Baseball is back and so are the promotions

The 2015 Minor League Baseball season begins Thursday. And if it's Minor League Baseball season, then, of course, it's also Promo Preview season.

Promo Preview is a weekly column dedicated to previewing the best Minor League promotions taking place over the course of the coming week. It first debuted back in 2006, meaning that the 2015 season marks its 10th season of existence. Celebrate accordingly.

This special Opening Day edition is appearing on a Thursday; the column will then run every Tuesday throughout the remainder of the season. Usually, this top spot of the column is dedicated to an extended writeup of the week's best promotion (as determined by me, Ben Hill). Today, however, it will take a quick look at several of the most notable Opening Day promotions taking place throughout Minor League Baseball. Let's get to it, lest it get to us!

Colorado Springs Sky Sox: The Sky Sox are entering their first season as a Brewers affiliate after 22 years of wedded bliss with the Rockies. To celebrate this new relationship, the first 1,000 fans 18 and over receive a "Microbrewers" T-shirt.

Sacramento River Cats: Similarly, the River Cats are entering their first season as an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants (they were previously aligned with the A's). To commemorate this new era, Giants great Orlando Cepeda will be on hand to throw out the first pitch.

Great Lakes Loons: The Loons' action-packed entertainment slate features a performance by the Xpogo Stunt Team. At the 2014 Winter Meetings Trade Show, I was able to get a brief sample of what these guys are all about.

Indianapolis Indians: Following a long-established tradition, the Indianapolis Indians are offering a "60-degree first-pitch guarantee." If the temperature is less than 60 when the game commences, then fans can exchange their ticket for any remaining April home game.

West Michigan Whitecaps: Speaking of the weather, the Whitecaps are preparing fans for the chilly April nights ahead via the distribution of 1,000 pairs of team logo mittens. A local zookeeper will also be on hand, giving fans the opportunity to see a real live Mexican porcupine. Use your mittens when petting it.

The best of the rest

Moving on from Opening Day proper, here's a look at the top five promotions occurring between April 10 and Tuesday.

Fresno Grizzlies (Pacific Coast League) Tribute to Tark Night, April 10

Legendary college basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian passed away in February at age 84. In response, the Grizzlies have devised a "Tribute to Tark" promotion in which the home and away teams will wear jerseys representing teams that "Tark" once helmed. The Grizzlies take the field in Fresno State Bulldogs regalia, while the visiting Las Vegas 51s will represent the University of Nevada-Las Vegas Runnin' Rebels. Though Tarkanian was best known for the two decades he spent at the helm of the latter institution, his Fresno roots run even deeper. He played for Fresno State in 1954-55, before returning to coach the Bulldogs from 1995-2002.

Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (International League) 'Maikel Cycle' bobblehead, April 11

Last Aug. 23, Mikael Franco of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs hit for the cycle in a seven-inning game against the Syracuse Chiefs. On Sunday, the IronPigs are celebrating this feat in bizarrely literal fashion, as the first 3,000 fans age 18 and over receive a bobblehead featuring Franco riding a unicycle. With no handlebars to contain him, Franco is depicted flashing two fingers of each hand, presumably a reference to the four hits he attained en route to the cycle. He's also wearing the IronPigs' "bacon" theme jersey, complete with bacon strip hat and bacon piping down the pant leg. Unicycles, breakfast food and one of the Phillies' top prospects -- together at last.

El Paso Chihuahuas (Pacific Coast League) Bark in the Park, featuring Chico Face Fan giveaway, April 12

The last time I wrote about the Chihuahuas, it was in response to their "Bark in the Park Dog Face" jerseys winning the 2014 Promotion of the Year MiLBY Award. It sure didn't take long for them to get back to doing what they do best: On Sunday, they'll host their first "Bark in the Park" promo of 2015. Dogs -- chihuahuas and otherwise -- will be admitted to the stadium along with their owners, and the first 2,000 kids in attendance receive their own "Chico Face Fans." I could not obtain an image of these items, which feature the Chihuahuas' mascot, but sometimes the use of one's imagination is even better than looking at an image. This could be one of those times.

Richmond Flying Squirrels (Eastern League) 'Full House' Night with Dave Coulier appearance, April 14

The Frisco RoughRiders made a big splash with the announcement of June 12's Full House night, which features theme jerseys and an appearance by Dave "Uncle Joey" Coulier. Well, you oughta know that Coulier's first ballpark stop of the season occurs Tuesday in Richmond. The esteemed Canadian comic will sign autographs throughout the game, but truly committed sitcom nostalgia fiends will pay $25 for a meet-and-greet ticket that includes an all-you-can-eat buffet and admission to the ballgame. Either way, Coulier's star wattage is strong enough that the Flying Squirrels are expecting this promo to result in -- wait for it -- a full house.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (International League) 'All About That Base' T-shirt giveaway, April 14

Megan Trainor's "All About That Bass," one of the biggest songs of last summer, could regularly be heard blasting out of stadiums, car radios and subpar earbud headphones throughout the nation. Therefore, it's no treble at all for the RailRiders to put their own unique twist on this pop anthem, via the distribution of 1,000 T-shirts bearing the brilliant (or groan-worthy, depending on your perspective) slogan of "All About That Base." Perhaps the RailRiders can give one to their team Trainor.

Quick Hits

April 9: The Fresno Grizzlies' Fresno-centric "Growlifornia" marketing campaign kicks off with a "Growlifornia" poster giveaway.

April 10: In Akron, the RubberDucks salute this year's crop of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees by soundtracking a fireworks display to their music. Here's hoping they include some Mistrial-era Lou Reed. … The Montgomery Biscuits celebrate the birthday of pig mascot Miss Gravy on "Princess Night."

April 11: The Georgia Bubbleman, not to be confused with Bubblemen representing other, lesser states, showcases his on-the-spot soap-based creations at the Gwinnett Braves game. … Kids attending the Harrisburg Senators game receive free admission passes to nearby Hershey Park. … With Pedro Bragan entering his final season as the Jacksonville Suns owner, the team is giving away "Pedro's Last Dance" posters.

April 12: On "Bark in the Park" night, the New Orleans Zephyrs welcome the cast of the Animal Planet show Pit Bulls and Parolees.

April 13: The Richmond Flying Squirrels give away bobbleheads of their mascot, Nutzy. He is more muscular than your average Minor League mascot.

April 14: Across the country, some 60 Minor League stadiums will be hosting regular-season action.