Name: Apollo
Breed: German Shepherd
Birthday: 10/31/12
Favorite activities: Sleeping, securing the premises to ensure no squirrels are on the property, cleaning up stray baseballs
Fun/interesting fact: Favorite food: pickles
Meet Winnie, the winner of the Nationwide Dog Dugout Sweepstakes! Winnie will be the new face of Nationwide Dog Dugout in 2022!
Winnie is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever who was born on Feb. 15, 2021. Winnie enjoys hiking in the woods, biting at waves at the beach and unraveling the toilet paper roll. You might also catch Winnie at a local Dunkin', popped up near the driver’s seat so that she can get a donut.
As the Official Pet Insurance Partner of Minor League Baseball, Nationwide wants to recognize the family dogs of the fans. With the Nationwide Dog Dugout Sweepstakes, you now have an opportunity to boost your pup’s profile— and potentially win great prizes.
Once you enter, make sure to post your dog’s best picture with #NWDogDugoutSweepstakes to win weekly prizes.
Enter for a chance to win
Nationwide and Minor League Baseball are teaming up to bring you the Nationwide Dog Dugout Sweepstakes. Enter today for your chance to have your dog featured as an illustration in the official Nationwide Dog Dugout logo on MiLB.com and shown in the Nationwide Pet Companion newsletter.
That's not all. As part of the grand prize, you could also win the following:
- Nationwide Pet goodie basket with Nationwide branded items like bandana, frisbee, water bottle, leash, food scooper and toy.
- One (1) VIP Experience for dog owner at your local ballpark including 4 reserve tickets, $50 food voucher, $100 team shop gift card, throw out first pitch and scoreboard recognition at a mutually selected game in 2023.
10 lucky runners-up will win:
- Goodie basket with Nationwide branded items like bandana, frisbee, water bottle, leash, food scooper and toy.
How to enter
To enter, please fill out the following information and click “Submit.”
When you’re done, share a photo of your dog with #NWDogDugoutSweepstakes for a chance to win weekly prizes.
#NWDogDugoutSweepstakes
Meet the dogs of the Minors
Name: Archer
Breed: Pit Bull mix
Birthday: 12/25/16
Favorite activities: Chief investigator, head of moral improvement, clubhouse diplomat, fan ambassador, goose negotiator
Fun/interesting fact: Returned to the SPCA twice before being adopted for the final time; on Instagram @handsomestarcher
Name: Benny
Breed: Golden Retriever
Birthday: TBD
Favorite activities: Training to be a bat dog
Fun/interesting fact: Benny's name was selected by fan vote
Name: Bruno
Breed: Bernedoodle
Birthday: 12/2018
Favorite activities: Chasing baseballs, riding a tractor with his owner
Fun/interesting fact: The best assistant groundskeeper there is!
Name: Charlotte
Breed: Mix
Birthday: June 19
Favorite activities: Avian management
Fun/interesting fact: Adopted at the stadium at an adoption event
Name: Cheerio
Breed: Golden Retriever
Birthday: 8/9/21
Favorite activities: Playing fetch, meeting fans, getting pregame pets from players
Fun/interesting fact: Trained comfort and therapy dog; on Instagram @cheeriothecomfortdog
Name: Darcy
Breed: Border Collie/Lab
Birthday: 5/6/21
Favorite activities: Boosting office morale; MVP of team's Greeting Committee
Fun/interesting fact: Has an affection for the office fish; on Instagram @darcy_jean9
Name: Dizzy
Breed: English Cream Golden Retriever
Birthday: 6/2017
Favorite activities: Greeting fans at the Home Plate Gate at every game, chasing balls, riding in the Gator to help Dad fix things around the ballpark
Fun/interesting fact: There's a concession stand at the ballpark named after Dizzy
Name: Eli
Breed: Belgian Malinois
Birthday: 2/27/21
Favorite activities: Grabbing bats and dropping them in front of the bat boy before returning to his staging area
Fun/interesting fact: Born in the Netherlands and came to the U.S. at 4 months old; follow @EliTheBatDog
Name: Emmylou
Breed: Black Labrador Retriever
Birthday: 12/13/16
Favorite activities: Assisting the grounds crew, reparing and testing sprinklers, baseball disassembly and inspection, public relations
Fun/interesting fact: Been on a professional grounds crew since 9 weeks old; loves to swim; has her own branded hat in the Team Store
Name: Finn
Breed: Black Lab
Birthday: 5/13/12
Favorite activities: Fetching bats during games, bringing water to the umpires, entertaining the crowd
Fun/interesting fact: Been the Aviators bat dog since 2016; featured on ESPN; "threw" a first pitch; had his own -T-shirt giveaway this season
Name: Marvin
Breed: Pug
Birthday: 8/17/20
Favorite activities: Greeting fans, bringing cheer to front office staff
Fun/interesting fact: Real name: Marvelous Marvin Puggler; favorite snack: blueberries
Name: Milo
Breed: Golden Retriever
Birthday: 9/22/15
Favorite activities: Fetching bats during games, swimming, playing in the snow, going on hikes, meeting the fans
Fun/interesting fact: Flower City Group is donating $50/bat retrieval this season
Name: Molly
Breed: Mix
Birthday: 12/8/14
Favorite activities: Supervising the grounds crew, picking up goose poop off the field
Fun/interesting fact: Rescue dog
Name: Muda
Breed: Boxer
Birthday: 1/12/19
Favorite activities: Boosting morale for the grounds crew, helping to keep Fluor Field looking great
Fun/interesting fact: Turned into a bobblehead (bobbledog?), along with two other dogs previously owned by the groundskeeper
Name: Penny
Breed: Pitbull Chihuahua mix
Birthday: First day of spring
Favorite activities: Assisting the grounds crew, running across the tarp, eating french fries, chasing baseballs
Fun/interesting fact: Rescued by team groundskeeper Dan "Dirt" Douglas
Name: Ripken
Breed: American Black Lab
Birthday: 8/1/16
Favorite activities: Fetching bats, fetching frisbees, fetching sticks, fetching balls...really anything involving fetching...
