Fans will be eligible to receive a "Buhner Buzz Cut" from Jay Buhner himself on Aug. 8 in Everett.  (AP) MiLB Headlines Desme named AFL MVP AFL Championship preview Path of the Pros: Ian Kinsler No surgery needed for Strasburg New BayBears logo reflects past Promo Preview: Charitable deeds Leake ends whirlwind year strong Double-A All-Stars named Rickwood Classic marks milestone D-backs get Heilman from Cubs Fields getting confidence back Tigers' Bourquin suspended ADVERTISEMENT

Print this page   E-mail this page

Bobblection 2008
Hudson Valley Renegades, Aug. 6
Charleston RiverDogs, Aug. 8
Fort Myers Miracle, Aug. 11
The best way to predict the outcome of a presidential election is by asking voters which candidate they would rather own in bobblehead form. Or at least that's the premise behind "Bobblection," which is taking place at several Minor League ballparks this week. While specific details vary from team to team (all of whom are operated by Mike Veeck's Goldklang Group), "Bobblection" is very simple at its core. Upon entering the stadium, fans will select a bobblehead doll of either Barack Obama or John McCain. The first candidate to run out of dolls (there will be 500 of each) is declared the winner. In a perfect world, this is how presidential elections would actually be run, and this promotion marks a significant step toward that beautiful reality.

Greensboro Grasshoppers (South Atlantic League)
Bike Night, Aug. 7
Since the beginning of the season, a custom Grasshoppers-themed Harley Davidson motorcycle has been parked in the main lobby of Greensboro's NewBridge Bank Park. Soon, this sweet "GrassChopper" will be in the possession of one lucky fan. The club has sold motorcycle raffle tickets over the past several months, with the proceeds going to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters. The pool of contenders for the bike has been narrowed down to 10 finalists, who will all receive a key at Thursday's game. Just one key will start the bike, however. The lucky winner will ride off into the night in a blaze of glory, atop the greatest baseball and anthropomorphic insect-themed motorcycle the world has ever seen.

Vero Beach Devil Rays (Florida State League)
Olympic Night, Aug. 7
Two days after hosting an "Anti-Doping Night" promotion that included free urine sample cups to the first 250 fans, the D-Rays are celebrating the positive side of international sporting events with "Olympic Night." After a pregame torch relay, the club will stage a variety of athletic competitions between innings. Among the many events are a warning-track cycle race, archery, boxing, the 200-meter hurdles and more. The winner of each event will receive a gold medal in honor of their sporting prowess, and all of the competitors will take part in a sure-to-be moving closing ceremony at the conclusion of the ballgame.

Lake County Captains (South Atlantic League)
Crazy 8s, Aug. 8
Friday is 8/8/08, and the Captains are taking full advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime numerical alignment. Eight first pitches will be thrown before the ballgame, including one from an eight-year-old and another from an 88-year-old. Also, $88 will be given away if a Captains pitcher strikes out the side and a fan will win $8 every time the eighth batter on the opposing team whiffs. The seventh-inning stretch will take place in the eighth and another $88 will be given away if eight runs are scored in any frame. This total increases to a whopping $888 if the Captains score eight runs in the bottom of the eighth. If the score is tied at 8-8 after this occurs, it is a sure sign of the coming apocalypse.

Lehigh Valley IronPigs (International League)
Inaugural Wedding at Coca-Cola Park, Aug. 8
When one thinks of potential sites for a "dream wedding," it's doubtful that a Minor League Baseball stadium comes to mind, especially if the stadium in question is named after a soft drink and hosts a team named after a mythical breed of industrialized swine. Click here for full story.

Toledo Mud Hens (International League)
Ode to 8 Night, Aug. 8
Some may say that one "eight" promotion is enough for this column, but I beg to differ. The Mud Hens are staging "Ode to 8" night Friday, and their celebration of "numero ocho" is quite different from Lake County's. Fans will receive packs of "Crazy 8's" playing cards upon entering the ballpark, and those who have an eight in their current age or year of birth will be eligible to win prizes such as a Magic Eight Ball, eight-track cassettes and, of course, DVDs of "Eight is Enough." The theme will also carry over into the evening's between-inning musical entertainment as fans will be treated to songs such as "Eight Days A Week," John Mayer's "1983," and, hopefully, TLC's "Eight Too Proud To Beg."

Lancaster JetHawks (California League)
Aerospace Appreciation Weekend featuring Bill Dana Bobblehead Giveaway, Aug. 9
The JetHawks' Aerospace Appreciation Weekend has become a much-anticipated annual event, as it gives the people of Lancaster an opportunity to celebrate their town's primary industry. The highlight of this year's celebration occurs on Saturday, when the first 1,000 fans in attendance receive a bobblehead of test pilot Bill Dana. The evening will include a pregame tribute to Dana, who will be in attendance at the ballgame and whose son will throw out the first pitch. The legendary aviator is best known for flying an X-15 research aircraft in which he reached speeds of nearly 4,000 miles an hour. If that doesn't make your head bobble, then nothing will.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Midwest League)
John Anderson Bobblehead Giveaway, Aug. 9
Before reaching stratospheric levels of fame and wealth as a "Sportscenter" host, John Anderson was simply a Wisconsin kid with a dry sense of humor and a dream. On Saturday, the Timber Rattlers will honor one of their region's notable native sons by giving away 1,000 bobblehead dolls featuring the nattily attired television personality sitting behind an anchor's desk. Anderson will be in attendance on this special evening, meaning that Wisconsin's Fox Cities Field will be at least 200 percent more sardonic than usual.

Binghamton Mets (Eastern League)
Pre-Game Alpaca Parade and Matt Hardy Appearance, Aug. 10
The B-Mets are giving away notebooks as part of a "Back to School" promotion on Sunday, but that represents the proverbial tip of the iceberg when it comes to what's going on at NYSEG Stadium. For starters, the ballpark will temporarily be overtaken by large domesticated animals as a herd of beautiful alpacas will participate in a pregame parade. Meanwhile, a slightly less-domesticated animal will also be in attendance that evening as famed pro wrestler Matt Hardy graces the ballpark with his presence. The former member of the "Hardy Boyz" combo will sign autographs and throw out the first pitch to promote that evening's ECW championship bout. Rumor has it that he may recruit an alpaca as his new tag-team partner.

Bonus Coverage! A weekly rundown of that which did not fit into last week's column:

Tom Kotchman's 1500th Win Mini-Bat(Orem Owlz, July 31) -- Nothing says "managerial longevity" better than a souvenir hitting stick.

Singles Night(West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, July 31) -- Billed as a "fun and safe opportunity to meet your soulmate" and also featuring all-you-can-eat nachos.

Incredible Hulk Appearance (Durham Bulls, Aug. 1) -- Fortunately, no one made Hulk mad.

Techno Music Night (Beloit Snappers, Aug. 2) -- The Snappers conducted a probing exploration of this diverse musical genre, covering everything from "Cotton-Eyed Joe" to that song from "Mortal Kombat."

Pillow Giveaway/World's Largest Sleepover (Fresno Grizzlies, Aug. 2) -- If a free pillow can't entice you to spend the night in a Minor League ballpark, then nothing will.

Bob the Baseball Dog Dish Giveaway (Altoona Curve, Aug. 5) -- Because it is seemingly impossible for me to write this column without mentioning the Altoona Curve.

Earthquake Awareness Night (Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, Aug. 5) -- Select tickets were priced at $5.40 in honor of the 5.4 magnitude earthquake that recently rocked the Rancho Cucamonga area.

Benjamin Hill is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Print this page   E-mail this page