Pelicans announce Animal House Tribute Night and Toga Party

­­­­MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (MAY 1, 2015) - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, are celebrating the life and contributions of Jack Ely, lead singer of the Kingsmen, with a full-fledged toga party on Animal House Tribute Night at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark for Thursday, August 27, when the Pelicans host the Wilmington Blue Rocks.

Ely was the lead singer on the Kingsmen's version of "Louie Louie," the cover of the song originally recorded by Richard Berry, which reached #2 on the Billboard charts in 1963 and was immortalized by the film Animal House in 1978. 

For Animal House Tribute Night, the Pelicans are encouraging fans to come ready to party and dressed up in togas. On the field, the players will don "COLLEGE" jerseys that will be auctioned off to benefit charity. When the players take the field, they will all be announced with their very own Delta Tau Chi nicknames. Various clips from the movie will entertain fans that evening from the "He can't do that to our pledges / only we can do that to our pledges" moment between Otter and Boon to the rousing, albeit historically inaccurate speech from Bluto ("Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor"), and plenty in between. 

Between inning action will include a pillow fight, a "Bluto Buffet" eating contest, a dance cam to "Louie Louie" where fans will be encouraged to dance with other peoples dates, and a Bluto themed "zit popping contest." The food specials will feature flounder sandwiches, otter burgers and a $40 "Fat, Drunk, and Stupid" package with all-you-can-eat food and drink.

The Pelicans also are extending an invitation to Todd "Parney" Parnell, the Vice President and COO of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, to serve as the honorary Bluto for the evening. The Pelicans new seventh-inning stretch tradition, adopted from the Chicago Cubs and Harry Caray, will feature Parney (Bluto), clad in a toga, beginning baseball's anthem with chants of "toga, toga, toga." Fans can submit a photo via the Pelicans Facebook Page for the Bluto Look-a-Like Contest. The winning fan will have the opportunity to give a pre-game pep talk to the team, provided that the fan is not on "double-secret probation."

Any company wishing to participate in the night and help a great cause can donate canned goods for the Backpack Buddies / Help4Kids food drive. The company that donates the most will win the Backpack Buddies Food Fight and a free company outing the night of the game. Additionally, any business that participates will receive a $3.00 per ticket discount and one complimentary beer on Thursday, August 27 courtesy of Budweiser. Donations will be accepted outside of Gate 1 at TicketReturn.Com Field on August 1.

The Pelicans are in the midst of a seven-game road trip, which continues through Monday, May 4 at Calvin Falwell Field against the Lynchburg Hillcats. The club is back in town for a three-game road trip that begins on Tuesday, May 5.

The 2015 season marks the 17th season for the Pelicans franchise and first as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2015, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.