North Carolina. A local salon will be present to give facial hair a nice grooming before the competition.
I don’t know why the craze recently over beards and facial hair (everything is branded with a mustache), but this team seems to know its audience. And I don’t think any guy with the slightest hint of a five o’clock shadow is going to pass up a competition.
6. Easter Egg Helicopter Drop- Lansing Lugnuts
Okay, every team hosts an Easter egg hunt in April, the standard hunt on the field pregame with fun prizes. But, the Lugnuts do it right: Easter Eggs will be falling from a helicopter, with a hunt happening pregame. That’s not your average egg hunt.
5. Eggs & Bacon Rivalry Game- Toledo Mud Hens and Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Anything breakfast is a must-do in my books. When the Toledo Mud Hens face the Lehigh Valley IronPigs throughout the season, the Mud Hens will wear egg-themed jerseys and the IronPigs will wear bacon-themed jerseys for an epic showdown of beloved breakfast foods. Get it? The Mud Hens are eggs, and the IronPigs are bacon. I’m still laughing.
4. Silly String Night- Charleston Riverdogs
“Get ready to make history- biggest silly string fight in the world” reads the Riverdogs’ promotional website on this day. I’ve always wanted to be part of some type of world record, and a silly string fight with thousands of other people sounds like the best way to make it happen.
3. Bellies & Baseball- Harrisburg Senators
At this game, pregnant women are invited to participate in games and contests throughout the nine innings of play, along with pregame prenatal yoga for those expecting mamas. Not so weird? Wait, there’s more… if someone goes into labor at the game, they win season tickets for life! Don’t mind me, just counting backward nine months from this date…
2. Taco Tuesday- Fresno Grizzlies
I have a soft spot for the Fresno Grizzlies, not only because it’s my hometown, but because the old mascot Wild Thing signed my cast when I was five. (Dreams do come true!) But that does not influence this decision whatsoever. While most teams host Taco Tuesdays throughout the season, the Grizzlies do the most with a simple event.
Every Tuesday features $2 tacos and churros and 2-for-1 field and club level tickets. But the best part I saved for last… every Tuesday, the team plays as the Fresno Tacos, with special jerseys and hats. Who loves tacos? This girl loves tacos. And a whole team dedicated to them each week? Say no more, I’m there!
1. Cowboy Monkey Rodeo- Frederick Keys
For this last one, let me take a breath before typing it out, and Lord let me do it without laughing, again: Monkeys, dressed as cowboys, riding dogs, herding sheep. Did you catch that? Take a second, read it again. Does that not sound like a good time? It sounds like everything that can go wrong, will go wrong and of course I want to sit there to watch it happen. Plane ticket for one to Maryland, please!
There are so many outrageous, laugh-out-loud promotions that it took me awhile to narrow it down to just 10 (maybe longer than it took to go through the 224 Minor League teams), but now, for the real question… is it baseball season yet?