Fun/interesting fact: Wears a gold chain; highly skilled at cleaning up food from under the kitchen table
Name: Slider
Breed: Yellow English Lab
Birthday: 4/9/17
Favorite activities: Fetching bats during games, taking photos with fans, running victory laps
Fun/Interesting fact: Has his own Obvious Shirts T-shirt
Name: Watson
Breed: Black Lab/Retriever mix
Birthday: 4/8/21
Favorite activities: Training to become a service dog, chasing baseballs
Fun/interesting fact: Named by fans after Blue Wahoos co-owner and PGA tour champ Bubba Watson
Name: Willie Mae Mays
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Birthday: 1/27/21
Favorite activities: Fetching bats during games, running bases post-game, shaking hands/paws at the front gate; will soon begin taking baseballs to the umpire
Fun/interesting fact: Fifth in a long line of team dogs, following Miss Babe Ruth, Master Yogi Berra, Miss Lou Lou Gehrig and Little Jackie Robinson
Minor League Bat Dogs in the News
New ballpark dogs ready to play in 2020
Bat dogs stole the baseball spotlight last spring after Finn, of Triple-A Las Vegas, had to work overtime to fetch a bat thrown by a Pacific Coast League umpire. Finn's video went viral and inspired us to track down all the other hard-working dogs of baseball.
Dogs bring bats, joy at Trenton ballpark
"One out."
Derby and Rookie get up, their tails wagging in anticipation of what's to come. They've had a season full of game days in the books, but that doesn't take away from the excitement of their job. Their duty.
"Two outs."
Rookie gets his leash put on; he knows it's almost time. He starts heading for the door, but stops once he realizes his human, Eric Lipsman, dropped the leash. The 3-year-old looks around, then realizes he has to wait for the final out of the top of the first inning before he can assume his duties as one of the Trenton Thunder bat dogs.
Ballpark dogs beloved by fans, front offices
Earlier this week, the Trenton Thunder announced that Derby, the team's beloved team bat dog, had passed away at the age of 9. This sad news resulted in a flood of condolences from across the country, an outpouring of grief that spoke to the profound impact the ebullient golden retriever had on the Yankees' Double-A affiliate's game day experience.
Name Revealed For 4th Generation Of Thunder Bat Dog Tradition
The Thunder, presented by NJM Insurance, are pleased to announce the name of the next generation of the Thunder Bat Dog tradition that will join the team during the 2020 season.
Following a fan vote that brought more than 5,000 responses, the Thunder are pleased to announce that the name Dash has been selected. Dash's full name will be Dash to Home Plate-That Golden Thunder as he carries on the Thunder Bat Dog tradition.
Name: Brooks
Breed: Golden Retriever/Lab Mix
Birthday: July 26
Favorite activities: Napping, snacking, running the bases
Fun/interesting fact: Was originally trained to be a guide dog but was career changed to be our team dog
Name: Cooper
Breed: Bloodhound
Birthday: 12/14/2019
Favorite activities: Riding the lawn mower, taking base plugs from the ground, eating a large breakfast
Fun/interesting fact: He is the defending 'Best Naked Dog' Champion of the Knoxville Mardi-Growl Parade
Name: Henley
Breed: Golden Retriever
Birthday: 07/07/19
Favorite activities: Swimming, chasing birds and sleeping.
Fun/interesting fact: She has never met a person or a dog she doesn't like!
Name: Little Jackie Robinson
Breed: Black Labrador Retriever
Birthday: 04/05/2018
Favorite activities: Riding in the car, Watching TV
Fun/interesting fact: Debuted on July 4, 2018. Lou Lou and Jackie are also half sisters.
Name: Miss Lou Lou Gehrig
Breed: Black Labrador Retriever
Birthday: 08/01/2011
Favorite activities: Fetching bats & foul balls, Taking balls to the umpire, Running the bases post game.
Fun/interesting fact: Niece of former great Grasshoppers Bat Dogs Miss Babe Ruth & Master Yogi Beta.
Name: Ozzie
Breed: Sheltie
Birthday: 10/25/2019
Favorite activities: Playing fetch with baseballs and his favorite toy, Busy Bee. Going for walks around the ballpark. Taking naps in the front office.
Fun/interesting fact: Ozzie works in the front office every day.
Name: Turbo
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Birthday: 12/13/2019
Favorite activities: Fetching baseball bats, hanging out with Roscoe and Axle, Wrestling in the outfield, chewing on his favorite loon toy, getting belly rubs
Fun/interesting fact: Retrieved the very first ball ever rolled to him
Fan Features
