Eastern League announces nominees for Minor League Baseball Awards
PORTLAND, MAINE - The Eastern League of Professional Baseball is pleased to announce that the nominees for two of the Minor League Baseball postseason awards have been selected. These awards include the Larry MacPhail Promotional Trophy and the John H. Johnson President's Trophy. Winners of both of these awards will be selected by Minor League Baseball and will be honored at the 2007 Baseball Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tennessee.
For the John H. Johnson President's Trophy the Eastern League has nominated the New Britain Rock Cats. The New Britain franchise is an incredibly deserving nominee for this award, which is given annually to one club in Minor League Baseball that best exemplifies the complete baseball franchise. The categories which are taken into consideration when selecting a winner for this award include contributions to the baseball industry, contributions to the community, long-term franchise stability, financial success of the operation and promotion of the baseball industry.
This past season was the 25th anniversary of the New Britain franchise, making the Rock Cats the oldest continually running sports franchise in the entire state of Connecticut. The Rock Cats celebrated their anniversary by breaking their all-time records for total attendance and average attendance. During their 25-year history the New Britain franchise has not only become an essential part of the sports landscape in Connecticut, they are also known throughout the state for their numerous charitable efforts with multiple organizations around the entire state.
The Eastern League has nominated the Reading Phillies for the Larry MacPhail Promotional Trophy, which is given annually to one club in Minor League Baseball that did outstanding promotional work during the season. It is the second consecutive season that the Reading organization has received the nomination for this award, which they are extremely worthy of. The R-Phils, who are continuously recognized as one of the best organizations in all of Minor League Baseball, became the first team at the Double-A level to welcome 10-million fans to FirstEnergy Ballpark this season while putting together an outstanding promotional schedule that had something exciting going on at the ballpark every night of the season. In addition to the march towards 10-million fans, which culminated on July 3rd, other highlights from the 2007 Reading Phillies promotional campaign included the Fans' Choice Bobblehead Campaign, numerous appearances by the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor and the Reading Phillies Mascot Band and a season ending Demolition Derby and Tribute Band Festival.
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