Saturday, April 14, 2007

2007 Promotions Part 2

I thought Madison deserved its own post for not only the quantity but the quality of the promotions they have announced so far. They are announcing them every weekday starting with the end of the season and moving towards the opener, so that is how I will list them.

  • Every Sunday throughout the season will also be Famous Footwear Kids Eat Free days. Every Sunday kids (14 & under) can receive a free hot dog, soda, and bag of chips with a full-priced ticket courtesy of Famous Footwear.
  • Every Saturday throughout the season will feature the Budweiser Concert Series and post-game fireworks presented by Life Style Staffing.
  • Moving to Fridays this year, the Working Mans Special presented by ESPN radio 1070 will once again include a ticket, 2 beers, and 2 hot dogs for 10.70. This special offer is open to the unemployed as well.
  • Thursdays throughout the summer will feature Great Dane Beer Tastings presented by WIBA-FM. Fans can sample Great Dane brews for free pre-game.
  • Also on Thursdays, PBR plastic beer steins will be given to the first 100 college students and 2-for-1 tickets will be offered with a college ID.
  • Also, each Thursday the first 650 fans will receive a Mallards pin as part of a five-part series presented by the Wisconsin Historical Society.
  • Every Wednesday throughout the season will also feature the Mallards wearing yellow uniforms presented by Pella Windows. Pella is also sponsoring the “Power of Yellow” Family Four Pack that offers four bleacher tickets, four hot dogs, and four sodas for just $20! How can you beat that?
  • Every Monday and Tuesday this summer will feature “Two-For-One” specials presented by Budweiser and 94.1 WJJO that will feature 2-for-1 domestic taps, sodas, and hot dogs through the fifth inning.
  • On Friday, August 10, in honor of the Luedtke-Storm-Mackey Chiropractic Madison Senators Turn-Back-the-Clock-Night, all references to events happening “back in my day” will be allowed if and only if that said reference is shared between innings. The Mallards will wear replica Madison Senators Uniforms the team wore from 1907-1914.
  • Thursday, August 2 will feature the last opportunity to complete your PDQ & Quench Gum Trading Card set. Again, the first 1,000 fans will receive a Mallards trading card set.
  • Wednesday, August 1, The PDQ & Quench Gum Trading Card giveaway. “I’ll trade you Jordan Comadena for Maynard G. Mallard, straight up.” Similar phrases will be heard around the park as the first 1,000 fans will receive the first of a two-part Mallards trading card set.
  • Sunday, July 29, The Luxury Bath rubber duck giveaway. Rubber ducky you’re the one! The first 1,000 kids (14 & under) will receive a baseball-themed rubber duck courtesy of Luxury Bath Systems.
  • Friday, July 27 include:Stop Working with Monkeys Night presented by Concordia University! Mikey the Monkey, a rare overhand baseball-throwing chimpanzee, will be making a special appearance at the “Duck Pond.” Throughout the game Mikey will provide entertainment by being featured in funny skits in various areas around the ballpark. Note: The Mallards are not responsible for any “foreign” objects he may toss into the crowd.
  • On Friday, July 20, hold onto something sturdy because former Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bear defensive lineman William “The Fridge” Perry is coming to the “Duck Pond!” Perry tipped the scales at 370 lbs in his playing days and is best remembered for scoring a rushing touchdown from the halfback position in Super Bowl XX. In conjunction with his appearance, the Mallards will be wearing football-type jerseys.
  • Thursday, July 19, American Idol Night presented by Sony! Former Idol contestant and Madison resident Denise Jackson will sing the National Anthem and sign autographs during the game! Fans will have the chance to showoff their singing talents, or lack thereof, by singing “Gomeraoke” with the Gomers both before and during the Mallards game!
  • On Wednesday, July 18, the first 1,000 kids (14 & under) will receive a full-size Mallards wooden bat courtesy of Quench Gum! One lucky person will receive a corked bat courtesy of Sammy Sosa and the Baseball Hall of Shame archives (not really!).
  • Saturday, July 14, Goodman’s Jewelers Diamond Night! The first 1,000 ladies will receive a gemstone and one will be a real diamond! Bring your gemstone back to Goodman’s to find out if you have won the diamond! Are you cheap and about to be engaged? This is a great opportunity to kill two birds (not mallards, please) with one stone! The Gomers will also perform Neil Diamond songs before and after the Mallards game.
  • On Tuesday, July 17 it’s Newcastle Floppy Hat Night! The first 1,000 fans will receive a Mallards floppy hat courtesy of Newcastle! After receiving your hat, watch the Mallards battle the defending Northwoods Champion Rochester Honkers.
  • Friday, July 13 include:Short People Appreciation Night! Emmanuel Lewis, best known for his leading role in the 1980’s television sitcom Webster and his short stature (he’s 4’3”), will be making an appearance at the “Duck Pond!” In conjunction with his visit, the Mallards will be offering ticket pricing based on height. The pricing goes as follows:

4’3” and under – tickets are FREE!

