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Promo Preview: 'What Could Have Been'

Celebrating the weekend's would-be Minor League genius
From the Battle of Hoth to Stanley Hudson to Hairy Men, there would have been plenty of fun at the ballpark this weekend.
By Benjamin Hill @BensBiz
July 16, 2020

Promo Preview, a roundup of top Minor League Baseball promotions, debuted in 2006 and has appeared on MiLB.com in various shapes and forms ever since. Today marks the debut of a wholly unprecedented iteration of this long-running column: the "What Could Have Been" edition. What follows is a full-to-bursting and

Promo Preview, a roundup of top Minor League Baseball promotions, debuted in 2006 and has appeared on MiLB.com in various shapes and forms ever since. Today marks the debut of a wholly unprecedented iteration of this long-running column: the "What Could Have Been" edition.

What follows is a full-to-bursting and inevitably bittersweet roundup of the many notable promotions that were scheduled to take place this weekend -- before COVID-19 ruined everything. With 160 teams in operation and the summer in full swing, it would have been one of the most robust three-day periods of the 2020 season. From here on out, let's pretend that everything in this article is actually happening.

One of the year's biggest promotional trends is "Office Night," celebrating the cultishly adored NBC sitcom. Often "Office Night" features an actor from the show, and this season Leslie David Baker (Stanley) and Brian Baumgartner (Kevin) have been the most popular bookings. The former is scheduled to appear in Fort Wayne on Saturday, following previous engagements in Hartford, Lake Elsinore, Wilmington, Zebulon, Albuquerque and Bowling Green.

Television is a common inspiration for Minor League Baseball promotions, of course. On Friday, the Frisco RoughRiders' "Texas Celebration Night" includes an appearance by "Dallas" star Charlene Tilton. On Saturday, lurid drama gives way to absurdist minutiae as the RoughRiders' welcome recurring "Seinfeld" actor John "J. Peterman" O'Hurley.

"Seinfeld" concerned the lives of New York City singles. The Akron RubberDucks, meanwhile, have their focus on "Family Matters." Jaleel White, who played Urkel on the erstwhile TGIF sitcom staple, is the scheduled guest of honor. The first 1,000 fans through the gate will receive sure-to-be-coveted Urkel bobbleheads.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Minor League Baseball weekend without "Star Wars" promotions. While most of these galaxy-brained endeavors take place in the vicinity of May the 4th, they're still quite prevalent this weekend. "Star Wars" promos will be staged by the Nashville Sounds, Norfolk Tides, Rocky Mountain Vibes, Sacramento River Cats and Great Lakes Loons. Theme jerseys are a staple of these celebrations. The Loons, for example, will wear jerseys featuring the Battle of Hoth.

Returning to Earth, it's well worth noting that teams across the country are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues. Two are scheduled on Friday, courtesy of the Carolina Mudcats and Louisville Bats. The Mudcats' celebration likely will be similar to what they staged in 2019, when a bevy of Negro League alumni visited the ballpark.

As always, those searching for bobblehead giveaways will find them. There are (at least) seven player bobblehead giveaways scheduled for the weekend, including Cristian Pache (Mississippi Braves), Yordan Alvarez (Round Rock Express), Andrew Benintendi (Pawtucket Red Sox), Carlos Correa (Quad Cities River Bandits) and Ethan Small (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers). In Lansing, the Lugnuts on Friday will give away a Mark Prior bobblehead, the third of four 25th Anniversary giveaways.

Perhaps the most interesting bobblehead giveaway comes courtesy of the Rome Braves, featuring current Atlanta skipper Brian Snitker as a Macon Brave. Snitker, as it turns out, is a man of two Macons. He grew up in Macon, Illinois, and went to on manage the Macon (Georgia) Braves in 1992 and again from 1997-'98. The Macon Braves became the Rome Braves after relocating prior to the 2003 season.

Local flavor is in abundance, sometimes literally, as the following trio of promotions makes clear:

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers will suit up as their "Peppers In Oil" alter ego. And, for good measure, there'll also be a bobblehead giveaway featuring actor and Youngstown, Ohio native Ed O'Neill.

The Down East Wood Ducks will assume their Kinston Collard Greens identity. And, as an added bonus, new mascot Cornbread is set to make his debut.

In honor of a regional folk tale, the Round Rock Express will play as the Hairy Men.

Many, many more alternate identities can be found via Copa de la Diversión promotional nights. Among the Spanish-language themed identities scheduled to take the field this weekend are El Viento (Lancaster JetHawks), Parajitos (Norfolk Tides), Luchadores (Reading Fightin Phils), Cascabeles (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers), Fenemenos Enmascarados (Hudson Valley Renegades), Picantes (Lake County Captains), Gatos Feroces (New Hampshire Fisher Cats) and Chupacabras (Round Rock Express).

And lest we forget: Hot on the heels of the sacred holiday that is National French Fry Day, the Boise Hawks will play as the Papas Fritas.

Finally, there are promotions that exist entirely in their own world. The legendary Human Cannonball is set to soar following Saturday's Columbia Fireflies game. And speaking of explosions, the Charleston RiverDogs on Saturday will stage their latest and presumably greatest "Color Night" extravaganza.

Truly, it will be a great weekend for Minor League Baseball. See you at the ballpark.

In case you missed the most colorful night of the year.. or you just want to relive it!

Posted by Charleston RiverDogs on Saturday, April 14, 2018

Benjamin Hill is a reporter for MiLB.com and writes Ben's Biz Blog. Follow Ben on Twitter @bensbiz.

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