Mood Swings and Misses

About a week ago, I wrote a post about several reasons why baseball is better in person. Today, I bring you one more reason to take yourself out to the ballgame.

This week's crazy (stupid) minor league promotion belongs to the Brooklyn Cyclones who are hosting Bellies and Baseball on July 19. Sadly, the night isn't dedicated to beer or its supple enthusiasts. Rather, it's a night to celebrate all the expectant mothers who happen to follow the Brooklyn baseballers. Perhaps, more correctly, both expectant mothers. On July 19, all pregnant women in attendance will be allowed to run...um...walk...um...hobble around the bases prior to the first pitch and patronize a concession stand selling pickles and anchovy pizza among other craving foods. Beside that, two things are particularly disturbing. Any woman who names her child Brooklyn or Cy will be awarded season tickets to the Cyclones for life. Alternatively, if a woman in attendance gives birth before the end of the game and at the ballpark, she and every other member of her family will receive season tickets for life.

This is hardly the first (or worst) promotional idea by a baseball team. The Elsinore (CA) Storm are having Anti-Flatulence Tuesdays to combat the all-you-can eat food that's becoming common place in ballparks. The University of Cincinnati's baseball team initiated Beach Day in which anybody wearing swim trunks, a wetsuit or bikini got in free. Sure enough the game was preemptively rained out and played on Friday. Regrettably, the bikini promotion didn't carry forward. Then again, who wants a stadium full of this? In 1951, the St. Louis Browns signed 3'-7" Eddie Gaedel to play one game. More recently, the Long Island Ducks signed John Rocker to a minor league contract and was released two months later...perhaps because the Ducks are a hockey team.

Returning to the promotion that inspired this post, the best part of the glowing event is the fact that it was announced six weeks in advance so ladies who want to participate still have time to become eligible. As Cyclone's general manager Steve Cohen creepily exclaimed, "There's still time," and I'm sure he'll be happy to help.

(In case you were wondering, my intent was to embed a picture of a pregnant woman wearing a baseball jersey, but I couldn't find one on Google Images. CC Sabathia was the closest I could get, but he is not pregnant. I wanted to nip any rumors about him being pregnant in the bud. His buns in the oven are in fact, buns in the oven. Dozens of them.)