Foul Balls

The Brooklyn Cyclones minor league baseball team just targeted pregnant women with a promo that included a Lamaze class, the women walking the bases sans shoes (barefoot and pregnant?), and a cravings station (pickles, ice cream and pizza). Also, any of them who would name their child Brooklyn or Cy would receive season tickets for life.

May not be the worst idea in that marketing genre. In contention for that would be Disco Demolition Night at Comisky Field. White Sox fans were encouraged to bring disco records for a destruction “ceremony.”

The promotion went too well and 50,000 showed up, many of whom were turned away. The disappointed revelers tried to climb the walls and otherwise created havoc. As beer flowed, fans discovered that records can be used as Frisbees.

The explosion was more powerful than planned and blew a hole in the field that would bother players for the rest of the season. It also ignited a riot with fans rushing onto the field and destroying and burning equipment. The Tigers refused to take the field and the Sox had to forfeit.

Okay, maybe that couldn’t be easily foreseen. But, what about Cash Drop Night at a West Michigan Whitecaps game? Dropping a thousand dollars in bills from a helicopter for fans to scramble after apparently didn’t raise any qualms when they conjured up that concept. Children were trampled and bloodied in the melee.

And, do you have to be Kreskin to figure out what would ensue at 10-cent Beer Night at a Cleveland Indians game? Flashing, mooning and throwing every loose object onto the field. The Indians forfeited to the Rangers.

Can’t wait for Glock Night or Bring-Your-Pit-Bull to the Doubleheader.