Pelicans Nominated For Prestigious Minor League Baseball Honor
Myrtle Beach, SC - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Advanced Class-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, today announced that the club has received the Carolina League's nomination for one of Minor League Baseball's top honors. The Pelicans have been nominated for the prestigious Larry MacPhail Promotional Trophy, which is awarded annually to just one team from across the United States and Canada which displays extraordinary promotional efforts, both on and off the field. The winner will be announced within the next month and the award will be officially presented at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Nashville, TN on December 6.
The Larry MacPhail trophy was established in 1966 and is presented to one team in Minor League Baseball that has distinguished itself through on-field and off-field promotions, community involvement, fan attendance and overall operation. The Pelicans' sister franchise, the Altoona (PA) Curve of the Double-A Eastern League, which is also operated by Greensons Baseball, won the 2004 Larry MacPhail Promotional Trophy.
"The Larry MacPhail Promotional Trophy is widely recognized throughout our industry as one of the most prestigious honors any Minor League Baseball franchise can earn and any one associated with the Pelicans, whether it be as a member of our front office staff or as one of our dedicated fans, should be proud to have earned a nomination for this award," said Pelicans' General Manager North Johnson. "From our brand-new beach party area and videoboard to our enhanced schedule of ballpark activities and promotions to our innovative community and tourist marketing programs, the 2007 season marked the 'New Era' of Myrtle Beach Pelicans baseball and we are very excited and honored to be recognized for our hard work."
The 2007 season was the first season of the "New Era" of Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball, as fans enjoyed an unparalleled experience at BB&T Coastal Field. In the first full season under the guidance of President & Managing Partner Chuck Greenberg, G.E.R.T. Todd Parnell and General Manager North Johnson, the Pelicans witnessed a remarkable increase in attendance as over 215,000 fans marched through the ballpark gates. There were also a number of improvements made to BB&T Coastal Field prior to the 2007 season as part of a more than $2 million renovation project, including a one-of-a-kind beach party area to accommodate groups at the ballpark and the installation of a brand-new, state-of-the-art videoboard, which greatly enhanced the fan experience during each game.
In addition to improving attendance figures, the Pelicans community involvement during the 2007 season reached record levels. The team held numerous fundraising events throughout the season to raise money for worthwhile causes, including the American Red Cross and the Mike Coolbaugh Memorial Fund, which raised funds for the family of a minor league coach who was tragically killed in an on-field accident during a Texas League game in July 2007. Perhaps the most successful charitable night of the season was the Pelicans' Second Annual Pink Ribbon Night, which totaled over $17,000 for Breast Cancer research. In addition to the tens of thousands of dollars raised for charity, the Pelicans hosted Dinger's Home Run Reading Club for the sixth straight season in conjunction with the Horry County School District. This program, which included school visits by the Pelicans' unofficial mascot, "Dinger the Home Run Dog", rewards students for reaching educational goals throughout the season.
The Pelicans have also become synonymous with innovative in-game and nightly promotions at BB&T Coastal Field. Each Pelicans' home game in 2007 featured either a fan giveaway item, post-game fireworks show, national entertainment act or celebrity appearance. In fact, some of the ballpark visits made national headlines. On Opening Day 2007, the Pelicans welcomed 2008 Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani to the ballpark to throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the season. As the year continued, the stars continued to roll through BB&T Coastal Field thanks to the franchise's First Annual "Retro Celebrity Series". The original "Batman" Adam West, Dawn Wells, who played the role of "Mary Ann" on Gilligan's Island, and Sherman Helmsley, who rose to stardom as "George Jefferson" on the 1970s hit sitcom The Jeffersons, were some of the stars who made the season-long series a success.
