The 2010 Minor League season is now lifeless and entombed, but it is my duty to preserve the corpse so that future generations may gaze upon its sepulchral splendor.
To that end, today’s post features my 10 favorite photographs from the recently deceased campaign. All of these pictures appeared on this blog at some point during the season, and are presented in the order in which they originally appeared.
Remember — it is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. Let’s all take a look at once was:
Snowpening Day — Freezing precipitation prevented the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from playing their first scheduled home game, causing the players to release their start-of-the-season aggression upon hapless snowmen (note the Rattlers’ scoreboard message, a nice example of thinking ahead).
When Ya Gotta Go — The Northwest Arkansas Naturals held a nightly “Adoptable Pet of the Game” promotion this season, and on April 11 the evening’s honored canine broke loose from her handlers…
Catatonic Cauliflower — Jerry “The King” Lawler visited Reading’s FirstEnergy Stadium, leaving no doubt as to his feelings regarding rampaging vegetables.
Tattooed Perfection — Oakland A’s hurler Dallas Braden became a household name upon pitching a perfect game, but soon afterwards returned to Stockton in order to abdominally express his hometown pride.
(photo credit: George Steckler/Stockton Ports)
Sweets From the Sky: The Visalia Rawhide dropped candy from a helicopter following an afternoon game in May. Idyllic images resulted.
(photo credit: Chris Henstra)
Guacamole-Topped Vengeance:San Antonio Missions fan Randy Neuenfeldt lost a race to the Puffy Taco in 1992. He wasn’t about to let that happen again.
A Dignified Evening — This is what happened when Jose Canseco fought a 60-year-old man prior to an Arkansas Travelers game. Your winner, by decision: Gary Hogan!
Confidence — We could all learn something from the preternaturally self-possessed young Trenton Thunder fan.
Postgame for Pyros — Stuntman Ted Batchelor ran around the bases following a Savannah Sand Gnats game. He was on fire at the time.
Spitting Image — The Lake County Captains saluted the almighty watermelon in August, leading to a snapshot most adorable.
Of course, feel free to send along your own favorites from the 2010 season. I am, as always, interested in your input.
The Bowie Baysox staged “Beard-A-Palooza” this past Monday, and I am fortunate to have attained photos from this hirsute celebration.
The promotion was exactly what its name implied: a celebration of beards. Between-inning games and contests were devoted to this most dignified form of facial hair, and all bearded individuals received discounted admission to the ballpark.
I’ll start things off with a 2010 Photo of the Year contender. I like this picture so much because 1) these guys are no johnny-come-latelies to the beard scene and 2) their innate good-naturedness is so immediately apparent:
The Baysox do not discriminate, and made it clear to their fans that discounted admission would be available to those with beards both real and fake. Clearly, some took advantage of this loophole:
This between-inning game involved contestants attempting to shave a balloon. I’m truly grateful that I have a job that allows me to regularly write sentences such as the previous:
I have no idea what’s going on in the next two photos, but this aura of mystery enhances the visual:
The Baysox aren’t the only team to have recently staged a follicle-related promotion. The Lake County Captains held “Hairstyle Appreciation Night”, which team director of promotions Jonathan Levey described thusly:
Hairstyle
Appreciation Night paid homage to all facets of hair. Barbers were on hand to
cut hair during the game with all tips received contributed to Locks for Love.
The Captains player with the best hairstyle head shot (Casey Frawley) on the
video board had $50 donated to Locks For Love in his name. The Captains hosted
several contests including: Best Hairstyle, Craziest Hairstyle, Best Wig and a
Wig Relay Race. There was also color hair spraying for the kids and many
different movie and photo clips to honor hair throughout the evening.
As much as I love writing about hair-related promotions within the world of Minor League Baseball, allow me to briefly point out that my latest “Farm’s Almanac” feature is a good one. It’s on umpiring in the Minors, and I hope you find it engaging and informative.
Okay, with that plug out of the way, let me return to the Baysox. The following video has nothing to do with hair, however. Rather, it is an amusing look at prospects Zach Britton and Caleb Joseph as they spend an evening at Camden Yards with something less than all-access:
That’s going to do it for me, for this week. In closing, I’ll leave you with yet another “at-bat walk-up” song selection. THIS.
“The King” visited the Reading Phillies on Friday, as part of the team’s “Tribute to Professional Wrestling.” And while there, he did something he has never done before. Acting out the fantasies of picky eaters everywhere, Lawler clothes-lined Cauliflower during the team’s nightly “Veggie Race.”
These pictures, they shall make you feel as if you were there:
A Foolhardy Charge
Moment of Impact
Airborne!
Folks, I think we have an early contender for “Photo of the Year” right here. What sez you?
The 2010 Minor League season is now lifeless and entombed, but it is my duty to preserve the corpse so that future generations may gaze upon its sepulchral splendor.
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