4’4” to 5’6” -- 4 dollars

5’7” to 6’ -- 6 dollars (normal price)

6’ and over -- 7 dollars

  • In addition, all fans in the Great Dane Duck Blind will receive a Mallards t-shirt courtesy of Covance!
  • On Sunday, July 1 it’s Madison Blues Night presented by St. Mary’s Hospital! The Mallards will wear replica 1930’s style Madison Blues uniforms and the first 1,000 fans will receive a replica Blues hat. Westside Andy will also perform live blues music on the Duck Blind before and after the “Blues” game.
  • Fans will be able to vote at Mallardsbaseball.com to decide which giveaway the Mallards will have on Opening Day.The choices for the Opening Day giveaway are: sweat bands, bumper stickers, commemorative baseballs, and a mystery item.Stay tuned to Mallardsbaseball.com every weekday until April 25 for updates on next summer’s promotions!

Friday, April 13, 2007

2007 Promotions Part 1

A few of the teams have announced promotions for the upcoming season and here are some that I found interesting

  • Eau Claire, July 14, Turn Back the Clock Night, Eau Claire will be wearing replica jerseys of the 1952 Eau Claire Bears and will be playing against Duluth in their replica 1961 Duluth Dukes jerseys. It will be sponsored by RCU.
  • Eau Claire, July 25, Mini Bats will be given out sponsored by Diversified Mortgage Services.
  • La Crosse, June 7, Country singer Michael Martin Murphy will be performing sponsored by Panera Bread/City Brewery/CC106.3.
  • La Crosse, June 14, Let's Make A Deal night sponsored by State Bank Financial.
  • La Crosse, June 16, ZOOPERSTARS LIVE will be performing.
  • La Crosse, July 25, Jake and the Elwood Blues, the Blues Brothers.
  • La Crosse, August 7, Baseball Card Giveaway sponsored by COCA-COLA AND THE EAGLE 102.7 KQEG.
  • Rochester, June 8, Championship Logo Baseball Night presented by the American Dairy Association and Newstalk 1340 KROC AM.
  • Rochester, June 15, Championship Logo Glass Night presented by Budweiser and KXLT FOX 47 TV.
  • Rochester, June 29, Plunger Night presented by Mr. Rooter Plumbing - Free Plungers for first 500 Fans. I have never heard of a plunger giveaway before.
  • Rochester, July 16, Championship Cap Night presented by Yellowbook USA and KXLT FOX 47 TV.
  • Rochester, August 3, LOGO GLOVE NIGHT presented by C.O. Brown Insurance FREE Baseball Gloves for the first 500 Kids 12 and Under.
  • Rochester, August 7, Team Trading Card Night presented by Pepsi and 106.9 KROC.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Hubbard Provides Heat on a Frigid Weekend

Madison, WI – April 9, 2007. As an arctic blast was wreaking havoc on many college baseball teams’ schedules throughout the weekend, it was evident Furman Junior outfielder Bobby Hubbard sure didn’t seem to mind. The future Mallard (see picture) scored four runs and had five RBI’s on eight hits that included two home runs in a three-game series versus UNC-Greensboro. He upped his average to .322 and leads the Paladins in runs (17), hits (37), doubles (8), slugging percentage (.513), and stolen bases (5). Other former and future Mallards had noteworthy performances over the weekend as well. Below is a complete listing (in alphabetical order) of these four players’ accomplishments.
Adam Mills, P, Sr., UNC-Charlotte. Former Mallard Mills is bringing new meaning to the phrase “lights out.” He was named the Atlantic 10 pitcher of the week for the fifth time after tossing a complete game 2-hit shutout against St. Joseph last Thursday that included a career-tying 14 strikeouts. Mills is now 8-1 with a 1.06 ERA.
Bubba O’Donnell, RHP, Jr., High Point. O’Donnell picked up his third win of the year after allowing three runs on six hits in seven innings of work. His eight strikeout performance was a season-high.
Adam Pasono, OF, INF, So., Xavier. Pasono scored two runs on four hits in a three game series versus Richmond last weekend.
Jim Sajewich, RHP, So., Illinois St. Sajewich recorded his second win of the year in a four inning relief appearance versus UNI. He allowed two hits and struck out three batters to preserve the 10-9 victory.
The Madison Mallards open the 2007 season against the Eau Claire Express on Thursday May 31, 2007. Group and season tickets are on sale now. Single game tickets go on sale Saturday, April 28. For more information please call the Mallards ticket office at 608.246.4277 or log onto www.mallardsbaseball.com.

Sunday, April 8, 2007

Wisconsin add one from Austin Peay


The Woodchucks have signed Will Hogue from Austin Peay State University. Will is leading the Governors in almost every offensive category. He is hitting .356 with 6 HR, 23 RBI, .604 slg %, and 9 stolen bases this spring.

<---Daniel Descalso is hitting .374 with 2 HR, 22 RBI and has been walked 17 times to give him an impressive .451 OBP this season at UC-Davis.

  • Steve Gerstenberger is leading Michigan State with a .429 average, 2 HR, .548 SLG % and a .479 OBP.
  • Pat Venditte has struck out a team high 48 in 42.1 innings this spring for Creighton. He has held opponents to a .186 batting average.

Eau Claire sign two from Nebraska

Eau Claire has added LHP Wes Simmons and C Dominic Piazza from the University of Nebraska. Dominic was drafted in the 49th round by the Diamondbacks in last years draft. Wes redshirted last year with an injury. Neither have seen playing time with Nebraska so far this spring.
The Eau Claire Express have redesigned their website and it is a great improvement over the old one.