Creative event marketing is another area where the Pelicans rose above many other minor league teams this past season. The club made a strong push to promote specific Pelicans' games and the fan, friendly ballpark experience to the millions of tourists who spent all or part of their summer enjoying life in Myrtle Beach. Among the new ideas created to market Pelicans baseball to Myrtle Beach's myriad of visitors included the "Beach Bums", which was a group of enthusiastic college students dressed in Pelicans' t-shirts and other beach attire who went out on the beautiful beaches along the Grand Strand and personally handed out team pocket schedules and special ticket vouchers. Another creative idea aimed at drawing tourists to BB&T Coastal Field was the use of banner airplanes, which cruised up and down the beaches from Little River to Murrells Inlet displaying a banner that prominently displayed the Pelicans' and Atlanta Braves' logo along with a message announcing that the team had a home game that evening. Other new ideas, such as sending mascots and other team employs out to the heavily-trafficked Broadway at the Beach helped get the Pelicans out in front of millions of potential new fans.
For Pelicans' 2008 season ticket and mini-plan information fans can call the Pelicans box office at (843) 918-6000 or visit MyrtleBeachPelicans.com. The 2008 home opener is set for Friday, April 11th against the Frederick Keys (Baltimore Orioles) at BB&T Coastal Field. The Pelicans are also set to be the proud hosts of the 2008 California-Carolina League All-Star Game, which will be played on June 24th at BB&T Coastal Field. A full schedule of exciting, fan-friendly events will surround the All-Star Game, which is currently being prepared by the Pelicans front office staff, and will be announced in the coming weeks.
Wilmington, DE - After returning to the Riverfront to skipper the Wilmington Blue Rocks to a second-half Northern Division title and the franchise's 12th trip to the Carolina League playoffs in 15 seasons, John Mizerock has been promoted to the major league coaching staff for the 2008 Kansas City Royals. One day after Trey Hillman was named the skipper of Wilmington's parent club, the Royals announced Mizerock would serve as their bullpen coach, a role he had previously in 2002 under Tony Muser.
Mizerock also spent 13 games as interim manager of the Royals in 2002, bridging the regimes of Muser and current New York Yankees managerial candidate, Tony Peņa. Mizerock, 46, joined the Royals' organization in 1993 and managed several minor-league clubs, including a previous stop in Wilmington from 1995-97. He served in 2003-04 as third-base coach for the Royals before shifting to the minor-league staff as roving coaching instructor in 2005-06, and returned to the bench in 2007 for a second service as Wilmington's manager.
Over four seasons of steering the Wilmington ship on the Riverfront, "Miz" went 300-255 (.541). Mizerock and Jeff Garber (307-250, .551) are the only skippers to amass 300 wins with the Blue Crew. Garber managed Wilmington from 1999-2002. Mizerock's tenure included four half championships, two Northern Division titles and one Carolina League Mills Cup championship in 1996. During the summer of 2007, fans voted "Rock" as the manager for the 15th Anniversary All-Time Blue Rocks Team. Mizerock earned 49.2% of the fans' votes to beat out Garber (39.4%).
The Punxsutawney, PA native spent nine seasons as a manager in the Royals minor league system with stops in Eugene (1993; SS-Northwest), Rockford (1994; A-Midwest), Wilmington, Wichita (1998-99; AA-Texas) and Omaha (2000-01; AAA-Pacific Coast).
Selected by the Houston Astros in the first round of the 1979 draft, Mizerock was a catcher for parts of five seasons at the major league level (1983-89). He homered in his major league debut on August 16, 1983 at Cincinnati. After the 1986 season, he signed with Montreal in December, before signing with Atlanta in April 1987. He played for both Richmond (AAA-International) and Atlanta for the next three seasons and retired following the 1990 season at Richmond.
The skipper was named Manager of the Year by Baseball America in 1999. In 1996, he garnered the Dick Howser Award for outstanding contributions to the Royals organization for player development.
Kinston, NC -- The Kinston Indians announced today that reserved seat season tickets are on sale now. Reserved season tickets are located in sections one through eight and are $200 per seat for the 2008 season. Good seats are still available in all sections.
Also, the Kinston Indians are offering K-Tribe Ticket Gift Certificates and Flex Ticket Packages that are great for Christmas presents. The gift certificates are available in any denomination and can be used for tickets to any game during the 2008 season. Flex tickets come in 10, 20, 35 and 70 ticket packages and the prices range from $45 to $210 for reserved seating.
