Tattoos take fandom to the next level

Binghamton Mets (Eastern League)
Workforce Night, June 1
Attending a baseball game represents a chance for relaxation and escape, and this is what the B-Mets are looking to provide during Wednesday's Workforce Night. The team has partnered with the New York Department of Labor and staffing agency Manpower to provide 5,000 free ticket vouchers to the region's unemployed, resulting in what has been deemed a "burden-free" evening of baseball. Manpower staffers will be at the ballpark, providing employment leads and information to those looking to do a little in-game networking.

Birmingham Barons (Southern League)
Rickwood Classic, June 1
Each and every season, the Birmingham Barons return to their former home for a midweek matinee at America's oldest professional ballpark (now 101 years young). This year's edition will be a celebration of 1961 -- the last season of the old Southern Association (a precursor to today's Southern League). The Barons take on fellow SA stalwarts Chattanooga, with both clubs suiting up in turn-back-the-clock uniforms. Gaylord Perry is the guest of honor, and the well-traveled Hall of Famer will spend a good portion of the ballgame signing autographs. This year marks the 16th edition of the Classic, and its popularity continues to grow -- last year, it was named MiLB.com's Promotion of the Year in a fan vote.

Bowie Baysox (Eastern League)
Golf Night, June 1
Betty White Night, June 2
Muggles and Wizards Night, June 3
Josh Gibson Centennial Bobblehead, June 4
Dennis "Mr. Belding" Haskins Appearance, June 5
The Baysox make their way into this column quite a bit, and one of the main reasons is their sheer theme night relentlessness. Wednesday is Golf Night, featuring links-related giveaways, guests and contests as clips from Caddyshack play on the video board. The team celebrates Betty White the next evening, reprising a promotion that was rained out in April (let's hope the "Florence Dusty Muffin Eating Contest" remains on the agenda). On Friday the team pays homage to the seemingly never-ending cinematic saga of Harry Potter with Muggles and Wizards night, and that'll be followed by Saturday's 10th annual Negro League Tribute (featuring a Josh Gibson bobblehead giveaway). Oh, and Dennis "Mr. Belding" Haskins is visiting the stadium on Sunday. Got all that?

Clearwater Threshers (Florida State League)
Tattoo Night, June 1
The Threshers' Tattoo Night is sure to generate a lot of ink, especially given the robust reception the promo received last season. A local tattoo parlor set up shop on the concourse, and a staggering 54 fans received a team logo tat (choosing from one of four designs) in exchange for free admission to the ballpark for life. The offer stands for this season as well, although the team is limiting participation to the first 30 fans who sign up in order to reduce waiting times. Those not quite ready to make the commitment can opt for temporary airbrush tattoos, and those already inked can enter into the team's "Best Tattoo" contest. Everybody wins, save for those morally opposed to body modification of any kind.

Reading Phillies (Eastern League)
PA Dutch Day featuring Darren "Dutch" Daulton/Turn Back the Clock to 1983, June 1
A Darren Daulton appearance on Turn Back the Clock day lends itself to easy jokes about the former backstop's well-documented time-traveling views. The R-Phils are simply celebrating the year in which Daulton suited up for the team, however, rolling back admission and concession prices to 1983. And Daulton's nickname of "Dutch" is a perfect complement to the team's celebration of Pennsylvania Dutch culture, as Berks County (which includes Reading) has the state's largest Dutch population. This makes the afternoon a double-Dutch celebration -- bring your jump rope.

Lake Elsinore Storm (California League)
Going Green Night w/ Shower Head Giveaway, June 3
The exceedingly eco-friendly Lake Elsinore Storm originated the Going Green promotion as a way to showcase environmentally sound living habits and ballpark practices, an initiative that has since spread throughout the Minors. Informational booths are set up on the concourse and outside the ballpark, while tips about how to live "green" are aired on the video board. The first 1,500 fans in attendance receive an environmentally friendly shower head, which should not be construed as a comment on deficient personal hygiene.

Las Vegas 51s (Pacific Coast League)
Mayor Oscar Goodman Bobblehead Giveaway, June 3
The colorful and charismatic Oscar Goodman is known as the "Happiest Mayor of the Greatest City in the World," and the Las Vegas 51s have lately been doing all they can to reinforce this hyperbolic designation. Last season the club memorably gave away a bobblehead featuring Goodman posing alongside a Vegas showgirl. This year's iteration depicts the smiling septuagenarian in shorts and a T-shirt, clutching a golf club in one hand and a gold beverage in the other. He is one happy individual indeed, presiding over boom times and busts with unwavering amiability.

Modesto Nuts (California League)
Star Wars Night, June 4
In anticipation of last year's Star Wars night promotion, the Modesto Nuts released a video featuring mascots Al and Wally wailing away as members of the Cantina Band. But Wally is on to bigger and better things in 2011, as this year's video features the anthropomorphic legume playing a key role in the Battle of Hoth. Who knows what Lucas-inspired hijinks Wally will be up to during Saturday's game, but it's certain he'll be joined costume-wearing Star Wars fans eager to re-enact key scenes in a ballpark environment. And the players will get in on the act as well, attempting to complete "force" plays in the field at every opportunity.

Lehigh Valley IronPigs (International League)
Battlefield Challenge, June 7-13
Last season the IronPigs introduced the Battlefield Challenge to the Lehigh Valley masses, a game-within-a-game explained thusly: "The field at Coca-Cola Park has been divided into six battle zones that each team will attempt to gain control of in an effort to conquer the entire playing surface. ... A base hit into any zone will give the hitting team control of that zone until a base hit from the opposing team lands in that zone." And should the Lehigh Valley IronPigs control the battle zone, concession-stand discounts will be the result. Never has spray hitting been so richly rewarded.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Midwest League)
Salute to Cows, June 7
Previous incarnations of the Timber Rattlers' Salute to Cows have included dugout rooftop mooing contests, milk-chugging competitions, petting zoos and blindfolded cow-tipping. Surely some of these timeless activities will be enjoyed during Tuesday's ballgame, as well as a variety of other dairy-themed celebrations. The first 1,000 fans receive a "cup and spoon" giveaway, perfect for the temporary storage and quick consumption of milky comestibles. The lactose intolerant (or at least indifferent) will still have reason to attend, however, thanks to the $1 hot dogs, soda and beer on offer. That's an "udderly" unbeatable bargain.

Bonus Coverage: Because national holidays should be spent in front of a keyboard, here are seven promotions that could have been included in last week's column -- could have been but of course weren't:

Stitch N Pitch Night (Chattanooga Lookouts, May 26): Knitting at the ballpark: a new way to go to a baseball game and not have to watch any baseball.

Brian Roberts T-Shirt Giveaway (Delmarva Shorebirds, May 26): The Orioles infielder began his career with the Shorebirds in 1999, shortly after being selected in the first round of that year's Draft.

Supermom Salute (Richmond Flying Squirrels, May 26): A Richmond Times-Dispatch photo of a foul ball-snagging Mom recently became an online sensation. The Flying Squirrels responded by awarding her with her own Gold Glove.

Hoarder Relief Night (Fort Myers Miracle, May 27): It's customary to receive a free item upon arriving at the ballpark, but last Friday the Miracle combated hoarding tendencies by taking unwanted items from fans.

Hot Dog Gluttony Day (High Desert Mavericks, May 27): Also known as "Friday."

40th Anniversary T-Shirts (Midland RockHounds, May 27): 1971 really was that long ago.

Racing Weekend (Lake County Captains, May 29): Because one's need for speed needs to be satiated.