Top 10 upcoming promotions

Lakewood BlueClaws (South Atlantic League)
Win Justin Blaine's Car
Wednesday, Aug. 29 vs. Lake County Captains
Twenty-three-year-old reliever Justin Blaine has spent each of the past two seasons as a member of the Lakewood BlueClaws, the Philadelphia Phillies' Class A Affiliate. And in each of those seasons, his primary mode of transportation was a beige Geo Metro that he dubbed "White Lightning." On Wednesday, in an act of stunning generosity that is unprecedented in the annals of human history, Blaine will be donating his beloved automobile to a lucky fan. The giveaway will take place during that evening's game and is open to all licensed drivers in attendance. As an added bonus, the automobile has been signed by every member of the BlueClaws, which virtually ensures that "White Lightning" will never visit a car wash again.

Swing of the Quad Cities (Midwest League)
Apprentice Night
Thursday, Aug. 30 vs. Peoria Chiefs
Scoring a full-time sales account executive position with a Class A Minor League club is something that most recent college graduates can only fantasize about. Yet, this seemingly impossible dream will soon come true for one lucky go-getter. On Thursday, the Swing are staging "Apprentice Night," in which recent grads will square off in a series of in-game competitions involving sales skills and customer service. Whoever comes out on top will be awarded that most coveted of prizes: a job.

West Virginia Power (South Atlantic League)
Tribute to '80s Rap
Friday, Aug. 31 vs. Lexington Legends
From bad hair to indoor plumbing to cheese, the Power have paid respect to a wide variety of American institutions this season. On Friday, they'll add "80s Rap Music" to their long list of honorees. The club's website does not specify exactly how they will pay tribute to this particular era of the genre's history, but I'm personally holding out hope that a Dr. Dre and Ed Lover dual-bobblehead will somehow be involved. Or at least a team-logo Flavor Flav clock.

Dunedin Blue Jays (Florida State League)
Car Giveaway
Saturday, Sept. 1 vs. Fort Myers Miracle
While it may not exist in the same rarified promotional air as winning a current player's team-autographed automobile, Saturday's "Car Giveaway" in Dunedin is still pretty impressive. Any fan with a valid game ticket will be eligible to win a car (a red sedan of indeterminate make and model that is currently featured on the club's Web site). In the seventh inning, the inimitable Dr. Credit of the Florida Auto Exchange group will choose the lucky winner as part of a random drawing, and gesticulating histrionics will inevitably ensue. As if that's not enough excitement for you, the evening will also include a pre-game motorcycle show, a $15 all-you-can-eat BBQ, a 50 percent discount on all merchandise at the team store and a post-game fireworks show. My goodness.

<%-- POLL --%>

Vermont Lake Monsters (New York-Penn League)
Player for a Day
Saturday, Sept. 1 vs. Lowell Spinners
Earlier this season, the Lake Monsters invited their fans to enter the "Player-for-a-Day" contest, in which one lucky winner would be given the opportunity to spend the entire day as a professional baseball player. On Saturday, this fortunate individual (whoever he or she may be) will suit up with the team, take batting practice, shag fly balls, throw out the first pitch and sit in the dugout during the game. The winner will also receive a daily player development contract salary, thereby ensuring that he or she will be financially secure for at least several hours. And, to top it all off, the lucky "Player-for-a-Day" will also receive four tickets to a future Red Sox game, as well as hotel accommodations in Boston.

Vero Beach Devil Rays (Florida State League)
Akinori Iwamura Bobblehead Dolls
Saturday, Sept. 1 vs. St. Lucie Mets
It's fan appreciation night at Vero Beach's Holman Stadium Saturday, and $1 items will be available at the concession stands all game long. As enticing as this is, the promotional highlight of the evening will undoubtedly be the distribution of Akinori Iwamura bobblehead dolls. A 28-year-old third baseman, Iwamura has been a solid performer for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (Vero Beach's parent club) in his first Major League season, and is therefore deserving of bobblehead immortality. But habitual late-comers take note: only 200 dolls will be given away, so get to the ballpark as quickly as you possibly can.