The Kinston Indians office and gift shop are open Monday through Friday 9am until 5pm. Please call 252-527-9111 to purchase your tickets or stop by the office during working hours to pick out your seats.
Frederick, MD - The Frederick Keys, Advanced Class-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, have announced the promotion of Branden McGee and Keri Scrivani along with the hiring of Katy Fincham and Quinn Williams to their full-time staff.
McGee, 28, has been promoted to Assistant General Manager - Operations after spending two years with the Keys. McGee, who hails from Frederick, MD, worked with the Baltimore Ravens prior to joining the Keys staff. A University of Colorado alum, McGee enjoys rooting on his beloved Buffs from afar.
Scrivani, 29, has been promoted to Assistant General Manager - Marketing after her fourth year with the organization. Scrivani worked prior with the Bowie Baysox of the Eastern League, entering baseball in the fall of 2000. She is from Perry Hall, MD and a graduate of the University of Maryland.
Fincham, 23, has been hired as Sales Coordinator after interning with the Keys throughout the 2007 season. A product of Germantown, MD, Fincham went on to major in Sports Management at Shepherd University. At Shepherd she played a season on the school's softball team.
Williams, 24, has been hired as an Account Manager after working with the Keys in the summers of 2005 and 2007. A graduate of Lock Haven University, Williams majored in Sports Administration. Williams is a native of Thurmont, MD and is currently an Assistant Football Coach at Catoctin High School.
The Frederick Keys are Carolina League Champions for a third time in franchise history. For information regarding season ticket or group plans for the 2008 season contact the Keys at 301-815-9900.
The Brevard County Manatees are searching for a few good Little League teams that want to make some cash for their organizations and have an opportunity to participate in the 2008 Florida State League All-Star Game on June 14th. The Manatees are looking for teams to assist in an All-Star Game ticket drive with portions of the sales going straight to the teams or leagues for their fundraising activities. Here are some additional rewards:
-The league that sells the most tickets will be featured with an on-field parade before the start of the game.
-The team that sells the most tickets will be on-field shagging fly balls while the annual Home Run Derby is conducted.
-The player that sells the most tickets will be an Honorary Coach and walk to home plate with the managers and umpires before the game for the line-up exchange, get the game started with the infamous "Play Ball," then join his or her family in the some seats behind home plate because he or she will also receive 20 game tickets for family and friends.
If you are a coach, team mom or your business sponsors a Little League or Youth Sports team and you're interested in participating in this ticket drive, please email Kylee Hanish at khanish@spacecoaststadium.com. Kylee is getting a list together and once the tickets are printed (after January 1st) we will contact all interested parties and get rolling.
What's happening in the area that Manatees fans might want to partake in?
Courtesy of the Brevard County Parks and Recs:
The annual Haunted Island is once again ready to open tomorrow. Head east on FL 520 to Kiwanis Park on Merritt Island. The haunted island is appropriate for kids in elementary school on up. Ghoulish activities will begin at 8:00 pm tomorrow and then 7:00 pm every night thereafter. The cost is $5 per person, is worth it and a lot less expensive than driving to Orlando or Tampa for the annual $30 - $50 scream-a-thons at the theme parks with Jack, Freddy, Jason and Leatherface. If you have any questions you can call (321) 633-1874 for more information.
This Saturday afternoon from 1-3 there will be a Halloween Party at McLarty Park in Rockledge for kids 11 and under. Also Saturday at the same time is a similar party at the DeGroodt Library in Palm Bay that includes a sidewalk art contest, creepy craft, critter corner from Erna Nixon Park, pre-carved pumpkin contest, and goodie bags. The cost is only $2 per child (kids must be accompanied by an adult).
