Top 10 upcoming promotions

Lexington Legends (South Atlantic League)
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Wednesday, Aug. 15 vs. Savannah Sand Gnats
A mid-week matinee baseball game is always a good excuse to take the day off from work, but especially so when said game includes a celebration of one of cinema's true slacker classics. It's Ferris Bueller's Day Off in Lexington, in which clips from the 1986 comedy will be displayed on the video board throughout the ballgame, and a bevy of games and contests honoring the film will be staged. These between-inning spectacles might not be run as smoothly as Legends fans are used to, seeing as how the club has decided to give its entire game-day staff the day off. That's a recipe for disaster right there, but it should be fun to witness.

Dunedin Blue Jays (Florida State League)
Pack Your Suitcase Night
Friday, Aug. 17 vs. Tampa Yankees
"Pack Your Suitcase Night" in Dunedin is a contest that is meant to be taken literally. Fans who wish to participate must register with the club and then arrive at the game ready to embark on a weekend getaway. At the ballpark, these fans will check their bags with a team representative in exchange for a numbered luggage tag. Throughout the game, the numbers of the luggage tags that have been eliminated from the contest will be announced. The last fan left standing (and his or her guest) will summarily be whisked away by limousine to a secret vacation destination. Then, on Sunday, said limousine will bring these lucky fans back to Knology Park in time for that afternoon's finale against the Yankees.

Toledo Mud Hens (International League)
1967 Champions 40th Anniversary Weekend
Friday, Aug. 17 vs. Columbus Clippers
The Mud Hens are currently gunning for their third straight Governors' Cup championship, but their recent success is not at all indicative of the kind of franchise they have been over the past four decades. In fact, prior to 2005, the last time the club had won the International League championship was way back in 1967. On Friday, the Mud Hens will stage a ceremony commemorating the 40th anniversary of that memorable year. The team's current players will be wearing 1967 throwback jerseys during the contest (which will be auctioned off after the game), and 15 players from that year's championship squad will grace Toledo's Fifth Third Field with their presence.

Casper Rockies (Pioneer League)
Strike Out Testicular Cancer Night
Saturday, Aug. 18 vs. Billings Mustangs
This Saturday, the Rockies will wear yellow jerseys in order to raise awareness of testicular cancer, and information about the disease will be disseminated throughout the game. This is obviously a worthy cause, but when the club first announced this promotion they were disappointed with the lackluster response that they received. Eager to generate more attention, the front office sent out a press release saying that the event's name had been changed to "Have A Ball at the Ballpark Night," and that Rocky Mountain Oysters (look it up) would be served at the concession stands. This was a lie, thank goodness, but the resultant publicity has insured that "Strike Out Testicular Cancer Night" will not go unnoticed. In this case, the ends justified the means.

Missoula Osprey (Pioneer League)
Backwards Night
Saturday, Aug. 18 vs. Raptors
Several clubs have run "Backwards Night" promos this season, but the Osprey's version appears to be the most backwards of them all. The team's players will wear backwards jerseys, which will later be auctioned off for charity. The game, meanwhile, will start in the ninth inning and work its way down to the first, and fans will be charged "admission" when they leave the stadium as opposed to when they arrive. Many between-inning promos will be run backwards (such as the mascot race), and pre-game activities such as the national anthem and the ceremonial first pitch will be conducted after the game has concluded. I feel like I am violating the spirit of this promotion by writing it up before it has occurred. Sorry, guys.

Portland Beavers (Pacific Coast League)
Bob L. Head Bobblehead Giveaway
Saturday, Aug. 18 vs. Las Vegas 51s
On Saturday, the Beavers will be distributing 2,000 bobbleheads bearing the likeness of Mr. Bob L. Head of Maquoketa, Iowa. This is the culmination of a contest that was launched in February, in which the Beavers invited anyone named Bob L. Head to apply for their own bobblehead doll. The club chose three finalists and invited fans to vote on their favorite. Iowa's Bob Leroy Head received 51 percent of the more than 30,000 votes cast, beating out Bob Lee Head of Indiana and Bob Louis Head of California. All three of these fine gentleman will be at Portland's PGE Park on Saturday, ready to bask in the resplendent glory that can only come from being bestowed with such a beautiful moniker.