Aberdeen IronBirds (New York-Penn League)
Haloti Ngata Appearance
Sunday, Sept. 2 vs. Hudson Valley Renegades
Like it or not, football season is almost upon us. On Sunday, the IronBirds will help get fans in the mood for 17 weeks of action on the gridiron by welcoming Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata to Ripken Stadium. After throwing out the ballgame's ceremonial first pitch, the second-year pro will lumber over to the concourse in order to sign autographs on all manner of football-related memorabilia. True, it will cost $20 to get Ngata's signature, but all proceeds will benefit the Junior Diabetes Foundation.

Boise Hawks (Northwest League)
Wedding of Assistant General Manager Dina Duncan
Sunday, Sept. 2 vs. Spokane Indians
Every Wednesday home game for the Hawks this season has been a "Wedding Wednesday," during which fans have been invited to take part in the planning for the nuptials of assistant general manager Dina Duncan. Throughout the past several months, the fans have chosen the bridal gown, flowers, invitations, photographer and cake. Now, it's time for the wedding, which will be held -- where else? -- at the Hawks' Memorial Stadium. Upon the conclusion of Sunday's game, Duncan and her beau Ryan Hembree will be pronounced man and wife in a stirring on-field ceremony. Bring plenty of hankies, as there'll be nary a dry eye in the house at this beautiful event.

Savannah Sand Gnats (South Atlantic League)
Ceremony in Honor of Lou Brissie
Sunday, Sept. 2 vs. Columbus Catfish
On Sunday, the Sand Gnats will honor one of the greatest players in Savannah baseball history when they retire Lou Brissie's No. 3 jersey as part of a special pre-game ceremony. Pitching for the Savannah Indians in 1947, Brissie went 23-5 with a 1.91 ERA and a South Atlantic League-record 278 strikeouts as the Indians captured the championship. He then went on to a seven-year Major League career, primarily with the Philadelphia Athletics. Brissie's accomplishments were all the more remarkable considering the fact that he suffered a serious injury in 1944 while fighting in World War II and pitched the rest of his career wearing a brace on his left leg.

Springfield Cardinals (Texas League)
Free Hot Air Balloon Ride in the Ozarks as part of Fan Appreciation Night
Monday, Sept. 3 vs. Arkansas Travelers
There are, of course, myriad fan appreciation day giveaways taking place throughout the Minors this weekend, and each of them has its own unique charm. The Springfield Cardinals, for example, will be giving one lucky fan the chance to win a hot air balloon ride through the Ozarks. By "Ozarks," the club hopefully means the beautiful mountainous area of the Midwest, because a balloon ride over the backyard of former Philadelphia Phillies manager Danny Ozark would be pretty disappointing (Sorry for that last line. This is my final promo write-up of the 2007 season, and I've officially run out of things to say. Goodbye).

Bonus Coverage!

But, before I leave, there are so many promotions taking place throughout the Minor Leagues 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:

School Supply Recall (Jupiter Hammerheads, Aug. 22) -- The Hammerheads gave local kids the opportunity to voice their displeasure regarding the imminent return of school by allowing them to get rid of their school supplies at Roger Dean Stadium.

Professional Pillow Fight (Charleston RiverDogs, Aug. 23) -- The Pillow Fight League, which consists of the top professional female pillow fighters in the land, made a tour stop at Charleston's Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Ballpark.

Marines of Iwo Jima Reunion (Durham Bulls, Aug. 23) -- In which some of the heroes immortalized in Clint Eastwood's Flags of our Fathers visited Athletic Park for an evening of ceremony and celebration.

ALS Night w/ Reenactment of Lou Gehrig's Famous Speech (Vancouver Canadians, Aug. 23) -- There was nary a dry eye in the house as a Gehrig doppelganger declared himself to be "the luckiest man on the face of the earth."

David Eckstein Growth Poster (Springfield Cardinals, Aug. 24) -- It's all too easy to make jokes regarding a David Eckstein growth poster, but at the end of the day he's a Major Leaguer while I'm a frustrated loser hiding behind a keyboard.

Jackie Robinson Heritage Night (Daytona Cubs, Aug. 25) -- The Cubs' conducted a game-long celebration of Robinson, who spent Spring Training of 1946 with Daytona Beach.

Jailbird Series Shenanigans (Auburn Doubledays, Aug. 26) -- The Auburn Doubledays won the 2007 season series against their arch-rival Batavia Muckdogs. Therefore, as part of a bet between the two clubs, Batavia's front office had to spend the night in the Doubledays' bullpen at Falcon Park.