Those that like streetfests, art shows, live music and good food and drink should drive the hour north next weekend for the annual Halifax Art Show Art & Music Festival downtown Daytona Beach. It's similar to the popular Melbourne Art show, but Daytona Beach usually has many more bands playing, so if you need a fix of live music (like us) and like walking around socializing, make sure you head north next weekend, both Saturday (the 3rd) and Sunday (the 4th). Free parking on Beach Street. Those that wish to watch Acousticon, the band that plays our nightly player intro song 'Seeing is Believing,' will have the opportunity as they will be playing both days right on Beach Street with other bands. We'll see you there on Saturday, the 3rd!
Don't forget the Boo at the Zoo right here in Viera. Kids can collect candy and goodies while enjoying the zoo at night. Parents, look for the Viet Nam Veteran's of America, Chapter 831 inside the zoo. Their members will be distributing candy and will have Manatees ticket vouchers for a 2008 home game. The Manatees would like to thank the VNVofA 831 for their year-round support. This group is ever-active in all kinds of community events, many that never get any recognition, and can always be relied upon when we need a color guard on short notice, so make sure you look for the veterans at the Boo at the Zoo for candy and ticket vouchers.
With Halloween right around the corner, here's an awesome idea from a local dentist that's a win-win for everybody with what to do with your kids' leftover candy:
Dear Moms and Dads,
Halloween is coming, and normally it's hard for your dentist to get excited about that day because of all the candy your kids will eat. However, this year will be different. Don't you just wish that on the day after Halloween that your kids' sacks full of candy would just disappear? Well we can help, and this is something we are very excited about! This year we'll buy the candy back from your kids. We're not kidding! Sure, they can have a few treats on Halloween night and maybe even keep a couple more for later in the week. But we'll take the rest of it and pay them for it! The candy will be shipped overseas to our courageous troops (who could sure us a treat or two!) serving our country in the Middle East. In return, we'll give your kids $1 per pound of donated candy and a Firefly flashing toothbrush. Global sugar consumption for kids increases by about 2% annually and currently sits at 50 million tons per year, which means parents need to be very watchful now more than ever before. Too much candy can lead to hyperactivity and weight gain, as well as cavities or worse. In some cases, the wrong types of candy can also lead to broken teeth and damaged braces. Kids should still dress up, go out, have fun and yes, even eat some candy. But after picking out the best of their stash, they will probably have about 10 pounds left, and nobody needs that much candy! Bring your kids and your candy in on November 1 between 3:30 and 5:00 p.m. and spread the word! - Dr. Ron Richardson and Team, 1704 Airport Blvd Suite A - Melbourne, FL 32901 ph: 321-723-3477
Those that want to drop any leftover Butterfinger Candy bars at Space Coast Stadium can do so anytime, any day between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00. We will decline no Butterfinger candy bars. Heck we'll even meet you here on the weekend to take control of those addictive Butterfinger bars just to get them off the street! Our goal is to also help prevent tooth decay in your youngsters, so liberate those Butterfingers before the kids eat them and get them down to Space Coast Stadium, 4th Floor, where we'll put them out of their misery. Help get your kids off Butterfingers before they become addicts. Drop them (the candy, not the kids) at the stadium immediately following Halloween.
Season Ticket holders, if you haven't sent in your renewal forms, please do so. All seats are available for the general public at this time and we cannot hold your seats from last season without your renewal form. If you have any questions, please contact Kylee Hanish at (321) 633-9200 x3004.
Those fans that participate in our Treasure Hunt will like what we have planned with The Avenue Viera for our All-Star Game weekend. Players from both teams will be situated around various locations at The Avenue Viera. Fans will be able to purchase a treasure map of The Avenue Viera. The map will show the location of all the players and will grant exclusive access for mapholders to receive autographs and take photos with all of the All-Stars. If you're a collector of autographs and photos, this is one event you will not want to miss! The map will also include a lunch certificate for an on-site restaurant as well as provide clues that will lead one mapholder to a grand prize. That night, before the start of the All-Star Game, one of the treasure hunters will receive the grand prize at home plate. Mark it down...this special edition of our treasure hunt will occur on Saturday, June 14th, during the late morning until early afternoon! Somebody is going to win big and it will be challenging like every other treasure hunt, but this time it's a race against the clock and if you want to participate you'll need a map. This special All-Star Game Treasure Hunt will be the only one conducted during the season! If you're not participating in our current on-going one, your next opportunity won't be until Saturday, June 14th.