Williamsport CrossCutters (New York-Penn League)
Great Potato Caper 20th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, Aug. 18 vs. State College Spikes
On August 31, 1987, a struggling Williamsport Bills back-up catcher named Dave Bresnahan pulled one of the greatest pranks in baseball history. Prior to the ballgame, Bresnahan sculpted a potato into the shape of a baseball. Then, when a runner reached third base in the fifth inning, he launched the potato into left field. The runner raced home, only to find Bresnahan waiting for him with the actual baseball. The crafty backstop was released by the Cleveland Indians as a result of his trickery, but all's well that ends well. On Saturday, Williamsport will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the "Great Potato Caper" by distributing 1,000 Bresnahan bobbleheads. The man himself will be on hand to sign autographs and re-enact his famous stunt.

Lancaster JetHawks (California League)
Kenny Rogers Look-A-Like Night
Sunday, Aug. 19 vs. High Desert Mavericks
If you have a surly demeanor, a propensity for getting injured and mysteriously smudged palms, then please move on to the next write-up. This particular Kenny Rogers Look-A-Like contest is not for you. Those with immaculately groomed goatees, soulful blue eyes and an unwavering confidence in your own masculinity should definitely read on. On Sunday, the JetHawks will honor country singer Kenny Rogers and his place in popular culture by inviting all who look like him to come to the ballpark for a good old-fashioned resemblance competition. As an added bonus, Rogers' voluminous body of work will be celebrated all game long.

Rome Braves (South Atlantic League)
Faith Day with Sid Bream
Sunday, Aug. 19 vs. Greenville Drive
Does anyone see the irony in the fact that the Rome Braves will be staging a Faith Day celebration that features a player who, in 1992, caused the entire city of Pittsburgh to cease believing in God? No? Well, let's move on, then. On Sunday, Sid Bream will be the guest of honor at Rome's State Mutual Stadium. The veteran of 12 Major League seasons -- who famously scored the winning run in game seven of the 1992 NLCS to lift Atlanta to victory over the Pirates -- will regale the crowd with a testimony of faith entitled "Safe at the Plate." Take that, Pittsburgh.

Wilmington Blue Rocks (Carolina League)
George Brett Appearance and Bobblehead Giveaway
Tuesday, Aug. 21 vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans
After spending the 2004 and 2005 campaigns as an affiliate of the Red Sox, the Blue Rocks resumed their relationship with the Kansas City Royals in 2006 (they had previously been a Royals affiliate from 1993-2003). On Tuesday, the club will celebrate its return to its roots by welcoming Hall of Famer George Brett to Wilmington's Frawley Stadium. Brett, perhaps the most famous Royals player of all time, will also be immortalized in bobble form on this special evening. How could he not be? It's the Minor League way. One thousand Brett bobbleheads will be given away, so arrive early or forever hold your peace.

Bonus Coverage!

There are so many promotions taking place this time of year that some gems will inevitably slip through the cracks. Here's brief rundown of some promos that didn't quite make it into last week's column but could or should have:

Triple-A Heroes Comic Giveaway (Memphis Redbirds, Aug. 10) -- Triple-A Baseball has commissioned Marvel Comics to produce a comic to be given away at ballparks across the land. The RedBirds' version featured recently promoted pitcher-turned-slugger Rick Ankiel on the cover.

Superhero Saturday (Brooklyn Cyclones, Aug. 11) -- In which the Cyclones encouraged fans to come to the ballpark dressed as their favorite superhero. Those who did so got to take the field in a pre-game ceremony and run the bases after the game.

Pillowcase Giveaway (Wilmington Blue Rocks, Aug. 11) -- File this under the ever-growing "ridiculous items that have been given away at Minor League ballparks" category.

Ebbets Field Model Giveaway (Brooklyn Cyclones, Aug. 12) -- We return to the Cyclones, who gave away replica models of the Brooklyn Dodgers' beloved ballpark. Old men cried at the sight of them.

Native Culture Night (Spokane Indians, Aug. 13) -- In which the club celebrated the culture of the Native American tribes that reside in the Spokane area. Five tribes participated in the game-long festivities.

Nick Adenhart Wobbledoll (Orem Owlz, Aug. 14) -- Yes, these dolls of the prized Angels prospect "wobble" as opposed to "bobble." It's an important semantic distinction and worthy of further discussion at a more opportune time.

Ultimate Tailgate Giveaway (Spokane, Aug. 14) -- One lucky fan won "the tailgate truck," a near-mythical vehicle stocked with anything one would need in order to stage the ideal tailgate party.