Louie the LumberKing in Mascot Mania
New York, NY - MiLB.com, the official website of Minor League Baseball, today launched MiLB.com Mascot Mania, an interactive tournament allowing fans to choose the best mascot in Minor League Baseball. Voting for Round One starts today and runs through Tuesday, May 29. Five additional rounds will follow before the fans' choice as the "Best Mascot in Minor League Baseball" is crowned on Tuesday, June 19. Fans can cast their vote now at www.milb.com/mascotmania.
Sixty-four of the top Minor League Baseball mascots, representing teams from all 14 US-based Minor Leagues and all 30 Major League Baseball affiliates, have been placed in a bracket-style tournament in four geographic regions. Fan votes will determine which mascots advance to subsequent rounds and the final two will campaign for the title. The first round matchups are:
East Region
Paws, Pawtucket Red Sox vs. Sherman, Delmarva Shorebirds Boomer, Trenton Thunder vs. Boomer, Williamsport Crosscutters Rascal, Harrisburg Senators vs. Ike, State College Spikes Crazy Hot Dog Vendor, Reading Phillies vs. Canaligator, Lowell Spinners Ferrous, Lehigh Valley IronPigs vs. Champ, Vermont Lake Monsters Nutzy, Richmond Flying Squirrels vs. Bubba Grape, Jamestown Jammers Slugger, Portland Sea Dogs vs. Buster, Lakewood BlueClaws Buster, Buffalo Bisons vs. Louie, Bowie Baysox
Midwest Region
Muddy, Toledo Mud Hens vs. Swoop, South Bend Silver Hawks C. Wolf, Erie SeaWolves vs. Homer, Peoria Chiefs Hornsby, Tulsa Drillers vs. Fang, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Stormy, Omaha Storm Chasers vs. Snappy, Beloit Snappers Rowdie, Indianapolis Indians vs. Lou E. Loon, Great Lakes Loons Louie, Clinton LumberKings vs. Big L, Lexington Legends Lou Seal, Columbus Clippers vs. Mr. Shucks, Cedar Rapids Kernels Al Tuna, Altoona Curve vs. Crash the River Rascal, West Michigan Whitecaps
South Region
Wool E. Bull, Durham Bulls vs. Tennessee Tex, Greeneville Astros Manny, Brevard County Manatees vs. Conrad, Hickory Crawdads Muddy, Carolina Mudcats vs. Spike the Sasquatch, Northwest Arkansas Naturals Bolt, Winston-Salem Dash vs. Phinley, Clearwater Threshers Chopper, Gwinnett Braves vs. Marty Marauder, Bradenton Marauders Ozzie, Nashville Sounds vs. Gnate the Gnat, Savannah Sand Gnats Charlie, Charleston RiverDogs vs. Sammy the Seagull, Corpus Christi Hooks Blooie, Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Stoney, Charlotte Stone Crabs
West Region
Parker, Fresno Grizzlies vs. Bernie, Inland Empire 66ers Thunder, Lake Elsinore Storm vs. Tipper, Visalia Rawhide Cosmo, Las Vegas 51s vs. Ollie, Missoula Osprey Orbit, Albuquerque Isotopes vs. Homer, Billings Mustangs Spike, Round Rock Express vs. Chef Wasabi, Vancouver Canadians Archie, Reno Aces vs. Sluggo, Eugene Emeralds Rhubarb the Reindeer, Tacoma Rainiers vs. Gigante, San Jose Giants Dinger, Sacramento River Cats vs. Hoots, Orem Owlz
Fans can make their choices in each matchup after reviewing photos and bios of all mascots. Once all selections are made, fans can enter the MiLB.com Mascot Mania Sweepstakes for a chance to win a variety of prizes, including subscriptions to MLB.TV and MiLB.TV, in addition to mascot-themed prize packs.
About MiLB.com
The MiLB.com Network of websites consists of MiLB.com, 14 domestic MiLB League sites and 155 MiLB club sites across the United States and Canada. MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM), the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball, is the exclusive provider of interactive media services, including web development, online ticketing, content, and advertising and sponsorship for the official sites of the MiLB.com Network, per a 2008 partnership agreement with BIRCO (Baseball Internet Rights Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, DBA "Minor League Baseball"). MLBAM has integrated an array of features to the network of MiLB sites since its initial launch in April 2005, highlighted by live full-game video streaming for over 50 clubs as part of the MiLB.TV package, on-demand video highlights, up-to-the-moment scoreboards and statistics, the MILB.com Triple-A 2012 app developed for iPhone and iPod Touch, mobile websites, and comprehensive editorial coverage of Minor League All-Star Games and Playoffs. The MiLB network of team and league sites attracts millions of baseball fans monthly.