On that note...here's another clue that you're going to need:
John O'Donnell Stadium has officially morphed into the Field of Screams, and now the Swing of the Quad Cities are looking for a few more actors to help expand the biggest and scariest Haunted House in the Quad Cities.
Already a hit through the first two weekends of the month, the Swing have continued to make improvements and additions to the Field of Screams, which has already seen around 3,000 fans pass through the gates.
But with five nights of openings remaining, the Swing are looking for more actors to help close out October with a bang! The Field of Screams will be open from 8:00 p.m. until Midnight on October 26-27 and 29-31.
Potential actors will be paid hourly, and need to be available to work from 6:00 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. Interested parties should contact Ben Chiswick at (563) 333-2727 or benc@swingbaseball.com.
UP NEXT: The Swing continue to roll through the month of October with the return of the FIELD OF SCREAMS Haunted House!!! The fright fest has five remaining nights and is open from 8:00 p.m. until Midnight on October 26-27 and 29-31.
The Beloit Snappers' field staff will have a different look to it next season. The Snappers will have a brand new Manager and Pitching Coach to go along with the return of their Hitting Coach Rudy Hernandez and Trainer Alan Rail. Nelson Prada will be at the helm for the Snappers as their new Field Manager and former Snappers' Pitching Coach Gary Lucas will be in the same position for the 2008 Beloit ball club.
Nelson Prada, a native of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, will be coming to the Snappers after spending the previous three seasons as the GCL Twins' Manager. Under Prada, the Twins' Gulf Coast League Affiliate had a combined 91-72 record including a Division Title during the 2007 campaign. Nelson began coaching in the Twins' organization after being released as a player by Minnesota following spring training in 1999. Prada signed with the Twins as a non-drafted free agent in 1995 and played four minor league seasons in their system with a career .247 batting average in 135 games.
Gary Lucas returns to the Snappers after spending the last two seasons as the Twins' Double A Affiliate New Britain Rock Cats' Pitching Coach. Lucas spent the 2005 season as the Snappers' Pitching Coach and has been in the Minnesota organization since the 2000. Gary played in the major leagues for eight seasons going a combined 29-44 with a 3.01 ERA. Lucas resides in Rice Lake, WI with his wife Taffee and three daughters Mindy, Holly, and Karlee.
Rudy Hernandez will be coming back to Beloit for his fourth season as the team's Hitting Coach. Hernandez, a native of Maracay, Venezuela, began coaching in 1996 and spent six seasons in a managerial position posting a 139-102 career record. Rudy spent five years in the minors as an infielder/outfielder with a career .250 average and 156 RBIs. Rudy is married to wife Andrea and has one son Bryan.
Alan Rail is returning to the Snappers for his fourth season as the team's trainer. He attended Weber State where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Athletic Training. Rail went on to receive his Masters in Health and Human Development from Montana State. Alan resides in Beloit during the off-season.
Former Snappers' Manager Jeff Smith has been promoted to manage the Twins' High A Affiliate Fort Myers Miracle for the 2008 season. Smith, a native of Naples, Florida, will begin his fourth season in the Twins' organization.
Former Pitching Coach Steve Mintz will be at the same position with the Twins' Double A Affiliate New Britain Rock Cats for the upcoming season. Mintz will start his seventh season in the Minnesota minor league system.
Come out and cheer on your 2007 Midwest League Western Division Champion Beloit Snappers next season! 2008 season ticket packages our now available with plenty of perks to go along with them. Contact a Snappers' representative at 2301 Skyline Drive in Beloit, 608-362-2272, or The Official Website of the Beloit Snappers for more information.
Minor League News 10/25
Carolina League
